Registration for the National Affordable Housing Management Association’s NAHMA Emerging Leaders Learning Series (NELLS) manager-level course is open. Sessions begin Feb. 5, 2026. NELLSManager was designed exclusively for first-line professionals, in conjunction with affordable housing property management professionals, to accelerate the professional growth of industry leaders. Register today; the course is limited to five to 15 participants.
NELLSManager focuses on three dimensions: leading yourself, leading teams, and providing business leadership. Through group sessions and individual coaching, each participant will learn how to best enhance their personal leadership competencies by developing the professional habits and skills necessary to achieve desired outcomes. The topics covered in the manager-level course include developing a manager mindset, personal management style, handling difficult conversations and delivering feedback, setting priorities, strategic communication, managing change, and resource management.
The virtual course is a blended program that combines the benefits of cohort learning with executive coaching. In addition to three group sessions, each participant will have two one-on-one coaching sessions to tailor program content to their specific requirements. All sessions are conducted using the Zoom videoconferencing platform. Group sessions are 90 minutes, except for Session I, which is 120 minutes to include program orientation. All group sessions begin at 2 p.m. Eastern.
The orientation and first session for NELLSManager are scheduled for Feb. 5. Session two will take place on Feb. 26, and the final session is set for March 19. The two 60-minute one-on-one coaching sessions will be scheduled individually with each participant. The registration deadline is Jan. 9. Class size is limited to five-15 participants, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Tuition is $1,250 per person.
NAHMA, in cooperation with course facilitator Brenda Harrington, founder of Adaptive Leadership Strategies LLC, created the NAHMA Emerging Leaders Learning Series course family to include two virtual programs designed to meet you where you are in your professional development: the original NELLSExecutive and the NELLSManager. NELLSManager focuses on topics relevant to first-line professionals, including property managers, leasing managers, maintenance managers and compliance specialists. The NELLSExecutive program focuses on issues relevant to senior organizational managers and leaders, typically at the director, regional, officer levels and above. The 2026 NELLSExecutive course will begin in August, with registration available starting in April.
Completing a NELLS course will earn an individual five continuing education units (CEUs) toward their annual requirement of six CEUs to maintain their NAHP or NAHP-e credentials. Additionally, completing a NELLS course will earn an individual a complimentary two-year NAHMA Associate membership. To successfully complete a NELLS course, and earn the five CEUs and free Associate membership, an individual must attend all three Zoom webinar classes and both one-on-one coaching sessions. At the end of the course, if a student has attended all five sessions, they will earn a completion certificate noting the five hours of CEUs earned. Students cannot earn any CEUs for less than full attendance.
Brenda Harrington, PCC, is a Certified Executive Coach and former property management executive. She works with clients across a variety of industry sectors to help develop the professional competencies required for effective 21st-century leadership. To learn more, please visit www.adaptiveleadershipstrategies.com.
NAHMA is the leading voice for the affordable housing management industry, promoting developing, managing and preserving quality affordable multifamily housing. NAHMA advocates for legislative and regulatory policy and provides affordable housing professionals with the knowledge to advance excellence in the communities they serve. NAHMA’s membership represents 75% of the affordable housing industry and includes its most distinguished multifamily owners and management companies. Visit www.nahma.org for more information.