The Compass in Our Toolbox: Leader, Vision & Accountability at Preservation Management

Posted by: Preservation Management, Inc. in Uncategorized on March 2, 2026

At Preservation Management, leadership is the compass in our toolbox. It helps us know where we’re going, why we’re going there, and how we’ll get there together. Strong leadership creates clarity, removes barriers, and ensures that everyone in the PMI family understands how their role connects to the bigger picture.

We first asked our leadership team: How does leadership help set clear direction, share the bigger picture, remove obstacles, or share accountability in a way that helps the PMI family succeed? Clear direction starts with communication. When leaders explain not just what we are doing, but why it matters, it gives teams confidence and focus. Leadership also means removing roadblocks so teams can do their best work. Most importantly, accountability is shared. Success at PMI isn’t owned by one person or one department, it belongs to all of us.

Christine Jenkinson, CEO, shares her thoughts:

“As the CEO, it’s my goal that every employee understands how deeply impactful their role is to our mission of housing low-income people. We, together, are accountable for fulfilling the requirements of our property owners, investors, and residents. When I talk directly with colleagues, I make sure they know that my primary responsibility is being there for them to hear about frustrations or to listen to ideas they have for improving processes at PMI. It takes all of us working together and communicating to ensure success.“

Michele Folino, Senior Vice President of Operations adds:

“One of the many things I love about working with my colleagues is that everyone is very outspoken in their communication so setting clear direction comes easily for all of us. We all spend a ton of time communicating with team members and always make sure people understand the bigger picture, so they understand why we are doing something or maybe why we can’t do something. We also ask for honest feedback so that we, as lead team members understand the things that we do not handle directly. We all work under the premise that we want EVERYONE to be successful, not just owners or the management, but everyone that works here which makes it easier for all of us to hear the feedback whether it be good, bad or ugly.“

Our next question focused on motivation and purpose: Whether it’s the vision for the future, the PMI mission, the PMI family, the culture, or the work itself, what inspires you to move forward? Inspiration is what keeps momentum strong. For many leaders, it’s the opportunity to build something meaningful and to support the people who make PMI what it is. It’s the pride in our culture and the belief that our work makes a difference. Vision sets the destination, but inspiration fuels the journey.

Christine Jenkinson, CEO, shares what inspires her:

“What inspires me to move forward is my belief that every human being is deserving of dignity and respect. I love working with people who share that sentiment and show up day after day to do hard work to ensure that vulnerable people have high quality homes. The amount of passion we share for providing housing to low-income people is extremely moving to me, and it inspires me to show up even when there are seemingly insurmountable challenges.“

Kevin Tait, Vice President of Finance and Accounting, shares his perspective:

“I’m so fortunate to work alongside my team every day. I move forward because I get to see their growth. Watching the team gain confidence, develop new skills, and step into their potential. There’s something powerful about a group of people who genuinely care about the residents we serve and about one another.

We challenge ourselves to keep improving and we hold ourselves accountable while sharing accomplishments together. We’ve built a culture where people feel respected, supported, and safe to speak up. That sense of trust and openness is something I value.

Seeing the team succeed, both individually and together is incredibly rewarding. Knowing that the work we do helps create stability for our residents all while continuing to grow and support our PMI team, is what inspires me to move forward.”

Finally, we asked: Are there any tools, resources, or habits the Lead Team uses to create alignment of goals, maintain accountability, or keep teams connected while moving in the same direction? Alignment doesn’t happen by chance. It comes from setting clear goals, checking in regularly, measuring progress, and communicating openly. These habits keep everyone connected and ensure we stay focused on what matters most.

Kris Landry, COO, shares the tools and habits that help keep them aligned:

“Annually, our leadership team comes together to align on priorities for the year ahead and set clear goals for PMI. Through open roundtable discussions, we consider input from our teams, departments, and the field, identifying the areas that matter most. From there, we collectively select a focused set of initiatives, assign clear accountability, and establish delivery timelines.

Throughout the year, we track progress during our monthly admin team meetings. These check-ins help keep us on course, create space for ongoing feedback, and ensure our initiatives continue to reflect what our teams and the business need.”

Michele Folino, Senior Vice President of Operations, adds:

“This is just my opinion, but I think the fact that we own up to our mistakes is rare in the working world. “I should have” or “I’m really mad at myself” or “Totally my fault” is a pretty regular occurrence around here because we are not perfect, we don’t know everything and there is a lot going on but you can rely on the fact that our intentions will always be good which is why things keep moving regardless of the mistakes we, or any of our teams make. Everyone is rowing in the same direction and just trying to figure out how to get there the best way we can.“

At PMI, leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about direction, accountability, and shared purpose. When we are aligned, inspired, and clear on our goals, we move forward stronger, together.