Explore every episode of the podcast The Lease-Up

As a multifamily professional, technical expertise can get you in the right room, but it’s your communication skills, presence and trust that often determine what happens next.

In the September episode of Mission Success: Women in Multifamily, MHN Executive Editor Laura Valean sits down with Pamela Eyring, president & owner of The Protocol School of Washington, to examine why the skills often dismissed as “soft” may be better understood as “power skills” in a relationship-driven industry.

Eyring explains how small details—from the way a leasing office greets a prospect to how an executive communicates in a high-stakes meeting—shape perceptions of both the individual and the company. She also discusses the gaps she sees among young professionals entering multifamily and why mentorship, coaching and clear expectations can help translate technical knowledge into workplace readiness.

Great development marketing starts long before a project has a name, a logo or even an architect.

Increasingly, marketers are involved at the earliest stages of development, helping developers understand market demand, evaluate sites and make decisions about everything from unit mix to the overall resident experience.

This episode of Multi-Housing News’ Top Marketers podcast explores how marketing can shape development strategy from the ground up—and how a deeper understanding of the market can help determine what ultimately gets built.

Joining us are Sarah Patton and Dan Parker, co-heads of Compass Development Marketing Group in New York. With more than 18 years of experience in new development, Patton brings an owner’s perspective to projects, working across pre-development, design, architecture, marketing, sales and leasing while keeping an eye on the financial bottom line.

Parker, who co-heads the group’s new development business, is involved in every phase of the development process. He works closely with architects, designers, creative agencies and public relations strategists to assemble multidisciplinary teams and help each project establish its own identity and appeal to New York’s increasingly sophisticated pool of buyers.

The conversation looks at how that expertise can shape the physical product, from unit mix and apartment sizes to amenity programming and design. Patton and Parker discuss how developers can distinguish between lasting shifts in renter and buyer preferences and trends that may quickly lose their appeal—and why understanding the audience should come before deciding what to build.

Key topics include bringing marketing into the process before site selection, using market intelligence to shape development strategy, optimizing unit mix and amenities, balancing trends with long-term appeal, building brands that resonate with buyers and renters, influencing neighborhood evolution and fostering stronger collaboration among developers, architects and marketing teams.

• From the Ground Up: Marketing Before the Building (0:00)
• Unit Mix, Amenities and the Trend Trap (7:32)
• Changing a Neighborhood One Building at a Time (14:59)
• One Team: Rentals Meets Sales (18:30)
• Community, Privacy and the Next Decade (23:46)

RPM Living Chief People Officer David Lynch talks with MHN’s Denile Doyle about the connection between how companies support their on-site teams and the experience those teams create for residents.

Lynch pushes back on the idea that an employee will leave for another company for 50 cents and that’s the whole story. He firmly believes that it goes beyond that.

He also breaks down his “skill-will-ability” approach to hiring and training and explains how executives can improve consistency in processes.

Here are some of the topics we cover:

• (3:42) Where property management teams are feeling the most pressure right now

• (7:12) His perspective on how multifamily measures success

• (12:16) What investing in employees looks like beyond pay

• (15:09) Why defining your company culture should come before hiring and training

• (16:46) The "skill-will-ability" test and what employers can truly train for

• (19:08) Why the people doing the work should help shape the process

After more than two decades working across real estate banking, structured finance, lending and investment management, Elizabeth Roy has learned to look at a deal from more than one angle. Now, as the newly appointed chief investment officer of American Landmark Apartments, she's bringing that perspective to a multifamily market where capital is expensive, supply dynamics are shifting and investors are being forced to rethink what creates value.

In this episode of Mission Success: Women in Multifamily, Roy joins Multi-Housing News Executive Editor Laura Valean to discuss the experiences that shaped her investment philosophy, from navigating multiple real estate cycles to evaluating opportunities through both the debt and equity sides of the capital stack.

Strong multifamily branding isn't built through campaigns alone. In today's apartment industry, long-term success depends on understanding changing renter expectations, listening to resident feedback and delivering a consistent brand experience across every touchpoint—from digital interactions to everyday life inside the community.

This episode of Multi-Housing News' Top Marketers podcast explores how a hospitality-driven multifamily brand scales its marketing and communications while preserving a consistent voice and resident-first culture across expanding markets.

Joining us is Ashley Cerasaro, executive vice president of Communications at AVE, the hospitality-inspired apartment brand from Korman Communities, a fifth-generation family-owned real estate company. Today, AVE's portfolio spans more than 6,000 apartments across 20-plus communities nationwide. Over the past 14 years, Cerasaro has helped shape the company's multifamily brand strategy, overseeing public relations, resident communications, online reputation management, social media, corporate messaging and brand positioning.

Most recently, she played a leading role in AVE's national brand evolution and redesigned digital platform, initiatives that reflect the company's rapid expansion and the growing demand for flexible apartment living. She also helped develop AVE's resident survey program, which has contributed to the company's industry-leading resident satisfaction rankings for four consecutive years.

Key topics include maintaining brand integrity across many touchpoints, aligning communications with on-site operations through training and cultural leadership, using resident feedback and survey data to shape amenities and messaging, redesigning a digital platform to support seamless search and adopting AI for efficiency and faster insights without losing authenticity.

• From Journalism to "The Voice of Ave" (1:18)
• Shift from Persuasion to Trust (6:34)
• Service is the New Marketing (13:12)
• Listening That Changed Design (18:57)
• AI vs. Authenticity (20:35)

Village Green Executive Vice President of Operations Matt Guenther chats with MHN’s Denile Doyle about how renewals have evolved since he first started out in the industry and why retention is a year-round effort.

He explains what sets the tone for whether someone stays or leaves and the importance of controlling your controllables.

Here are a few highlights from this episode:

• (2:15) How renewals evolved from simple flat increases to a much more nuanced process
• (4:03) What residents are really weighing when the renewal notice arrives
• (5:54) The move-in experience and the first service request are the two make-or-break moments
• (8:24) Why framing renewals as a "happy anniversary" changes the conversation
• (13:02) The danger of a resident who never tells you they're unhappy
• (14:42) How conservative increases can boost the bottom line

Across the country, colleges and universities are rethinking how they deliver and finance student housing for today’s students. Aging residence halls, shifting enrollment patterns and rising expectations for the on-campus experience are prompting more institutions to turn to public-private partnerships to modernize housing while managing capital constraints.

Gilbane Development Co. has been one of the firms most active in this space, with several projects illustrating how P3s are supporting large-scale campus transformations. Earlier this year, the company secured Western Kentucky University Board of Regents' approval for Elevate WKU, a $350 million project designed to redevelop the university’s residential footprint, with the first phase including a new 1,000-bed living and dining facility. The firm also started work on another multi-phase P3 with the University of Rhode Island, where the company will add more than 1,100 beds to the institution’s flagship campus in Kingston, R.I.

That activity reflects a broader shift in student housing. In this episode of Student Housing Unlocked, Senior Associate Editor Olivia Bunescu is joined by Geoff Eisenacher, executive development director at Gilbane Development Co., to discuss why campus housing is no longer just about adding beds. Instead, Eisenacher describes a sector shaped by new expectations for the college experience, with projects increasingly combining housing with dining, parking, infrastructure and mixed-use components.

Here’s what they discussed:

• How is student housing faring today? (01:34)
• The residential campus experience keeps demand resilient (05:38)
• Gilbane’s roots in student housing and its current strategy (07:36)
• Reading enrollment shifts and selecting university markets (09:18)
• Why colleges are considering P3s (12:39)
• Elevate WKU and the rise of whole-campus housing strategies (15:37)
• Balancing university control with private capital (17:43)
• On-campus P3s vs off-campus purpose-built student housing (20:12)
• More beds, better beds or a different housing mix? (23:46)
• Right-sizing amenities around affordability and flexibility (27:42)
• The next phase of student housing (30:20)

As the U.S. continues to face a severe shortage of affordable rental housing, much of the conversation centers on financing, development pipelines and the number of units being delivered. But for residents, the experience is also shaped by what happens inside the communities.

For Lydia Liley, owner of Arrivare Interiors, thoughtful interior design can help affordable housing feel livable, durable and dignified without adding unnecessary cost. A registered interior designer with more than a decade of experience in multifamily design, Liley works at the intersection of budget discipline, material performance and resident experience.

In the July episode of Mission Success: Women in Multifamily, she talks about why interior designers should be involved early in the development process, before project teams default to contractor-selected finishes or miss opportunities to elevate a space within budget. Sharing insights from her work on multiple projects across the country, she also discusses how lighting, flooring patterns, paint sheen, wood tones and even grout color can create warmth and visual interest without requiring custom materials.

Federal housing policy is constantly shifting, making it challenging for multifamily owners, operators and property managers to keep up with every proposal, rule change and court-tested uncertainty.

Multi-Housing News Executive Editor Laura Valean reached out to Nicole Upano, assistant vice president of Housing Policy & Regulatory Affairs at the National Apartment Association, for a timely regulatory roundup on the federal actions multifamily professionals should have on their radar.

AI is shaking up many aspects of the multifamily industry, from marketing to leasing to operations, but one aspect that’s less discussed is how the tech can be applied to apartment building construction.

To learn more about how AI has already been deployed in multifamily projects, along with what the future potential is, MHN Associate Editor Matthew Kaufman turned to James Garner, a member of the Construction Professional Group Panel at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, or RICS. He’s also the Head of AI and Data at Gleeds.

Here are some highlights from their discussion:

• (1:17) AI’s early construction impact
• (4:36) Today’s biggest AI wins
• (7:00) Keeping humans accountable
• (8:38) Making data AI-ready
• (11:47) Culture over cost
• (13:14) Four AI mindsets
• (16:25) AI meets robotics
• (23:30) Investor and insurer reactions
• (27:35) Responsible AI standards

This month, Mission Success: Women in Multifamily Host Laura Valean sits down with Lissette Calderon, founder & CEO of Neology Group, and one of the few women leading large-scale residential development in South Florida.

Calderon reflects on leaving investment banking, a decision that once felt like failure but ultimately became the first time she truly trusted herself. She also revisits the risk of launching her first project, Neo Lofts, at 28, the fear of losing her lender after 9/11 and the conviction behind her long-term bets on the Miami River and Allapattah neighborhoods in Miami.

Beyond the buildings, Calderon speaks candidly about the responsibility developers carry toward residents, investors, teams and communities. She also talks about being a woman in real estate, why ambition should never be downplayed, and how much her late father has influenced everything she has achieved.

For the current and next generation of students, showcasing a polished lifestyle across a property’s social media channels is no longer enough. Since social platforms are often where prospects first discover student housing communities, the most effective campaigns are the ones that make students feel like they already understand what it would be like to live there before they even schedule a tour.In this episode of Student Housing Unlocked, MHN’s Senior Associate Editor Olivia Bunescu is joined by Maggie St. Geme, vice president of marketing at Subtext Living, to discuss what it takes to build a social media strategy that feels authentic and resident-first. St. Geme breaks down how Subtext turns brand identity into content across its Local, Verve and Ever communities, while keeping each property’s voice connected to its residents, neighborhood and on-site team.The conversation also highlights the approach behind LOCAL Nashville’s Silver-winning social media strategy at last year’s MHN Excellence Awards. Rather than making the property the main character, the campaign leaned into Nashville, the Midtown neighborhood and the residents, turning them into the main characters of the community, instead of amenities. From hyperlocal storytelling and short-form video to curated giveaways, St. Geme explains why social media now plays a role across every stage of the leasing process.

Here’s what they talked about:

• Defining success in social media (01:36)
• Building trust with renters (02:37)
• Creating an authentic brand voice (04:12)
• Subtext’s three content filters (05:44)
• Turning brand identity into content (07:46)
• Creating a viral reel (08:50)
• LOCAL Nashville’s award-winning strategy (11:25)
• Balancing polished and organic content (15:00)
• The power of short-form video (16:47)
• On-site teams as content engines (17:50)
• Applying lessons across the portfolio (19:22)
• Measuring social media’s success (20:51)
• Trends that will shape student housing marketing (22:58)

Kerry Fedigan’s story begins far from real estate, in the halls of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and later in her own thriving speech pathology practice. But life, as she shares with striking honesty in this podcast, rarely follows a straight line. A deeply personal family challenge prompted her to step away from her business. What followed wasn’t a calculated pivot, but an unexpected opening into real estate that would ultimately redefine her career.

In this episode of Mission Success: Women in Multifamily, Multi-Housing News Executive Editor Laura Valean sits down with Fedigan, now director of sales at Sun Homes. She leads sales at One Kingsland, a townhouse-condominium community within Sleepy Hollow’s Edge-on-Hudson, where her relationship-first approach has translated into strong momentum.

Fedigan reflects on a reality that will feel deeply familiar across the multifamily and real estate industry in general: the constant tension between professional ambition and being present for the moments that matter most at home. There’s no perfect balance, she admits, only choices, trade-offs and the quiet determination to show up where it counts. That mindset continues to shape how she leads today.  

Elizabeth Ambacher, NAA's vice president of meetings and expositions, and Clark Ebbert, director of conference education discuss what’s on the agenda this year and what it says about the evolution of apartment operations.

This year’s educational programming, shaped by direct input from NAA’s advisory board, reflects the challenges operators are facing right now. AI remains a major focus, but the conversation has evolved from “What is AI?” to proving ROI and scaling adoption.

Listeners can save $150 on registration with promo code "MHNPODCAST" through May 26.

Here are a few highlights from this episode:

(3:19) Why centralization and automation haven't delivered as cleanly as operators expected
(4:20) Doing more with less is the No. 1 challenge members bring to NAA
(9:21) The shift from fixing things faster to building systems that break less
(12:31) Why "we want less" is really code for "we're overwhelmed by options"
(15:55) Three keynote speakers bringing perspectives from outside the industry

As multifamily operators navigate shifting renter expectations, rising competition and rapid technological change, large portfolios are uncovering behavioral patterns and operational insights into renter behavior that smaller firms may not yet see. At scale, data becomes more than a performance metric; It becomes a window into how renters think, search, compare and ultimately decide where to live.

From digital trust and pricing sensitivity to tour behavior and response times, today’s renter journey is becoming increasingly nuanced. Operators are no longer competing solely on amenities or location. They are competing on speed, transparency, convenience and authenticity across every touchpoint.

What’s emerging is a broader shift in multifamily marketing: the convergence of marketing, centralized operations, customer experience and technology. The operators best positioned for the future are those learning how to connect these functions into a seamless renter journey, while still maintaining a local, human touch.

This episode of Multi-Housing News’ Top Marketers podcast explores what large-scale multifamily platforms are learning about renter behavior and how those insights may shape the next phase of leasing, marketing and resident engagement.

Joining us is Josh Draughn, senior vice president of marketing and centralized operations at Hillpointe. A recent hire at Hillpointe, Draughn brings nearly two decades of experience spanning multifamily marketing, centralized operations and technology strategy. Before joining Hillpointe, he held leadership roles at Greystar, Cortland and Weidner Apartment Homes, where he helped oversee large-scale marketing initiatives and operational systems across tens of thousands of units.

Throughout the conversation, Draughn discusses how renter behavior has evolved over the past two decades, why authenticity now outweighs overly polished branding, how AI and centralized operations are reshaping leasing strategies and what operators can learn from analyzing millions of renter interactions.

Key topics include how data-driven marketing, renter trust and centralized operations can better interpret renter behavior at scale, transform multifamily leasing in an era where authenticity beats polish.

• From Indiana Jones to Multifamily Marketing (4:31)
• What Renters Really Think at Scale (9:09)
• The Laughter Stat: 1.6M Calls Analyzed (11:00)
• Why Polished Marketing Backfires (20:43)
• Reddit, Speed & the Modern Renter Journey (19:00)
• Tech, Trust & the Future of Leasing (22:28)

Arqline Property Management was formed in 2026, after residential technology platform Alfred acquired and merged RKW Residential and A Residential (formerly Quarterra Living).

For this episode of Management Diaries, Arqline President Kevin Owens shares how the firms navigated the integration, and why aligning people and processes turned out to be harder than aligning the tech.

He discusses the three-part framework his company uses to decide what can be automated, what to centralize and what should stay with a human.

Owens prefers simplicity over complex tools or systems. As he puts it, “Things can sound really smart when they're complex. They also aren't very easy to execute."

Here are a few highlights from this episode:

• (5:18) Why cultural alignment was a critical part of the merger
• (11:37) How structured feedback loops drive better outcomes
• (13:29) Why following through matters more than the feedback itself
• (20:22) What operators need to pay attention to moving forward
• (17:45) What “Property Management 3.0” looks like and what it means for operators

From fighting food insecurity to advancing housing affordability, Rebecca Ely has built her path around one core idea: Real change happens when you connect resources with the people who need them most and invite others to step into that mission.

Now Director of Resource Development at Operation Pathways, the resident services arm of The NHP Foundation, Ely operates at the crossroads of affordable housing, philanthropy and community impact.

In this episode of Mission Success: Women in Multifamily, MHN’s Laura Valean sits down with Ely to explore what leadership actually looks like behind the scenes, from navigating expectations as a woman in the industry to now contributing to a broader shift where resident services are finally being recognized as essential, not optional.

Creativity is becoming a decisive advantage in New York City multifamily marketing, where intense competition and shifting renter expectations demand more than traditional campaigns. In a city defined by high supply, fast-moving lease-ups and demanding renters, standing out requires more than attractive amenities.

Across the country, multifamily teams are rethinking how to attract and retain residents, but nowhere is the need for originality more urgent than in New York. From luxury high-rises to mixed-income communities, successful campaigns increasingly rely on authenticity, hyperlocal insight and experiences that resonate beyond traditional advertising.

What’s clear is that creativity in New York City multifamily marketing isn’t about flashy campaigns. It’s about clarity, originality and understanding renter behavior—whether for a luxury apartment, a boutique rental, or a large mixed-use project.

This episode of Multi-Housing News’ Top Marketers podcast explores how innovative approaches to New York City multifamily marketing translate into measurable lease-up results.

Joining us is Michelle Easterlin, vice president of leasing and marketing at Avery Hall, who also manages high-profile Brooklyn projects including 544 Carroll, a luxury rental bridging Gowanus and Park Slope. With a fashion background and years of experience in New York City multifamily marketing and leasing, she brings a consumer-driven perspective that blends creative branding, problem-solving and on-the-ground strategy.

Previously, Easterlin led leasing for Nancy Packes and advised on One Boerum Place, while her brokerage experience at Compass and Douglas Elliman generated over $150M in GCI.

Key topics include how innovative multifamily leasing strategies, authentic branding and community engagement can drive performance in the highly competitive New York City rental market.

• From Fashion to Real Estate (01:35)
• Defining Creativity in NYC (04:23)
• NYC Market Reality Check (06:47)
• Authentic Marketing That Sells (10:10)
• Resident Events That Retain (16:54)
• Selling Lifestyle Over Units (20:13)

Savas Karas, COO & Chief Transformation Officer at CAPREIT, discusses why so many tech-forward initiatives stall or fail in property management.

With more than 30 years of management and technology leadership experience, he shares his approach to aligning strategy with execution, from observing on-site teams firsthand to eliminating the hidden workarounds that drain employees.

Listen to hear his advice on where to start if your organization has never had a formal change management plan. Here are some of the topics we cover:

• (3:31) Why you should begin with the end in mind before launching any initiative
• (4:53) The importance of failing fast and redeploying resources quickly
• (7:52) How observing on-site teams can reveal hidden friction and inefficiencies
• (18:06) Why skipping change management derails transformation efforts
• (19:21) Why one-and-done training doesn't work and what to do instead
• (26:20) How to define success as an organization before investing in change

What keeps great employees from leaving, especially when they have every reason and opportunity to do so?

In this episode of Mission Success: Women in Multifamily, Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Valean sits down with Christine Gilmore, vice president of learning and development at Bell Partners, to unpack one of the industry’s most persistent challenges: retention. And not just any retention—the kind that keeps your best people engaged, growing and, most importantly, staying.

At a time when housing affordability debates are often driven more by perception than data, taking a closer look at what’s actually behind a rent payment matters more than ever. The National Apartment Association’s Dollar of Rent tool provides a clear, data-driven view of the expenses tied to operating a multifamily property, drawing on tens of thousands of audited, property-level financial statements.

In this episode of NAA Insights, host Laura Valean, senior editor at Multi-Housing News, sits down with Leah Cuffy, director of advocacy research at NAA, to explore how the tool can be used in practice.

Student housing’s fundamentals are as familiar as ever: high occupancy, steady demand, a pipeline that’s still selective, but the real story in 2026 is where the wins are concentrating and how investors are underwriting them. Harrison Street Asset Management, one of the largest owners in the sector, is leaning into that shift with strategic moves and fresh momentum.In this episode of Student Housing Unlocked, Senior Associate Editor Olivia Bunescu is joined by Beau Garot, co-head of education transactions in North America at Harrison Street Asset Management, to unpack what that activity says about the market right now. They also touch on why flagships remain the focus, the redefinition of affordability and what precision looks like as debt gets more attractive and competition returns.

Here’s what they discussed:

• Three trends shaping 2026 student housing (01:24)
• Why owner–operator alignment matters more right now (02:00)
• Rent growth normalizes, efficiency matters (04:35)
• Debt is improving and competition is returning to deals (05:32)
• How they’re reading demand today (06:25)
• Concentrated supply, bigger projects (07:39)
• The “Power Four Plus” thesis (08:43)
• Testing demand durability before the asset (09:45)
• How does precision underwriting look in practice? (10:56)
• 2026 advice: don’t overpay (14:09)

Few people in the multifamily industry have a better bird’s eye view of multifamily tech than Kevin Donnelly, executive director and chief advocacy officer of the Real Estate Technology and Transformation Center. In this inaugural episode of MHN Tech Pulse, Donnelly outlines the state of multifamily technology and speculates what the next few years will look like.

“We’re in a period of acceleration, and I don’t really see that slowing down,” Donnelly tells Multi-Housing News Associate Editor Matthew Kaufman. The industry veteran sees technology as a key tool in addressing the nation’s housing and affordability crisis, and he views AI in particular as a way to increase efficiency while leading to better renter experiences.

Here are some highlights of the conversation:

(00:58): An overview of RETTC and its goals

(03:05): Donnelly’s background

(06:02): Where the industry stands with tech adoption

(08:23): Operational & economic pressures driving tech investment

(10:46): Policy pressures

(14:06): The role of AI

(21:47): What’s next?

In this episode, Cerwin Thompson, VP of facilities at RPM Living, and Avery Rouse, regional maintenance director at The Breeden Co. discuss how they’re navigating the staffing challenges in maintenance operations and the strategies they’re implementing.

<br>Both leaders started in on-site roles and worked their way up to corporate leadership. Now, they see technicians entering the talent pipeline who lack some of those basic skills that are so important for day-to-day community maintenance.

<br>Focusing on the fundamentals and sequential training is what’s needed to strengthen teams from the ground up.

<br>Here are some of the topics we cover:

(3:20) The current state of the maintenance workforce

(5:04) Recruiting strategies that work

(7:58) How to prevent burnout and create support systems

(9:53) Which factors most impact retention

(14:37) How training can reveal employee mentality and buildcollaboration

(18:00) Why rushing promotions without basic skills can leadto failure

(26:36) What the industry needs to do differently

With a background spanning architecture, design, cultural tourism, teaching and public service, Innovative Housing Opportunities CEO Rochelle Mills brings a holistic lens to development—one that views housing not simply as "heads and beds," but as a catalyst for thriving, high-performing communities.In this deeply personal conversation with MHN Senior Editor Laura Valean for the Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast, Mills opens up about the realities of working in affordable housing, sharing hard-earned lessons on leadership, bias, responsibility and why mission-driven work must be grounded in honesty, resilience and hope.

Denile Doyle chats with Cassandra McFadden, vice president & global head of sustainability at Cortland, about how sustainability is becoming a meaningful lever for long-term performance across multifamily.

McFadden recounts what it took for Cortland to earn top GRESB ratings and how the company has applied a policy-to-practice approach, from waste diversion to utility management to resident education.

How does she manage misconceptions about sustainability? The right language and goal alignments, says McFadden, can help you counter the naysayers and get the results you want for your firm.

Here are some of the topics we cover:

• (5:26) What drove Cortland’s GRESB journey from 2 to 5 stars
• (10:18) What residents actually notice when it comes to sustainability
• (17:12) Earth Month initiatives that resonate with residents
• (22:30) The two metrics that matter most in proving real sustainability impact.
• (25:19) Why the industry struggles to price sustainability improvements

Digital marketing success is no longer defined by clicks alone. As platforms grow more complex and AI becomes increasingly embedded in campaign execution, today’s top marketers are being challenged to think more strategically, balancing performance metrics with long-term business impact.

This episode of Multi-Housing News’ Top Marketers podcast, explores the dos and don’ts of digital marketing, the importance of aligning digital strategies with broader business objectives and how AI is reshaping the way marketers measure and optimize performance. As digital marketing continues to evolve, the conversation centers on blended metrics, transparent communication and maintaining strategic alignment across teams.

Joining us is Aaron Donofrio, senior manager of Digital Media at Fairfield Residential, a San Diego-based multifamily owner, developer and property manager. Donofrio leads paid media strategy across Fairfield’s national portfolio, overseeing performance-driven campaigns that support everything from luxury lease-ups to stabilized and affordable housing communities.

With a background in political digital media, he brings a data-first, audience-focused approach to multifamily marketing, translating complex performance metrics into clear insights that drive ROI and property-level success. Known for his collaborative style, Aaron works closely with cross-functional teams to deliver media strategies that are both highly effective and strategically aligned.

Key topics include identifying the most meaningful metrics for campaign evaluation, the continued importance of human judgment in an AI-driven landscape, strategies for addressing underperforming campaigns and the nuances between upper-funnel branding efforts and lead generation initiatives.

• Introduction to Digital Marketing Journey (1:38)
• Defining Success in Digital Marketing (5:42)
• Evaluating Digital Media Campaigns (7:40)
• Balancing Optimization and Performance (16:37)
• Human Side of Digital Marketing (21:04)

“You have to believe it to see it—not the other way around,” said Lynn Jerath, founder & president of Citrine Investment Group, in this anniversary podcast episode of Mission Success: Women in Multifamily. MHN Senior Editor Laura Valean sits down with Jerath for a deeply personal conversation that goes well beyond titles and transactions.

As Mission Success: Women in Multifamily enters its sixth year, this episode is a reminder of the series’ original purpose: spotlighting women who are shaping the industry with intention and clarity, and asking not just what they do, but why they do it.

Welcome back to Management Diaries. Jim Cunningham, president of Marquette Management, sits down with MHN’s Denile Doyle to discuss where he believes AI truly adds value for property managers.

Cunningham unpacks what thoughtful adoption really looks like when it comes to new technology. He explains how AI is adding value across Marquette’s portfolio, where its limitations show up and why there is such a thing as too much tech.

He also stresses that operators have a responsibility to implement AI carefully. What seems like a game changer at the corporate level can turn into a bad idea once site teams start using it at the property level.

Here are some highlights from our conversation:

• (3:38) Getting real about what AI can’t do—and will never be able to do
• (6:10) Lessons learned and challenges from testing different tools
• (9:09) Why Marquette is shifting its approach to AI integration
• (17:50) The unintended consequences that can surface when teams use AI

With nearly 40 properties in the U.S. and the U.K., Korman Communities—now in its fifth generation of family ownership—has long been at the forefront of lifestyle-driven rental housing. Across its communities, the share of renters by choice continues to climb, spanning young professionals, mid-career movers and a rapidly growing demographic of downsizers.

In this episode of Mission Success: Women in Multifamily, Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Valean sits down with Lea Anne Welsh, COO of Korman Communities and president of its high-end AVE brand, to explore how the American Dream has changed.

What are the forces that will shape the multifamily landscape in 2026? Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Valean asked George Ratiu, vice president of research at the National Apartment Association, to answer this question and many others in the final episode of this year’s NAA Insights podcast series.

This episode also dives into the expenses most likely to pressure NOI, the conditions needed for transaction activity to accelerate, and the role multifamily AI and analytics will play in driving operational efficiency next year. For owners, developers and managers preparing budgets and strategies, this conversation provides a clear look at the dynamics that will define multifamily in 2026.

Student housing has been one of the most resilient real estate sectors coming out of the pandemic, but the way it operates has changed significantly. Competition is only becoming higher in the sector and some markets have been outshining others in terms of performance.

In this special episode of our podcast series, Senior Associate Editor Olivia Bunescu talked with Tyson Huebner, director of institutional research at Yardi Matrix, about the key fundamentals shaping the market today. He broke down how preleasing has accelerated and why beds are filled earlier than ever. Huebner also pointed out how new supply and evolving demand patterns are reshaping competition in key university markets.

From understanding university growth plans to tracking development activity, supply volatility and construction costs, Huebner outlined the data points that really matter when evaluating markets and underwriting new deals. Coming from the same standpoint, he offered a grounded outlook on what’s coming next for the sector and why, despite the broader economic headwinds, student housing is still positioned to outperform conventional multifamily.

Here’s what we discussed about:

• Post-2020 shifts and faster pre-leasing (00:53)
• Why student housing outperforms multifamily (03:11)
• Occupancy expectations and near-term outlook (04:18)
• Shrinking pipeline and development barriers (05:14)
• Insights on research intensity, enrollment data and supply (06:40)
• Inside the Yardi 200 benchmark (09:12)
• Emerging markets and primary state schools (10:32)
• Why international enrollment, tuition and school closures matter (11:43)
• On-campus housing, P3s and competition (13:23)
• How will student housing perform further? (15:01)

In this episode of Management Diaries, Diana Pittro, executive vice president at RMK Management, joins MHN’s Denile Doyle.

We talk about leasing, resident retention and how the role of the leasing professional has changed over the years, going from a side hustle to a respected profession that requires skills and experience.

When hiring leasing staff, Pittro looks beyond energy or a bubbly personality. For her, the right attitude sets the tone for meaningful resident connections. “The world is full of different people, so sometimes that connection is easy to identify, but sometimes it isn’t,” says Pittro.

Here are some highlights from this episode:

• (10:56) Why turnover continues to challenge operators, and how transparency and strong training can help.

• (13:09) How using secret-shopping reports and performance tracking can identify gaps and reinforce best practices without penalizing employees.

• (17:59) The key elements that enable a leasing staff to make a great first impression.

• (27:00) The importance of asking the right questions during the resident renewal process.

• (32:21) What Pittro is prioritizing for her leasing teams in 2026.

"Nothing is beneath you," said Jacqueline Kluger in this month’s Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast episode.

Originally trained in hospitality management, Kluger began her career with Marriott before realizing she wanted to be on the ownership side of real estate. Since joining Philadelphia-based Post Brothers in 2018, she has helped close more than $1.4 billion in financing and $500 million in sales. Now serving as senior vice president of portfolio management, she oversees investor relations, financial planning, and reporting for the company’s 3,600-unit portfolio.In this conversation with Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Valean, Kluger reflects on the pivotal moments, mindset shifts and leadership lessons that have shaped her journey from hospitality to high-stakes real estate finance, and how embracing every opportunity, big or small, has defined her success.

In this episode, I sit down with Village Green CEO Diane Batayeh to talk about leading a 106-year-old company.

Our conversation goes beyond operations, diving into lessons from Batayeh’s decades-long career, including getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, learning from “fresh mistakes” and mentoring the next generation of leaders.

Batayeh shares how she bridges resident expectations with investor priorities and why transparency and data always factor into her decision-making.

She talks about the risks and tough decisions that come with leadership and her role as a steward for investors.    

Here are some highlights from this episode:

• (5:04) Early lessons that taught Batayeh how to get comfortable with being uncomfortable
• (11:34) Why intentional reputation management matters in today’s social media environment
• (15:30) How defining what’s urgent vs. what’s lasting to investors leads to better decisions and ROI
• (22:30) The unusual move that proved Village Green’s long-term commitment
• (27:16) The risk property managers underestimate the most
• (32:20) How investors’ mindset has shifted from five years ago

In proptech, it’s estimated that only about 10 percent of company founders are women. Narrow that focus to multifamily proptech, and the percentage likely drops below one. Why?

"From my perspective, it’s not a capability thing, it’s more about capital allocations and who has access,” said Jessica Beck, co-founder & CEO of Alfred, in a conversation with Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Valean for this month’s Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast.

Tune in for an insightful discussion on what it takes to succeed as a woman in proptech, and how true inclusion starts with equal opportunity!

Guided by seven fundamentals, dubbed return on environment, Mary Cook Associates is known for bringing art and science into the spaces the firm designs, driving measurable results for both residents and its collaborators. In the student housing space, rather than focusing on current trends, the firm positions itself as a “design choreographer” by co-crafting experience beyond just interiors.

In this podcast episode, I’m joined by Josh Kassing, Mary Cook Associates’ Senior Vice President, as we delve into the main factors reshaping student housing design. Rather than following a checklist and trying a “one-size-fits-all” approach, Kassing believes that student communities should speak to their residents through flexibility, tailored experiences and design finishes.

At the same time, the whole process should combine a clear-eyed look at research, feedback and operations, so it appeals to the next generation of students who are no longer impressed just by flashy features. Kassing believes that student housing design should be a coordinated system and that aligning its intent with day-to-day use improves outcomes for residents and operators.

The conversation also touches on the need for tailored solutions in the sector, including the firm’s “Built to Spec” collaboration with Morgan Li, launched in April this year. Instead of relying on the “catalogue effect” when designing a space, customized furniture can solve common space problems and add to the students’ experience.

Here’s what we touched on:

• MCA’s growth story and why student housing surged (01:15)
• Student vs multifamily: how are these different? (03:29)
• Wellness and mental health as a holistic matrix, not checklists (07:41)
• Pairing programs with real execution (09:07)
• The “unseen experience”: designing downtime between programmed moments (10:07)
• Student housing design with a Gen Alpha focus in mind (12:27)
• Why “one-size-fits-all” doesn’t work for student housing (15:51)
• Targeting identity through thoughtful design (19:07)
• Built-to-spec furniture with Morgan Li: ending the “catalog effect” (23:00)
• What’s “return on environment” about? (33:52)
• Next wave: ditch precedent, observe real behavior and AI’s “internet” moment (37:44)

Housing economist George Ratiu joined the National Apartment Association as vice president of research a few months ago, after 15 years working for trade associations, Fortune 500 companies and the federal government. In his first podcast with MHN’s Laura Valean, he dives into the association’s latest research, but also touches on how AI is changing multifamily operations, and the metrics he monitors to tell where the industry is headed.

Multifamily fundamentals continue to be strong, with record demand and annual absorption at high levels, Newmark’s second-quarter multifamily capital markets report found. Investors continue to favor the Sun Belt, but some Rust Belt markets like Milwaukee and Columbus have also been showing strong absorption.   

"Because of affordability and stable employment basis and perhaps lower supply growth in these markets, we have seen more investors move into those Rust Belt markets," Karaffa told Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Valean in this month’s Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast episode.

Press Play to listen to the entire conversation!

Once considered a nice-to-have, digital concierge serviceshave become essential in multifamily living. From AI leasing to intuitive resident apps, they streamline operations, elevate customer service and shape the way communities connect and thrive.

In this episode of Multi-Housing News' Top Marketers podcast, we explore the transformative power of digital concierge services in the multifamily world—toolsand technologies designed to streamline leasing, enhance resident communication and create more personalized living experiences. From AI-powered leasing assistants to intuitive resident portals, these services are redefining how communities connect and operate.

Joining us is Brianna “Bri” Bocker, Senior Director ofDigital Experience at Cortland, a multifamily investment, development and management firm headquartered in Atlanta. Bri leads the team responsible for Cortland’s customer-facing technology—everything from the website and marketing automation to the resident app, self-guided tours and AI-powered innovations.

Since joining Cortland in 2019 as its first marketing technology associate, she has built the company’s digital customer experience strategy from the ground up, expanding it into a thriving eight-person team. Today, Bri is at the forefront of blending technology and hospitality to make apartment shopping and living more seamless, personalized and human-centered.

Key topics include the evolution of resident portals, AIleasing agents, communication strategies and the future potential of AI-driven automation, all grounded in a philosophy of maintaining meaningful human touches alongside digital advancements.

 

• Journey into marketing and multifamily (1:01)
• The rise of digital concierge services (10:25)
• Balancing technology and human touch (18:55)
• Internal alignment and project execution (25:09)
• Future trends and advice for marketers (30:40)

For owners and operators, an underperforming property can negatively impact renewals, resident engagement and even on-site teams.

My guest for this episode is John Griggs, co-founder & co-CEO of Presidium. We talk about how operators can identify problems early and get properties back on track, without your residents losing faith in you.

Even the small issues, like a broken window or a candy wrapper on the ground, can signal neglect. Griggs points to early warning signs that need attention, which can be physical signs such as poor upkeep or deeper issues such as decreasing renewal rates and consistent negative feedback.

Here are a few highlights from this episode:

• Early warning signs and red flags operators should watch out for (3:12)
• Applying the broken-window theory to property maintenance (8:25)
• Focusing your communication before, during and after renovations (13:45)
• The best course of action for leaders to guide a struggling property back on track (21:18)
• What separates multifamily from other industries (25:08)

September is National Preparedness Month, making it the perfect time to rethink what readiness really means for multifamily property managers.

In this episode of Management Diaries, MHN’s Denile Doyle sits down with Stacy Brown, Vice President of Property Management Enablement at Real Property Management, to dig into what preparedness really looks like for today’s operators.

Here are a few highlights from this episode:

• How to evaluate your properties with a clean lens (6:51)

• Why operators should make sure their people are “on green” (9:35)

• Where to standardize vs. customize in a preparedness strategy (14:19)

• Back-to-basics communication tips for stronger planning (19:03)

• Why practicing realistic scenarios is the only way to stay ready (24:56)

One in eight Americans go to bed hungry each day, while 92 billion pounds of food is wasted annually. Hunger is a blind disease, and food insecurity is rampant across the country. But the multifamily industry can play a key role in combating this phenomenon.  

When people move, they tend to throw away a lot of food. This is when your onsite staff can provide them with a food collection bag and encourage them to donate the items they don’t plan to take with them. A Move for Hunger partner from a transportation company will come to pick it up and deliver it to a local food bank. Doing good is that easy!

For Bridget Foley, altruism is part of her DNA. Today, she’s Director of Multifamily Memberships for nonprofit Move For Hunger, which mobilizes transportation networks and the multifamily industry to deliver surplus food to communities in need. "Doing good in my life has always been my driving force," she told Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Valean in this month’s Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast.  

Immersive marketing is rapidly transforming how prospective renters discover and connect with apartment communities. From interactive tours to fully immersive media platforms, today’s marketing landscape is all about meeting renters where they are—digitally.

In this month’s episode of Multi-Housing News’ Top Marketers podcast, Izzy Carunungan, industry principal at Yardi and former chief marketing officer and LCP Media—a visual media company recently acquired by Yardi—joins MHN Senior Associate Editor Corina Stef to explore how immersive marketing in multifamily is evolving and why it’s becoming essential in the renter journey from first click to signed lease.

With a multifamily marketing career dating back to 2005, Izzy brings a rare blend of experience from both the operator and vendor sides. He held senior marketing roles at Greystar and Bozzuto and led marketing efforts at LCP Media. Today, he drives strategic initiatives to advance Yardi’s visual media and digital content solutions. His deep understanding of branding, leasing strategy and resident engagement allows him to bridge the gap between property management and cutting-edge tech.

We also explore how the pandemic accelerated adoption of immersive leasing tools, and why virtual staging, 3D site maps and VR tours are now standard in successful marketing campaigns. Tune in to discover how immersive marketing strategies like gamification, augmented reality and interactive experiences are shaping the future of multifamily marketing.

• Defining immersive marketing (1:36)
• Evolution of virtual tools in multifamily (2:57)
• Impact of COVID-19 on consumer behavior (5:07)
• Effective immersive tools and their benefits (6:54)
• Case study: success with VR in leasing (9:34)
• Future trends in immersive media (13:14)
• Getting started with immersive marketing (17:16)

When it comes to student housing management, operators often need to adopt a more targeted approach due to the sector’s unique leasing cycles and seasonal “turn” periods. Operators need to have a deep understanding of regional fundamentals while still upholding branding consistency. With 60 years of experience in the field and over $2 billion of student housing assets under management, Campus Apartments believes that an “all-size-fits-all” strategy doesn’t work for the sector.

For this episode of Student Housing Unlocked, Dan Bernstein, president & chief investment officer at Campus Apartments, joins me as we unpack the evolving demands of student housing and how operators are navigating an operationally intensive sector. Bernstein emphasizes the importance of vertical integration, good partnerships and feedback-driven community building as key strategies for long-term success.

With students and parents expecting more than just campus proximity and technology-driven amenities, our conversation explores how Campus Apartments is reshaping the student living experience through wellness-driven programming, design and a deep understanding of regional campus cultures.

Here’s what we discussed about:

• What’s fueling rent growth and why value is key (01:10)
• How Campus Apartments is redefining “home” for students (04:00)
• What amenities students value and will pay more for (05:30)
• Why one-size-fits-all doesn’t work in student housing (07:29)
• Partnerships that make an impact (09:02)
• Managing the intense demands of “turn” season (12:00)
• The core values behind Campus Apartments’ culture (15:00)
• How AI is beginning to transform student housing (15:31)
• What outsiders often get wrong about student housing (17:08)

For property managers who want a seat at the table, it starts with thinking differently about your role and showing the value you bring beyond the day-to-day operations.

In this episode of Management Diaries, MHN’s Denile Doyle chats with Kelley Brine, president of Rose Valley Management, to explore how property managers can go beyond day-to-day operations and take on a more strategic role.

Here are a few highlights from this episode:

• How shifting from an operational mindset to an ownership mindset can influence long-term strategy (3:14)

• Why the small interactions add value, and how they reflect the kind of care and investment that owners expect (5:01)

• Why understanding the story behind the data is just as important as the numbers themselves (8:17)

• How leaders can empower their teams simply by asking the right questions (12:09)

• Why property managers should know their communities deeply and use their insights to shape smarter, more resident-focused decisions (19:26)

With tight supply and inelastic demand, manufactured housing is one of the most resilient and strategic sectors in the real state landscape, according to Kristin Millington, a Managing Director in the Manufactured Housing and Self Storage groups of Crow Holdings Capital. "I think it’s one of the most unique supply and demand stories that we see in real estate," Millington said in the July episode of the Mission Success: Women in Multifamily podcast series. "In all of the product types that I’ve touched, this is the only one where you don’t worry about the threat of new supply."

Press play for the entire conversation!

In this episode, Joe McDiffitt, Managing Director of Property Management at Coastal Ridge Real Estate, joins MHN’s Denile Doyle to share lessons from overseeing a diverse portfolio that includes student housing and traditional multifamily properties.

Operators need to have a strong framework, understand their residents and be responsive when things change, shares McDiffitt.

Managing multiple property types shouldn’t be siloed. Deploying resources where needed and being attentive to the leasing cycle of each property type can prevent teams from being overwhelmed and unprepared.

And despite key differences in these two markets, McDiffitt says they can still inform each other. Here are a few highlights from this episode:

• Key operational differences between student housing and traditional multifamily (4:40)

• How Coastal Ridge applies data from its multifamily portfolio, such as renewal conversion ratios, to improve student housing performance (8:19)

• Aligning the preleasing cycle with on-site teams to ensure smooth execution during peak periods (10:05)

• Where it makes sense to share resources across property types to improve efficiency (13:29)

• How relationships, mentorship and discipline can help you succeed in the industry (17:54)

"You need culture to create a thriving company,” is the phrase that shaped Amy Steadman’s career. While studying at UCLA, she heard one of her professors say this and it stuck with her ever since. Today, she's MidPen Housing's Chief People Officer, even though she doesn't have a multifamily background. But it's precisely that outside perspective that's helping her come up with creative solutions that contribute to MidPen’s mission. To her, HR is a strategic business partner that focuses on creating meaningful connections among the company’s nearly 700 employees spread over 12 counties in California. How does she do it? What are the principles that guide her work? Tune in to find out from this podcast hosted by MHN Senior Editor Laura Calugar!

1 in 5 Americans plan to quit their job this year, with 1 in 2 even considering switching industries, accord to a recent study from SideHustles.com. If multifamily is on their radar, they will definitely need some guidance through all of the different career paths that the industry has to offer.

To cater to the needs of those entering or currently in the residential property management industry, the National Apartment Association recently launched a career mapping tool that anyone can access, free of charge.

MHN Senior Editor Laura Calugar invited Tiana Heath, senior manager of Industry Relations within NAA, to talk about all the features this tool encompasses and how it can help professionalize the apartment industry during a turbulent time in the job market.