Meet Alicia Stoermer Clark, CEO/president of Seldin Company.
Tell us a little about your business. – Seldin Company (www.seldin.com) is a family-owned property management group, operating throughout the central Midwest. We oversee the operations, compliance, and asset preservation of 20,000 units, with a diverse portfolio of Conventional and Affordable housing.
How did you get started in the business? – My entry into property management came through a required internship while completing my BS of Housing and the Near Environment at Iowa State University. I joined a professional management company as a leasing agent in 1999 and immediately saw the opportunities available in the industry. I advanced through the ranks by seeking educational opportunities, trainings, certifications, and just about anything I could enroll or participate in to learn more and add value to my organization.
Tell us a little about your family. – Steven, my husband, is a Senior Specialist for Safety and Environmental for Merck Animal Health. We have five amazing children: Noah (19), Colton (13), Macie (12), Charlie (9), and Brantley (8). With the current ages of the kids, we’re usually providing transportation to or from something. We enjoy all the activities and interactions our kids bring to our daily lives, and we spend most of our free time at sporting events, camping, fishing, or just about any other activity outdoors.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – While completing my MBA, I received an informational brochure on a PhD program. On a whim, and with great hesitation, I applied and was accepted. This five-year endeavor of coursework, residency, and completing the dissertation brought to my life a tremendous challenge and the resulting immense sense of accomplishment when I received my doctorate degree.
Who inspires you? – My parents! They have faced many difficult situations but through faith, love, and dedication, they used the experiences to become stronger. Growing up, I watched both my mom and dad work two or three jobs at a time to make ends meet. In the midst of their own trials, they would be the first to help a neighbor, friend, relative, or even stranger.
What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – “Don’t accept criticism from someone you wouldn’t accept advice from.”
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? – I had a longstanding interest in teaching at the university level. In the last two years, I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to become an Adjunct Professor for both Bellevue University and the University of Nebraska Omaha. It has been a great experience after 20+ years focused solely in one industry to expand my reach professionally to the academic world.
What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? – Carole’s House of Hope (CHH). I had the great pleasure of working with Carole Kinlow early in my property management career. She spoke for years of her desire to develop a program to help young mothers and she did it! CHH offers a transitional living program for young women and mothers who have aged out of foster care or become homeless.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? – Mike Krzyzewski, coach of the Duke Blue Devils basketball team. I am a lifelong Duke basketball fan, impressed by his leadership abilities and the way he runs the program.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – (402) 333-7373; alicia.clark@seldin.com; www.seldin.com.