Michelle Zenga went into South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation 25 years ago (then known as South Boston Community Housing) to apply for an apartment. 

“I didn’t get the apartment, but I got a job,” she said. “I had a good rapport with the property manager and she hired me as secretary.”

A few weeks after that job offer, Michelle did find an apartment in South Boston. She was born and raised here and wanted to stay in Southie after the family home was sold. She jokes she had a gypsy life here, growing up on I and 7th, then O and 5th, then K and 5th, then L Street, then O Street, and finally Preble Street.

Michelle easily worked her way up to property manager/programs director after learning the ropes.

“I like serving the community I grew up in,” she said. “It’s rewarding. When I can help someone in need, it’s a nice feeling.”

Donna Brown, executive director of South Boston NDC, is grateful for Michelle. “She brings years of experience and energy to the role. If I have a question, Michelle can answer it immediately. She’s a huge asset to South Boston NDC.” 

Michelle, who now lives in Derry, NH – she uses her commute time to strategize and plan out her workday – is perfectly suited for her position. She is meticulous, numbers-oriented, and ultra-organized. Oh, she’s also hilarious!

“We have a lot of laughs here,” said Michelle, who is well known for comedic relief, jokes, keeping things light, and harassing the good-looking tenants. 

Michelle, who turned 50 on July 19,  is constantly surrounded by tons of paperwork, which is a huge part of her job. “I’m very particular with my files,” she said. “I like things a certain way.”

Every one of SBNDC’s 171 tenants has a giant folder that gets updated every year with lease information, salaries, and any new information.

“It doesn't look like I have a system,” she laughed. “This is my messy system.”

Michelle’s other duties include putting people on waiting lists; reaching out to applicants who fit the criteria for apartment openings; doing rental deposits, credit checks, applications, lease-ups, and notices to quit; sending reprimand letters; creating multiple reports; compiling information for audits; preparing low-income housing credits; sending out maintenance crews to SBNDC properties, and so much more.

“I like to be busy,” she said. “There’s never a dull moment.”

Michelle is also a marketing agent for developers, which entails advertising affordable openings, holding lotteries, categorizing applicants, and getting all the paperwork together. 

The money made from this role stays in the community, Michelle said. “It goes back out into our properties. Everything we do stays in the community.”

Michelle oversees a team: assistants Cheryl Conley and Christine Kelly and her maintenance guys, Owen McCarthy, Alan Coveney, and Michael Barry. “I have a really good team,” she said.

And she’s part of a really good team. “I’ve had three amazing bosses since I’ve been here 25 years and the last one [Donna] has been a blessing.

“I love my boss. She gets it,” Michelle said. “Family first. It’s a great place to work. We are family here.”

Before the pandemic – and before Michelle had 171 files – tenants would come in and chat. “I could sit with them. We'd have a conversation …. see how their families were doing.” 

Tenants don’t pop in now like they used to, but when they do, they chat with Christine or Cheryl. “I don’t have time,” said Michelle, who noted she misses that part of her job.

When Michelle isn’t tending her myriad files, she likes to unwind by riding her husband Brian’s motorcycle, spending time with her granddaughter and nieces, traveling … and making those around her laugh.