With over 23 years of experience in various roles, I have successfully led cross-functional teams, implemented innovative solutions, and optimized business processes to achieve significant improvements in performance and productivity. In my current role as VP, Strategic Operations, I am committed to driving efficiency and operational excellence through standardization, process improvement, and strategic software implementations.

As a leader, I inspire my team to spearhead projects that enhance business continuity and elevate both the customer and associate experience. My approach is collaborative and results-driven, ensuring that every initiative aligns with the organization’s strategic goals. I am passionate about mentoring and developing talent, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and my cavapoo, Ruby, at the beach.

Kristy Simonette is Senior Vice President of Strategic Services and Chief Information Officer (CIO), responsible for innovation, information technology, marketing, contact center operations, retail, and ancillary income. Before joining Camden in 2003, Kristy was Director of Sales and Customer Service for Ashford.com. Prior to Ashford, Kristy spent three years implementing, training, and managing support for SAP at Browning Ferris Industries. Kristy also has nine years with a multifamily management company. Kristy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Schreiner University.

Michael Kao leads Essex’s Technology Platform. He comes to Essex with approximately 25 years of industry experience and is responsible for the oversight of three key teams: Enterprise Applications, Infrastructure and Engineering, and the Data Platform group. He has served Essex in different capacities and joined in 2022.

Before joining Essex, Michael served as Chief Information Officer at Aviation Capital Group (ACG), where he started the Information Technology Department and led ACG’s Technology replatform during its divestiture from Pacific Life.

Prior to ACG, Michael served as Chief Technology Officer at Green Street Advisors. Over the course of his 20-year career with Green Street, he founded the Technology team, led the creation and development of its proprietary technology platform, and participated in strategic planning, acquisitions, and various high-value initiatives. Michael began his career in 2000 as an Associate with Green Street, splitting his time between research analytics and application / data development.

Julie Keel is responsible for establishing the short-term objectives and long-term strategic vision for the company’s marketing efforts. She oversees the creation, implementation, and execution of all branding, creative, advertising, social media, web/internet, communications, crisis communications, public relations, and philanthropic efforts.

Julie started her marketing career on the advertising agency side in Charlotte, NC, managing numerous clients, including Crescent Resources, Laura Ashley, multiple home builders, and insurance agencies. She left the agency side to lead marketing at Summit Properties in 2003. During the Summit/Camden merger, she joined Camden as Marketing Manager and relocated to Houston. She has been an integral part of Camden’s marketing team, leading and implementing Camden’s social media strategy, taking care of the brand, and establishing herself as the driving force behind philanthropic initiatives, known as Camden Cares.

Julie works collaboratively to leverage data-driven insights to develop creative marketing programs to increase sales, value, and differentiation throughout Camden’s markets. With over 20+ years of experience in marketing, sales, operations, design, and development, she brings expertise in multi-family and the advertising industry.

A southerner by birth, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and public relations from the University of Tennessee.

As Vice President of Shared Services, Amy Davis oversees the company’s systems and shared services, where she is focused on BH’s centralizing initiative for our four pillars of shared services: Contact Center, Resident Screening, Resident Account Management, and Renewals. With over 25 years of experience in property management and 20 years specializing in systems management, Amy is passionate about streamlining processes and enhancing resident experiences. As a seasoned Yardi administrator, she has successfully managed over 30 databases and 4 Entrata databases, equipping her with a deep understanding of property management technologies.

Amy’s committed to driving innovation and operational efficiency within the industry, ensuring that both our residents and team members benefit from improved services and solutions.

Kim Garfield is the Vice President of IT at UDR, Inc. In this role, she leads the execution and delivery of UDR’s technology initiatives, playing a pivotal role in the company’s platform transformation. Her contributions include the development of UDR’s Resident and Self-Guided Touring Applications, Robotic Process Automation, and CRM platform. Kim is instrumental in defining the technology roadmap that supports UDR’s innovation and operations vision.

With oversight of UDR’s Software Development, Product, DevOps, Quality Assurance, IT Support, Project, and Change Management functions, Kim ensures seamless integration and performance across all technology domains. She has been with UDR for twelve years, bringing extensive experience from her previous eleven-year tenure at Archstone.

Kim holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Colorado and is a certified Project Management Professional.

As Chief Operating Officer at BH, Christi Weinstein oversees the company’s support services, including software implementations and support, technical training, innovative software selection, centralized services and national product and ancillary procurement efforts.

Christi supports critical business strategies and leads the company’s innovative solutions by developing highly functioning teams that use best-in-class technologies to drive results.

With more than 25 years of multifamily experience, Christi is dedicated to improving operational processes to enrich the employee experience and support the company’s customer-centric mindset.

Josh Gampp is a seasoned technology executive and is currently the Chief Technology Officer at UDR, Inc.

In his role at UDR, Josh is responsible for overseeing the company’s Centralized (Sales/Leasing, Move-ins, Renewals), Marketing, and IT operations. In addition, he helps lead innovation efforts for the company and has been key in expanding UDR’s reputation as an innovation leader during his tenure. He brings a wealth of expertise to the position, having worked in various technology focused roles for over 20 years.

Prior to joining UDR, Josh held leadership positions at Level 3 Communications, where he worked in various technology roles of increasing responsibility. He began his career in software development and project management roles at Jones Cyber Solutions and Sapient Consulting.

In addition to his work at UDR, Josh is actively involved in the apartment industry and often speaks at industry events. He is passionate about using process and technology to improve the quality of life for residents and to streamline operations for property managers.

Outside of work, Josh enjoys golf, traveling, and supporting the University of Colorado sports teams. He is a proud graduate of the University of Colorado, where he earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science and Chemical Engineering as well as an MBA.

Christine Boucher is the Managing Director of Operations Process & Optimization for Greystar’s US Property Management business. In her role, Christine oversees policy management, process design, product enablement, strategic initiatives, and technology rollouts across the organization’s 3,500+ property portfolio with the goal of making change easier, ensuring operational excellence, and a consistent resident experience.

Christine’s career has been rooted in modernization and operational efficiencies, including leadership roles spanning strategic initiatives, product management, property operations, and asset management. Her experience includes tenure at AvalonBay Communities and Crescent Heights, and she’s known for aligning enterprise-level strategies for frontline impact, resulting in scalable, and high-value transformation programs.

Christine holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from the University of Louisville and an MBA in finance and real estate from Roosevelt University in Chicago.

As the Vice President of Contact Center Operations for Camden Property Trust, Alison Hall is at the helm of a significant operation. She is responsible for the development and administration of Camden’s in-house 24×7 sales and customer service omni-channel contact center, which engages with over 400,000 customers annually. Additionally, she oversees Camden’s internal business support center, a resource available 24×7 to Camden’s 1,700 employees. Her recent achievement includes the development and establishment of the Shared Services department, which centralized many of the traditional business and financial processes onsite, prior to its permanent location in Operations. During her 33-year tenure with Camden, Hall has held several positions, each with increasing responsibilities and functions. As District Manager, she managed over 5,000 apartment homes in Houston, Texas. As Contact Center Director, she implemented technology platforms and strategies to create and grow the Camden Contact Center. Hall holds a Bachelor of Science in General Studies, with an emphasis in Communications, from The University of Houston–Downtown, a Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Leadership from Houston Christian University. She is an IREM-Certified Property Manager, National Apartment Association-certified apartment Property Supervisor, and Texas Real Estate Salesperson. Alison Hall’s commitment to the industry is evident in her extensive professional affiliations. Since 2000, she has served on the Board of Directors of The Houston Apartment Association, culminating in her presidency of the organization in 2016. She is also an active member of CREW Houston, where she served as President in 2023. Alison is married to Don Hall and has a 25-year-old daughter, Hollan. She enjoys spending time in Galveston and cheering on the Auburn University Tigers.

Max is the Vice President of Business Technology at GID, where he crafts and delivers technology roadmaps for its multifamily, industrial, credit and development verticals. Max joined GID after spending five years with the Miami Dolphins and subsidiaries.

With the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium F1 Miami Grand Prix and Miami Open, Max led a team within the technology department supporting all verticals and departments in the organization. Starting in 2019, Max helped prepare the organization for Superbowl 54, leading the strategy, selection and implementation of numerous systems. Max was also instrumental in supporting the inaugural F1 Miami Grand Prix.

Prior to joining the Dolphins, Max worked for PWC, in their Real Estate consulting practice, and held similar positions implementing back-office systems in real estate for FITECH based in New York, and with Menkes Developments based in Toronto.

Max is a certified inclusive leader by RISE and ESSEC and speaks Spanish. He holds a bachelor’s degree in geography and Spanish from Bucknell University, and a masters degree in spatial analytics from Toronto Metropolitan University.

Jackie joined ZRS in 1999 as an onsite team member at a multifamily community in Florida — a property that ZRS still manages today. Over the years, she has ascended through the ranks, culminating in her role as Vice President of Operations for the past five years. In that capacity, Jackie was instrumental in developing asset optimization, overseeing information systems, managing transitions, and supporting technology and training initiatives.

One of Jackie’s standout achievements is the creation of ZRS’s Centralized Services Department, which has significantly enhanced operational efficiency by generating payroll savings and allowing property personnel to focus more on customer and resident service. Her innovative approach has also led to the establishment of industry best practices, streamlining operations, and driving higher returns for property owners.

Scott identifies, captures, and delivers on great ideas while driving innovation and performance throughout the organization to ensure thoughtful, efficient, and effective growth for Cortland. He spearheads all innovation, technology, revenue management, and data and analytics platforms across the company, as well as oversees Cortland’s evaluation of external technology opportunities.

With over 20 years of experience in the property management industry, I currently serve as the Director of Sales Enablement at Essex. My career has spanned a wide range of roles—including sales, operations, implementation, and process improvement—allowing me to develop a well-rounded perspective on organizational success. I specialize in driving strategic initiatives that enhance performance, streamline operations, and support scalable growth across diverse teams.

Chris serves as the Vice President of Enterprise Applications for Essex with 20+ years of industry experience. He joined Essex in 2024 and oversees the Enterprise Product, Enterprise Development, and Enterprise Solutions teams. Prior to Essex, Chris was the VP of Engineering / Managing Director at Green Street where he spent 19 years building the technology team along with Green Street’s proprietary SaaS web platform. He led the web development, QA, and DevOps teams and helped drive product development and collaboration with all business functions (Commercial, Finance, Compliance, Research, etc.) providing insights and direction with a tech lens. Chris also helped perform critical due diligence through many M&A deals and led the integration of React News, LDC (UK retail property data), and Harrison Scott Publications’ products into the Green Street web platform and CRM. Chris started his career as a network security consultant at Verisign and then as a software consultant team lead with Provenir working in the credit lending and auto lending industry. Chris holds a Master of Engineering in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering, and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University.

With over 21 years of experience in property management and prop tech, Brandon Gaeta is a seasoned leader known for driving innovation and operational excellence. Currently responsible for the regionalization of sales at Morgan Properties, Brandon plays a central role in aligning front office strategy with Morgan’s ever-growing portfolio. A passionate advocate for both customer and employee experience, Brandon brings a people-first mindset to every aspect of business, fostering growth, engagement, and long-term success.