Employee Spotlight: Natasha Johnson

It takes a lot of work to ensure that thousands of seniors have a quality place to live. Fortunately, Natasha Johnson has a history of success in the property management world.

As regional portfolio leader for the Atlanta region, Natasha oversees operations of National Church Residences’ affordable housing properties in the area. It’s a role quite suited for her, both due to her management skills and her personal connection to the region

A Call to Service

Natasha hails from the Atlanta area, which means that her work at National Church Residences directly impacts the place that she’s called home her whole life. However, some early inspiration drove Natasha to serve her community in a much different role.

“At 12 years old, I went to a YMCA here in Atlanta.” Natasha said. “A unit with the Atlanta Police Department came to the YMCA to talk to us about what they did. I was like “I want to do that when I grow up,” so I did.”

Natasha attended Atlanta Metropolitan College and earned a degree in criminal justice. Her original plan was to become a lawyer, but she interviewed with several law enforcement agencies instead. She completed the physical ability and written tests for the Atlanta Police Department, the Fulton County Sheriff’s Department, and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department. In the end, she chose to join the DeKalb County Police Department and served as a full-time certified officer.

A Shift to Property Management

After two-and-a half years in law enforcement, Natasha felt it was time to change careers when she started a family. A friend of hers had experience with property management, so she followed her lead and became a leasing specialist in the mid-2000s.

That decision quickly paid off. Natasha quickly rose through the ranks at a local property management company, rising from assistant manager to senior property manager. Natasha oversaw both multifamily and senior properties, but another career change led to focus on the senior space.

Natasha joined National Church Residences as a senior property manager in 2016. The organization needed somebody with great experience and who could excel right away, and that’s exactly what she did.

“I started out as a senior property manager managing one of the largest sites in the entire portfolio,” Natasha said. “Now I’m responsible for the oversight of 17 properties and over 2,000 units.”

Those responsibilities cover a lot of important duties ranging from ensuring key goals are met and keeping up with recertifications for her various communities. She also helps train, coach, and assists the different property managers for each location. The combination of ensuring each community is taken care of while planning for future growth is a challenge that she relishes.

“The role I have now is very rewarding,” Natasha explained. “Being able to make the tough decisions and train and develop my managers and see them grow as well is very satisfying.”

A Community Close to Home

Another aspect that Natasha appreciates about her role with National Church Residences is how it’s tied to her hometown. She finds the affordable housing space to be rewarding, especially when it means that she’s helping to provide affordable housing to seniors who have lived in the place she’s always called home.

“It does have extra meaning,” Natasha said. “I’ve been here all my life. I grew up here. I went to school here. We just did a rehab at one of our properties where we did a complete renovation. To see the seniors come in and get their apartments and show them their units and have them move in, that was special for me.”

While Natasha is happy to help seniors find an ideal home for them, she also enjoys working out at her local gym and spending quality time with her family. She’s a proud mother of two daughters, the youngest of which recently graduated high school. Whether it’s at work or in her personal life, Natasha has enjoyed seeing people in her community thrive – and there are only more happy memories yet to come.

Looking for a job where you can make an impact in your community? View our senior living and affordable housing  job opportunities and start your next career.