Melissa Pianko has over 20 years of experience in real estate investments, development, and asset management. She joined InterCapital as a Partner in November 2023 where she is responsible for investments and asset management together with Benjamin Schor, she is Co-CEO of Dayrise Residential. Previously, she was a Managing Director at Blackstone where she led asset management for Blackstone’s 300k unit US and Canadian residential portfolio (apartments, affordable housing and single- family rentals). From 2005 to 2016, Melissa oversaw development for Gotham Organization, a privately held NYC multifamily developer. She started her career at Goldman Sachs in municipal finance and real estate investment banking. Melissa received an MBA from Stanford and a BA from Columbia.  She was named to Crain’s NY 40 Under 40 in 2012.

She is on the board of NYU’s Furman Center, a full Member of Urban Land Institute (Multifamily Silver Council) and of Stanford Real Estate Council. Melissa received a BA from Columbia University and an MBA from Stanford University.

Benjamin Schor serves as Co-CEO and is also a partner at InterCapital Group, its affiliated property owner. Since joining Dayrise in 2013, Benjamin has overseen the management of real estate investments across the United States totaling over 50,000 units and approximately $4 Billion in asset value. Mr. Schor graduated from Yale University, where he received his MBA. He received his BS in International Relations from Boston University.

Erich Klothen is a Principal at InterCapital Group and Chief Operating Officer of Dayrise Residential. Since joining Dayrise in 2019, Erich has specialized in transaction management with an emphasis on due diligence for all acquisitions and dispositions. Erich’s responsibilities include risk management, corporate operations, and property onboarding. Prior to joining InterCapital, Erich served in the United States Peace Corps as a volunteer in Albania, where he worked on economic development projects. He attended Wesleyan University and Rutgers University.

Melissa Morales has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Dayrise since August of 2022. As CFO she partners with owners, stakeholders and team leads, overseeing company finance and accounting, financial planning and investor relations. Melissa began her career in public accounting, transitioning to privately held organizations and family offices. Throughout her 20+ year career, Melissa has leveraged her experience, entrepreneurial mindset, and passion for talent development to support strategic initiatives. Melissa earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of New Orleans, Louisiana. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has held licenses in Louisiana, Alaska, Arizona and currently in Texas.

The appeal of construction began early, as I worked in the field during my college days. I began my professional career directly after attaining an Aviation Technology degree. I have progressed through several companies, and I now have over 27 years of experience in management and team supervision, specializing in safety controls and subcontractor negotiations. I also have organizational experience in facility construction and maintenance.

As Executive Vice President of Construction for DayRise Residential, I am responsible for all aspects of construction nationwide, varying from due diligence, acquisitions, design, and staffing to complete management of all construction phases.

Monica Gracia is the Senior Vice President and has 24 years’ experience in the multifamily industry, in which she has demonstrated growth, success, and knowledge throughout her career. Monica started her career as a leasing consultant, quickly working her way up through the ranks as an Assistant Manager, Manager, Director of Training, and Regional Manager. Monica is highly skilled in training, revenue growth, expense management, budgeting, resident relations, marketing, sales, and team building. Committed to giving back, Monica is an active member of the Houston Apartment Association. She serves on various committees, is on the Board of Directors, and was the 2020/2021 Education Advisory Council Chairperson. She joined Dayrise in 2020 as a Regional Director overseeing operations for a portfolio of 2,800+ and was elevated to Regional Vice President and then Senior Vice President of the company.  Monica has won multiple awards in the industry and association level and is a 2018 HAA Leadership Lyceum Graduate.

Mary Sheets is the Vice President of Talent and People for Dayrise Residential. She is responsible for overseeing the organization’s human resources and training program and strategic initiatives related to personnel and their development. Since joining Dayrise in 2016, Mary has led the development of the company’s Talent and People Department with passion for the employee experience. She has over 12 years of experience in the multifamily industry with almost nine of those years working with Dayrise. Mary earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree from Texas A&M University in 2012 and obtained her Society of Human Resources Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) in 2017.

Carla Heath-Bush supports the Atlanta Region of Dayrise Residential as the Regional Vice President of Operations overseeing almost 6000 units across the Region. Her career is grounded in the philosophy of empowering teams to drive performance by providing the tools and resources needed to take control of performance and growth. With over 20 years of industry experience in varying roles of property operations, Carla has earned several designations, including her CAM & CAPS. She is a member of the Atlanta Apartment Association, IREM GA, and serves her community through regular participation in volunteer work with the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Kylie Louthan is a seasoned professional in property management operations, specializing in value-add projects and new construction across Texas, Arizona, and Colorado. With extensive experience in enhancing property performance and overseeing community construction initiatives, Kylie has a proven track record of boosting property value and ensuring operational excellence. Her work spans a diverse range of properties, reflecting a deep understanding of market dynamics and a strategic approach to property management. Kylie’s expertise in both managing existing properties and spearheading new developments enables her to address challenges effectively and drive success in various real estate environments. Beyond her professional achievements, Kylie is passionate about the outdoors, traveling, and spending time with her family. These interests enrich her approach to property management and strengthen her client relationships. Committed to excellence, Kylie continues to make impactful contributions to the property management industry, always striving to deliver exceptional value and results.

Amber Molina is the Risk Coordinator and Senior Office Manager and joined Dayrise in 2021. Amber has 34 years’ experience in the multifamily industry, starting out as a vendor and transitioning to a property manager. At DayRise, Amber manages insurance claims and handles communication between adjustors, the Dayrise team and other third parties. Amber attended University of Houston.

Bridget Liberti oversees operational services for Dayrise Residential. Bridget has been in the multi-family industry for 18 years and has held many different positions throughout her career. Bridget has a passion for developing and supporting new programs, inclusive of centralized services and operations support. She is a manager, trainer, and leader of new initiatives. Her most recent achievements have been the rollout of OPS Technology and is responsible for the end user experience with LRO, Yieldstar, and AIRM systems. She is also a RealPage power user. Bridget has served on committees in both local and state apartment associations, most recently as the Co-Chair for the AANC DE&I committee. Alongside her day job, she has created an Introduction to Mentoring seminar to help other organizations jumpstart their peer-to-peer training programs and is working to complete her first leadership book that focuses on the same.

Courtney Bastian is the Sr. Director of Marketing at Dayrise. She joined Dayrise in 2022 and has over 9 years of experience in multifamily marketing. Courtney is responsible for overseeing marketing strategies, driving lead generation, managing digital optimization, and enhancing brand growth across the portfolio. She also leads the adoption of new marketing technologies. Prior to joining Dayrise, she worked at Cushman & Wakefield, where she helped lead the national digital strategy and played a key role in driving multifamily marketing efforts. She received her BA from the University of Houston.

Crystal Jones is the Director of Systems and Support at Dayrise, where she is responsible for overseeing systems management, leading project implementations, and managing the internal support desk to optimize operational efficiency across the portfolio. A Navy veteran with over 20 years of experience in systems, IT, and project management, Crystal is an expert in prop-tech systems, implementations, process improvement, and systems training. She has more than 8 years of experience in multifamily operations. Before joining Dayrise in 2021, Ms. Jones held key positions at Cushman & Wakefield and Pinnacle, where she specialized in systems support, regional operations services, process improvement, and led efforts in acquisitions, due diligence, and project management. Her expertise in developing and executing effective systems training and improving processes has been crucial in driving operational success and ensuring seamless integrations across portfolios. Crystal is from Houston, Texas and currently resides in Atlanta, GA where she continues to leverage her strategic vision and extensive experience to drive scalable growth, process efficiency, and technological innovation for Dayrise.

Brittany Scheble joined Dayrise in March of 2024 in the capacity of Revenue Manager. With a wealth of industry experience spanning over two decades, she has held positions at industry-leading companies such as Equity Residential, Simpson Property Group, and Greystar. Prior to joining Dayrise, Brittany dedicated 15 years to operations in the Denver Metro Area before transitioning to Revenue, where she earned her Yieldstar, and AIRM Certification through RealPage. Brittany is enthusiastic about leveraging her passion and expertise to foster Dayrise’s ongoing success and to facilitate the attainment of new milestones. She attended both Colorado State University and Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Brian Fries joined Dayrise Residential in 2017. Brian is a highly skilled Construction Project Management professional with over 39 years of experience in the Multi-Family Industry. He specializes in Strategic planning and asset preservation. Brian has demonstrated a proven track record of success in Project Management and Large-loss insurance claims. Brian has been recognized throughout his career for his dedication to the industry, notably through multiple awards and recognitions. He is a passionate professional who continuously seeks to improve his craft and contribute to advancing the new generation of real estate professionals.

Dean Johnson has been the Director of Design at Dayrise Residential since 2013. In this role, he is responsible for blending design and functionality to create transformative spaces. Dean’s meticulous attention to detail and his enthusiasm for personalized design were shaped by his experiences working with interior designers during high school and college. After exploring other opportunities in the construction industry, he realized that design was where his true passion lay and decided to pursue it as his career path.

Kinjal Vora joined DayRise Residential in 2022 as Controller, bringing over 15 years of accounting experience across industries like Manufacturing, Oil & Gas, and Property Management. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), she holds a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Houston Clear Lake and bachelor’s degree in accounting & finance from India. Kinjal has a strong background in financial strategy, month-end close out, cash management, and process improvements, having led initiatives to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. During her free time, she is dedicated to community involvement, contributing to young professional organizations and enjoys teaching, reading, and traveling to explore new cultures.

Abby Kowis started her multifaceted career in the multi-family housing industry 25 years ago. Abby’s training began under Operations as a Leasing Consultant.  She quickly advanced, becoming an Assistant Manager, Property Manager and Regional Manager for an Owner-Managed portfolio based out of Houston.  Over time, Abby built great rapport and trust with additional Investor groups out of Texas, New York, and Virginia.  Under these partnerships she implemented processes and procedures, developed marketing strategies, trained employees, and ultimately focused in on her skills in finance and analytics.  Over the past 5 years with Dayrise, Abby’s wealth of knowledge has been instrumental in growing the Construction Finance Department.

Soijem Ossi has been part of the Dayrise family since 2017 and currently serves as the Senior Accounting Manager. A proud graduate of the University of Houston with a degree in Accounting, Soijem brings over two decades of experience in real estate management, with practice spanning residential, commercial, and multifamily sectors.

Monette Miller began her career with Dayrise in 2012, bringing with her 28 years of experience in the multifamily industry. Before joining Dayrise she maintained the new construction development draw records and treasury management at InterCapital both in Houston and Chicago.  After 5 years in Chicago, she returned to her hometown of Houston.  Monette has worked in multiple aspects of this industry, starting as an on-site leasing consultant and advancing to manager. She later joined the corporate field and started in Accounts Payable and progressed to Controller.  Her current responsibilities include the oversight of corporate accounting services which also interface with property accountants on 50 plus communities.  Monette’s drive and inspiration are fostered in helping others achieve professional growth through teaching and mentoring.

Chris Contessa serves as the Director of Information Technology at Dayrise Residential. With over 20 years of experience, Chris brings a strategic approach to implementing technological solutions that enhance multifamily strategies, streamline operations, and optimize cost efficiency. His expertise lies in balancing innovation with operational stability, managing cybersecurity risks, aligning information technology initiatives with business objectives, and modernizing legacy systems. A CS graduate and recipient of several Presidents awards, Chris holds multiple published Utility Patents from the USPTO, reflecting a passion for pushing the boundaries of innovation and delivering solutions to complex problems. Beyond IT, he has driven organizational growth as a former Chairman of Diversity, championing initiatives to enhance collaboration and communication. Chris’s leadership and technical expertise have consistently advanced organizational success and innovation.