What Does It Mean to Think Like an Owner in Property Management?Retail real estate is not won in boardrooms. It is won in the field. Chris Ressa sits down with Tine Helton, Regional Property Manager at DLC, to talk about the work that actually keeps open-air retail centers running across Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. From tenant relationships to infrastructure issues, Tine walks through what it means to own the day-to-day when performance, responsiveness, and consistency are the difference between a good center and a great one. Tine’s path into property management started on the leasing side, where she learned how a deal turns into a real, operating business. That curiosity led her into operations, professional certifications through IREM, and a leadership role focused on getting better at the craft, not just holding the title. The conversation digs into why education, ethics, and peer networks still matter in a business that moves fast and demands real accountability. At DLC, Tine shares what stood out most: a culture that backs its people and expects them to take ownership of outcomes. The result is a practical look at how strong operators build better properties, stronger tenant partnerships, and long-term performance in open-air retail. What You’ll HearWhy the best property managers operate like owners, not order-takersHow leasing knowledge becomes an operational advantage once the deal is signedWhat IREM certifications actually change in day-to-day decision-making and leadershipHow to turn education and peer networks into real career leverageWhat strong culture looks like when performance and accountability matterHow Midwest open-air centers stay competitive through consistency, speed, and follow-through Chapters00:00 – The Operator’s Seat Chris introduces Tine Helton and sets the stage for a conversation about what it really takes to run retail centers, not just lease them. 01:00 – From Leasing to Leadership Tine explains how her early work supporting leasing teams shaped the way she thinks about operations, tenants, and long-term performance. 02:45 – Choosing the Harder Path A look at why she moved into property management and embraced the challenge of being accountable for everything that happens after the deal is done. 04:00 – The IREM Advantage Tine breaks down how certifications, ethics, and peer networks through IREM sharpened her decision-making and accelerated her career. 07:30 – Turning Education into Opportunity How investing in professional development led directly to promotions, leadership roles, and industry recognition. 12:45 – Joining DLC and Thinking Like an Owner What stood out about DLC’s culture and why ownership, accountability, and support matter in daily operations. 15:40 – Growth Without a Ceiling Tine shares why continuous learning, new disciplines, and community involvement keep her pushing forward. 17:45 – Defining a Successful Year What success looks like when it is measured by team performance, process improvement, and being a leader others can count on.
