Wendy Dorchester is Senior Vice President of Sales and Strategic Initiatives at Pegasus Residential, overseeing and driving the strategic growth and client-centric success of the multifamily portfolio. With a multifamily career spanning three decades, Wendy has served both the owner-operator and vendor sides of the industry. A dedicated advocate for the apartment industry, Wendy has served on multiple apartment association boards and has been an active leader at the National Apartment Association since 2010.

Aaron Ellinger coaches, consults with, and teaches executives and other organizational leaders who want to thrive — not just in business, but in life.

With over 30 years of experience across human resources, sales, consulting, and operations, Aaron brings a unique perspective to leadership development. His deep understanding of human behavior and emotional intelligence, combined with real-world business acumen, allows him to partner with individuals and organizations in ways that are strategic and deeply impactful.

During his 17-year tenure at software company RF-SMART, Aaron held several key leadership roles including VP of People, VP of Organizational Development, VP of Professional Services, and Sales Director. During that period, the company quadrupled in size and was consistently recognized as one of Jacksonville’s best places to work. Aaron was instrumental in shaping a thriving company culture and launching professional development programs that empowered hundreds of team members to grow and succeed.

Bridget Foley is a sustainability and social impact leader who believes you can change the world…starting with what’s in your pantry. As Director of Multifamily Partnerships at Move For Hunger, she works with thousands of communities across the country to turn move-outs into meaningful moments, helping the network deliver over 50 million meals to families in need while reducing food waste.

Bridget is known for bringing energy, creativity, and a little bit of pixie dust to everything she does, whether she’s building national partnerships, speaking on stage, or launching campaigns that actually get people to care (and take action). Her work sits at the intersection of purpose and practicality, helping organizations align impact with business goals in a way that truly sticks.

As President of Multifamily Asset Services at Cushman & Wakefield, Sherry Freitas oversees multifamily operations across the U.S., leading a business of over 4,000 people. With more than 20 years of experience, she has had oversight of more than 300,000 units over her career. Sherry is a Certified Property Manager and a member of the Atlanta Apartment Association Board of Directors for 10 years, serving as Board Chair in 2021.

Chase Harrington serves as Entrata’s President, overseeing ongoing business and product strategy. Since joining the company in 2009, Harrington has played a critical role in building its operating system into its current category leader. His commitment and dedication earned him top recognition both within the company and among industry peers, including regular speaking opportunities at the industry’s largest conferences and events. Harrington has been a member of the Forbes Business Council since 2021.

With over a decade in the multifamily industry, Alexi Henwood brings a 360° perspective to multifamily marketing — having worked on the property management, vendor, and now owner/operator sides of the business. As Regional Vice President of Property Marketing at Mill Creek Residential, she oversees digital strategy and brand development for more than 60 communities across the West and Central regions. Alexi is helping lead Mill Creek’s efforts to embrace AI, automation, and data intelligence.

Anna Javella is the host of the Addicted to Busy podcast – a show all about work life balance for high achieving property managers. With over fifteen years of residential, commercial, office, retail and industrial property management under her belt, she knows the numerous demands of this competitive industry. She is a proven leader in the industry with multiple accolades from the Minnesota Multihousing Association and the Institute of Real Estate Management. As an expert on both wellness coaching and property management, Anna has combined her love of the industry with her passion for self-development. She helps property management professionals take full charge of their wellbeing by providing them with tools that will enable them to thrive while also managing their busy properties.

Caj Jennifer, CALP, is the Senior Learning & Development Specialist for the Maryland Multi-Housing Association and a dedicated educator and speaker in the multifamily housing industry. With over 17 years of hands-on experience spanning leasing, operations, and regional leadership, Caj brings real-world insight to every stage and classroom. He specializes in workforce development, instructional design, and delivering impactful learning experiences that elevate industry standards and empower professionals at all levels.

A former award-winning Property Manager, Caj has led high-performing teams across Class A lease-ups and competitive markets, giving him a deep understanding of operational success. Today, he channels that expertise into dynamic training programs and speaking engagements, combining practical knowledge with engaging delivery. Known for his relatable style and passion for people development, Caj is committed to shaping the next generation of multifamily leaders.

Savas J. Karas is the COO & Transformation Officer of CAPREIT. He has over 30 years of management and information technology leadership experience across multiple industries. Prior to joining CAPREIT, Savas was President of Enterprise Solutions Group, a solutions-oriented consulting firm. His focus is on creating world-class teams and a culture that allows staff to thrive. His focus is the optimization of people, processes, and technology in creating a data-led, process-driven and technology-enabled organization.

Brandi Lugo serves as the Director of Sales Training for Northland, where she is responsible for developing and leading sales training programs that drive performance and elevate the customer experience. With over 25 years of experience in the multifamily industry, Brandi has built her career from the ground up starting as a Leasing Consultant and working her way up to her current role in training, giving her a deep understanding of onsite operations and what it takes to succeed.

For the past eight years, Brandi has dedicated her career to training and development, specializing in sales strategy, communication, and creating impactful prospect and resident experiences. She is passionate about helping teams move beyond transactional leasing to build genuine connections that drive both results and retention. Brandi is known for her engaging, relatable style and her ability to turn everyday leasing interactions into meaningful connections.

Candice Manning, CALP, CAM, CAPS, is the Director of Workforce Development, Education & Digital Strategy for the Maryland Multi-Housing Association. With over 20 years of sales experience and more than 15 years in property management, she brings a proven track record of leading teams, developing talent, and driving operational success. Candice is the creator of the award-winning Leasing Training Academy, a program that connects individuals to careers in multifamily housing through comprehensive, hands-on education.

Known for her innovative approach, Arlene Mayfield is at the forefront of PetScreening’s efforts to expand its footprint in the multifamily sector as the company’s Senior Vice President of Multifamily. Prior to joining PetScreening, she served as Senior Vice President of National Accounts at Rent. Throughout her career, Arlene has been recognized for her ability to drive revenue and adapt to the dynamic demands of the industry. Her leadership is characterized by a flexible and forward-thinking methodology that keeps pace with industry changes.

Juliana Navarro brings over a decade of experience in the multifamily industry, with a background that spans marketing, sales enablement, and onsite operations. Having worked both at the corporate level and onsite, she offers a well-rounded perspective on what it really takes to drive performance and support teams in a meaningful way.

Her work has focused on helping teams connect strategy to execution, whether that is improving marketing performance, developing training initiatives, or simplifying data to make better decisions. She is especially passionate about creating alignment across teams and focusing on the efforts that truly make an impact.

Stephanie Ortiz is the Marketing Manager for Legacy Residential Group, where she leads marketing strategy, social media, and resident engagement across a diverse multifamily portfolio.

With over a decade of experience and a foundation in on-site operations, she brings a unique ability to connect big-picture strategy with real-world execution, helping teams translate ideas into meaningful resident experiences.

Her work focuses on elevating brand presence, strengthening community engagement, and implementing forward-thinking marketing approaches that keep pace with an evolving industry. Stephanie is especially passionate about empowering teams, fostering connection, and driving results that go beyond the expected.

Jay Parsons is a rental housing economist, advisor and speaker. He has advised numerous multifamily and single-family rental housing stakeholders – from institutional investors, REITs, regional operators, lenders, regulators and government agencies. Jay hosts a weekly podcast called The Rent Roll with Jay Parsons, which in 2025 ranked among Spotify’s top 1% for most shared shows and in the 2% for listening time and for growth. Nearly 150,000 people follow Jay’s content across LinkedIn or X. His social media posts attract an average of a half-million impressions per week. Jay has been cited in The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The Financial Times, The Economist, The New York Times, NBC News, and he has appeared on CNBC and BloombergTV. 

In addition to independent speaking engagements and consulting, Jay serves as an Economics Advisor to JPI and a Strategy Advisor to Madera Residential. Previously, Jay was the Chief Economist at RealPage. Jay also serves on the Board of Advisors for Apartment Life, a faith-based non-profit serving apartment residents and operators.

Pete Regules works for CORT Business Services, a company that helps businesses and individuals in transition, and currently serves as Vice President of Residential National Accounts. An active member of the multifamily industry, Pete has held leadership positions with the Apartment Association of Greater Orlando, the Florida Apartment Association and the National Apartment Association. Within these organizations Pete has been a motivational speaker, event emcee, teacher and award winner, including being inducted into the FAA Hall of Fame, and earning the coveted Paragon Award from NAA. In 2021 Pete received the Lifetime Achievement Award from NAA for his many years of work in the apartment industry. He coauthored “The Apartment All Stars Complete Guide to Leasing Apartments” and served as contributing author of “Wall to Wall Multifamily Tips.” Of course, many of Pete’s friends and colleagues in the multifamily housing industry best know him as the “Doctor of Fun.”

Paul Rhodes brings extensive operational know-how to the table. His over 30 years of on-site, corporate, vendor/supplier, and association experience combine front-line knowledge and skills with leadership insight. His curiosity-forward perspective has been shared with thousands of multifamily professionals in classes, the Maintenance Mindset Podcast, and as co-host of The Turnover. Paul is the Founder of Directional Maintenance Services and is the Sr. Manager of Maintenance Learning at Brookfield Properties.

Jess Rodriguez is an acclaimed speaker and consultant who is passionate about helping others learn to champion change in the workplace. She partners with leaders and teams to build trust, improve communication, and create lasting buy-in so they can navigate anything from everyday changes to major organizational shifts. With a background in improv and years in corporate training, Jess brings humor, heart, and real-world experience into every room.

Andrea Yasenka brings two decades of multifamily expertise to her role as Director of Leasing, with a background that spans on-site operations, professional training, and the strategic development of marketing initiatives. Her extensive experience includes leading teams through the complexities of new construction lease-ups, navigating value-add projects, and maintaining high standards across stabilized communities.

Today, Andrea oversees leasing performance for the portfolio, focusing on implementing and enhancing best practices, innovative products, and growth-minded programs. She works closely with on-site teams to execute marketing initiatives, identifying opportunities for operational improvement and ensuring a consistent culture of excellence across every property.