The Business Exchange - The Original and Still the Best

The Business Exchange –The Original and Still The Best

FWAA's 2024 Business Exchange, presented by Perma Pier, on August 6th at the Hurst Conference Center, was a huge success. More than 200 DFW-area apartment owners and operators, along with more than 250 supplier partners, participated in what one FWAA past president who attended called "the original and still the best" multifamily networking event in the nation.  

Even better, our FWAA members' participation raised approximately $90,000 for the National Apartment Association Political Action Committee (NAA PAC). NAA PAC uses the funds raised at the Business Exchange to support candidates for federal office that support the multifamily industry by helping us fight onerous federal proposals like national rent control, mandatory 30-day Notice to Vacate (NTV), and restrictions on reasonable applicant screening criteria.

The FWAA Business Exchange thrives due to the hard work of our Business Exchange Committee (BEC). Thank you to this year's BEC for all your calls, emails, texts, etc., to help boost attendance. Also, thank you to BEC members Alexandra Rohloff, Madeline Nash, and Hollyanne Putnam for helping with registration during the event. Great job, team! I also want to thank the countless others who contributed, you know who you are. 

Our sponsors helped ensure the Business Exchange's financial success. A big shout out to Christine Moreno, Zack Dikel, and Mike McManus with Perma Pier for being our title sponsors. Thanks so much, Christine, Mike, and Zach, for supporting the Business Exchange. 

A unique feature of the FWAA Business Exchange is our Very Important Pitch (VIP) hour before the one-on-one meetings. The VIP supplier partners exclusive networking time with owner/operator attendees, as well as an opportunity to present a 3-minute sales "pitch" to the more than 200 owner/operator attendees. Special thanks to VIP sponsors CORE Distributing, Element Enterprises, Exist Multifamily, Kings III, Maintenance Supply Solutions, MFI, Red Elephant, ServPro Team Shaw, and Superior Floors.

Most importantly, thank you to everyone who participated. From owner/operators bringing doughnuts to supplier partners sharing the latest industry products and services, the ballroom was a constant buzz of activity. Whether it was the Olympus versus Steward + Helm doughnuts, Sayan's grasshopper green jackets, or Asset Living's Blue shirts, the energy in the room was amazing.  

Even more impressive, more than 4,000 one-on-one meetings occurred during this event! One supplier partner shared with staff that after the Business Exchange, he was heading back to his office to work on ten bids that he was asked to submit from the owner/operators he met. Wow! Members doing business with members – that is what FWAA's Business Exchange is all about.

So much goes on behind the scenes to make the FWAA Business Exchange the best. This event would not have been possible without the support of NAA staff members Jim Wilson and Robert Johnson and our own Mindy Barnes, FWAA's Director of Events. Thanks Jim, Robert, and Mindy.

This year's FWAA Business Exchange was our 24th! It was amazing, it raised a substantial amount for NAA PAC, it was financially successful, it was original, and it was the best!

Cara Glover, Director of Multifamily Operations, Hillwood, is the 2024 Business Exchange Committee Chair