Amanda Barnes joined The Connor Group in 2017 and began her career at Excelsior and Grand. Fast forward just three years later and she’s become a standout leader in our Minneapolis market. Under Amanda’s leadership, Excelsior & Grand closed a monumental $8.8 million supplemental loan, the second-largest in company history. She’s also been instrumental in incredible occupancy gains at City Walk over the last six months.
She’s committed, driven and has a can-do attitude. In August, Amanda was one of six associates who earned a promotion to partner. Loop recently caught up with her for a Q & A…
Question: Where are you from?
Answer: I’m originally from Holliston, MA. I went to college at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. I ended up staying in the area for seven years. After I graduated, I worked at Delia’s and The Gap. I was given the opportunity to advance within the company, which took me to New York, where I worked in the corporate store. After one year, I realized NYC was not the place for me. I transferred to Minneapolis, MN, and have been here ever since.
Q: What was your dream job growing up?
A: I always knew I wanted to be in charge of something. I started out in pharmacy school. I needed to complete an unpaid internship to continue in the program, and I didn’t want to go into debt, so I switched my major to psychology. I completed my psychology degree, which I think really helps me with renewals. I know how to dig deep with residents and emotionally connect with them.
Q: What do you remember from the recruiting process?
A: A recruiter who’s no longer with us had found me on LinkedIn and reached out several times. I was looking to get out of retail but didn’t know what that looked like and when I’d be ready to make the jump. I wanted to be sure I was making the right decision. Completely changing industries is kind of scary. During the recruiting process, I fell in love with the company and culture. Their passion for culture and competition spoke to me, and I knew The Connor Group would be my home.
Q: What has been your biggest challenge in Minneapolis?
A: Figuring out how to not do everything myself. I love selling. My number one problem is I’ll just go and get the sale myself. I’d also say running two properties at once has been a challenge I partnered with my peers on solutions. Partner and area manager Jessica Clark helped me learn how to balance my time throughout the week. I also worked with Brad Dykes on planning and strategic thinking. I had to transition from being the doer to the teacher. It was important for me to learn how to slow down and make sure what I was teaching was being absorbed.
Q: What accomplishment are you most proud of?
A: Our occupancy gains at City Walk. It’s been my first time running a new acquisition. We rebuilt the entire team from the ground up, and now we’re seeing all the successes from the hard work we put in. We were sitting at 77 percent occupancy; now we’re at 97 percent. We’ve not only reached our goal, but we’re maintaining it. The excitement and culture at the property are impressive.
Q: What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?
A: Most people don’t know I have a psychology degree. I’m also a very outdoorsy person. I enjoy hiking and rock climbing. I just love being outdoors.
Q: Tell us about your family.
A: I’m a single mom. I have a four-year-old daughter, Sawyer. I have to be very strategic with my days, planning down to the hour to make sure I accomplish everything. The Connor Group is a lifestyle. It can be challenging if you don’t thoughtfully plan.
Q: Were you surprised when you were named partner?
A: I had no idea. It’s been my dream. I knew I was on the radar, but I thought it would be further down the road.
Q: What did becoming partner mean to you?
A: It means I need to step up my game, and it makes me want to be better every day. Being part-owner is pure accountability. All of my results directly impact what I’m part of every day, and it makes me want to elevate my skills even more.
Q: What’s your best advice for new associates?
A: Trust the process. When new people start, everyone wants to say ‘I’ve got it,’ and move on. Trust, enjoy and soak each part of our training. Be patient. It’s a lot of information to absorb, and to master each skill takes time.
