James Donnelly speaks to an NSU class about the property management business.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The James Donnelly Property Management and Real Estate program in Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU) H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship has received a $1 million gift from Associa, a leading Texas-based property management company.
The gift, which will be distributed over five years beginning in August, will fund a new Associa Director of Property Management position.
“When James (Donnelly) came to me with this opportunity to prepare and cultivate the next wave of top-notch leaders in our industry, it was an opportunity too good to pass up,” said John Carona, founder and chief executive officer of Associa. “What we will be creating here will serve as a global model for addressing workforce shortages in a field that guarantees career stability and prosperity.”
Associa, the largest residential community management firm in the nation,
is a multimillion-dollar property management business Carona started with a few thousand dollars over 40 years ago. It has branch offices throughout the U.S., in Mexico and Canada.
“This gift from Associa will further propel our property management and real estate program to leadership in Florida and across the nation,” said Andrew Rosman, dean of the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship.
NSU’s program is the only one of its kind in Florida. James Donnelly, the program’s avid supporter and namesake, is an NSU Shark Circle and Board of Trustees member. He and Carona, with NSU President and CEO George L. Hanbury II, Rosman, and Susanne Marshall, executive director of development for NSU Advancement, collaborated to make the gift possible.
Real estate property managers are in high demand, particularly in Florida, where population growth was the highest in the country between 2022 and 2023. Florida’s beaches, climate, and attractions continue to draw people to the “Sunshine State.” Florida’s growth in residential and commercial property has led to a higher demand for qualified property managers. Florida’s real estate and rental and leasing sector is expected to grow 11.3% from 2023 to 2031.
In 2023, Donnelly, founder and chairman of the Castle Group, one of Florida’s largest property management companies, sought to address workforce shortages in real estate management through the James Donnelly Property Management and Real Estate program. The program is dedicated to producing an adept workforce that will meet a growing need for property managers in the state and beyond. The program targets undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration in property management and real estate.
“James has been a true visionary for our property management program at this college,” Rosman said. “He saw the potential here for future leaders and took his commitment into the classroom where he prepares our students for successful, sustainable careers.”
“I see NSU becoming the preeminent property management program in the country,” Donnelly said. “It has a record number of students every year so far. I couldn’t be more excited about where the industry is and where it’s going. And it needs what we’re creating here.”
Donnelly, and his wife, Cathy, have been longtime supporters of NSU. He was named an Entrepreneur and Business Hall of Famer in 2014 and the couple were recipients of the 2020 President’s Award for Excellence in Community Service Award.
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