February - March 2008
christopher zarka wins arm awards
Unusual is one way to describe Coach Zarka, the new ARM manager of the year and winner of the building of the year award.
Christopher Zarka, ARM, is the resident manager at Windward Estates, 16 acres, 23 buildings, 193 units just mauka of Windward Mall at Kahekili and Haiku streets.
Zarka started his career in the Peace Corps, served in Tonga, won a fellowship at the University of Hawaii gaining a master’s in marine biology, and taught at La Pietra before his wife decided she didn’t want to be a stay at home mom.
That’s what triggered his search for a job you can do from home.
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Thus, resident manager seemed to apply.
‘Andy Lieurante gave me my first break. He took a chance on me and I’m really grateful.’
He started as a relief manager and won his first real RM job at the Sakura. Then his wife decided she wanted to switch from flight attendant to pilot. That triggered a series of moves from the Bahamas through Michigan, Seattle and California.
On returning, he started again as relief manager before winning the Windward Estates job in 2004.
Since being there he has reduced water useage from 20 million gallons to 12 million a year by switching to all low-flow toilets at no cost to homeowners. He hopes to reduce electric costs from $150,000 a year to $50,000 by switching all the central hot water boilers to modern, efficient units and installing solar. Windward Estates has central hot water. He’s replaced 300 fences and gates. And he’s unscrewed every last incandescent bulb.
Plus, there’s the coaching. He was the 1999 Michigan Swim Coach of the year, swim coach for the Rose Bowl which had 300 people on the team, coach of the national champion swim team of the Bahamas and coach at Aulea in Kailua.
Plus, he was Father of the Year in 1996 in Hawaii.
His advice for young RM’s: Join the fraternity.
‘Ralph Shumway was instrumental in helping me win this. We’re
not a dog eat dog industry, come to the meetings and especially, take
advantage of the education courses.
‘And I want to thank my property manager Chuck Ray.’
