Professional Profile: Irma Schretter

Name: Irma Schretter - 1983

Title: Owner and President

Company: S-C Management Corp.

Location: Boston, MA

Birthplace: Providence, RI

Irma Schretter, the owner and president of S-C Management Corp. in Boston, is the current president of the Boston Metropolitan Chapter, Institute of Real Estate Management. Born in Providence, RI in 1940, she received her MBA from Boston University. She has been involved in the property management field for over 12 years, beginning with a small firm, Sprague Industries. Irma worked with the Mass. Housing & Finance Agency, handling mortgage applications for an elderly housing project in Quincy. She then joined Winn Management as vice president and general manager, handling the turn around of financially troubled properties. In January 1979, she started her own firm. “It was fun running a big corporation, but I enjoy the interaction between the people who work with me and the residents, so I decided as much fun as it was to run Mr. Winn’s company, it would be more fun running my own company. I wanted to stay involved with a smaller group of people and a small number of properties. I do enjoy having my own company. It’s my product and there’s a pleasure you get from that,” Irma said. S-C Management refinance and offers additional subsidy for financially troubled properties. By going in with a new financial program and upgrading maintenance and staff, working with the residents and just offering good management, they are able to turn properties around. 80% of the properties S-C has handled are now running very well. Among the lasts contracts, is an elderly home in Sandwich, which was just recently rented up. “It was a pleasure to do,” said Irma. Another was a small property in Chinatown. She had to handle some 1,300 applications for 39 units of family housing. Irma is involved in management consulting for large companies; one which acquired buildings in Va., Washington and San Antonio. She travel and acts as a liaison between investors and the management agent: Setting up a marketing program and returning once a month to audit reports. S-C Management manages condominiums, M.H.F.A. properties, residential properties in Boston, Bourne, Bedford and Bellingham. IREM is the national affiliate of the National Assn. of Realtors which awards the CPM designation to individuals and the AMO to firms. Irma owns both and has been involved with the Boston chapter for five years. Activities include professional standards and education. The seminars sponsored by IREM give members a chance to become updated on what is happening in the industry. “I intent to continue with it next year, even though I won’t be president. I think it is an excellent vehicle for what’s going on in the business. I have a commitment to it,” she said. Irma is the treasurer and director of the Children’s Center in Brookline where her children, sons four and two years old, are enrolled. A resident of Brookline, her husband, Roger Cassin, is an architect for real estate development. Since their professions are so closely related, they have a good understanding of each others positions and occasionally they will advise one another. Irma says her family is her hobby. The travel often with their children for leisure.