The Peabody Companies, a group of property management and real estate firms, has announced a milestone in its history, marking the 45th anniversary of its founding this month.
The Peabody Companies and its subsidiaries (Peabody Properties, Peabody Resident Services, Peabody Supportive Housing, Peabody Real Estate and Peabody Miami) were incorporated on Jan. 9, 1976, by the late Edward A. Fish, who is still considered one of the founding fathers of the affordable housing industry. This family legacy is carried on by his two daughters – Karen Fish-Will (principal and CEO) and Melissa Fish-Crane (principal and COO) – and it resonates strongly throughout the Peabody Companies today.
Since Fish-Will and Fish-Crane assumed the helm in 2010, the organization has steadily expanded, experiencing year over year growth to reach more than 13,650 apartment and condominium homes in their property management portfolio, most located in the greater Boston area and many of which are affordable.
Despite the myriad of challenges presented by the pandemic this past year, Fish-Will and Fish-Crane have navigated the difficult waters with the health, safety and well-being of residents and team members in mind.
They instituted the CARES (Community And Resident Emergency Support) program company-wide, comprised of a multi-lingual team of resident outreach support specialists whose exclusive purpose is to safeguard the well-being of residents by focusing specifically on developing trusting relationships, creating community connections, and delivering peace of mind.
Presently, the Peabody Companies is working on establishing COVID-19 vaccine clinics throughout several of their senior communities through the CDC’s Pharmacy Partnership for Long Term Care Program, ensuring that both their residents and front-line employees at those communities have access to the vaccine as soon as possible.
During their tenure, Fish-Will and Fish-Crane have also focused on the establishment of five Veterans Housing Communities for formerly homeless veterans, as well as the emphasis on service-enriched housing through Peabody’s specialty sector, Peabody Resident Services. As an organization that is also deeply committed to sustainability initiatives, Peabody has been an enthusiastic multi-family housing partner in the Better Buildings Challenge. Since joining in 2014, their long-term efforts toward energy efficiency have demonstrated firm commitment, as they are more than half-way toward their goal of 20 percent energy use reduction by 2022. To date, the organization has exceeded $20.4 million in energy saving upgrades for their clients.
The Peabody Companies is a Woman Business Enterprise, is certified by the Massachusetts State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance and was ranked #54 on the 2020 National Affordable Housing Management Association’s (NAHMA) Affordable 100 List. Peabody Properties was also named a 2017, 2018 and 2019 Top Place to Work by the Boston Globe and a 2018 and 2019 GlassdoorBest Place to Work.
The Peabody Companies is comprised of a team of more than 600 skilled professionals, boasting a collective total of over 500 industry designations and certifications.
“We’re both humbled and ecstatic to have reached this milestone,” said Fish-Will. “We are so incredibly proud of our history in the multifamily housing sector and our mission-driven approach of ‘putting the home in housing.’ We are proud of our dedicated team and are more committed than ever to ensuring our residents have warm and supportive communities to call home for many more years to come.”
