merger-history

Purpose

This document explains the relationship between Watkins Property Management, ABC Property Management, Ottosen Property Management, and their parent company Anderson Ballard Companies, Inc.

Key Findings

The Connection:

Watkins Property Management, ABC Property Management, and Ottosen Property Management are all part of the same property management organization under Anderson Ballard Companies, Inc.
These companies, along with three others, merged together under the Anderson Ballard Companies umbrella.

The Merger

Anderson Ballard Companies, Inc. announced the merger of six property management companies in Southern California:

ABC Property Management
S&L Property Management
Keyside Property Management
Whittier Brokers Property Management
Watkins Property Management
Ottosen Property Management

Merger Timeline

Exact Date: Not publicly disclosed
Latest Evidence: Ottosen & Co’s Glendora Chamber of Commerce listing showed as “no longer available” by July 23, 2024
Estimated Timeframe: Merger occurred before mid-2024

Merger Structure

All six companies merged under Anderson Ballard Companies, Inc.
The merged entities are supported by Anderson Ballard’s back office operations
Property management operations utilize Appfolio property management software
The companies now operate together, sharing resources while maintaining their brand recognition

Leadership

Brent Ballard, President of Anderson Ballard Companies
Quote from announcement: “We are grateful to be entrusted with the opportunity to continue the great tradition of superior property management.”

Anderson Ballard Companies Background

Founded: 1924 (originally as Nephi Anderson’s company)
Heritage: 4th-5th generation family-run property management company
Family Legacy: The Anderson Ballard family has been helping clients buy, sell, develop, and manage real estate in Southern California for over 100 years
Operating Name: Also operates as “ABC Property Management” (Anderson Ballard Companies Property Management Division)

Family History & Ownership Evolution

1st Generation - Founder (1924):

Nephi Anderson moved to La Canada in 1922 as a missionary
1924: Purchased an 8-acre orchard and began building custom homes in La Canada
Built the foundation of what would become a multi-generational real estate business

2nd Generation (1952):

Nephi’s sons Blain, Wally, and Howard Anderson formed Anderson Brothers LLC in 1952
1952-1962: Developed many residential communities in the greater Los Angeles area
1962: Brothers parted ways; Blain Anderson founded BFA and Associates

3rd Generation - The Ballard Connection (1972):

1972: Blain Anderson’s oldest daughter married Dennis Ballard ← This is where the Ballard name enters the family business
Dennis Ballard and Blain Anderson formed Deseret Realty (subsidiary of BFA and Associates)
Together they developed, sold, and acquired millions of dollars in real estate assets
Notable projects: Hollywood Tower and Villa Elaine in Los Angeles

4th Generation (Current Leadership):

Brent Ballard (likely Dennis Ballard’s son) - Current President
Real estate broker license #01297151
Led the 2020-2024 merger of six property management companies

5th Generation:

Trey Ballard (license #02215641) - Works at Anderson Ballard Companies
Likely Brent Ballard’s son, representing the 5th generation

Related Entity:

BFA and Associates continues to operate today in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento as a hard money lender for real estate development projects

Service Area

Primary Region: Southern California
Coverage: Santa Barbara to San Diego
Counties: Los Angeles and Riverside Counties, plus surrounding Southern California regions

Headquarters

1313 Foothill Blvd, Ste 8 La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

Focus

Residential property management
Real estate investment services
Property development
Property sales

Pre-Merger Company Details

Ottosen & Co Property Management

Experience: Over 21 years in property management
Location: Glendora, CA area
Focus: Residential and multi-family properties
Key People:
- Ryan Ottosen (real estate focus since 2005)
- Traci Ottosen (known for communication and attention to detail)
Status: Chamber of Commerce listing inactive as of July 2024

Watkins Property Management

Location: Multiple locations found (California, Pennsylvania, Idaho)
California Location: Cypress, CA (Orange County and West LA County)
Focus: Residential single family rental homes, townhouses, and condos

Company Relationships Summary

Anderson Ballard Companies, Inc. (Parent Company - Founded 1930)
├── ABC Property Management (Anderson Ballard Companies Property Management Division)
├── S&L Property Management (Merged)
├── Keyside Property Management (Merged)
├── Whittier Brokers Property Management (Merged)
├── Watkins Property Management (Merged)
└── Ottosen Property Management (Merged)

Employees & Company Culture

Known Staff (Non-Family)

Research indicates the following employees work at ABC Property Management / Anderson Ballard Companies but have no public family connection to the Anderson or Ballard families:

Brandon Polizzi - Leasing agent, La Canada location
- Real estate agent listed on Zillow for La Canada, CA
- No family relation to Anderson or Ballard families found
Wesley Berg - Property manager
- LinkedIn profile exists but details not publicly accessible
- No family relation to Anderson or Ballard families found

Employee Reviews & Complaints

Reviews from employees on Indeed and Glassdoor reveal mixed experiences:

Positive Feedback:

Supervisors who care about employees and residents
Inspiring leadership (in some cases)
Benefits including PTO, sick time, floating holidays, and paid time off for major holidays
Friendly employees

Negative Feedback:

“Upper management does not listen to lower level staff and their complaints seriously”
“They don’t promote from within or pay well”
No holiday pay; employees had to fight for PTO
Management issues affecting service quality

These reviews suggest that service quality issues may stem from company culture and management practices rather than nepotism.

Important Notes

ABC in this context refers to “Anderson Ballard Companies” or their property management division
The merger allows all six companies to operate with shared back-office support
Merger timing: While no official announcement date was published, evidence suggests the merger was completed before mid-2024
All companies serve the Southern California residential property management market
Multiple “Watkins Property Management” companies exist across the U.S.; the one involved in this merger was the California location
Family vs. Employees: The Ballard family (Brent and likely Trey) manages the company, but most staff appear to be non-family employees