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 relentless, data-driven approach to operations and why property management became the most challenging and rewarding work of his career
• Break down why operating expenses have surged more than 40% since 2019, why rents haven’t kept pace, and how technology, amenities, and herd mentality have quietly eroded value instead of creating it
• Reflect on leadership, culture, and accountability—from building teams that thrive under pressure to redefining work environments that prioritize performance, trust, and long-term sustainability in one of the toughest market cycles multifamily has ever faced

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, earn, and serve, and why so many professionals “fall into” the industry and stay
• Break down what it really takes to scale from 13,000 to 45,000 units, including the power of promoting from within, investing in leadership training, and building systems that support both growth and culture
• Reflect on the future of multifamily management—what AI and centralization get right and wrong, why human connection still matters, and why developing first-line leaders may be the industry’s most urgent challenge

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, asking for more responsibility, and learning “through fire” shaped his leadership style
• Break down what it means to bridge capital and community, translating income statements into lived experiences while balancing owner expectations, operational realities, and resident needs across affordable, workforce, and luxury housing
• Reflect on the grind of multifamily, the emotional toll on on-site teams, and why empathy, culture champions, accountability, and scalable—not perfect—processes are essential to building resilient teams and livable communities

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 burnt out to challenge how things have been done, and how he focuses on finding people who will challenge what people have been doing every day for the last several hundred years of property management
• Break down how AI cleaned up all of our ledgers, how his teams rose to the KPI and AI challenge with a challenge accepted mindset, and how he pushes operations to meet KPIs or risk being outperformed by automation
• Reflect on treating managers and operators like they are running micro economies, why he wants his company to bet on courage instead of comfort, and how he creates space for teams to become indispensable while navigating burnout, staffing challenges, and multigenerational leadership

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 housing and eventually purchasing his family’s company, to Julie discovering affordable housing by chance and building a career rooted in education, compliance, and deep care for residents and site teams
• Break down how AdWest is transforming a legacy company into a forward-thinking organization through clearer leadership structures, Notion-powered knowledge bases, ChatGPT-assisted operational tools, and weekly training programs designed to support and strengthen onsite teams
• Reflect on balancing family-founded values with modern innovation, investing intentionally in people, reshaping roles to match strengths, and building a culture where team members are encouraged to collaborate, problem-solve, and continually improve the resident experience

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 ultimately COO—and how mastering each role, investing in people, and staying relentlessly curious shaped his path to leading 6,700 units across 52 communities
• Break down his leadership philosophy of mastering your current role, always learning what’s next, and building teams of “solutionists” who confidently step into challenges with clarity and purpose
• Reflect on spirituality, meditation, and the belief that we are “spirits working with spirits”—and how mindfulness, empathy, energetic awareness, and intentional human connection fuel better interactions, stronger teams, and more purposeful careers in multifamily

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-profit mindset with a nonprofit mission to create, preserve, and elevate affordable housing nationwide
• Break down the realities of development today, from navigating red tape and NIMBYism to structuring “impossible” deals—and why she believes success comes from tackling one problem at a time with grit, creativity, and purpose
• Reflect on empowering women in real estate, leveraging technology to streamline impact, and how her nonprofit, Bloom, is helping residents build equity through education, financial literacy, and community connection

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, and built a 30-year career defined by grit, mentorship, and a deep belief that property management is ultimately about people—not just numbers
• Reflect on her bold leap at fifty to start her own company, the whirlwind two months that followed, and why betting on customization, relationships, and quick decision-making helped her team win Property Management Company of the Year in both Reno and Las Vegas
• Discuss how she’s grooming the next generation—including her own son as a third-generation operator—and why she believes property management should be taught in schools to inspire purpose, pride, and longevity in the industry