Join us in celebrating NAA’s 20 in Their Twenties class of 2023, some of the best and brightest in the rental housing industry.
Shirley Alvarez • Account Executive • CORT Furniture Rental
Shirley Alvarez is an Account Executive at CORT Furniture with three years of experience helping the multifamily industry. She is Peruvian and lives in sunny South Florida. She started her career in the multifamily industry in 2018 after earning her marketing degree from Florida State University. Alvarez loves working with people and providing a solution to make their lives easier! She is also a part of the South East Florida Apartment Association, where she is a member of two committees: The Young Professionals Council and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.
Marcus Armstrong • Advanced Client Services Consultant • J Turner Research
As a seasoned researcher with more than eight years of critical analytics experience, Marcus Armstrong lives by the phrase, “Are we asking the right questions?” Armstrong currently serves as an Advanced Client Services Consultant with J Turner Research, helping drive operational success for clients through intensive analysis of online review and survey data. While new to the multifamily housing industry, Marcus is no stranger to tough data questions, having previously come from the world of financial investment analytics. Marcus is currently a Ph.D. candidate in economics and already possesses a master’s in data science and a bachelor’s in computer engineering.
Justine Beardslee • Sales & Marketing Manager • Landmark Properties
Justine Beardslee is an experienced manager in new development student housing and currently manages the new development of The Metropolitan Gainesville, Landmark Properties’ newest student housing community for the University of Florida. You may know her from her studies at Ferris State University or from her work contributions from the following communities: Standard Raleigh, Station Buffalo and the Z’s in Ann Arbor. She defines success as making a positive impact on those around her and helping students find comfort in leasing their first apartments. Her goals include continuing her education in housing development and obtaining her real estate license.
Taylor Bruzas • Regional Property Manager • Greystar
Taylor Bruzas joined the multifamily housing industry in 2015 after graduating from Eastern Washington University with a bachelor’s in journalism. She started her career as a leasing professional and was promoted to Community Manager in 2016. Shortly after the lease-up was completed, she was promoted to Senior Community Manager of a 400+ unit community. She led both phases of the property to stabilization, recruited and developed top talent and led the country in J Turner Resident Satisfaction efforts. She was promoted to Regional Property Manager in February 2021, where she currently oversees two clients and a 1,066-unit portfolio.
Amanda DeHart • Digital Marketing Manager • RPM Living
Amanda DeHart has seven years of both student and multifamily housing experience. She is currently pursuing a master’s in digital marketing and advertising, which led her to her current role as RPM Living’s Digital Marketing Manager, seamlessly aligning her passion for marketing and love of multifamily. DeHart currently leads a team of digital marketers, helping launch RPM’s in-house digital marketing efforts. DeHart recently completed NAA’s Diversity Leadership Program and is actively working to further the industry’s DEI initiatives through digital marketing efforts.
Richard George • Brand and Development Manager • The Breeden Company
Richard George is an entrepreneurial marketer whose work has garnered national attention. In college, he created a marketing company focused on elevating brands in the food service industry, grabbing the attention of many—including Gordon Ramsay. George’s hobby of real estate soon turned into a career meld post-college. He sold his business to work with The Breeden Company, immediately elevating the overall corporate brand while gaining outside positive and impressive feedback. George has evolved his natural talents with his experience to serve as the organization’s Brand and Development Manager. He is responsible for cultivating the brand strategy for future multifamily projects.
Jay Guinto • Assistant Community Manager • Greystar
Jay Guinto began his career in property management in 2018 as a leasing agent for a mid-rise community in Orlando, Fla. His previous background in hospitality propelled him toward success, relying heavily on his interpersonal skills and aptitude for building relationships. Within his first two years in the industry, he was recognized for closing over 100 leases in one year and earned a promotion to Assistant Community Manager. He recently transitioned to a 550-unit property in 2021 and continues to showcase his potential as a future leader in the industry.
Geoffrey Hogan, CAM • U.S. Sr. Mgr. Resource Ctr. - Student Living • Greystar
Geoffrey Hogan has been in the student housing industry for the past five and a half years with Greystar. He is currently the Senior Manager of Greystar’s Student Centralized Operations platform. He holds two bachelor’s degrees from Oklahoma State University in finance and management. Hogan is currently in the Master of Real Estate program at Georgetown University. He has received his Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) certification through the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI) and is currently working on the Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor (CAPS) certification.
Libby Hollan • Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor • Greystar
Libby Hollan (she/her) is a Senior Talent Acquisition Advisor at Greystar based in Seattle. Hollan facilitates the entire talent acquisition process for onsite roles in Washington and Idaho. She has more than five years of high-volume recruiting experience in the multifamily housing industry, supported living and LGBTQ+ mental health nonprofit industries. Hollan is a passionate advocate for entry-level candidates and brings this energy into every talent conversation. She is a Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR), Certified Tech Recruiter and obtained a DEI in the Workplace certificate.
Ashley Jenkins • Multi-site Property Manager • Trinity Property Consultants
Ashley Jenkins is a Multi-site Property Manager in Midland, Texas, where she oversees two individual assets for Trinity Property Consultants. She specializes in rehabilitating properties and building synergized teams with a positive work culture. She was recently elected to the Board of Directors for the Permian Basin Apartment Association in August 2022. In 2021, Ashley’s property achieved the number one ranking in the entire city for reputation. She strives to be an impact player in the industry by providing leadership and education to her team and her community.
Alex Kennedy • Regional Property Manager • Trilogy Real Estate Group
Alex Kennedy is a Regional Property Manager with Trilogy Residential Management. Kennedy previously held the role of Property Support Specialist, which she was promoted to after completing a year in Trilogy’s Property Management Rotational Program. Within both roles, she supported operations across the portfolio by diagnosing operational issues and implementing strategies to ensure the properties were performing at their highest level. Kennedy holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science degree from Ball State University.
Mitchell Lovell • Risk Manager & IT Support • AMP Residential
Mitchell Lovell began his career in property management with AMP Residential in 2013. Lovell has traveled to various markets within AMP’s portfolio including downtown Louisville, Ky., and Detroit, where he successfully led his teams through major renovation projects and lease-ups. Throughout his career, he has been an active member of his local apartment associations, most recently as the Chair of the Property Management Association of West Michigan’s (PMAWM) Legislative Committee. Lovell was promoted to his current position in 2021 as AMP Residential’s Risk Manager and IT Support. His depth of knowledge and commitment to the multifamily industry has been essential to AMP’s growth and success.
Ezekiel Lucas • Business Development Manager • Rent Dynamics
Ezekiel “Zeke” Lucas is the Business Development Manager at Rent Dynamics, where he leads a team focused on helping perfect the resident experience. In just six months, he launched the company’s most successful marketing campaign, generated more than $2 million in new leads, built a team of four from scratch and won the company’s annual “Think Big and Take Action” values award. He works with the CRO and COO on key initiatives such as their rent reporting program with Fannie Mae and leads all new partnership efforts. Prior, he was F100 Technology Consultant at Oracle. Outside of work, he has a nonprofit art store.
Tyler Marker • Director of Marketing & Prof. Development • Zidan Mgmt. Group
Tyler Marker, Director of Marketing and Professional Development at Zidan Management Group, based in Indianapolis, has seen an incredibly rewarding career in multifamily. Marker began like many in the industry, and to his delight, he fell into it. During Marker’s first decade as a professional, he has worked his way from a Leasing Consultant in student housing to Professional Development Manager with the Indiana Apartment Association, and now to his current title as Director, all by the age of 27. Marker’s greatest career achievement is seeing those he hired and mentored remain and flourish as professionals in the rental housing industry.
Faith Marts • National Trainer • RealSource Properties
Faith Marts serves as the National Trainer for RealSource Properties, bringing with her over five years of experience in the multifamily housing industry. Her strong leadership skills, dedication to training associates and ability to identify both customer and associate needs have led to her fast-growing success, quickly moving through the ranks of the onsite management teams. In her current role, Marts is directly involved in the design and implementation of onboarding initiatives, leadership development and compliance training for all onsite teams. And, while she is a trainer, she will always be a student who consistently seeks new learning opportunities.
Faith Mendoza • Performance Development Manager • Avanti Residential
Faith Mendoza is a Performance Development Manager based in Phoenix. Her career began as a Leasing Consultant six years ago, and she now oversees effective training and development programs for several Avanti Residential regions. Mendoza creates and facilitates in-person and webinar learning content for onboarding and new hires, as well as all roll-out and implementation training. She is the administrator for multiple learning management systems, supports all new acquisitions as they onboard and directs Avanti’s mentorship program. Most recently, Mendoza completed her NAAEI Advanced Facilitator Training and is an active member of the National Apartment Association.
Khalil Muhammad • Service Manager • Essential Property Management
Khalil Muhammad is a 29-year-old self-taught plumber and Maintenance Manager servicing ZEN City Center in Troy, Mich. He started his career shadowing his father in their family-run heating and cooling business in Chicago. He began his rental housing career at Southgate Towers, where he took a special interest in plumbing. Muhammad has managed up to four properties simultaneously and seamlessly while striving for resident satisfaction. Muhammad’s skills go far past maintenance, including leasing and marketing: He even managed to close a lease on the most expensive apartment while the entire team was assisting other residents.
Gabriela Ortiz • Director of Marketing • RPM Living
With five years of multifamily marketing experience, Gabriela “Gaby” Ortiz carries a documented record of success, driving and improving occupancy and rental income through the creation of impactful marketing, branding and leasing strategies. As Director
of Marketing at RPM Living, Ortiz supports the company’s fast-
growing Southeast portfolio through strategic marketing support to operations and clients while serving as a liaison to support internal processes and cross-department communication. Previously, Ortiz was the Regional Marketing Manager for the north and west Florida portfolio of Lincoln
Property Company.
William Sexauer • Acquisitions Associate • The Lawson Companies, Inc.
William “Will” Sexauer is an Acquisition Associate at Lawson, where he works with brokers and landowners in target markets to source development sites for Lawson. Sexauer is the first person to review these sites, working closely with Lawson’s development team to ensure financial and market feasibility. In his three years at Lawson, his work has resulted in the creation of 800 affordable apartment units. Sexauer earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia with concentrations in finance, business management and commercial real estate.
Kyle Shipp • Director of Digital Marketing • RPM Living
Kyle Shipp has nine years’ experience in marketing, with two in the multifamily industry. As Director of Digital Marketing at RPM Living, Shipp leads a team of 10+ talented digital marketers to support clients and operators in enhancing the renter journey and improving performance of the organization’s 450+ properties through innovative digital strategies. Since joining RPM in March 2020, Shipp has built the fully in-house digital marketing department, something rare in the multifamily industry, transitioning all marketing in-house and achieving improved campaign performance. Shipp was named RPM’s 2021 Rookie of the Year.