Feature photo: Lindsey Montoya (fourth from right) with team Rent Responsibly at a team retreat in Chicago in April 2022.
In 2022, Rent Responsibly hosted 42 virtual events for members of the short-term rental community. Most of those events were educational webinars on professionalism, community, responsible renting practices, and advocacy within the vacation rental industry.
And the face behind them all was Rent Responsibly project manager Lindsey Montoya.
Educational webinars and virtual events are a key part of the company’s mission. The virtual events often feature short-term rental alliance leaders and Rent Responsibly’s national partners.
“I love meeting new people and helping them create events that they (and myself) are proud of,” Lindsey said. “We have speakers from so many different fields that I am constantly learning through listening.
“During each event, I take in something new. I am a lifelong learner, and I’m fortunate that Rent Responsibly really encourages my professional development – both at and away from my desk.”
Lindsey joined Rent Responsibly in December 2021 during a time of fast-paced growth at the company.
Her role entails planning and executing events and internal projects. She also researches new event and project management software to make sure the company is up to date with current technology and using software to meet its growing needs.
In 2022, she helped the team learn a new platform for hosting virtual conferences. Rent Responsibly used the new technology at the first RR Summit in July.
The RR Summit is a two-day virtual event with several hours of expert-led educational sessions for short-term rental operators.
The second RR Summit took place in December.
“We almost tripled attendance and helped to educate a broader audience,” Lindsey said of the second summit. “It was a huge win, and I was proud to have managed it.”
As a remote company with employees scattered across the map, Rent Responsibly’s semiannual company retreats are an important way for employees to connect as a team. Lindsey is responsible for all of the logistics during these retreats, including transportation, lodging, meals, team-building activities, technical support, keeping within budget, and making sure everyone gets to the right place on time.
Before joining Rent Responsibly, Lindsey worked at the Anderson School of Management at UCLA planning and putting on executive conferences.
Her love of vacation rentals blossomed during a previous job as a wedding and event planner at a bed and breakfast in New Mexico. She later worked as the innkeeper at the bed and breakfast and listed the rooms on Vrbo.
“When I worked for the bed and breakfast, I noticed how many of the guests were interacting with other guests and making friends in communal spaces,” Lindsey said. “When doing my own traveling with my husband, Leo, we started staying at places listed on Vrbo and Airbnb. I learned how much I loved interacting with the hosts and enjoying those same communal spaces.”
Less than a year later when the couple moved to Los Angeles, Lindsey and Leo were looking for ways to make ends meet due to the high cost of living there.
“I turned our spare bedroom into a guest space and listed it on Airbnb for several years,” she said. “We still have friendships with several of the long-term guests, as they really became a part of our family.”
Lindsey learned about Rent Responsibly from a job posting on LinkedIn.
“When reading the job description, I was shocked and excited that it seemed written specifically for me,” she said. “After doing some research, I realized it brought my experience in event planning, my educational and work experience in government, and my personal and professional experience in hospitality together beautifully.”
Rent Responsibly has what the co-founders Alexa Nota and Dave Krauss call a “unicorn philosophy.” A “unicorn” is “someone who would take the role and our company to higher levels than we imagined and who would be a valuable culture add to our team,” Alexa said. Rent Responsibly tailors jobs to people rather than trying to tailor people to jobs.
“I felt that then, and I still feel that now,” Lindsey said.
She loves that Dave and Alexa have created “a culture where people are greater than profits.”
For instance, in July of 2022, Lindsey and Leo’s home in Las Vegas, Nevada, flooded from a burst pipe, and they and their two children were displaced for over six months.
“They didn’t bat an eye when I needed some time off,” Lindsey said. “They went above and beyond and even surprised me with a DoorDash gift card to alleviate some of the stress.”
Lindsey also is proud to be Rent Responsibly’s first mother on staff. She has two sons, Beau, age 5, and Cal, age 2.
“Juggling two small children and working full time is not for the faint of heart,” she said. “Work-life balance is important to Rent Responsibly though, and they have encouraged me to use our unlimited PTO and flexible scheduling so that I don’t miss out on small but important events like attending my son’s holiday parties at school and encouraging me to still participate in school drop-off daily. The flexibility allows me to have lunch with my family, kiss all the booboos, and be the work-at-home mother I want to be.”
She noted statistics that show only 63% of mothers with children under 3 hold jobs. Many of them were forced out of the workforce during the Covid pandemic. Nearly 30% of working mothers reported concern that being a parent would make them seem less committed to their jobs. About 40% said they had considered leaving the workforce due to increased childcare responsibilities.
“I think if more of these mothers worked for Rent Responsibly, and companies like it, we’d see a decrease in those worries and an increase in the number of employed mothers,” Lindsey said.
Asked how she spends her free time, she responded: “Free time? That’s hilarious! I chase my two boys, Beau and Cal, around in circles.
“Being a mother is the hardest and most rewarding job I’ve ever done. When they are finally asleep, I spend quiet time with my husband when he’s not working. I’m fortunate to be married to a creative and supportive man, Leo, who is a wonderful partner and father. We’ve worked together to create shifts that allow us both to be full-time parents and full-time employees.
“I enjoy reading, laying by the pool (don’t confuse it for swimming), and eating chips and salsa. Heaven may be all three of those at the same time! I also love to thrift and am always on the hunt for a good deal.”
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