Multi-Family Grit

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Chris Clemons, an affordable housing leader with nearly two decades of experience, for an inspiring conversation about purpose-driven leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and keeping the human side of affordable housing at the center of every decision. Listen in to hear Chris: Share how helping a struggling family sec...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Rachel Spakes, Affordable Housing Programs Coordinator, leadership coach, and self-described “Department of One,” for an inspiring conversation about human-centered leadership, resident services, and supporting the people behind affordable housing. Listen in to hear Rachel: Share her unconventional journey from education and...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Rebecca Norman, Compliance Manager at an affordable housing property management and development company in Southern California, for an inspiring conversation about growth through risk-taking, leading with empathy, and navigating the ever-evolving affordable housing landscape. Listen in to hear Rebecca: Share how she started...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Danielle Little, Executive Vice President of Affordable Housing Compliance at Apartment Management Consultants (AMC), for a thoughtful conversation about leadership in affordable housing, building systems that scale, and why organization must come before innovation. Listen in to hear Danielle: Share how she unexpectedly pivo...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Luke Leins, SVP of Business Development at ResProp Management, for a forward-thinking conversation about reimagining multifamily operations through data, innovation, and people-first leadership. Listen in to hear Luke: Share how he unexpectedly found his way into multifamily after starting in financial services and senior li...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with David Lynd, CEO of The Lynd Company, for a candid, no-nonsense conversation about operational discipline, leadership through adversity, and the hard truths shaping the future of multifamily. Listen in to hear David: Share how growing up working on apartment sites—from digging sewer lines to running properties—shaped his rele...

In this episode, Kerri Davis sits down with Jack (John) Sipes, longtime multifamily leader, former President of Dominium, and West Point graduate, for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, service, and scaling people-first organizations. Listen in to hear Jack: Share how his journey from the U.S. Army and West Point to multifamily property management shaped his leadership philosophy of learn...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Marc Pollack, Managing Director at FirstService Residential, for a candid conversation about grit, leadership, and the human realities of multifamily operations. Listen in to hear Marc: Share how growing up as a lifelong apartment resident in Queens led him intentionally into property management—and how early career risks, a...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Zachary Guerin, Vice President of Residential Property Management at Seldin Company, for a grounded conversation about leadership, innovation, and the realities of running teams in a rapidly changing industry. Listen in to hear Zach: Share how this industry is sitting on untapped potential, why many people are too tired or b...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Julie Runyan, Compliance Director at AdWest, and Alex Westad, President of AdWest, for an inspiring conversation about modernizing affordable housing management while preserving heart, legacy, and community. Listen in to hear Julie and Alex: Share their origin stories—from Alex literally growing up in rural development housi...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Carl Swafford, Chief Operating Officer at Apartment Dynamics, for a deep and energizing conversation about leadership, resilience, and the human side of property management. Listen in to hear Carl: Share his remarkable 30-year journey from Navy and Marine Corps veteran to groundskeeper, technician, manager, regional, and ult...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Sydne Garchik, Founder of MRK Partners, for an inspiring conversation about building equitable communities, embracing fearless leadership, and reimagining affordable housing with heart and innovation. Listen in to hear Sydne: Share how she turned an unexpected start in real estate into founding MRK Partners—blending a for-pr...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Kathleen Raffinello, Founder and President of a boutique third-party management firm based in Nevada, for an inspiring conversation about resilience, reinvention, and leading with heart in the multifamily world. Listen in to hear Katie: Share how she started in real estate at just sixteen, moved to Las Vegas with only $800,...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Diane Yensen, Chief Operating Officer at Lexington Partners, for a powerful conversation about candid leadership, operational turnarounds, and building the future of multifamily with both fundamentals and innovation. Listen in to hear Diane: Share her unconventional journey from a 17-year-old assistant manager to COO of a 3,...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Cindy Thompson, Chief Executive Officer of the Chester Housing Authority, for an inspiring conversation about community-centered leadership, dispelling myths about affordable housing, and shaping the future of public housing. Listen in to hear Cindy: Share her unconventional start in property management, how her upbringing i...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Jayson Yoss, President and Managing Broker of GoldenWest Management, for an eye-opening conversation about boutique multifamily, disciplined leadership, and thriving amid regulatory chaos. Listen in to hear Jayson: Share his journey from Marine Corps infantry officer with combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan to building a pr...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Stacy Ekholm, Vice President of Operations at Schafer Richardson, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, scaling organizations, and embracing humility in the multifamily and construction industries. Listen in to hear Stacy: Share her journey from starting as an 18-year-old leasing agent to leading operations across...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Lindsay Duffy, Vice President of Operations at Asset Living, for a powerful conversation about resilience, leadership, and people-first innovation in multifamily. Listen in to hear Lindsay: Share her remarkable journey from growing up on site with property manager parents, to navigating loss, and ultimately channeling those...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Alison Turner, Senior Vice President of Talent Acquisition at RangeWater Real Estate, for a vibrant conversation about redefining recruitment, nurturing internal growth, and building long-term talent pipelines. Listen in to hear Alison: Break down her approach to combating industry-wide hiring challenges—including ghosting—b...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Tiffany Tillotson, Director of Special Projects and Collaborations at New Hope Housing, for a powerful conversation about creativity, community, and commitment in the world of affordable housing. Listen in to hear Tiffany: Share how her journey from student housing to nonprofit leadership is shaped by lived experience, relen...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Gladys Stephenson, Senior Director of Compliance and Asset Management at Devon Management, for a powerful conversation about resilience, reinvention, and rising through the ranks in multifamily. Listen in to hear Gladys: Share how she went from a teenage mom working in maintenance to leading compliance and asset strategy at...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Alex LaFlam, National Account Executive at WithMe, for a fast-paced and heartfelt conversation about smart spending, scalable partnerships, and staying rooted in real on-site experience. Listen in to hear Alex: Share her 15+ year journey from an eager leasing agent in Sacramento to leading national strategy at a cutting-edge...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Kevin Owens, President of Property Management at RKW Residential, for a compelling conversation about confident leadership, intentional tech adoption, and creating a Ritz Carlton-level resident experience. Listen in to hear Kevin: Share how his unconventional path—from a psychiatric hospital program director to senior housin...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Kelley Brine, President of Rose Valley Management, for a dynamic conversation about culture-driven leadership, embracing change, and leading with authenticity. Listen in to hear Kelley: Share how she unexpectedly fell into real estate 25 years ago—and how her journey from a leasing agent in New York to President of a $2 bill...

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Mitzi Hoag, Vice President of Compliance at Gateway Management Company, for a powerful conversation about redefining affordable housing compliance through innovation, collaboration, and compassion. Listen in to hear Mitzi: Share how a chance encounter in a grocery store led to a 24-year career in affordable housing—and how h...