Next month, we look forward to IREM’s Holiday Party, where they will announce that Karen Fish-Will and Melissa Fish-Crane have been awarded the Boston IREM/Chapter #4 2017 Professional Women of the Year Award! Karen, principal and CEO of Peabody Properties, Inc. (PPI), and Melissa, principal and COO, have carefully guided the company into a new phase of smart growth (adding close to 1,200 units since the first of this year), carrying on the legacy of their father, the late Edward A. Fish, founder of Peabody Properties in 1976. 

Under Karen and Melissa’s leadership, Peabody Properties has expanded Peabody Resident Services, Inc., a subsidiary dedicated to the development of supportive services and programs for residents of affordable housing. Providing a long-term solution that has proven to be a key link among management, residents and the community at large - to help foster long-term tenancies within affordable housing communities.

Combined with their mission to put an end to veteran homelessness, Karen and Melissa formed Peabody Veteran Supportive Housing, and have to-date, developed four (4) Veterans Housing Communities for formerly homeless veterans with more planned. A strategic partnership of both private and public sector entities, Peabody Veteran Supportive Housing helps act as the bridge for providing support to our nation’s at-risk veterans population with high-quality affordable housing, creative financing, and the use of public-private partnerships. 

Whether through Peabody Resident Services, Inc. or Peabody Veteran Supportive Housing, Peabody Properties has evidenced a long-standing commitment to giving back to the communities they manage and the places their residents choose to call “home.” Karen and Melissa encourage professional development through continued lifelong education and promote the belief and practice that personal values of community service to those less fortunate is not just good business, but the right thing to do. Peabody Properties’ employee-driven contributions and volunteer activities help the firm connect with the causes that Peabody employees care about, that are important to the local community at large. With a long history of serving others, this is the first fundamental building block that supports how Peabody Properties puts the “HOME” in housing. 

Fostering a culture of fun, diversity and growth, Karen and Melissa believe that desired behaviors in business and in life start at the top. They are role models and true leaders who exemplify true stewardship through the donation of time, talent and resources. 

Peter Lewis, CPM is the 2017 president of the IREM Boston Metropolitan Chapter #4 and is vice president, property management for The Schochet Cos. AMO, Braintree, Mass.