Executive Team
Joel Erlitz
Joel Erlitz is President, Designated Broker and principal stockholder of First Commercial Property Corporation in Seattle, Washington. For the last 30+ years, Mr. Erlitz has represented community owners in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. He has been appointed twice by Governors to represent Manufactured Housing Communities of Washington, Inc. (MHCW), an industry trade organization on State funded task forces. He is a past state president and has sat on the Board of Directors of MHCW for over twenty years. He owns and operates manufactured housing communities in Washington and Idaho, and fee manages communities for a select few clients. He is politically active in state politics as it affects the MHC landlord-tenant act. He has been hired by lending institutions, developers and by legal counsel to provide expert testimony on issues relating to management and ownership of land lease communities. Prior to his involvement with manufactured housing communities, Mr. Erlitz studied and taught at Washington State, Ohio State, and Ohio University for his PhD, Masters and BA respectively.
Ross Rongner
Ross Rongner is Vice President, licensed real estate broker and stockholder in First Commercial Property Corporation of Seattle, Washington. He currently owns an interest in a 50 space MHC and was recently elected President of the Cascade Chapter of Manufactured Housing Communities of Washington, Inc. (MHCW), the state's industry trade organization. He started his career as an onsite manager and has been active within the property management industry over the last 20 years. Prior to joining FCPC, he managed apartments, retail, condominium associations and manufactured housing land lease communities. He was promoted to Senior Portfolio Manager and Director of Manufactured Housing Management for seven years with a large property management firm. His client base was individual and institutional owners including county housing authorities and the Port of Seattle. Before his promotion as Director, he managed manufactured housing communities, apartments, retail and condominium associations in Washington.
Tom Griffin
Tom Griffin, Regional Property Manager is a US Army Veteran of the Vietnam War and after returning back in Texas he served as a police officer. For about thirteen years, he was the onsite manager for a national manufactured housing community syndicator including handling all aspects of budgets, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll for staff and retailing home sales while managing a 960 space manufactured housing community in Missouri and 2,833 spaces in Texas. He began his tenure for First Commercial Property Corporation in 1993 and has managed three communities for the company. He is a stockholder of Park Improvement Corporation and holds the title of Regional Manager at First Commercial Property Corporation.
Katherine Griffin
Katherine Griffin, Senior Property Manger had a twenty year career as a Licensed Practical Nurse prior to her involvement in the manufactured housing industry. She is a licensed real estate agent with First Commercial Property Corporation where she has worked for approximately three years. She currently fee manages four communities in North Puget Sound region of Western Washington.
Jim Welch, Accounting
Jim had a distinguished carreer as an Officer in the US Navy and has been an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois with strong skills in teaching Management and Leadership. He has had 15 years accounting experience in real estate property management. This Northwest native has worked in accounting for large local commercial real estate management and holding companies. He owns several commercial/industrial properties and a passion for music and animals keeps him very busy.
All of our staff have been onsite managers and fully understand every aspect of property ownership and management literally from the ground up.