Gables Residential Awarded the National Apartment Association’s 2023 Excellence Award in the Leading Organization in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Category

By: Gables Residential via Business Wire

June 20, 2023 at 09:45 AM EDT

Gables Residential is proud to be the recipient of the National Apartment Association’s 2023 Excellence Award in the Leading Organization in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) category. This award is granted to organizations that demonstrate excellence in DEI initiatives.

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Gables associates and Rhonda Puryear, NAA’s current Chairwoman (center). (Photo: Business Wire)

“NAA extends congratulations to Gables Residential for being selected as a winner of this year’s NAA Excellence Awards,” said Bob Pinnegar, NAA President and CEO. “This award speaks to their resolute effort and commitment to improving the rental housing industry. Thank you Gables for your contributions and continued leadership.”

NAA’s annual Excellence Awards program recognizes outstanding performance and leadership across the rental housing industry – celebrating apartment communities, industry professionals and affiliated apartment associations that make unique contributions to the industry.

“We’re honored to receive this designation,” said Sue Ansel, President and CEO of Gables Residential. "At Gables, we strive to offer more than just workplaces for our associates and apartment homes for our residents. We are committed to cultivating an environment where everyone feels empowered to make meaningful contributions, fostering a community that is vibrant, equitable, and prosperous."

In 2021, Gables embarked on its DEI initiatives by conducting an extensive audit of internal demographics, policies, programs, and procedures. The findings from this audit led to the development of strategic goals and social objectives outlined in the 2022 annual Corporate Citizenship Report and as outlined below.

Enhance workforce diversity by diversifying leadership and management roles to better reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the US population and the communities we serve.
Mitigate biases, enhance participation, and remove systemic inequities by restructuring hiring and promotion processes and promoting inclusivity in learning and growth programs.
Promote an inclusive culture through diversity training, celebrating diversity, and providing tools for navigating workplace sensitivities.
Address supplier diversity by implementing a supplier diversity program that increases the procurement expenditures awarded to businesses owned by underrepresented groups.

In 2022, Gables took actions to achieve its social goals, including conducting an equity audit of policies, procedures, and programs. Gables also partnered with HR and developed a speaker series for inclusivity, collaborated with software provider Yardi to enhance its vendor management platform to better track business unit classifications and diverse supplier certifications, and 59% of promotions in 2022 were granted to individuals who identify as people of color.

“We are proud to be recognized for our DEI initiatives and will continue to prioritize creating an inclusive environment for all,” said Ansel. “At Gables, we believe that cultivating a strong sense of community requires continuous dedication to strengthening our DEI principles. DEI continues to encourage us to foster a dynamic and diverse workforce. By embracing DEI, we not only create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected, but we also expand the potential for innovation while furthering company growth.”

As part of its commitment to DEI, Gables also introduced a comprehensive companywide learning program that focuses on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. This program is required for all Gables associates to ensure a collective understanding and engagement in these important principles. Additionally, in late 2021, Gables established its DEI Council called "Represented." This council serves as a platform for ongoing discussions, initiatives, and actions that further advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organization. For more information about Gables Residential, visit www.gables.com.

About Gables Residential

Gables Residential is an award-winning, vertically integrated, real estate company and privately held REIT specializing in the development, construction, ownership, acquisition, financing, and management of multifamily and mixed-use communities. Gables Residential owns, develops, and manages communities in high-growth U.S. markets such as Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Seattle, South Florida, Southern California and metropolitan Washington, D.C. Gables also provides third party management services in the Baltimore, Frederick, Tampa, Phoenix, Seattle, Central and North Florida markets.

Gables manages over 25,000 apartment homes and has received national recognition for excellence in development, construction, management, sales, marketing, training, and benefits. These achievements reflect the impact of Gables’ experienced and dedicated team members, its superior knowledge of the markets served, and its expertise in development and management. For additional information about the company and its real estate portfolio and services, visit http://www.gables.com.