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I really owe it all to my mentor in Real Estate and Property Management. He is not only the best real estate investor I know, he has been an incredible mentor and friend for more than 20 years. Early in my career, I was fortunate to have such a mentor who took me along with him looking at deals and showing me the ropes as only a seasoned real estate investor can. He never rushed the lessons. He taught me about real estate investing: everything from how to evaluate a real estate deal, to how to consider the financing options, how to do the repairs and how to negotiate and lead people.
My start in the industry was humble. As an onsite manager at a college apartment complex, my days were filled with fixing leaky faucets, mowing lawns, and learning the true rhythm of real estate and property management from the ground up. During that time, my mentor taught me so many valuable lessons - stuff you don't learn in college or from books.
What began as a one-person operation slowly grew into a home office supported by a small group of hardworking maintenance technicians, then into a staffed office, and eventually into a company shaped by humility, grit, and trust. Along the way, those early environments became classrooms and proving grounds—places where values were formed long before titles or growth ever entered the picture.
He showed me that real estate is not simply about buildings, spreadsheets, or transactions. It is about consistency, responsibility, and showing up every day with pride in the work. Those principles remain central to how we operate today.
Looking at where the company is now, I see more than growth. I see the quiet impact of his guidance, the foundation he helped me build, and a journey that began with a shovel in my hand and dirt under my fingernails and became something lasting. For that, I am deeply grateful. (Thank you Jeff!)
Centurion didn’t start as a big company with investors, fancy offices, or outside funding.
It started with me — managing for a single owner, some excel spreadsheets, and a passion for doing things the right way.
I’m Mendell Gosnell, founder of Centurion Real Estate Management, and this is the story of how Centurion was built from the ground up, by thinking like investors, serving like owners, and caring like neighbors. I didn’t start out knowing what to do, so I built it the way that made sense.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
My journey started just like many of our clients — as an investor.
I bought a property, managed it myself, and learned quickly that property management is a hands-on business.
I was the leasing agent, the maintenance coordinator, the bookkeeper — even the after-hours call center.
I tracked rents in Excel, drove around collecting checks, and fixed problems at midnight.
It wasn’t glamorous — but it taught me everything I needed to know about what property owners really face.
GROWING THROUGH EVERY ROLE
Over the years, I worked in every area of this business.
From on-site management and leasing to maintenance, accounting, and supervision.
I handled evictions, turnovers, vendor contracts — you name it.
That experience gave me a deep understanding of how all the moving parts connect — and how to create systems that make property management work better for everyone.
I also had a great mentor in real estate that helped me understand every aspect of investing in real estate as well as a lot about the trades and how to jump in and fix things. I believe that this strong first-hand knowledge of investment real estate and first-hand knowledge of the construction industry, the trades and property maintenance are some of the big things that make Centurion such a valuable asset manager for our clients.
BUILDING SOMETHING BETTER
As we grew I focused on building a company that thinks like the investor, acts like the owner, and cares for the resident.
We designed every process around performance — from leasing speed and rent collection to maintenance response and communication.
We didn’t just want to manage properties — we wanted to elevate the experience for everyone involved.
Back then - over 20 years ago – it was a pretty sleepy industry. So when I began to introduce systems and process and quality control and even software and technology – it was a BIG CHANGE.
EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY & SYSTEMS
In the beginning, it was just me and Excel…And a pen and yellow notepad. Oh yeah, and my Microsoft Phone with the stylus and slide out keyboard (do you remember those?). Then I upgraded to the Blackberry Phone – what a game changer.
But over time, we researched, tested, and implemented the best property management software and automation tools available.
We built systems that streamline communication, reporting, maintenance, and accounting — all designed to make ownership simple, transparent, and profitable.
Technology changed everything — but culture kept us grounded.
CULTURE AND VALUES
What really sets Centurion apart is our culture…AND the PEOPLE.
We built a team that values integrity, accountability, and empathy.
We think like investors, but we never forget that there are real people living in these homes.
Every property, every tenant, every owner — they all matter.
Because when we care for people, the properties — and the results — take care of themselves.
TODAY AND BEYOND
Today, Centurion manages thousands of units across Oregon — and continues to grow every year. With our main property management office in Salem, Oregon and branch offices in Corvallis, OR and Eugene, OR.
But we’ve never lost that “from the ground up” mentality.
We’re still learning, still improving, and still committed to excellence — one property, one tenant, one owner at a time.
From the first spreadsheet to today’s systems and technology — our mission hasn’t changed:
To manage property, maximize performance, and treat every investment like it’s our own.
“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” — Isaac Newton
