Mornings at Sonterra Blue in San Antonio start with general manager in residence level two Sloane Carver on the move. She checks curb appeal, inspects common areas and takes notes. She’s not just checking boxes, she’s picturing herself as the person in charge. Because soon, she will be.
Next week marks one year since Sloane joined The Connor Group. In that time, she’s made a name for herself thanks to her relentless drive, passion for development and ability to turn feedback into fuel. She’s also become the standout example of our general manager in residence (GMIR) program.
Our GMIR program is a long-term development path for future leaders. We take high-potential talent—people with grit, ownership, assertiveness—and pair them with some of our most proven managers. The program categorizes associates into two levels: level one, for those with no prior leadership experience, and level two, for those with limited leadership experience.
Today, we have eight GMIRs across our markets at different stages of development. Over 18 to 36 months, these future leaders build the skills needed to run a property on their own one day. Sloane was hired as the program’s first-ever participant. Now, she’s on track to become its first graduate.
“Sloane is proof that this program is working,” said partner and director of evaluations Ashley Matos. “She’s highly responsible and assertive. She has the sales ability and work ethic. Now, she’s learning how to lead.”
Sloane’s journey shows what’s possible when talent meets structured and personalized development. GMIRs go through individualized 90-day training plans that evolve with their progress. Early plans focus on sales and operations. Over time, the content shifts toward leadership, ownership and decision-making.
At the start of her development, sales proved to be the biggest initial hurdle for Sloane.
“I picked up the systems and processes quickly,” said Sloane. “But sales didn’t come naturally at first.”
That changed after a conversation with training director Krystal Ware. Krystal knew Sloane had a passion for content creation outside of work, and she used it to help Sloane make a breakthrough.
“I asked her, ‘How do influencers get the response they want? They understand their audience and adapt accordingly,’” said Krystal. “I explained to her that’s exactly how the best sales associates operate. Something clicked for her after that.”
“She took who I was outside of the office and applied it to the work I do every day,” said Sloane. “I haven’t had a problem closing since.”
With sales and operations under her belt, Sloane is also gaining first-hand experience in what it takes to truly run a property. She’s learning every day from general manager Jo Wisniewski. At Sonterra, Jo sets the bar, and challenges Sloane and the team to rise to it.
“Our connection is crucial,” said Jo. “If you don’t create a teamwork environment where you can feed off each other’s energy and lift each other up, you won’t get the results you need.”
Jo sees the drive in Sloane daily, whether it’s preparing for a renewal or on routine white-glove inspections.
“She doesn’t need motivation. She motivates herself,” said Jo. “She’s always saying, ‘It’s not good enough. It needs to be better.’ That mindset is what sets her apart.”
Sloane’s must-do mindset is also what earned her a Grit Award at our National Awards Dinner in February, a recognition given to associates who refuse to settle and demonstrate relentless determination. Now, Sloane is starting to lead through others, driving performance and culture alongside Jo.
“Learning to lead others is the biggest piece of the GMIR program,” said Krystal. “Watching Sloane start to impact results through her leadership and motivation is huge.”
With her next development plan underway, Sloane is approaching the final stretch of the GMIR program. Her sights are already set on what’s next.
“Leveling up to running a property on my own will be an amazing moment,” shared Sloane. “But I see it as a stepping stone. I have even bigger goals here. I want to earn partnership, and excelling here is how I get there.”