Monroeville Manager Honored for Exceptional Service

MONTGOMERY – Polly Smith of Monroeville has been recognized as the Alabama Housing Finance Authority’s 2025 Manager of the Year.

As manager, Smith oversees the daily operations of Candlewick Senior Village, home to 64 affordable apartments for elderly residents.

Now in its 28th year, the Manager of the Year award recognizes outstanding management staff at AHFA-funded multifamily housing developments.

Nominees were evaluated on tenant relations, experience and education, the complex’s curb appeal, and AHFA program compliance.

Olympia Management, Inc., nominated Smith for the award. The resident letters accompanying her nomination thanked her for creating an “extended family” atmosphere. They also repeatedly mentioned her speed and professionalism in addressing repairs and providing a safe, comfortable environment.

“What sets Polly apart is not just her technical excellence, but her heart for the people she serves,” said Olympia Management General Partner Jeff Beaver. “Residents trust her. Colleagues respect her. Communities thrive because of her.”

Smith was surprised to receive the award at a recent statewide affordable housing conference. “I have been privileged to have the opportunity to meet so many people through this job,” she said. “Not only am I a manager; I am a counselor, entertainment director, and so much more.”

AHFA Executive Director Robert Strickland praised Polly for her decades of consistent, committed service. “Good property managers like Polly set the tone for their developments,” he said. “Her efforts to create a secure, attractive and friendly environment make Candlewick Senior Village a welcoming home for the residents she serves.”

AHFA, established in 1980 by an act of the Alabama Legislature, is a self-supporting public corporation dedicated to meeting the housing needs of the state’s low- to moderate-income citizens. Its programs have provided opportunities for more than 200,000 families to live in homes they can afford.