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American Marketing Systems Inc., AMSI is a full-service Real Estate Brokerage headquartered in San Francisco, California. AMSI has developed a superior model for corporate relocation, vacation housing, and investment property management. With skilled leasing/sales agents and an experienced property management team, AMSI has earned a respected reputation since the company’s inception in 1970.

Our industry standing has made us the number one contact for renters seeking furnished and unfurnished rentals in many prime locations across the United States. We have developed offices in San Francisco, Oakland, New York City, San Diego and Maui. Additionally, affiliations with property owner’s worldwide have expanded our available accommodations internationally. AMSI has been honored for innovation and business achievement by The Better Business Bureau, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Small Business Administration, California State Senate, and the San Francisco Examiner’s Bay Area’s Best.

Creation of American Marketing Systems, Inc.

Zoya Lee Smithton, Michael Kocina and Robb Fleischer created American Marketing Systems Inc. in April 1997.

Zoya Lee Smithton had created a burgeoning business in resort rentals in Hawaii. After two years, requests were coming in for San Francisco, which is deemed to be the number one tourist city in the world. Zoya formed Heritage West in the early 80’s. After partner changes and new experience gained, an aggressive telemarketing campaign led to Heritage West offering referrals to the “competition” for their clients that could not be booked. Heritage West would then place the ”overflow” in other properties as a “neutral” reservation agency.

As Heritage West became successful, new agents were hired and an office space was acquired at 170 Page Street in Hayes Valley, San Francisco, and a new identity was born. American Property Exchange (“APE”) was created, and in March of 1990, Zoya won the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce’s “Business Achievement Award” for this accomplishment.

1992 brought about changes involving personnel and procedures. As agents left, new ones came aboard and the focus became sales. With an internship from Principia College, access was gained to travel guides, home exchange companies and the hospitality industry in general. It was onward and upward.

Kocina/Fleischer Inc.:

In 1970, Dr. Michael Kocina’s focus was motivation and education. This included writing and lecturing on psychology, motivation, business environments, creativity, and the importance of positive thinking in accordance with business success.

While searching for an individual to accommodate his own housecleaning needs, he ran into road block after road block. Lack of professional and capable cleaners led to the creation of San Francisco’s first organized housecleaning service, Grandma’s Helpers.

In 1976, Dr. Kocina recognized the need for professional services and professional vocational training and founded Apollionian Academy and Institute. With the accredited education institution and an library providing structural practical skills, several venues were created included those for housekeeping, building maintenance, building services, landscaping, and party services to name a few.

Robb Fleischer moved to San Francisco in 1981 to pursue his career in hotel & restaurant management. That same year, he partnered with Dr. Kocina, after which the Appollonian Academy refocused from an educational venue to individual independent businesses with an emphasis on Grandma’s Housecleaning Service, Alchemy Party Service and Dijon Galleries.

In 1983, the companies grew and relocated to an Alamo Square mansion and added K/F Properties (which purchased, refurbished and resold buildings). In addition, Dr. Kocina and Robb Fleischer ran K/F Productions, which administered antique and trade shows, a party supply rental house, and two Sonoma County resorts (Rio Villa Beach Resort and Riverview).

In 1984, the purchase of Art of Cleaning gave K/F the advantage of new markets with the “Team Cleaning” approach, a new concept at the time.

Kocina/Fleischer and American Property Exchange:

In 1985, an agent contacted us from Heritage West requesting a weekly cleaning for a client staying in a corporate furnished apartment. As more requests came in from Heritage West, it was realized that a maintenance service was needed to handle emergencies such as plumbing. Maintain – A Property Maintenance company, was created.

As the partnership between K/F and APE grew, the principals recognized that to continue to grow, APE had to focus on rentals and K/F on the other areas, such as maintenance and housecleaning. In 1991, San Francisco Home Services Center, at 1740 Market Street, was created. S.F.H.S.C. was conveniently located 2 blocks away from the APE office at 170 Page Street.

During the next six years, the K/F and APE partnership continued to strengthen. The growth forced K/F to make a difficult decision regarding their focus. Although difficult at the time, K/F decided to sell the resort projects and the antique shows in order to focus on their partnership with APE.

In July 1996, with the commitment to each other and the specialized industry that they had created. Kocina/Fleischer and Smithton purchased 2800 Van Ness. After 10 months in the same building, it became evident the next best move was to create one common corporation. In April 1997, AMSI was created as the common corporation for all of the businesses interacting at 2800 Van Ness, inclusive but not limited to the companies created by Zoya Smithton, Michael Kocina and Robb Fleischer.