The corporate world is witnessing a significant shift in leadership roles, with women increasingly taking the reins in various industries. Diane Ayres and Janet Zamecnik are two prominent female leaders at the forefront of reshaping rental and destination services with process excellence.

Diane Ayres, the co-founder and President of PorchLight Rental and Destination Services, recognized a glaring gap in the relocation and real estate industries and set out to fill it with her innovative approach. Janet Zamecnik, co-founder and VP of Operations is another force to reckon with in the industry. Her process excellence approach has enabled PorchLight to consistently deliver exceptional service.

Together, Diane and Janet’s leadership and innovative approach have revolutionized the rental and destination services industry, providing critical support to people and families embarking on job transfers. Their contributions have not gone unnoticed and have paved the way, not only in relocation and rental finding but also for more women to take on leadership roles in the corporate world.

From Ground Floor Opportunity to Aspiring Leader

Diane began her career with Corporate Lodgings, a company that provided short-term furnished housing to people and families who were relocating and in need of temporary housing until locating their permanent home. From the ground up, she learned how to build a service business and honed her skills at selling to corporate decision-makers. In just 18 months, she began expanding the business into new markets. Over the course of six years, Corporate Lodgings had inventory and offices in Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Louisville, Lexington, Detroit, and Milwaukee. Her tenacity and determination paid off as she drove the company’s growth, and the owner decided to take the company public. They merged with four other companies to form Bridge Street Accommodations, which went public in 1996.

Diane’s experience working for a public company provided her with invaluable insight into its operations. She continued to learn and gain new opportunities. These experiences gave her the knowledge and confidence to launch her own service business in the relocation and mobility industries.

“I identified that when people move and buy a home, they have excellent support, but if that same person was renting, the support was non-existent in a professional, quality way,” mentions Diane. She recognized a gap in the market, and her own business, PorchLight, her brainchild, set out to change that.

From Vision to Reality

Established on May 19, 2003, PorchLight Rental & Destination Services primarily serves the requirements of Human Resource Departments, Global Mobility Departments, and Relocation Management firms throughout the United States and Canada. Situated in Stow, OH, the company thrives with the vision to revolutionize rental finding and destination services. At the core of this vision is a passion for advocating for renters to have rental-finding services. With their keen understanding of customer challenges, cutting-edge technology, and process excellence, PorchLight is able to deliver best-in-class customer experiences, resulting in ongoing trust and measurable value for their clients.

Helping Employers and Renters Thrive

From all the news coverage and from human resource recruiting data, the war for talent has been a challenge for years, especially in STEM positions. Relocating employees for new roles or promotions can make that task even more difficult for employers. Employees who are upwardly mobile are frequently required to relocate in order to advance. However, relocation services and the real estate industry primarily cater to home buyers, leaving renters at a disadvantage. Relocated renters are often provided within 30 days of temporary housing as they are required to start their new position, but no service is provided to help them learn about the community and qualify for the best rentals for their needs. She acknowledged this disparity.

Furthermore, the rental market can be difficult for renters due to limited inventory and time constraints when searching for rental options while also starting their new job. Those with pets or credit blemishes may face rejection from landlords, which can be a significant source of pain. Moreover, newly relocated renters often lack the necessary knowledge of the area to make a confident leasing decision. The company understands that renters need more than just access to rental listings. They need support from local experts who can advise them on the best places to live, confirm rental availability, and assist them in assimilating into a new community.

Diane and Janet observe that apps and online tools are not enough to make an informed decision. However, PorchLight’s knowledgeable staff, local rental experts, and lease review capabilities help mitigate risks for customers. Its proprietary reporting tool, Renter Analytics, enables employers to measure the effectiveness of the service provided, ensuring that their employees’ needs are met. The company understands all the pitfalls that renters may encounter and stays with them throughout the entire service experience until a rental is identified.

A Key Differentiator–Beyond Relocation Policy Support

For over 20 years, PorchLight has been setting itself apart from competitors who offer so-called “tech solutions” for renters. According to Diane, “tech offerings” may seem appealing, but they fall short of addressing the actual needs of renters in a new city. They also cannot provide the same level of support and expertise that a personal home-finding experience can offer. Over the last two years, the rental market offered such limited availability that there were bidding wars on rentals. An online rental-finding tool can’t negotiate renters into leases. Professional, local expertise and support made all the difference for customers, who were challenged by the volume of rental applicants. However, PorchLight differentiates itself from its competitors by focusing on refining its service offerings to address the real problems renters face.

It goes above and beyond a company’s policy support to ensure proper attention for renters as they transition to their new location. Through its Renter Analytics portal, clients have 24/7 access to review PorchLight’s performance. The data and reporting provided through this portal give stakeholders the information they need when assessing the service value. This ongoing rental-finding assistance is a competitive benefit that distinguishes the company from its competitors.

Love-Hate Relationship with the Relocation Industry

Diane loves the fact that her company helps people find their dream homes in new places. The satisfaction that comes from customers who didn’t know rental finding services existed and how life-changing they are during a hectic, stressful relocation brings great satisfaction to all involved, especially the renter and the employer who invested in the service. It’s a win-win. However, there is an opportunity for companies to incorporate rental home-finding services into their relocation policies. Rental-finding assistance is the least expensive service in the relocation process, yet it is often overlooked. For a small investment, companies would see significant returns in mobile employees securing a lease more quickly, acclimating with ease, and reporting to work ready for their new role.

“Corporations require ROI and positive employee experiences as they relocate their talent. When clients understand how effective PorchLight’s service is at helping mobile employees quickly and confidently secure their new lease, the service becomes a staple of their relocation policy. The results are undeniable, and the ROI is realized.”

Partnership Importance: Shared Qualities

Diane and Janet met while both working at BridgeStreet Worldwide. In the newly formed public company, they were tasked with building the global reservation center. It was during this experience that Diane witnessed Janet’s natural talent for systems, process design, and execution. When they formed PorchLight, Janet was prepared to use her experience to design the custom software and workflow needed for PorchLight to provide the service and metrics that would differentiate PorchLight in the market.

Both Janet and Diane possess shared qualities such as passion, commitment, and perseverance, knowing that without them, partnerships fail and employees leave. This helped them conquer the challenges of starting, growing, and maintaining a business. Their 20-year partnership is a testament to the strength of their integrity as people and partners, which has played a crucial role in their success. “There are many challenges along the entrepreneurial business journey, but our trust in each other wasn’t one of them”. We are grateful for the team that joined us in this journey and for helping PorchLight deliver on our service promises for our customers,” Diane and Janet agree.

Building a Strong Team

“We are believers that we don’t motivate people. We provide an environment where motivated people will succeed,” says Diane, stating her unique perspective on motivation. Her leadership team believes in creating a quality work environment where trust and communication thrive, allowing team members to grow and excel. As motivated individuals are driven by a sense of connection and purpose, she looks for team members who possess good character and self-motivation and those who take pride in their work.

Diane opines they are accountable to their team, and that their team is accountable to them in their business interactions. She knows that if they can attract customers to their door, her team’s performance and dedication will keep them coming back for more.

Striking the Perfect Balance

Achieving a work-life balance is no easy feat, but it is something that Diane and Janet take seriously for themselves and all of their team members. One example is making sure we and our team don’t miss important events or compromise family needs. From preschool graduations and sporting events to caring for sick children or elderly parents, we incorporate flexibility to meet personal and business needs.

Both Diane and Janet have raised their families while starting and building PorchLight. They credit their team’s work ethic, pride, and independent work style, as well as their supportive spouses, who play a crucial role in helping them strike a balance between work and personal life.

Unlocking the Secret to Success

Diane advises aspiring women leaders to find their passion, recognize their talents and weaknesses, and surround themselves with supportive people who can balance their shortcomings. She emphasizes the importance of humility, honesty, and openness to feedback from trusted team members, as well as hard work and commitment, as key elements to achieving success. “Capitalize on your talents to grow your business and lead your department and organization,” adds Diane.

Quote

“We believe in the service we offer and the value it provides to relocating people and families who choose to rent in their new destination. We are committed to, finding good people who care about the service they provide to customers.”

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