East Hanover, NJ — Larken Associates has recently made waves with their achievements and internal promotions. The company proudly accepted seven Awards of Excellence from the Metropolitan Builders & Contractors Association of New Jersey (MetroBCA), recognizing their outstanding residential communities and the individuals behind their success. Additionally, Larken Associates announced the promotion of Heather Irwin to the position of property manager.
Held annually, the MetroBCA’s Awards of Excellence honors Essex, Morris, Union, Somerset, Warren and Hunterdon Counties’ most exciting residential communities and the leaders behind their success.
Larken Associates’ creative/marketing director Melissa Nascimento received one of MetroBCA’s highest honors with her recognition as Marketing Executive of the Year. Since joining the firm in 2002, Nascimento’s leadership and innovative marketing strategies have played an integral role in the success of Larken Living, Larken Associates’ 2,500-unit multifamily portfolio. Over the last several years, her creation of a new data-driven digital marketing model has consistently driven superior leasing results across the portfolio. Her creativity, vision and understanding of the marketplace have ensured the Larken Living portfolio consistently stands at 95% occupancy and new communities are often fully leased up before their completion.
Susan Livingstone received the Leasing Consultant of the Year award as a result of her achievements in leasing, on-site training and property management across Larken Associates’ multifamily portfolio. In 2022, Livingstone oversaw leasing for Larken Associates’ newest communities, Hillsborough Village Center, The Reserve at Crosswicks and The Ridge at Readington, where she helped lease 314 total units. Working closely with Nascimento, Livingstone’s creativity and embrace of the latest technologies continues to make her one of the state’s top leasing consultants and an important contributor on the Larken Living team.
The company also received five awards for Hillsborough Village Center including Best Community Sales Presentation, Best Direct Mail Piece - New Media/Electronic, Best Builder Website for a Community, Best Builder Sales Office and Best Builder Signage for a Community.
Heather Irwin joined Larken Associates in 2022 as a leasing consultant and quickly established herself as an invaluable contributor in her role overseeing leasing at The Meadows at Lehigh and East Hills Townhomes. Irwin’s success is driven by over 17 years of experience in the property management industry highlighted by her work as an Assistant Community Manager at OneWall Communities.
In her new role, Irwin will report directly to regional property manager, Brenda Vittiglio, and will oversee the daily operations of Larken Associates’ Water’s Edge, West End Village and River Walk communities in Bethlehem, PA. As a property manager, Irwin will be responsible for managing new leases and renewals, coordinating on-site maintenance teams and vendors and ensuring resident satisfaction through the completion of work orders.
“It’s not often that an employee earns a promotion within their first year at a company,” said Jessica Heckman, Larken Associates’ director of Residential Asset Management. “Heather’s proven experience in the property management industry and clear understanding of our processes made her a terrific fit to seamlessly transition into a property management role. We wish her luck as she continues to make an impact on our communities and the residents that call them home.”
Irwin added, “From my first day at Larken Associates, their passion for creating an unmatched residential experience was clear. As I step into my new role, I look forward to continuing to learn from the knowledgeable leaders at our company and utilizing my capabilities to both maintain and improve upon our residents’ daily experience.”