Serving as a seasonal leasing specialist at The Vue at Pinnacle Park and The Lafayette in Fitchburg, UW-Stout real estate property management senior William Boyce completed his summer cooperative experience with Weidner Apartment Homes.
“What I love most about the REPM major is the variety in real estate, as well as the core concepts that are found in every avenue of the field. I know various professionals who have pivoted in different directions in real estate without having to restart their career ladder,” Boyce said.
The Lafayette is a luxury property with two buildings, less than five years old, and offers modern finishes. The Vue is comprised of five buildings and has more traditional home colors. The residences are both located near nature reserves, Boyce said.
Weidner Apartment Homes, headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, was recognized on the National Multi-Family Housing Council’s 2024 50 Largest Apartment Owners List as the 12th largest private owner of apartments in the U.S. It represents more than 315 multifamily residential communities, with more than 72,000 units in 13 states and Canada.
Boyce, of DeForest, plans to graduate this December and is interested in a career in real estate appraisal. As a Senior Airman in the Wisconsin Air National Guard, he is set to begin Airman Leadership School in 2026, which he’ll complete before beginning his real estate career.
“UW-Stout’s Veteran Services has made utilizing my benefits a breeze. I have heard of other airmen at different schools having little to no help putting their benefits to use. Thanks to Veteran Services, I will be able to graduate debt- and stress-free,” said Boyce, adding, “Brian Hackner, military education benefits coordinator, has been a huge help.”
How do you hope to make an impact in your field?
I hope to impact the real estate property management field by changing the stigma of property managers. Most people only recall their worst memories of moving out of a property they lived in. I hope to create some lasting memories.
The “Love Notes” program at Weidner is a good example of this and is something I would like to take with me. They send notes to their residents to show how much they appreciate them, and they help inspire community.
What were your main roles as an intern with Weidner Apartment Homes?
My main role was helping in the leasing office. I completed tours, answered phones, and responded to emails from prospects and residents.
We started our day with an hour of cleaning the property. This would include wiping down windows, vacuuming common areas and inspecting vacant units. Before tours or when inspecting vacant units, we would bring a “sparkle kit” to clean the place up. A little difference in cleanliness can go a long way.
Every day is different in property management. I had random projects, like removing a dozen tires from the property to Discount Tire for proper waste disposal. I also repainted the number lines for an underground parking garage! I had a lot of fun doing that.
What did you enjoy most about your internship?
I enjoy charts and graphs. Our community director had all the reports for the property finances. Through these numbers, you can see everything that is happening at the property. The documents would go over accounts receivable, accounts payable, vacancies and more.
The regional directors have already forecasted the year based on current market trends and past years. My classes in Investment Analysis and ICT Problem Solving were beneficial for this. I was already familiar with all the terminology thanks to my property management classes. We had practiced the calculations that would go into these numbers as well.
What was challenging about your internship, and how did you face those challenges?
The most challenging part of my internship was learning the way Weidner Apartment Homes’ properties operate. This was my third internship in the industry, and it made me realize that every property – even if part of a larger company – is managed it in its own way.
I worked at The Heights in Menomonie as a community assistant. This role was heavily based around community events, marketing and cleaning. At Guardian Property Management, I was an administrative assistant, where I responded to resident questions and processed lease renewals.
How will your courses and experiences at Stout help you make an impact in your career?
I know for certain that my courses and experiences at Stout will help me make an impact in the industry. Stout’s REPM major is unique and gave me a head start compared to a new hire unfamiliar with the industry.
By far, my favorite class has been Real Estate Appraisal. I really liked the way the class was structured, and it was a lot more numbers-based. Learning the different approaches to valuation and practicing them in and out of the classroom was exciting for me.
That said, I have loved all of my Property Management classes. In Real Estate Ethics, we had a debate at the end of the semester, and during our Capstone, we toured a property in the Twin Cities to create a management plan for.
Career Services’ annual First Destination Report declared that 100% of recent REPM graduates are employed or furthering their education within six months of graduation, and have an average starting salary of $58,000. UW-Stout’s real estate property management program is one of only a handful of its kind in the U.S.
