This limited series profiles SoCal Power Women who have helped shape cities, neighborhoods, businesses and lifestyles in Los Angeles and Orange counties. These women will be honored at Bisnow's SoCal Power Women event Dec. 13.
Tonya Decker is the senior vice president of operations Southern California for Alliance Residential. With more than 25 years of experience, Decker plays an integral part in the company's operational oversight and client relations. In 2014, she received the company's Regional Vice President award and two years later, the Alliance Icon award.
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How do you describe your job to people who are not in the industry?
Decker: Alliance is an apartment developer and manager that is hired by large institutional companies to manage their real estate investments. These investments generate returns that may fund your 401(k).
What is the biggest business problem you have faced and how did you solve it?
Decker: More of a business challenge; creating, promoting and stabilizing a positive/desired company culture in a business that is very fragmented and isolated with assets and associates spread all throughout the state and nation.
“Solving” it includes leveraging technology to communicate a consistent message nationally, empowerment of our local support teams/departments to implement strategy and executive leadership that demonstrates the example.
What is one thing you think companies can do to address wage and gender inequality?
Decker: Implementation of tiered qualifiers for existing associates and new hires, based on position; compensation ranges of low to high considering experience, education, accreditations, availability/flexibility, tenure priority and geography.
What piece of advice do you give others entering the industry?
Decker: The potential for professional growth is endless! The more flexible you can be, the faster you may rise. Growth is a self-responsibility.
What do you do to unwind when you’re not working?
Decker: I believe it is very important to disconnect and even more important that I set that example with my team. This means limited/no emails on weekends or after-hours, and no disturbances during vacations/sick days/PTO while my teams are out utilizing the benefits of Alliance and life.
Personally, I enjoy Mother Nature; camping in the winter and boating in the summer!
Meet Alliance Residential Senior Vice President of Operations Southern California Tonya Decker at Bisnow’s SoCal Power Women event Dec. 13 at the LA Grand Hotel Downtown.
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