When Tamika Baskin saw a flyer for a receptionist internship at MPHA that included an administration certificate upon completion, she was intrigued and decided to sign up. Little did she know, 28 years later, she’d be the Assistant Director of Operations Management. Tamika’s MPHA journey to this esteemed role reflects her commitment to education and development, along with true dedication to the MPHA resident community.

After completing an initial administrative internship, Tamika started as a front desk receptionist in 1997. In that role Tamika answered phone calls and directed new applicants and current residents and participants to the correct departments. Within six months, Tamika was promoted to another administrative role where she helped applicants fill out applications while ensuring eligibility criteria and accompanying documents were accurate. Soon after, she became a leasing eligibility technician where she processed applications for high-rise residents.

After working as a receptionist and eligibility technician through 2000, Tamika left the agency to help care for her mother. When Tamika returned to MPHA about a year and a half later, she took a role as a management aid in Northeast at 828 Springs. She then spent time in the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) department, helping voucher-holders with the annual recertification process. Following the brief stint with HCV, Tamika shifted back to public housing in a similar role, helping public housing residents with their annual recertification. After about 10 years in that role, Tamika stepped into a property manager role at 314 Hennepin, managing the building’s staff and leading resident engagement to ensure residents were heard.

“In the property manager role, my passion really began to flourish for affordable housing and quality customer service,” said Tamika Baskin, Assistant Director of Operations Management for the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority.

“I gained a greater understanding of the impact that [the agency] makes on a day-to-day basis,” said Tamika. “I learned the importance of building a rapport with our residents understanding true engagement with our residents is key to success.”

While Tamika was a property manager, she began graduate school to pursue a Master’s in Public and Non-Profit Administration. Tamika’s graduate studies were paid in part by MPHA’s tuition reimbursement program, balancing the coursework with her full-time role as a property manager until she completed and received her degree in 2017.

Shortly after her graduation, Tamika was promoted and returned to Northeast as the regional property manager. She spent six years in that role, leading a team of property managers. Wanting to gain experience outside of the public housing sector, Tamika then left MPHA to assume a leadership role at a large non-profit affordable housing provider in the region. It was through this work that she gained a new perspective on the affordable housing industry and deepened her commitment to the community.

However, it did not take long for Tamika to begin missing the resident engagement that underpins MPHA’s mission. And after about a year and a half away MPHA, Tamika returned to the agency in December as the new Assistant Director of Operations Management—welcome news to the MPHA team and residents.

In this new role, Tamika will be leading the regional property managers and field staff in the public housing operations team and acting as the department director’s deputy. In one of the largest agency departments, Tamika’s new role ensures the more than 150 property management staff, onsite maintenance team members, and trade workers are supported and have opportunities to develop their skills. As a manager committed to continuing training and development for her team, she is looking forward to supporting the team with more leadership training, so they are meeting their highest potential and are ready for new opportunities within the agency as they come along.

“My favorite part of the job is I’m learning something and still supporting and developing staff,” said Tamika. “I’m outside of my comfort, learning new things for this new role while still supporting staff—which has always been a favorite part of my work.”

“I’m excited to be engaging with residents again,” said Tamika. “I really appreciate the emphasis MPHA puts on resident engagement and the partnership with our residents.”

Tamika has had countless coworkers over the years believe and invest in her. Tamika recalls being inspired by Cora McCorvey, the executive director of the agency when she started.

“To see someone that looked like me in the executive director role when I was a receptionist was really inspiring,” said Tamika. “She encouraged staff to utilize tuition reimbursement and be ready for opportunities to come. I really ate up every word she said and was able to do just that. I eventually earned my master’s degree through the tuition reimbursement program.”

Tamika is one of many MPHA employees that have turned a job into a career at the agency. Starting as an intern and growing into her current role as Assistant Director of Operations Management, Tamika took every opportunity to grow and progress her career, supporting and helping to develop her co-workers all along the way.