Property management, Beirne notes, “is kind of an unnoticed career.” Courses in managing a property often are rolled into real estate programs, when in fact it’s becoming a highly technical career on its own.

“I’ve watched the transitions in this industry,” says Beirne, who has taught classes in the program. “People coming in don’t have the skill set. My goal is to get better people into this industry.”

Other members of the board include David J. Adelman, president of Campus Apartments; Brett Altman, president of Altman Management Co.; Deanna Ballinger, vice president of Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc.; Pamela Bennett, director of the Apartment Association of Greater Philadelphia; Carl Dranoff, president of Dranoff Properties; James S. Korman, president of Korman Residential; Jean Maddalon, director of the New Jersey Apartment Association; JoAnn McKay, director of the Institute of Real Estate Management; Brian Paule, director of management for the Galman Group; and Jeffrey Smith, president of Kreigman & Smith.

“The Property Management Advisory Board gathers some of the most accomplished industry professionals in the region,” said William F. Lynch, dean of Goodwin College of Professional Studies, in a prepared statement. “Their input will be instrumental to the continuing development and success of the property management program.”

Growing the program will take time, he notes. In fact, the first meeting, to be held in January 2012, will focus on creating bylaws for the board, including setting term lengths. Other goals for the year include creating events to attract students to what Beirne dubs “a really good, stable career.

“This industry has been very, very good to me,” he says. “It’s kind of a little secret, and it’s getting more complicated.”