Meet the NAA Government Affairs’ Advocacy365 Advocate of the Year award recipient. 

Named after one of the late founders of the Minority Apartment Owners Association, the Malcom N. Bennett Advocate of the Year award was presented at the National Apartment Association’s November Assembly of Delegates in Atlanta. Phillip Neuman, shareholder with Farmington Hills, Mich.-based law firm Couzens Lansky, was awarded the honor after more than three decades in the rental housing industry.  

His involvement with NAA began in 2013 when he joined the organization’s Legislative Committee, but he has served as the chair of the Legislative Committee with the Detroit Metropolitan Apartment Association since its inception in 2002. 

What does being named the Malcom Bennett Advocate of the Year mean to you? 

I am very honored to have received an award named for a true champion of our industry, Malcolm Bennett. I met Bennett while we both served on the NAA Legislative Committee and always looked forward to seeing him at our meetings. He was very knowledgeable and passionate about multifamily housing and an inspiration to us all.  

Why is it important for NAA members to be active at their local affiliates and the national level?  

There are so many issues that affect the multifamily housing industry locally, and it is impossible for one person to keep track of every city council and every county board of commissioners. That’s why we need to have a network of members who are maintaining relationships with city and county leaders so that if a proposal that affects our industry arises, we can learn about it quickly and be a trusted resource to help our leaders understand the challenges we face.  

Where can someone start to get involved?  

Every local affiliate should have a Legislative Committee that monitors the legislative activities in their area. The Legislative Committee is a great place to learn about the mechanics of how a bill becomes law and how to approach our civic leaders to hopefully influence the outcome of legislative proposals.  

Why is advocating for the rental housing industry so critical?  

Our industry is under attack from legislators and regulators who want to micro-manage our industry. We need to explain the pitfalls of the proposals that are being floated and show that we truly care about providing safe, clean and affordable housing to our residents. Our voices have to be heard and the only way to do that is to meet with government leaders and their staffs.  

What do you tell people who respond that they don’t have time to advocate on behalf of the industry?  

It doesn’t take a lot of effort to find out who your city councilperson, state representative or state senator is; make an appointment to sit down and introduce yourself and have a discussion about concerns the legislator might have regarding the multifamily housing industry. The stories you can tell about your experiences with multifamily housing can be truly beneficial if legislation is introduced that might affect the industry.