During our annual awards ceremony , CEO Ric Campo told us to “never stop learning.” I instantly gained a burst of inspiration because I have always believed that knowledge is a powerful tool. One of the many reasons why our employees love working for Camden is because Camden offers a wide variety learning opportunities so that you can truly never stop learning. Here are a few ways Camden gives employees the opportunity to develop and expand their skills.

Certifications through Camden University

(From left the right: Omar, Devlin, Brandon, and I taking our EPA Certification at the Tampa Regional Office)

Camden University offers training courses about maintenance, sales and marketing, management, and even certifications. This year, I took a chance and pursued my EPA Certification, which is mandatory for all maintenance technicians who service, repair, or disposal of an appliance that contains refrigerant chemicals. As an Assistant Manager, I wanted to know the basic workings of an air conditioning unit and refrigerant laws. I figured it would help me in answering resident questions or knowing what our maintenance team goes through! The instructor Carlos prepared us for the exam all day and he was extremely knowledgeable and supportive.

Online Education Courses

In addition to Camden’s own education program, Camden also provides external resources so that you can never stop learning, including Lynda, Khan Academy, TED, and more. You can even learn about photography, excel, or HTML coding.

Camden also partnered with Dale Carnegie to offer in-depth management training for all managerial employees and those looking to progress into a management position. I spent over 12 hours learning about the importance of building trust, credibility and respect within your team, enhancing communication and coaching employees.

**Mentor Program

The Impact of a Mentor

(source: The Impact of a Camden Mentor blog)

Every new hire gets matched with an existing Camden team member who shows them everything they need to know to succeed in their new career. The mentorship can even last a lifetime. President Keith Oden even said, "sharing their job-related experience with each new associate and those newly promoted, mentors serve as a cultural ambassador by sharing Camden’s core values and unique culture.”

There are many more ways that Camden allows you to never stop learning, like being reimbursed for taking courses at accredited universities and attending training on demand sessions. There is something to say about a company that is so passionate about seeing their employees grow. I promise to never stop learning - Camden makes it easy!