Meet the 2025 Leading Women in Property Management
Leading Women in Property Management is an exciting new program designed and produced by the NARPM Women’s Council of Property Managers, in conjunction with Blanket, meant to showcase the leadership abilities, unique strengths, and property management expertise women bring to the industry. By doing so, we hope to encourage more women in property management to step up and step forward as mentors, leaders, and to invest in their professional skills.
This year’s theme is She Makes The Difference, which emphasizes the indispensable role women play in each and every property management company across the country.
Members of the Women’s Council have hand-selected 12 women who are clear leaders in our space. Each honoree was chosen because of their substantial and hard-earned industry experience, their professional certifications, active involvement in NARPM beyond membership, their strong point of view, and for holding a leadership role in their business.
We’ve put together a profile on each honoree covering their career story, their leadership philosophy, the impact their role models have had on them, and the unique strengths each honoree believes women bring to business functions. You can read them below.
Without further ado, these are the women making the difference!
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- Angela Holman, Premier Property Management | Read Angela’s profile
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- Bess Wozniak, Second Nature | Read Bess’s profile
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- Kelli Segretto, K Segretto Consulting | Read Kelli’s profile
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- Jennifer Ruelens, One Focus Property Management | Read Jennifer’s profile
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- Melissa Sharone, First Rate Property Management | Read Melissa’s profile
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- Liz Cleyman, Blue Sail Property Management | Read Liz’s profile
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- Amy Hanson, BHHS PenFed Realty Texas | Read Amy’s profile
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- Pamela Greene, Alarca Realty | Read Pamela’s profile
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- Ashley Andreoni-Romo, Lyon Property Management | Read Ashley’s profile
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- Misty Berger, All County Colorado Springs Property Management | Read Misty’s profile
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- Kellie Tollifson, RHOME Rental + Home Management | Read Kellie’s profile
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- DD Garzon, PURE Property Management | Read DD’s profile
Congratulations to these amazing women!
At this year’s NARPM Annual Convention, each honoree will receive a commemorative plague, and will also record a professional interview so we can all get a glimpse into where they see the industry going, and the high-level strategies they’re using in their businesses.
We want to encourage anyone reading this to congratulate the honorees. Their LinkedIn profiles are linked above.
Angela Holman, MPM®, RMP®
Angela Holman is the Broker/Owner of Premier Property Management in Grand Junction, Colorado. She got her start in property management in 1997 when a local property manager offered her a job as a book keeper. She would later found her own property management company in 2001. She joined NARPM shortly after and is now the National Treasurer and slated to become President-Elect in 2026.
Launching her own business wasn’t easy. It was especially challenging and intimidating to open up an office with zero clients. But Angela’s grit and proactive spirit carried her through the difficult early years. She hit the pavement, built referral networks, and grew her client base one conversation at a time.
Angela’s leadership journey began with her first hire. This experience taught her the importance of reading between the lines during interviews. “I definitely learned that people are able to present a good image during the interview, so you need to develop skills to read the person beyond the words they are speaking,” says Angela. She has since interviewed, hired, and led countless more employees.
Through her 25 years in leadership, she’s developed a philosophy centered on open communication and collaboration. She believes that the best solutions come from a team empowered to contribute their unique ideas and opinions. Angela also believes “that a good leader gives clear guidance and direction, ensuring each team member understands their specific role.”
Angela is a strong believer in the unique value women bring to property management. She believes women are micro-thinking, meaning they notice every detail. This is a vital skill, particularly during property walkthroughs, and for ensuring both owners and tenants receive thoughtful, thorough service.
Angela credits her mentors for teaching her how to refine her business strategies. She recalls a pivotal conversation with two fellow NARPM members that guided her through a local acquisition. This was before “buying doors” became an industry norm.
When she’s not managing properties, Angela enjoys 80s music, classic movies like St. Elmo’s Fire and The Breakfast Club.
Bess Wozniak, MPM®, RMP®, CPM®
Bess Wozniak is an Implementation Manager II at Second Nature, but she is a longtime leader in the property management industry. Based in Acworth, Georgia, Bess began her journey in the field earlier than most. She spent her summer breaks answering phones at her family’s PM company while her friends were at the pool. Though she initially pursued a career in children’s theatre, life brought her back to real estate in 2010, and she hasn’t looked back since.
Her career began at McCreary Realty Management, the company her grandparents rebranded in 1990 and her father led for decades. Starting at the front desk, Bess worked her way through every corner of the business. From leasing and maintenance to accounting, client relations, and eventually, Vice President. After McCreary’s sale to PURE Property Management in 2022, she stepped into the role of Operations Manager, overseeing Atlanta and Augusta operations during a major transition.
Bess’s early years in leadership were marked by the challenge of earning respect in a space where she was seen as “the boss’s daughter.” Bess says that “clients and maintenance vendors who’d worked with my dad for decades often defaulted to, “Let me talk to your dad,” or “I trust his opinion more.’” But through hands-on learning and by staying committed, she built a name for herself. One day, she overheard someone refer to her dad as “Bess’s dad.” It was a small but powerful sign she had stepped into her own. Nevertheless, her dad remains her biggest cheerleader, and primary mentor. He taught her everything from the inner workings of HVAC and septic systems, to many essential business functions. She also has many women who have mentored her that she looks up to, several of who are also on the list of the 2025 Leading Women in Property Management.
Bess’s leadership style is grounded in leading by example and leading with the why. “I never want someone on my team to feel like they’re just following orders without understanding the bigger picture,” says Bess. She holds a people-first mindset along with a strong conviction that a leader’s job is to equip their teams with the tools, context, and autonomy they need to thrive. But she also isn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves alongside them!
A proud member of NARPM since 2011, Bess has served at the local, regional, and national levels. She’s chaired major conferences, led publications committees, and was a founding member of the Women’s Council of Property Managers, where she served as Chair in 2023.
When it comes to women’s unique qualities and skills, Bess says that women bring strengths that make relationships stronger. Women often have “higher emotional intelligence with strong communication skills, more empathy, and enhanced collaboration skills that allow us to build trust and foster meaningful relationships with residents, owners, and team members alike.” She also believes that women’s natural organizational abilities “help us navigate the many moving parts of this business while keeping the human side front and center.”
Kelli Segretto, CPM®
Kelli Segretto is the Founder of K Segretto Consulting and Co-Founder of PropDefend. Based in North Salt Lake, Utah, Kelli’s journey into property management began on the vendor side back in 2000, when she helped rehabilitate neglected properties in Arizona. In 2004, she made the switch to multifamily property management. She wanted a career that would allow her to stay home with her young children while still contributing to her household, and multifamily made that possible.
She quickly discovered that learning the ropes in property management, especially in a regulation-heavy state like California, was no small feat. With no prior experience (not even as a renter), Kelli tackled steep learning curves by creating structure and systems in both her professional and personal life. That balance didn’t come easy, but it’s what enabled her to grow, and later lead.
From her very first role as a property manager, Kelli’s influence extended beyond her title. She trained new hires, shaped company standards, and led with curiosity and heart. Over her 11 years in that first company, she embraced “controlled chaos” and learned to lead with empathy, clarity, and resilience.
Kelli’s leadership philosophy is grounded in setting others up for success. She believes in providing clarity through process, technology, and shared vision, while also creating a culture where people feel proud of their role. “Leadership is about setting others up to succeed. When you create the right foundation with processes, technology, strategy, and structure, your team has the clarity to know where the boundaries are and the freedom to focus on their highest and best contribution,” she says.
Today, she serves on both the NARPM Utah Board and the Women’s Council of Property Managers, bringing the same energy she brings to the conference circuit (she’s usually at three events in one night).
Kelli believes women bring a powerful combination of compassion, inner strength, and multitasking prowess to property management. These qualities strengthen team and client relationships alike. She credits her many mentors for shaping her communication, confidence, and ability to connect with others. Kelli says her mentors “have saved me from countless blundered deals, self-sabotaged presentations, and botched difficult conversations. They have also helped shape my ability to meet people where they are at. Because others were willing to call me out on my mistakes, I am better able to find ways to communicate with just about anyone around me.”
Jennifer Ruelens, MPM®, RMP®, MBA, ARM
Jennifer Ruelens is the Broker/Owner of One Focus Property Management and the visionary behind Hold It With PM Jen. Based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Jennifer got her start in property management back in 2004. Fresh out of college, she launched her own business. After it failed within a year, she pivoted into leasing at a 300-unit multifamily community. Her natural talent for sales propelled her into a property manager role within months, and from there, she found her lane.
Jennifer’s early years in leadership were filled with lessons. Promoted at just 23, she quickly realized that managing people required a different skill set than managing properties. Motivated to grow, she pursued leadership training, earned her MBA, and eventually discovered EOS and Traction. These systems transformed how she led and helped her scale her business.
In 2014, a year after starting her company, Jennifer joined NARPM in search of connection. She found not only fellowship but a path to leadership. She founded the Pennsylvania chapter, has served on national committees, and helped shape the future of the organization through the Leadership Development Task Force and the Women’s Council of Property Managers.
Her leadership philosophy centers on responsibility, both to the mission and to the team. She focuses on setting direction and building the systems her people need to thrive. While one-on-one coaching isn’t her favorite part of the job, Jennifer’s structure-driven approach creates clarity, autonomy, and momentum.
Jennifer believes women bring unique strengths to property management, especially in risk assessment, multitasking, and balancing multiple stakeholders’ needs. Combined with emotional intelligence and strong communication, these traits make women unstoppable in the industry.
Though she never had a single long-term mentor, Jennifer credits the many colleagues and NARPM peers who offered wisdom and perspective along the way.
Melissa Sharone, MPM®, RMP®, CRMC®
Melissa Sharone is the President and Co-Owner of First Rate Property Management in Boise, Idaho. Her journey began in 2010, when she joined First Rate as a showing agent. From day one, she gave it her all, which propelled her through the ranks. She soon moved into leasing, then leasing team lead, then operations manager, and finally, owner. In 2021, she and her husband purchased First Rate, and they’ve run the business together ever since.
Melissa learned early on that success in property management demands resilience and relentless problem-solving. “You must learn to always be the problem solver even when the solution is not clear,” she says. She also discovered just how important it is to protect your mindset in an industry that often focuses on what goes wrong. Through every season, she stayed committed to doing the right thing, even when it was hard, and that focus and consistency built both her leadership skills and her reputation.
Melissa stepped into leadership first as a leasing team lead. Balancing work, a team, and young kids was no small task. But it wasn’t until she was promoted to operations manager that the job began to feel impossible. She was forced to learn a new role and leadership skills while simultaneously balancing a heavy workload. The pressure taught her that she is capable of more than she thought, and that leading by example is the “best thing that you can do for your employees and their development.”
Her leadership philosophy is rooted in service. She says that “leadership is not about authority, but about creating an environment where people feel seen, supported, and empowered to grow.” She wants her team to feel proud of their work, and that their contribution matters.
Melissa champions women’s unique ability to build community in property management. “Women bring a service-driven mindset,” she says, “and we create environments where people truly feel seen and supported.” Melissa believes that women’s ability to combine emotional intelligence with a commitment to empowering others elevates the culture and performance of the industry.
A NARPM member since early in her career and 2024 National President, Melissa credits mentors like Tony Drost and Vickie Gaskill for challenging her to grow and helping her believe in herself. “Each one of them encouraged me to keep going when I wanted to give up and they all challenged me when I wanted to just stay comfortable where I was. They were real, honest and supportive all at the same time. I only hope I can be half the leader to others that they were to me.”
Liz Cleyman, MPM®, RMP®, CRMC®
Liz Cleyman is the Broker/Owner of Blue Sail Property Management. Like many in the industry, she didn’t plan on a career in property management. In 2010, she started helping a friend with marketing for his property management company. One thing led to another, and by 2012, she was in property management fulltime.
In the early days, Liz struggled to balance her career with the demands of motherhood. “With children still at home, I often felt pulled between the responsibilities of managing a household and building my professional career.” Those lessons taught her to build systems, delegate wisely, and prioritize her energy. She says that “over time, I learned how to set boundaries, prioritize what truly matters, and lean on the right systems and support.”
Her leadership journey began with her first hire, and it quickly became clear that leadership was about more than giving direction. “I quickly realized that being a leader wasn’t just about delegating tasks, it was about setting clear expectations, creating systems, and, most importantly, supporting someone else’s growth.” That first hire taught her the importance of trust, patience, and letting go of that “do it myself” default. Liz leads with a philosophy rooted in compassion and high standards. “Compassion doesn’t mean lowering expectations; it means creating an environment where people feel safe to grow, make mistakes, and learn.”
Liz believes that women bring a unique combination of empathy, communication skills, and attention to detail to the property management industry. She says that “these qualities allow us to connect with tenants, owners, and teams in a meaningful way, anticipate needs, and resolve conflicts effectively.” She also emphasizes women’s gift multitasking, which is a very useful skill to have in property management.
A NARPM member since 2012, Liz has served at both the local and national level and became a national instructor in 2022. She says joining NARPM “truly was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” And she credits her mentors for teaching her how to balance accountability with support for team members.
Amy Hanson, MPM®, RMP®
Amy Hanson is the Vice President of Property Management for PenFed Realty Texas, based in Plano, Texas. Her journey into property management started unexpectedly when she purchased a real estate company that she didn’t realize came with a property management division. “It was literally a surprise getting into the property management business,” she jokes. But that unexpected path soon became a passion and a platform for leadership.
Amy’s early years in the industry were shaped by a lack of resources. “It’s very hard to learn this business. There are few teaching resources to learn all the ins and outs. It’s also hard to keep up with all of the regulatory and legislative changes,” she says. When she first got into property management, she thought all you did was collect rent. She didn’t realize all of the intricacies within this particular industry. Over time, she overcame these obstacles by diving into education, leaning into community, and ultimately, through her deep involvement with NARPM.
Her introduction to NARPM came when she attended a chapter meeting as a guest. After that, she began volunteering at the registration table, and never looked back. “Now I’m a serial volunteer,” Amy says. She has served at the local and state chapter levels, and is honored to serve as the 2025 NARPM National President.
Amy’s leadership philosophy centers on collaboration and consensus. “I really try hard to make sure that everyone gets an opportunity to participate in the discussions and to make decisions based upon consensus. I find leading that way tends to get things done more quickly than having divisive and heated arguments,” she says.
Amy is passionate about championing women in property management and in the workplace in general. “When I was a little girl, I was taught girls should be seen and not heard. That was further emphasized by my school report card saying that I talked too much.” Today, she sees how that conditioning still impacts women in the workplace. She says that “women have a tough time being seen as leaders. Many women are gifted and talented and could be great leaders if just given the opportunity.”
She credits her mentors, many of whom were trailblazers themselves, for helping her find her voice and step confidently into leadership.
Pamela Greene, MPM®, RMP®, SFR®, AHWD®, e-PRO®, CPS®
Pamela Greene is the Operations Manager and Property Manager at Alarca Realty in Charlotte, North Carolina. She earned her real estate license in 2007 and started out selling homes. But her path took a sharp turn in 2010 when her broker informed her that she’d be running their new property management division. “Are you sure you’re not crazy?” she asked him. That moment sparked a new chapter in her career, and she built the division from the ground up.
Pam managed that business through its sale to another local firm, stayed on through the transition, and in 2014, made the bold leap to start her own company. For a decade, she ran it as a true one-woman show, until its proud acquisition by Alarca Realty in 2024.
She describes her early years as “building the plane while flying it.” She had to learn how to juggle everything from owner expectations to tenant emergencies, all while figuring out the legal and financial maze that comes with property management. Her “secret weapon” turned out to be equal parts curiosity and stubbornness. “I asked a million questions, sought out mentors, joined professional groups like NARPM, and soaked up every training I could find,” she says.
Pam’s leadership philosophy is grounded in her three E’s: Elevate, Educate, Empower. “Leadership isn’t about titles,” she says. “It’s about setting the example, jumping in when it matters, and making sure your team feels supported to do their best.” Whether at Alarca or in her role as ‘24-’25 Chair of the NC REALTORS® Property Management Division, Pam leads from the front, which sometimes means laughing off the unpredictable moments.
She believes women bring a powerful combination of empathy, multitasking, and emotional intelligence to property management. “We’re able to juggle a dozen things without dropping the ball. More than that, Pam believes women have a unique ability to “read the room, spot potential issues before they escalate, and keep relationships strong while making tough calls.”
A NARPM member since 2013, Pam has served as local chapter President, national committee Chair, and Atlantic RVP Ambassador. In 2026, she’ll serve as a national Director.
She credits her mentors and NARPM family for encouraging her to stretch and grow. “They didn’t hand me answers. They asked the kind of questions that made me think differently, build confidence, and trust my instincts.”
Ashley Andreoni-Romo, CCRM
Ashley Andreoni-Romo is the Director of Property Management at Windermere Signature Property Management in Sacramento, California. Her career started early. When she was two years old, Ashley’s mother began working in property management, and Ashley practically grew up in the office. When she graduated from college in 2009, she had plans to become a teacher, and she was also a new mom. When a full-time receptionist job opened up at her mom’s company, she took it, and never looked back.
Ashley worked her way up from receptionist to Office Manager, then to Property Manager, and eventually Regional Manager, overseeing 12 multi-family properties. When she joined Windermere, she launched their multi-family department. And in 2019, just 10 years after her first full-time job, she took over as Director of Property Management.
Early in her career, Ashley faced assumptions due to her age, family connections, and gender. “I felt I had to prove to everyone that I deserved to be in this space, and that it was not due to sheer luck or nepotism. I was also extremely young – 19 – when I began my career,” she recalls. Even as Co-direct of Property Management for Windermere, clients and vendors would assume she was her counterpart’s assistant and would make jokes about her age. She overcame that through extra education, extra hours, and by asserting herself. She routinely shadowed more-experienced coworkers, would come in on weekends to get more work done, and she quickly learned to confidently vocalize her opinions and take ownership over projects.
Her leadership style is hands-on and goal-oriented. Ashley believes in empowering her team members with the coaching and peer-to-peer support they need to reach short and long-term goals. “I believe in routine, proactive communication, looking at mistakes as coaching opportunities, and in developing training techniques that match learning styles,” she says.
Ashley believes women bring innate wisdom, finesse, and a tenacity that only adversity can create, to property management. “We approach problems with unique abilities to diffuse situations and act as mediators to find real solutions,” she says. Ashley also emphasizes women’s multi-talking abilities. “Aside from the ability to multi-task in property management roles, we often take on important outside roles, and find ways to juggle it all.”
A NARPM member since 2020, Ashley serves as Past Chair of the Women’s Council of Property Managers and is active in both her local chapter and on national committees. She credits her mentors—both women and men—for challenging her to lead with confidence. “One of my first bosses always introduced me as his colleague, never his assistant. That small act made me feel like I belonged.”
Misty Berger, MPM®, RMP®, CRMC®
Misty Berger has a diverse history in property management that begins in 1983 when her in-laws opened a real estate and property management company. She started out in sales, and eventually converted to property management. She went on to become an Employing Broker, and later she owned A Cut Above Property Management for 12 years. Today, she is a Business Development Manager for All County Colorado Springs, CRMC®.
Early in her career, Misty recalls being underestimated because of her age. “I was 21, and clients had a hard time taking me seriously,” she says. But she stuck with it, and by following through on her promises, by communicating responsively, and learning to overcome objections, she upended the limited perception some had of her.
Her first leadership role was as an Employing Broker at the firm she worked for. She knew property management, and she knew real estate, but she was short on leadership experience and management skills. “I had a sharp learning curve and had to learn to balance both skills,” she recalls. She says it was harder than expected, but definitely worth it. “The rewards are still with me today.”
Through her experience as an Employing Broker, and later as the owner of A Cut Above Property Management, Misty developed a leadership philosophy rooted in support and fairness. “I will not ask someone to do something that I am not willing to do,” she says. “They will know I have their back regardless of fault, and they will know I fully support their continuing education and leadership skills development.”
Misty strongly believes that women bring a broad set of unique skills to property management. She cites empathy, ability to multitask, and strong communication as a few. She also strongly believes in service. A few years after joining NARPM, Misty began taking on responsibilities. She has served locally, as Treasurer, VP, RVP, and in 2015 as President. She would later join several National Committees, run for Board, and today she serves as Chair of the Women’s Council of Property Managers.
Misty credits two long-time mentors for giving her the opportunity to fail, but for also being there to help her recover. Both have encouraged her leadership development, and were willing to try new approaches that allowed her to grow. One mentor sold her his business and stuck around to continue coaching her; an experience she greatly appreciated.
Kellie Tollifson, MPM®, RMP®
kellie Tollifson is the National Director of Rental Expansion and Global Team Strategy at RHOME Property Management. Her journey into property management began in the mid-90s, when she and her husband started flipping investment homes. When the flips didn’t pan out, they turned to renting, and just like that, their business T-Square Properties was born.
In the early years, Kellie juggled raising three children while growing the business from an upstairs home office. With her husband working full-time elsewhere, she took the lead, slowly building out their third-party management portfolio. “As women in the workforce 25 years ago, this was just how it was done, dual roles and juggling all the things,” she reflects.
Her first leadership experience came as the founder of the company. “I was leasing, handling maintenance, accounting, and business development. It was more than I expected—and totally overwhelming,” she recalls. After reaching about 60 units, she made her first hire, and with it, a key leadership realization: “Find the things you like and excel at, and do those. Don’t have the dollar person doing the nickel job.”
Kellie’s leadership philosophy is deeply rooted in servant leadership, a concept shaped by authors like John C. Maxwell and Brené Brown. “Leadership is about supporting others and elevating them along the way. When that happens, everybody wins.”
She believes women bring valuable qualities like empathy, vision, and grace under pressure to the industry, but notes that these traits aren’t gender-exclusive. “They’re cultivated through experience, intention, and care,” she says, adding that the best property managers today, regardless of gender, all share them.
Kellie’s connection to NARPM was formed in 2005, when she attended a local chapter meeting. “It was my lifeline—I finally found my people.” Since then, she’s served in national leadership roles and on countless committees, and now focuses on mentoring others stepping into their own leadership paths.
She credits mentors like Vickie Gaskill for helping her navigate complex topics like trust account banking and leadership challenges. “So many people in NARPM have shaped me just by being generous with their time, answers, and example.”
DD Garzon, MPM®, RMP®
DD Garzon is the Industry Liaison at PURE Property Management, based in Woodstock, Georgia. Her journey into property management began in 2004, not through a job, but through investment. At just 22, DD purchased her first two rental properties while still working in a corporate role. A year later, she partnered with two other investors to purchase ten more properties and took on the role of property manager for the group. “I learned all the ‘what not to dos’ by managing my own properties,” she laughs.
In 2010, she took a leap and opened her own third-party property management company. “I ran the business for a year and a half completely solo and manually,” she recalls. “I was pulling my hair out managing just 50 doors.” Everything changed when she discovered Robert Locke’s Property Management 101 class, which led her to NARPM. That decision sparked a transformation that took her from 50 to 500 doors. “Learning how to do things the right way and meeting vendors who helped me scale made all the difference.”
When DD walked into her first NARPM Atlanta chapter meeting, she was asked to be the co-chair of the membership committee on the spot. She said yes, and hasn’t stopped saying yes since. Today, she proudly serves as NARPM’s 2026 President.
Her leadership philosophy centers on clarity, empowerment, and alignment. “My job is to provide the right tools, resources, and processes to help my team succeed,” she says. “I don’t believe in shoving 10 responsibilities on someone’s plate. Let people operate in their natural strengths and they’ll thrive.” She also encourages open feedback and sees mistakes as learning opportunities.
As a woman in property management, DD believes in the power of empathy. “Women are intuitive about people’s feelings. We can often diffuse conflict through understanding, and we use our nurturing side to help both our teams and our clients feel cared for.”
She credits mentors like Robert Locke and Bryan Jenkins for reshaping her business and leadership path. “Robert taught me how to protect my business and grow revenue. Bryan walked beside me in business and leadership, and ultimately inspired me to sell my company to PURE.”
