Setting Your Brand Apart Through Purpose with Prometheus

“I don’t just work for a company, I work for a company that cares. I work for a company that really cares about not just about the Neighborhoods that we manage,  
but the neighborhoods beyond our Neighborhoods.” 

 – Oscar Ayala, Senior Director of Learning & Development at Prometheus Apartments 

“’Good living for the greater good’ really reflects our give-back to the community. … We provide good living, and we provide greater good for our Neighbors, but we also do that  
for everyone else that’s out there.”  

– Savannah Van Voorhis, Senior Manager of Brand Experience & Neighbor Insights at Prometheus Apartments 

In this special “guest duo” episode of OnBrand, join host Sarah Grace McCandless as she speaks with Oscar Ayala, senior director of Learning and Development, and Savannah Van Voorhis, senior manager of Brand Experience and Neighbor Insights at Prometheus Apartments. During the course of their panel-style discussion, you’ll learn more about what it really means to foster community engagement, why it’s crucial to be purpose-driven as a brand, and much more! 

When it comes to creating connections with customers that truly feel like home, Prometheus Apartments is an incredible example of what’s possible when you truly care about the people you serve. They’ve taken their brand purpose and transformed it into an entire philosophy; one that values community connections, meeting needs, and where helping others isn’t just an afterthought — it’s a way of life. In fact, they’ve even altered their lexicon to use words like “Neighbors” and “Prometheans” instead of less personal words like “tenants” or “employees.” But they didn’t get there by just talking about it, or by hosting a few events. Prometheus found unique success allowing the purpose of their brand to inform their actions and shine through everything they do. 

“When we say ‘good living for the greater good,’ we believe it. It is in our core. It’s in our culture; not by design, not check a box, not because a boardroom director decided we needed to pursue this path to keep up with the competition — it’s in our history. Our founders believed in giving back with time in any way you could, right from the beginning back 56 years ago. And those same values ring true today. That give-back piece — that ‘good living for the greater good’ — has been with us since the beginning.” Savannah says.  

“We’re not doctors, we’re not firefighters getting cats out of trees, but we provide home. It’s a really important thing that we’re doing here, especially during the pandemic and prior even to that.” Oscar explains, highlighting the importance of staying connected and engaged even during quarantine. “They come home, they open the door, and they feel like they’re part of a community, and that’s what we really strive to have our Prometheans understand; that it’s a big responsibility. It’s not just like, ‘okay, I’m going to help someone lease an apartment — no, you’re a part of someone’s story.” 

Now having been in business for more than half a century as a family-owned company, Prometheus Apartments continues to serve their Neighbors through their bases in Portland, Seattle, and the San Francisco Bay area. In addition to their commitment to helping others and caring for their Neighborhoods, Prometheus channels approximately 30% of their yearly cash flow back into the communities they serve. 

Join us and learn how living out your brand purpose can make all the difference when it comes to building community and creating connections in this episode of OnBrand!  

Episode Resources

Oscar Ayala LinkedIn 

Savannah Van Voorhis LinkedIn 

Prometheus Apartments Website 

Prometheus Apartments LinkedIn