Chandler Wonderly, founder of Olympus Property Company, knows a thing or two about property management. As a junior in college, Chandler made his first investment, and since then has been a pioneer in the multifamily space. Starting with just two properties to now owning 25,000 units, Chandler has been at the helm through massive growth.
As a student at Georgetown University in 1992, Chandler was perusing the business opportunities section of the classified ads in Bakersfield, California. He stumbled across a listing for an apartment building looking for an owner willing to pay just a 10% down payment on a $30,000 duplex. With a bit of ingenuity, he was able to gather $3,000 to put down on his first property. He then jumped into action—overseeing renovations, attracting renters, and creating a community from the ground up. From this experience, he quickly learned he had a knack for property management and hasn’t looked back since.
“I felt like this was something that I was really good at. I loved seeing what a simple can of paint and taking out the trash could do. I watched it become something much better than it was originally. After that, I was hooked.”
25,000 units later, Chandler remains passionate about creating welcoming communities in a competitive market. His love for the industry and the people he works with has been a consistent motivation.
“You have to do what you love. This doesn’t feel like work to me because I love the people I get to work with on a daily basis. If you’re doing something that you love and putting 100% of your effort in, you will become successful.”
Chandler believes that what sets Olympus apart from other companies is its employees. Within an environment that inspires individuals to thrive, a shared desire for growth has contributed to the company’s success. It’s not uncommon to celebrate 10-, 20-, and even 30-year career milestones, which is a testament to a dynamic company culture fueled by passionate employees.
“Success to me is measured in the happiness of our employees. For those growing your own business, make sure that you continue to ask your team, ‘Are you happy? Do you enjoy what you’re doing? Are you satisfied with what you’re doing?’”
As for the company’s future, the first thing on the agenda is to celebrate Olympus Property’s 30th anniversary with a company-wide four-day cruise through the Caribbean. Employees and a plus one can look forward to days spent under the sun on a newly renovated cruise ship. After that, Chandler can’t wait to continue uplifting employees, as well as watching Olympus grow and evolve.
“In 30 years, I will be 80 years old, and I’m sure that I will still be working out of the office every day, just like my dad who is 81 and still coming in. For Olympus, I see us continuing what we’re doing now and making sure that we don’t grow big enough where we lose track of our people. I want to always ensure that we keep that family culture, which is the core of our company.”
To learn more about Olympus Property Company and its dynamic culture, reach out today.