Value Companies’ Jarek Halajko Amongst Top Performers in NJAA’s ‘Maintenance Mania’ Awards
By Mel Fabrikant Friday, April 10, 2009, 12:39 PM EDT
— Maintenance Technician Finishes Eight Events in Impressive Time —
On March 19, the NJAA hosted its First Annual Maintenance Mania competition. Twenty-six maintenance professionals employed at multi-family properties throughout the state tested their maintenance skills and speed in a competition to earn the title of “Maintenance Mania New Jersey Champion,” as well as the chance to compete nationally.
As colleagues cheered from the sidelines, a group of highly skilled maintenance professionals, including Value Companies’ Jarek Halajko, competed in eight maintenance-focused challenges to determine who is the fastest at changing out a window screen, lockset installation, faucet installation, appliance repair, safety installation, toilet repair and identifying tools through touch.
The final challenge was a racecar competition, where the competitors built a model car using at least one maintenance product or part and raced it down a pinewood derby-style track.
Halajko, director of maintenance at Value Companies’ Crestview Apartments community, displaying the skills that make his community run smoothly on a daily basis, was awarded second place overall in the competition. Halajko completed all seven games plus the racecar competition in an impressive three minutes, 26.662 seconds.
“Jarek, who is known throughout the company for his amazing work ethic, is one of our most cherished employees,” said Jack Linefsky, director of apartment operations at Value Companies. “While we are proud and excited about what he accomplished at the New Jersey Maintenance Mania competition, it is no surprise to us that he is one of the state’s top maintenance professionals.”
Crestview Apartments is a 171-apartment residence community in Parlin, NJ. Located where every commuter wants to be, Crestview is minutes from the Garden State Parkway and NJ Turnpike, and surrounded by major shopping centers, malls and schools.
Maintenance Mania is a national competition sponsored by the National Apartment Association and its affiliates and presented by HD Supply, a leading distributor of maintenance and renovation products. The 2008-2009 Season began on July 30, 2008, and will run through April 30, 2009.
Twenty maintenance technicians with the best times from the 2008-2009 Season will be selected to compete for the chance to hold the national title of Best Maintenance Technician. The 2009 National Championships will take place in June at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino during NAA’s annual tradeshow and exposition.
Locally, Maintenance Mania was sponsored by City Fire Equipment Company, Wilmar, AVCO Supply, Central Wholesalers and RestoreCore.
About Value Companies
Founded in 1952, Value Companies is a leading real estate development, investment and management company headquartered in Clifton, N. J. The company currently boasts a portfolio exceeding 3,500 residential units located throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Texas and Florida. From suburban master-planned communities to urban infill redevelopment, Value Companies has embarked on $100 million in new development initiatives across the luxury rental, condominium and urban mixed-use sectors.
For more information, please contact Value Companies’ headquarters at 973-473-2800 or visit www.valuecompanies.com.
About NJAA
Founded in 1986, the New Jersey Apartment Association (NJAA) is a statewide organization of professional apartment owners, managers, builders, developers and those involved in allied industries. The Association is designed to advance and protect the welfare of the apartment industry in New Jersey. NJAA represents managers and owners of more than 155,000 rental units throughout the state as rental housing is home to over one-third of all New Jersey families. NJAA also serves its membership’s interest on a national level through its affiliation with the National Apartment Association (NAA).
