“Providing quality property management is an integral component of improving the overall economic quality of our neighborhoods. The goal of creating stable communities is decisively influenced by the ability to effectively manage these properties. The economic success or failure of a community can be found in the quality of its long-term maintenance and management.
It is the philosophy of Universal Management, Inc. (UMI), as Agent, to ensure that we are not only successful in operating economically and physically sound developments, but that we contribute to the long-term positive effects on the surrounding community.”
– Robert L. Hughes, Jr.
Our Team of Professionals
Robert L. Hughes, Jr., MBA, CRA,
Certified General RE Appraiser – MO/KS
President/Principal/CEO/Broker/Appraiser
With over forty years of experience in the real estate services industry, Robert L. Hughes, Jr serves as President/CEO of Hughes Development Company, Inc., Universal Management, Inc., and Principal of HDC Consulting Group, Inc. and Metro Group Real Estate, LLC.
During his career, Robert has consulted on and been involved in the rehabilitation of numerous multifamily housing properties around the country. He sits and continues to be active on a number of professional boards and trade associations related to the real estate industry and economic development in urban communities. He is the past Board Chairman of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), the nation’s oldest professional minority real estate trade association.
Robert holds degrees in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from the University of Kansas and a Master of Business Administration in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics from the University of Wisconsin. Bob is a licensed real estate broker in Kansas and Missouri and a Certified General Real Estate Appraiser in those same states.
Angela Chico-Agustin, B.S., B.A., COS
Vice President/CFO/Principal
Angela Chico-Agustin operates as Senior Vice President and CFO of Hughes Development Co, Inc. and Universal Management, Inc. and Licensed Sales Agent for The Metro Group. Angela has over thirty years of experience in real estate property management and over thirty-five years of experience in financial management. Her duties include establishing and monitoring internal controls, regulatory compliance, conducting procedural, financial and operational audits on sites, directing the preparation of annual budgets, monitoring management improvement and operating plans, and working with external auditors during annual compliance audits. Angie graduated in 1969 with a major in accounting, and passed the CPA Board in 1970. She is a licensed Real Estate and a Certified Occupancy Specialist and a Certified Maintenance Manager with the National Center for Housing Management.
Beverly Easterwood, B.S., B.A., CRA,
Certified General RE Appraiser-MO/KS
Principal – HDC Consulting Group, Inc. -Arivs Kansas/Nebraska, LLC
Beverly operates as a State Certified General Real Property Appraiser in Kansas and Missouri, Licensed Sales Agent for The Metro Group Real Estate, LLC and Robert Hughes and Company, and Principal of HDC Consulting Group, Inc. Beverly has been active in the real estate industry since 1977, and in real estate appraising since 1981. She is the president of the Arivs Kansas/Nebraska, LLC, an appraisal management company.
Beverly is experienced in the appraisal of all types of residential, commercial and industrial real estate, and her experience also includes the appraisal of partial takings and easements, foreclosures, and FHA 203(k) properties. Clients include banks, mortgage companies, federal, state, county and city government entities, as well as individuals, churches and attorneys. Consulting assignments have included serving as a consultant to the Acquisition Team for the Kansas International Speedway Corporation, which constructed the NASCAR race track in western Wyandotte County, Kansas, a consultant to the Public Housing Resident Council, which contested the flat rent schedule proposed by the Housing Authority of Kansas City, and a consultant to the Kansas Legislature – Legislative Post Audit Division. Beverly has testified as an expert witness for condemnation proceedings, tax protest hearings, divorces, etc., is a certified appraiser for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and a Review Appraiser. Other consulting services include market studies for Low Income Housing Tax Credit properties, rent comparability studies, and Comprehensive Needs Assessments (CNA’s) for HUD-insured properties.
Beverly is also a licensed real estate agent in Kansas and Missouri, and has a BSBA degree in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. She has also completed post graduate study in real estate from Rockhurst College.
Jan Kennedy
Vice-President/COO/Principal
Director of Property Management
Principal – HDC Consulting Group, Inc.
Since joining Hughes Development Company and Universal Management, Jan has played an integral part in the growth of acquisition and development of properties totaling millions of dollars. As an example, she worked closely with the local Housing Authority in 2008 and 2009 on the acquisition and rehabilitation of a 108-unit elderly property under the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. Although the project required an intricate relocation program involving all current residents, the renovation was completed on time and the property fully leased within less than 30 days of construction completion. Jan has since performed similar activities including construction site monitoring for a number of acquisition/rehab properties.
Jan is a Certified Occupancy Specialist as well as a Certified Tax Credit Manager.
Jan joined Universal Management in 1998 with over twenty years of experience in the management of both HUD-assisted and conventional properties. Prior to her current position with Universal, Jan was Area Vice President with Republic Management, a firm contracted by HUD to manage both the operations and rehabilitation of HUD-owned properties in San Francisco and Oakland, California. During her seven-year tenure in this position, Jan completed renovation and repair contracts totaling in excess of fifty million dollars, as well as the development and successful completion of three resident relocation programs involving over 400 families. All relocations and other procurements were completed under strict compliance with Federal Acquisition regulations. This included preparation of bid packages, pre-bid conferences, bid selection process, contract monitoring, review of certified payrolls, review of contract modifications and contract payment applications. Past experience also includes the management of properties in both Kansas and Missouri for Housing Resource Management, Inc., and ten years with The Boston Financial Group. While with Boston Financial, Jan began her property management career as an Assistant Manager on-site and, within three years, became a Regional Vice President with responsibility for approximately 4,000 units located in six states, as well as approximately 200,000 square feet of commercial and retail space.
Rhonda Holmes, B.A., LIHTC,
Certified Public Housing Manager
Property Supervisor/Property Manager
Rhonda brings to Universal Management over a decade of development and management experiences. She has worked in a variety of notable responsibilities ranging directly with large urban cities to non-profit economic development agencies. Rhonda has been an entrepreneur and has worked for the last several years in the private real estate management arena. She currently managers and supervises a portfolio that includes multifamily housing, commercial office and retail centers.
Ms. Holmes received her Bachelor’s Degree from Temple University, with numerous continuing professional development courses since graduating in 1978. Ms. Holmes received her certification as a Public Housing Manager from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials as well as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for IRS Section 42 Tax Credit Housing.
Beatrice Harris-Davies, COS, TCS
Compliance Manager
Beatrice Harris has over twenty years of experience in both HUD and Tax Credit policies and procedures to meet the demand of our management firm. Her responsibilities include the establishment of the internal controls for monitoring the compliance policies and procedures for the various properties, processing the HUD monthly vouchers and submitting the TRACS files. Beatrice monitors and reviews the TRACS activities on the HUD On-line Secure System to insure 100% compliance. She also serves as the coordinator for the HUD Secure System for the on-line system for the properties, reviews and approves all the resident files prior to move-in, audits and reviews the reviews files on site on a monthly basic. Beatrice also monitors and reviews the Annual Compliance Report on the On-line system for both MHDC and KHRC. Beatrice is the firm’s primary trainer in all areas of regulatory occupancy compliance. She also serves as a support person on the management software (Yardi).
Beatrice is certified as Certified Occupancy and Tax Credit Specialist with the National Center for Housing Management.
Sujata Patro, M.S.
Vice-President/Accounting Supervisor
Sujata has over 10 years of experience in financial analysis, modeling, and forecasting. Working both abroad and nationally, Sujata analyzed corporate and private station accounts. As accounting supervisor she is responsible for financial reporting, reconciliation of financial records and statements, processing payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, sales taxes. She has a proven record of significantly reducing audit adjustments.
Sujata obtained her Masters in Mathematics at Berhampur University, India and Associates in Accounting at Johnson County Community College.
Juan Sweeny
Accounts Specialist/Office Specialist
Juan Hua (Joy) has over 20 years of experience in different types of Businesses domestic and international. Joy manages the majority of accounts payable for properties managed by Hughes Development Co. Inc. and Universal Management Inc. She has implemented the Accounts Payable Procedure that expedites the daily, weekly, monthly processing and improve the productivity in her department. Her other responsibilities include Payroll, Accounts Receivable, Office Management and support the other departments on an as needed basis.
Joy has a degree in Business Administration and graduated from Fujian Business College.