Meet The Commonwealth Team
Adam Cook – President – has been with Commonwealth Real Estate Services since 1992. Since joining the Commonwealth management team, he has trained, supervised, and empowered company staff – corporate staff as well as field employees; developed a keen awareness and understanding of the company’s clients’ management goals; implemented strategies to achieve the identified goals; and acquired in-depth expertise in all facets of the day-to-day requirements of professionally managing real estate. During the past twelve years, he has served as a board member in the Oregon community owner’s trade association, Manufactured Housing Communities of Oregon (MHCO), helping to shape legislative efforts in Oregon. He is serving in his second year as the association's president. He has been particularly effective in utilizing his years of experience to improve the services we offer to our clients. Adam is a licensed Real Estate Broker in the States of Oregon and Washington. Prior to joining Commonwealth, he was actively involved with numerous organizations at Linfield College, including the Future Advertising and Marketing Executives, Young American Capitalists, Omicron Delta Epsilon (International Honor Society for Economics) and Treasurer of Kappa Sigma Fraternity (International), as well as a four-year member of the varsity soccer team. He holds a BA in Finance.
Christina Mays, CPM – Vice President of Commonwealth Property Management Services in Bellevue, Washington, joined the company in 2004, and manages a large portfolio of properties in the greater Puget Sound area and Eastern Washington. Christina was born and raised in the greater Seattle area and understands the many diverse sub-markets in this beautiful region. She brings over eight years experience in the property management industry. Her experience is mainly comprised of managing apartment portfolios but also includes acquisition/disposition analysis, site staff training, and development of policy and procedures. Christina is very involved with the Institute of Real Estate Management.
Craig Hillis, CCIM, CPM – Director of Business Development – has over 30 years of Washington real estate sales and management experience. He has lived in the greater Seattle area for his entire life and started his real estate career while attending the University of Washington. After receiving his BA in Economics, he continued his real estate career managing and developing commercial properties including shopping centers, office buildings, industrial space and apartments. He is currently involved in the brokerage of commercial properties along with managing manufactured home communities on both sides of the mountains. He is a regular speaker for management training courses along with being a guest speaker for the Manufactured Housing Communities of Washington. Craig came to Commonwealth in 1999 and opened the Washington office. Having a vast knowledge of the commercial real estate business, he continues to help grow the Washington operations.
Melisa Cook – HR/Office Manager – has been with Commonwealth since 1997. She started with Commonwealth as the front desk receptionist. She later moved to Administrative Assistant and is now the Human Resources and Office Manager. Melisa’s job includes daily operations management, including human resources and benefits management for the corporate headquarters in Portland, Oregon. Melisa is responsible for regulatory compliance at State and Local levels in both Oregon and Washington for Commonwealth’s over 200 employees. Melisa serves as the training coordinator for Commonwealth’s ongoing training seminars in Oregon and Washington. Melisa is also involved with Commonwealth’s Safety Committee. Prior to joining Commonwealth, Melisa worked in the Residential Appraisal Department of Bank of America, as a credit investigator for Security Pacific Housing Services in Vancouver and worked in the airline industry with United Express and Delta Airlines. A native Oregonian, in her free time, Melisa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, camping, and traveling.
Kathleen Landau – Accounting Manager – has been involved with the manufactured housing industry since 1996. Born and raised in Oakland, California, Kathleen has been involved with bookkeeping and running a business since being a teenager working for her family business. After graduating with a degree in accounting from Western Washington University in June, 1987, Kathleen started her formal career as an accountant with a regional interior supply company in the Seattle area. She was subsequently hired as an internal auditor/accountant with PACCAR Inc. in Bellevue, Washington. After starting and raising a family, she joined Commonwealth Investors to manage their accounting in 1996 on a part-time basis. Her responsibilities grew as she served as a consultant to the Commonwealth Real Estate Services and helped perform various auditing related functions. Kathleen eventually was asked to head the accounting department beginning in November, 2009. She is not only involved with management but is actively involved as a manufactured housing community owner.
Sally Harrington – Senior Property Manager – has served the company for over 25 years. When she joined the company in 1985, Sally brought an extensive background in multi-family unit management. Specializing in manufactured home community management offered a new challenge and opportunity for her, thus began her service with Commonwealth and the manufactured housing industry. Writing and conducting educational seminars in every aspect of management is an important part of Sally’s duties. Some of the topics she has presented include on-site managers’ office filing systems, resident relations, proper enforcement of rules and regulations, and updating managers and staff on legislative changes. Sally was instrumental in bringing the two park owners’ associations together in 1990 to form Manufactured Housing Communities of Oregon (MHCO), and she has been an active participant ever since. She is a past President of MHCO and its predecessor (MPOA) and served as a board member for many years. As a member of the legislative committee for 10 years, five as Chairperson, she has kept the company’s clients informed on changes in government that affect their rights, investments and their residents. As the initiator of the Landlord/Tenant Coalition in 1997, Sally worked with other industry leaders to resolve many issues facing the manufactured housing industry. She was instrumental in much of the legislation that has benefited every landlord in Oregon, while protecting the residents’ home values and investments in communities, and proposing legislation known as the Abandonment Procedure for abandoned homes. She has contributed countless hours on other committees, seminars, legislative issues, task forces, and forms development. Sally is licensed in Oregon and Washington.
Brian Hoag – Property Manager – joined our team in 2001 as an agent for Commonwealth Homeowner Services (CHS). Brian operated and managed our CHS division for 10 years and was responsible for hundreds of transactions, in addition to being a Property Manager since 2004. As an Oregon licensed Real Estate Broker, Brian is a Property Manager for several select properties. Prior to joining Commonwealth, Brian worked in manufactured home retail sales for 10 years. In the retail industry Brian started as a Sales Agent, earned several awards including top producer, and over time was promoted to Sales Manager, General Manager and finally Regional Manager. Brian also spent 3 years with a Real Estate Development and Management company in Los Angeles after receiving his college degree. Brian graduated from the University of Oregon with a BS in Finance/Real Estate in 1988. In his personal time Brian enjoys his family and many outdoor activities including fishing.
John Cox, CCIM, CPM – Property Manager – joined Commonwealth Real Estate Services as a Property Manager in August of 2005, bringing over 25 years of commercial real estate experience with him. John currently manages fifteen residential communities throughout the state plus the company’s Portland commercial portfolio. Prior to Commonwealth, John managed over one million sq. ft. of industrial, commercial and office space for the Port of Portland. John’s background also includes commercial sales and management, investment brokerage, and corporate real estate acquisition and development (where he won the National Top Producer Award). Active in various real estate organizations, John has served as the President of the Texas Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Real Estate Executives (NACORE), the President of the Texas Chapter of the Real Estate Securities and Syndication Institute (RESSI), and as an officer in the Oregon Chapter for the CCIM Institute. John has attended the Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas Graduate School of Business where he majored in Finance and Real Estate. John has also earned his Certified Commercial Investment Manager (CCIM) designation from the CCIM Institute and his Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management.
Scott Mullens – Property Manager – joined Commonwealth in June of 2006. Scott holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Chaminade University of Honolulu where he graduated with “Distinction”. Scott has over 18 years of experience in the Finance Industry, with most of his experience coming in the Manufactured Housing Industry. Scott’s tenure includes working for Bergen Acceptance, Green Tree Financial, and Chase Home Finance and most recently with 21st Mortgage. Scott has held many different positions with these companies including Dealer Representative, Credit Manager and Remarketing Manager for these various companies. Scott brings to Commonwealth his professionalism, honesty and determination to do his best. In Scott’s spare time he enjoys working around his home and being with his family. Some of Scott’s achievements include being the Past President of the Portland Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Julie Hovorak – Property Manager – has recently joined our team and brings with her twenty years of experience in the property management industry. Julie began her career as a site manager of a 40-unit apartment community and has since managed multiple apartment communities and portfolios consisting of residential, commercial buildings, condominium communities and HOA’s. In 2007, Julie was nominated by peers and industry professionals, as finalist for Manager of the Year. This award is presented by the Metro Multifamily Housing Community and honors individuals who stand out as role models, exemplary professionals and community builders in the multi-family rental housing industry. In addition, Julie has been a licensed Real Estate Broker in Oregon since 2002. Julie is a native Oregonian and in her spare time enjoys hiking the Pacific Northwest.
Janet Williams, CPM – Property Manager – joined Commonwealth Property Management Services in Bellevue, Washington in 2004 and manages a diverse portfolio of properties throughout Washington state. Janet brings over 20 years experience in the real estate industry. Prior real estate experience includes office management, supervisor and training of staff, marketing/advertising, residential listings & sales, transaction coordinator & also residential listings & sales. Janet is involved with the Institute of Real Estates Management (IREM) and has recently obtained her CPM designation. She is also a lifetime resident of the greater Seattle area and enjoys many outdoor activities including skiing, cycling, hiking, gardening and spending time with her family.
Natalie Branch – Administrative Assistant – started with Commonwealth Real Estate Services in January 2007 as our Receptionist/Administrative Assistant. Natalie is now responsible for issuing notices to residents, handling abandonments and title transfers, filing FED’s for onsite managers, creating newsletters for our communities, and other various duties to help assist the Property Managers. Natalie has a background in real estate and previously worked at an Escrow company. In her spare time, Natalie loves spending time with her husband and two sons.
Tammy Anderson – Accounting Specialist – started with Commonwealth in March 2005. She has been in the Accounting field for over 23 years and has experience in several different industries. Tammy’s tenure includes working for Sysco Food Services of Portland, International Wood Industries and Allco Leasing Corporation. She held different Accounting positions within each company as she assumed more responsibilities and became the recipient of several promotions. In addition to her extensive property portfolio in both Oregon and Washington, she is also responsible for Commonwealth Corporate, Homeowner Services and Investors. Tammy has proven to be a valuable asset for Commonwealth and enjoys being a part of a great team. In her free time Tammy enjoys traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Jennifer Jenkins – Accounting Specialist – started working at Commonwealth in May 2007. Through the years Jennifer has proven herself to be an overachiever, and a great addition to the accounting department. Jennifer is very efficient with her time, and strives to beat monthly deadlines. She is responsible for a portfolio of properties in Washington and Oregon. Her monthly tasks include, but are not limited to paying bills, reconciling income & preparing financial statements. In addition to her college experience, Jennifer has been working in the accounting field for 11 years. Her accounting background started with accounts payable at a lumber company, and expanded with a CPA office doing payroll, payroll taxes and accounting. Outside of work Jennifer enjoys spending time with her husband and their daughter.
Teresa Garrett – Accounting Specialist – started with Commonwealth in Nov. 1998. She has a total of 19 years bookkeeping and accounting experience. Prior to CWRES she spent 9 years with Albertsons Food Center in Vancouver, WA as a Customer Service Mgr. and Bookkeeper. Summer of 2007 Teresa pursued a career in the commercial construction industry as a Union EIS Carpenter with Local 2154. Due to the state of the economy, she found herself available in Jan. 2010 when she was contacted to fill a position with CWRES in the accounting dept. With Commonwealth Teresa is responsible for over 25 properties, including their daily cash flow management, monthly financial statements, as well as many other related accounting functions. In her spare time, Teresa enjoys art walks, reading, tennis, dog parks, and considers herself quite a foodie.
Tone Vahl – Accounting Specialist – started with Commonwealth as a temporary assistant for the Accounting Department in February 2010. With eight years of extensive accounting experience as Staff Accountant and Controller for ship management companies in Bergen, Norway, she proved to make a great addition to the accounting team, and was hired as Accounting Specialist shortly thereafter. She is responsible for full cycle accounting for a portfolio of properties, from paying the bills to presenting the financials, and everything in between, including assisting on-site managers and PMs with any accounting issues that might arise. Tone graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor in Business Administration from Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma WA, and later earned a Master of Business Administration from NHH (Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration) while living in Bergen, Norway. After returning to the US, Tone continued to take classes and added to her list of accomplishments both Bookkeeper certificate and Tax Preparer license, as she is always looking to expand her horizons. Being new to Oregon, Tone and her family enjoy spending their spare time exploring the adventures of this beautiful region by foot, bike or car, and often pack up their raingear to go camping and hiking.
Tony Pine – General Manager of Commonwealth Homeowner Services Inc. – joined the company in 2010. Tony attended Mt. Hood Community College and Western Oregon University where he studied business and played baseball on an athletic scholarship. He has over twelve years of experience in sales, management, marketing, advertising, business operations and overall customer service. In that time, Tony has worked for Lowe’s Home Improvement, MTD Products and Ace Hardware. In 2001-2006 he assisted in 15 new Lowe’s stores being set and opened on the West coast. In 2001 he received the prestigious “Outstanding Sales Performance” award for Oregon and also the national “Territory Manager of the Year” award in 2004. In 2007-2009 he acted as project manager to set, open and manage two new Ace Hardware stores. Tony brings energy, motivation, initiative, enthusiasm, leadership and an entrepreneurial mind to Commonwealth. Based out of the Portland office, Tony oversees both Oregon and Washington territories for all Homeowner Services. Along with work, Tony enjoys coaching, traveling, camping, golfing, cooking and currently plays in a semi-pro adult baseball league.
Seana Brewer – Administrative Assistant - started with Commonwealth in December 2006 as one of our Administrative Assistants. Seana now works part-time from home keeping the Commonwealth website updated. In addition, Seana provides assistance to the Administrative and Accounting departments. Seana has lived in Oregon and Washington for most of her life where she attended University of Oregon and Portland State University, receiving a Bachelors Degree in Science and a minor in Business Administration. Seana loves being a stay-at-home mom, spending time outdoors with her family and dogs, going fishing, camping and working around her yard.