Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Dennis.
Lisa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was working for another firm, and needed to leave due to family obligations. When I left, one of the clients didn’t want to stay with them. After about 5 days, I decided to go ahead and open up. We have been very deliberate in growing, as we didn’t want our most loyal clients to feel left out while it were experiencing new dynamics with the ever growing business.
I was challenged by my husband to make something of my “hobby”, and got involved in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 small business initiative. It has turned my “hobby” into a thriving, growing business that still believes that even the smallest neighborhood can benefit from professional management.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, by all means, no.
From not hiring the correct people, to not doing due diligence when submitting a bid to the community, to having our office in not the best ideal location, we have struggled. Fortunately, we 100% now have the best team in the history of the company and with the additional of Kay Thompson, we now also offer Condo and Townhome Association management as well as HOA/POA management.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are Magnolia. (said a la “300”). We not only specialize in homeowner association management, we now also offer Condo and Townhome management, Our forte is being able to communicate to everyone with the utmost respect and being able to relate to what the Board of Directors instructions are. It’s the little things that matter. Whether it is inspecting a property for violations, or helping an owner gain access to community amenities, we are the go to team. We like to think that we manage the properties that we’re entrusted with as if we lived there, and wanted the best.
What were you like growing up?
Oh, I was the tomboy. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t try. Climb trees? Play Tennis? Dive off the High Board? Play Football? Yep, that was me. But I also liked business.
My dad built me a little “shop” in the backyard, I had a deal with the local candy store guy who sold me candy 2 for 1 penny. I would sell it for the full price of 1 penny. I did very well, but managed to eat all of the profits. Who wouldn’t when you’re 10 years old? From there, I sold everything I could from door to door, and managed selling the most Girl Scout cookies in Columbus, Ohio for that year.
Later, my dad bought some land in SE Ohio. It was nothing but trees, a creek, and about 20 acres of flat land. Everything else was straight up hill. My dad had grandiose dreams of building a log cabin there and living on it. But first, you have to remove enough timber to build a road and the building site. So Daddy would cut the trees down, and I would have to drag the trees down the hill. Later, after we had cut the section of trees he wanted removed, we then had to split them and bring the firewood home.
For my 13th birthday, my dad bought me a VW Bug, a book about the car, and metric tools. The reason, I had to fix the car before I could drive it. So Saturdays were repair the car, and Sunday was work on the property.
Both parents were super strict and made sure that I always grew up with the tenets of Texas Philosophy. Work Hard, and remember your name and where you came from and you’re only as good as your word. I have taken this to heart in everything I do.
Contact Info:
- Address: 950 S Fry Rd
Katy, TX 77450 - Website: www.magprop.com
- Phone: 281-599-0098
- Email: lisa@magprop.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magnoliapropmanagement/
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