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Leading the Way

Leading the Way

We empower our people, partners, and communities by facilitating opportunity and possibility for all.  Pratum isn’t just a company; it’s a movement and belief system rooted in a passion for people, because together, we’re shaping a future where everyone finds their place in something greater.

Executive
Leadership

Shah Alam
Shah Alam

CEO

With a career spanning nearly three decades, Shah has become a driving force in the multifamily industry, leading highly recognized and growth-oriented organizations through transformative success. From 2021 to 2023, Shah served as managing partner with Fairstead, where he propelled the management business from 3,000-18,000 managed units in less than two years. As the senior vice president at Related Companies, from 2017 through 2020, Shah led a team of 500+ associates and 18,000 units rapidly transforming distressed areas into prosperous and stable communities. Previously serving as the executive vice president of operations and senior vice president at Edgewood Management from 2011 to 2017, Shah orchestrated the management of a 32,000-unit portfolio of affordable, mixed income and market-rate communities.

Steve Lainez
Steve Lainez

President, Commercial Cleaning

With over 25 years of professional experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sector, Steve is well versed in project management, program development, identifying strategic solutions to organizations, and building collaborative efforts between different stakeholders. Fluent in four languages, Steve organizational management experience includes directing small and large teams within human resources, program development, communications, and community relations/outreach departments. Steve’s prelude to the world of commercial cleaning began as a young teenager helping his mother clean banks during the evenings in Washington, DC. Steve earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland, College Park, an Masters of Arts from the University of Indianapolis, and an M.P.A. from Baruch College – CUNY.

Adriana Ortega Diaz
Adriana Ortega Diaz

President, Compliance & Leasing Consulting

Adriana leads the compliance and leasing consulting team. She has more than 10 years of experience across the real estate industry, from leasing agent roles to management and compliance specialist roles for property management companies.She has also worked as an independent consultant, leveraging her industry knowledge in operations and compliance across organizations in different states. She led FCRE’s compliance and leasing team to establish the consulting division as the primary source for external compliance and leasing assistance to the real estate market. Adriana has obtained certified occupancy specialist (COS), tax credit specialist (TCS) and blended occupancy specialist (BOS) compliance certifications.

Michael Stephens
Michael Stephens

CFO

Mike has more than 35 years experience in real estate, with expertise in affordable housing and other regulated industries.  He has worked with developers, contractors, property management entities, and public and not-for-profit housing agencies, to maintain and expand affordable housing throughout the country.  He specializes in financial reporting requirements to comply with various federal, state, and locally funded programs. Mike has worked extensively with organizations utilizing low-income housing, enterprise zone, and historical tax credits to develop and improve affordable housing.  His experience extends to other industries utilizing public-private funding sources, including infrastructure and construction, social service organizations, and higher education.  Mike has a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Loyola University. He is a certified public accountant. 

David McGuill
David McGuill

Executive Director, Operations

David provides comprehensive oversight of all property operations. With three decades of experience in multifamily property management, David specializes in market rate, affordable, senior, and family housing communities. He has spearheaded the successful completion of over 50 LIHTC housing preservation renovations and the development of new luxury properties across diverse markets. David’s expertise extends to the design and planning of live-work loft spaces and commercial areas. David holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Western New England College and earned his CPM designation in 2014. David has served as president of The Institute of Real Estate Management’s Connecticut Chapter and as a member of the Federal Housing Advisory Board with IREM National.

Revée Simpson
Revée Simpson

General Counsel

Revée oversees all aspects of legal and corporate compliance, transactional activities, contract administration, and general litigation supervision. Revée plays a pivotal role in overseeing the risk management and compliance departments. She holds dual roles within the corporation, serving as both corporate secretary and director of the board. Prior to joining in 2020, Revée was a partner at Offit Kurman where her practice primarily consisted of commercial and real estate litigation; she also served as practice group manager for the firm’s landlord- representation practice group. Revée earned her Bachelor of Arts from Swarthmore College and obtained her law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Wendy Simpson
Wendy Simpson

Senior Vice President, Marketing & Customer Experience

Wendy oversees corporate brand, marketing, and communications, as well as portfolio marketing and customer experience programs and partnerships for market-rate and affordable properties. Wendy leads the marketing team in developing go-to-market demand generation and retention strategies. With more than 25 years of experience, Wendy has held numerous marketing and sales enablement roles, achieving progressive responsibility in product marketing, branding, training, and cross-functional team leadership. Her career includes leadership roles as marketing council chair and board member for PMA. She is a member of NMHC’s Marketing Leaders Roundtable, NAA’s Marketing & Communications Forum, Revyse CMO Roundtable, Multifamily Insider’s Leadership Council, and Multifamily Mentor Matchmaker. Wendy earned an M.B.A. with a concentration in marketing from Strayer University.

Jason Salamon
Jason Salamon

Senior Vice President, Human Resources

Jason heads up all facets of human resources including talent acquisition, learning and development, engagement and retention, employee relations and performance management, compensation and benefits, and payroll. His career spans 30 years during which he has served stakeholders across multiple industries, with such organizations as Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Science Applications International Corporation and Vornado Realty Trust. Jason has a Bachelor of Science in international business and human resources management from American University and a Master of Science in human resources management from The George Washington University. Jason maintains senior professional certifications from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP) and HR Certification Institute (HRCI-SPHR).

Tiffany Kensey
Tiffany Kensey

Vice President, Business Administration

Tiffany plays a pivotal role in new business acquisitions and property dispositions as a member of the business development team. As head of the property transition team, she is also intricately involved in the life cycle of a property, from responding to RFPs for property management services, to drafting and securing the execution of management contracts. Tiffany collaborates with property owners to obtain the requisite lender, investor, and/or agency approvals for management transitions, including HUD and DHCD. She serves as a HUD coordinator/secure Systems Administrator. Tiffany oversees the administration department, which provides support to both the corporate support departments and on-site property operations teams. She manages procurement and construction management departments and serves as a trustee for the company’s health trust.

Management Team

Donna Walker
Donna Walker

Executive Vice President, Property Operations

Donna Walker brings over 25 years of multifamily management expertise to her role. With a diverse background overseeing various assets, Donna’s proficiency spans managing class-A market-rate properties, mixed-use and mixed-income developments, HUD-subsidized multi-family and senior housing, and LIHTC communities. Donna’s responsibilities encompass overseeing new business development, particularly during the onboarding of properties. Additionally, Donna spearheads the mentor/coaching program and partners with human resources on the company’s employee recognition program. Donna works closely with industry experts to ensure properties are well-trained and knowledgeable on the NSPIRE process. Donna’s holds an Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP) designation from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). She earned a degree in business administration from Dickinson Business School.

Deborah Harrell, ARM, CCM, COS, TCCS
Deborah Harrell, ARM, CCM, COS, TCCS

Vice President, Operations 

Deborah is responsible for overseeing a portfolio of 39 communities. With over 24 years of experience in the multifamily industry, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Real Estate and Economic Development from the University of Baltimore and is a member of IREM. Deborah is an Accredited Residential Manager (ARM), Tax Credit Compliance Manager (TCCSM) and Certified Occupancy Specialist (CSM) in Baltimore, Maryland and a Certified Compliance Manager in Columbia, Maryland . Her career is marked by a series of accomplishments, consistent promotions, and increasing responsibilities within the same premier property management company.

Carmen McLaurin
Carmen McLaurin

Vice President, Operations

With over 20 years in the industry, Carmen’s specialization spans various facets of property management, including HUD-subsidized properties, LIHTC communities, mixed-income assets, and market rate properties. Carmen’s track record includes successful completion of multiple Section-8 conversions and acquisition rehab projects. Carmen holds several industry designations, including the SHCM (specialist in housing credit management) and COS (certified occupancy specialist) from NAHMA (National Affordable Housing Management Association), as well as the BOS (blended occupancy specialist) from NHCM (National Center for Housing Management). She is a licensed property manager in the District of Columbia.

Shannon Bodnar
Shannon Bodnar

Vice President of Compliance

Shannon brings 25+ years of experience in a multitude of areas such as; compliance, property and asset management. Shannon was previously the vice president of compliance and administration for Conifer Realty where she oversaw the compliance for over 15,000 units in multiple states for several affordable housing programs including project based rental assistance, low-income housing tax credits, rural development and other local programs. Shannon was the senior vice president of property management at Inlivian, previously known as the Charlotte Housing Authority. Shannon has a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Minnesota State University Moorhead in Moorhead, MN., and a Master of Real Estate from Realtor University. She holds multiple professional certifications and accreditations, and serves on local and national committees for the Institute of Real Estate Management.

Robert “Boo” Nickle
Robert “Boo” Nickle

Vice President, Construction & Maintenance

Robert has been with the company for more than 40 years. He began his career as a porter and was promoted to community manager through several positions including groundskeeper, maintenance technician and maintenance engineer. Robert is responsible for overseeing engineering and construction projects for company-managed properties. He also assists in the bid preparation and solicitation process.

Darrell Yates
Darrell Yates

Senior Director, Human Resources

With over 13 years of experience in human resources, Darryl leads the talent acquisition team, helping navigate challenging employee relations issues, offering advice to leadership, vetting and onboarding new site employees, and conducting site visits to offer in-person support to new and existing teams and communities.  Darryl spent six years at Nordstrom in various HR management roles. His career also includes experience on Capitol Hill, serving as a legislative aide to then Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-7) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Darryl has Bachelor of Arts in political science from Morgan State University and a Master of Arts in public administration from the University of the District of Columbia. He is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Jessica Brittingham
Jessica Brittingham

Director, Learning & Development

Jessica Brittingham is a strategic and diverse learning and development director with more than 11 years of experience in the real estate sector. She specializes in c-suite support and has vast expertise in full-service multifamily firms. Jessica designs and shapes the educational landscape of cross-functional organizations, with a proven history of successful leadership development design. Jessica maintains professional certifications from the National Apartment Association and ProCore Technologies, as well as the Coastal Virginia Building Industry Association, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation.

Michael Hodges
Michael Hodges

Director, Risk Management & Safety

Michael oversees all risk assessment, risk control, claims & incident management, insurance management, contractual risk transfer, emergency preparedness, emergency response, safety standards, safety training, risk management training, and risk management and safety resource development. Michael leads the risk management and safety team in employing a holistic approach to managing risk and safety in both affordable and market rate residential multi-family housing. Michael has 17 years of experience in risk management and safety holding roles in underwriting, risk control and risk management with large insurance companies and government entities. Michael has a Bachelor of Science in economics and an M.B.A. with a concentration in corporate finance from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He also holds an ARM designation from The Institutes.

Joyce Border
Joyce Border

Vice President – Property Accounting

Joyce is responsible for the oversight of the property accountants,  and all financial reporting to owners, agencies, lenders and investors.  She has more than 30 years of experience in property management accounting. Joyce has a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Shippensburg University.

Khurram Bashir
Khurram Bashir

Vice President, A/P & Cash Management

Khurram brings over 20 years of leadership experience to the organization. His solutions-focused approach, combined with his accomplished track record, makes him a standout professional in the field of accounting. Khurram focuses on strategic financial planning, analyzing data, and making informed decisions. Khurram has successfully enhanced revenue cycles, maximizing income streams for organizations. His insights drive financial efficiency. Khurram’s knack for process optimization and job consolidation has led to significant cost savings. He streamlines operations, making organizations more agile. Khurram is a certified public accountant.

Belen Mitchell
Belen Mitchell

Procurement and Contracts Manager

Belen Mitchell is a dedicated contracts and procurement manager with extensive experience in negotiating and managing contracts, and optimizing procurement processes. Belen holds an Associate’s Degree in legal studies, providing her with a strong foundation in contract law and legal principles. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated exceptional abilities in vendor management, cost reduction, and risk mitigation. Her keen attention to detail, combined with her legal acumen, ensures that all contractual agreements align with organizational goals.

Giraud Payen
Giraud Payen

Manager, Acquisitions & Investment Management

Giraud oversees the firm’s acquisition sourcing, underwriting, and asset management activities. With more than 13 years of experience, Giraud has held roles in all key functions of institutional real estate across asset management, acquisitions, portfolio management, and capital raising. Giraud started his career in the analyst training program at KeyBanc Capital Markets and began his real estate expertise as an investment underwriter with The Townsend Group. Giraud has held various investment roles at Clarion Partners, Cortland, and Aegon Asset Management. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor of Science in economics and finance and earned his M.B.A. at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is a fellow of the Toigo Foundation and member of ULI Washington, DC.

Katia Topete
Katia Topete

Administrative Services Manager

Katia supports all areas of the administrative portion of our compliance and leasing consulting division, dedicated to establishing processes, developing market opportunities, supporting the marketing team to generate new product content, and developing and maintaining positive working relationships with internal and external clients. Katia has more than 15 years of experience, with a focus on developing new operational divisions, process improvements, employee development and retention, and customer satisfaction. Katia was previously the director of customer experience with Citizens. Her career spans experience in marketing services, retail, and financial industries. Katia has a Bachelor of Arts in design and applied arts from ITESO University in Mexico.