Hard-working Luis Loaiza embraced a hard-to-imagine challenge of a never-day-off, 80-hour per week work in order to provide for and build a better life for his young family.
Loaiza had two full-time jobs for four years. His “days off” were Mondays and Tuesdays, when he worked only eight hours.
“It was the hardest thing, but I was doing it for good reasons,” says Loaiza, a devoted husband and father of three children – between the ages of 10 and 13. “But I never even thought about it.”
He just worked. A lot.
His wife battles health issues, which affects how much she can work. So, Loaiza decided to double-up on his workday and join a very select group of 4 million Americans – less than 2.5% of the workforce – who hold two full-time jobs, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Loaiza was in maintenance at a local hotel when his wife came across a job listing for a similar position at an affordable apartment community in 2017.
“It sounded like something I wanted to do,” says Loaiza, who was intrigued by the opportunity at USA Properties’ Terracina at Cathedral City. “It was supposed to be my second job. It just kind of worked out.”
Numerous jobs help him excel as a maintenance supervisor
Soon, the 80-apartment community became his favorite job. And a career.
“I’ve done everything,” says Loaiza, who has been in construction, landscaping, retail and even repaired air conditioning units for two years. “I have nothing but respect for all trades. It took me a while to find something that I really like.”
Being a maintenance supervisor fits his long list of skills – and his long-term goals.
Loaiza excelled as the maintenance supervisor at Terracina at Cathedral City. He was promoted to the same position in August 2021 at Amanda Park Senior Apartments in Murrieta – USA Properties’ largest apartment community at 397 units.
“So far, so good … and we’re doing better every day,” says an upbeat Loaiza, who supervises a two-member maintenance team and a contractor. “Work has been great.”
Loaiza is learning there are a few differences between an affordable family and a senior apartment community, especially one that is five times larger than his previous property. But his approach remains the same.
“I always look at residents as customers, because they are,” says Loaiza, who will soon move with his family to Amanda Park Senior Apartments. “I try to do what I can to make residents happy.”
And if he ever runs into a challenge, he can seek the advice of his uncle, who recently retired as a longtime employee of USA Properties. Loaiza grew up in a USA Properties-owned apartment community in Desert Hot Springs.
“It was a great place to live,” he says. “I stayed there through high school.”
A ‘clear path’ with ‘the opportunity to move up’
Amanda Park Senior Apartments and USA Properties have also been a great place to work. “Everyone has been so nice to me,” Loaiza says of his coworkers and residents.
Of course, the ever-ambitious and goal-oriented Loaiza is already looking at down-the-road opportunities with the asset preservation team or in construction with USA Properties.
“What I love about this company is you can see a clear path,” he says. “You see the opportunity to move up.”
But, for now, he is enjoying the new job, the much-shorter work week – and a lot more time with his family.
“When I worked two jobs, I didn’t see them very much,” he says. “Now, I see them every night. It’s great having all this time with my family. It’s priceless, and something I don’t ever want to take for granted. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Outside the office
Luis Loaiza, his wife and three children enjoy spending time together, especially in San Diego, where LEGOLAND, the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld top the favorite things-to-do list.
