Whitney Pulsifer is Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at Peabody Properties Inc., a full-service real estate firm that manages more than 11,000 housing units, primarily in New England. In this position, she works with executive staff on key projects that support the effective and efficient operation of Peabody Properties. 

Since 2012, she has been an active member in the NextGen Committee of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board’s Rental Housing Association (RHA), and has chaired the committee since 2014. She currently serves on the RHA Board of Directors. 

Pulsifer began her real estate career in 2008 as a leasing consultant, where she quickly distinguished herself as a skilled communicator. Today, she oversees the Peabody Properties SharePoint site, which often is called upon to participate in other company-wide initiatives relative to the implementation of the company’s strategic plan and the development of operational efficiencies designed to position the organization for future expansion in new and existing markets.

Before joining Peabody Properties, she held several positions with Boston-based WinnCompanies, including Marketing Coordinator, Corporate Marketing Manager and Director of Communications and Corporate Marketing. 

A Massachusetts native, Pulsifer graduated from the College of Charleston in 2007 with a degree in classical studies, Italian and studio art. Pulsifer recently spoke with units Magazine about her determination, passion and ardent devotion to the industry and her community. 

Given that you majored in general studies and studio art, how did you end up with a career in property management? Are you able to apply anything you learned in Italian or studio art to your current position? 

One of the most important things my parents told me prior to going to college was to study what I loved, which is how I ended up double majoring in classics (archeology, ancient history, Greek and Latin) and studio art (with a concentration in printmaking) with a minor in Italian. Just as important to mention is that throughout college I always maintained a full-time job while going to school. So whether it was as a hostess at a five-star restaurant, managing two coffee shops or as a concierge at the John Rutledge House Inn, I was a constant student of what I like to call “Customer Service 101” in my day-to-day work life. 

Similar to many others in the industry, I fell into the property management business by striking up a conversation with the onsite office team while going to pay my rent one day. With my traditional coursework and customer service-centric work experience at hand, I was able to use my skills to obtain a position as a leasing consultant at AMLI at Ibis in West Palm Beach, Fla.—a role I absolutely loved. 

In my current role at Peabody Properties, I wear many hats: From working on website configurations, to corporate branding and messaging, to strategic planning, roll-out of company initiatives, etc. 

As it pertains to applying my studies, I’ve been able to use my knack for composition and design from studio art to create a variety of communications and marketing materials (corporate branding, print collateral, design templates, etc. ), my love for rhetoric and written composition from my classical studies to pen a variety of internal and external content (speeches for my company’s leaders, corporate messaging, press releases, new business proposals, etc.) and, lastly, my overall awareness and ability to think ”globally” from my Italian and my studies abroad, when planning (roll-out of new initiatives, company events, etc.).

What charitable or public relations projects have you worked on that are most near and dear to your heart? 

The nearest and dearest public relations/charitable project I’ve worked on came when I was two years into my tenure at WinnCompanies (2011). I created a program where the company and team members could freely express a commitment to, and support for, the surrounding communities in which we work through a wide array of charitable, volunteer and service-related activities. Ownership quickly latched onto the idea and thus WinnCares was born.

The program was, and still is, tremendously successful and has been promoted throughout the entire portfolio of 500+ communities. To date, the program has provided support via philanthropy and charitable contributions, partnerships with community non-profits and the volunteering performed by the WinnCo team members.

It was amazing for me to see an idea that I had created, developed and actively promoted come not only to fruition, but full circle, by positively benefiting the residents and communities where we worked each and every day. As the administrator of the program, I was awed that my hard work and dedication not only paid off, but also ”paid it forward” to our residents. 

Since leaving Winn almost two years ago, the uAspire/GBREB Foundation Scholarship College to Career initiative has predominantly taken the lead as one of the main charitable projects I support. In addition to helping fund their educations, the ability to connect young, brilliant minds with the leading property management companies in the Boston area is one of the ways we’ll be able to create the ”next generation” of multifamily leaders. It all starts with immersion in multifamily internship and mentorship opportunities, which will ultimately help them discover and hone the talents needed to succeed in our industry.

Why is ‘giving back’ important to you and to younger employees who you work with? 

As a Millennial, I think my generation has a keen understanding and appreciation for globalism, giving back and the notion that we’re all interconnected in some way, shape or form. We realize that the only way we can positively impact the future is through a collective approach. If we bring together diverse peoples, representing all walks of life, with the goal of working together in a collaborative manner, we’ll be able to break down those barriers and limitations held by previous generations, thus positively impacting the greater population overall. 

What advice do you give to employees new to the apartment industry in terms of connecting and networking with others in the industry? 

Simply put: Get out there! Go to trade shows, trainings, meet-ups, etc. As a result, you’ll expand your communications and networking skills and have fun while meeting members of what I like to call “the multifamily management tribe.” 

Living and working in a time where things change so quickly, it’s critical to have an awareness of “what’s next.” By participating in local, regional and national events and conventions, you’ll broaden your overall awareness of what’s going on in our industry and learn to anticipate what’s next rather than react to it, after it’s already arrived.