Marathons Don’t Get Easier: Marco Casillas

Twenty-six point two miles. One foot in front of the other. Never stopping, just pushing. Fatigue sets in, but quitting isn’t an option. The race is finished in the mind as much as it is in the body, the biggest competition not another person, but a clock… it is you vs. you!

When Marco Casillas, Action Property Management’s General Manager at Coral Tree Plaza in San Diego signed up for the Rock ’N’ Roll Marathon he made a commitment and stuck to it. With rigorous gym workouts beginning at 4:00 each morning and eight or more miles of running each evening plus longer runs on the weekends, he managed to log 30-40 miles a week for three consecutive months.

Despite the early start, on the morning of the race a handful of residents from Corral Tree Plaza stepped outside in time to see him run by the building. With a personal record set, after the race Marco reflected on his effort. Although it was his third such race, his sentiment was firm, “Marathons don’t get easier.”

Managers throughout the Action family have a common trait, and Marco is no different. They all have a deeply rooted work ethic that exudes a commitment to excellence. Given this drive, it’s no wonder that Marco would embark on a marathon while pouring himself into his job of ensuring that the residents in all 126 units of Coral Tree Plaza love their homes.

His transition to Action was abrupt. Back in 2016, Marco was in school studying to be become a paramedic with plans to join a local fire department. To pay the bills, he worked at a restaurant, in the San Diego Fish Market. One day while waiting tables, he served the General Manager of The Electra, another one of Actions’ buildings in the area. The man was impressed with Marco’s work ethic and handed him a business card with instructions to call him if he ever changed his mind about firefighting.

Not sure exactly why, Marco gave the man a call. From there an interview was set up with Action’s regional director. Not wanting to appear unprepared, Marco did a deep dive into what exactly it was that Action did. He came to the interview both impressed by the company and prepared to engage in a meaningful conversation. By the end of the meeting, Marco had a job offer and a huge decision to make.

” Given this drive, it’s no wonder that Marco would embark on a marathon while pouring himself into his job of ensuring that the residents in all 126 units of Corral Tree Plaza love their homes.

The first part of that decision led him to quit the job at the fish market and accept the offer. As for the second part, he ultimately decided to finish the semester at school, but devote himself to Action full time after that.

From there Marco worked as a manager assistant in the San Diego office and filled in on site as needed. Within a year he had transitioned to a full time position at The Electra.

His next stop was as Assistant General Manager at Savina, a brand new ultra-luxurious building in San Diego. While there he worked with General Manager Jabbear Swinton and the developer of the project to iron out all the details of ensuring that the building met the high expectations of both the current and future residents.

After three and half years at Savina, Marco was ready to move on to a building of his own. When the General Manager position at Coral Tree Plaza opened up, he was eager to take on the role. The stark contrast from the brand new Savina to the nearly fifty-year-old Coral Tree Plaza was daunting, but with the tenacity of a marathon runner, Marco showed up on day one ready to work.

While residents were busy upgrading their individual units, Marco worked to modernize the common areas and infrastructure. Though the building is old, it is still home to the residents of the two fifteen-story towers, and Marco wants to ensure that it remains a home they are proud to return to each day.

A true people-person, Marco is motivated by serving others and meeting their needs. One of Action’s core values is “We care about people” and this mantra rings true with Marco. Daily interaction with residents is one of the things that keeps him showing up every morning.

Though he has a wife and kids at home, Marco finds the time everyday to excel at his job, push himself physically, and enjoy the family that he has. After all, life is a marathon and it doesn’t always get easier, but as time goes on, the rewards often get better.