Leadership

Darren began his career in the multi-family industry as a lowly resident assistant at Arizona State University. There he learned important leadership lessons like how to win friends and influence people while pouring their beer down the sink.

Prior to starting Portico in 2011, Darren was the Vice President of Operations at Verde Apartment Communities where he oversaw the development of 5,000 construction units throughout the four major MSA’s in Texas. He has supervised the management of over 120,000 units in his career throughout the nation, along with overseeing 100+ new construction projects. During his career, Darren has helped to acquire, build, and manage over 20 billion dollars in multi-family real estate.

Darren holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a Masters of Business Administration from Arizona State University.  His passion remains focused on building the very best teams.

Matt Ozee serves as a Partner at Portico, where he supports the firm’s expansion strategy and underwriting teams. He plays a key role in sourcing new management opportunities and delivering analytical support across new and existing client relationships.

Before joining Portico, Matt launched the Texas office for Origin Investments, overseeing the sourcing, evaluation, and execution of investment opportunities. His career also includes significant experience with Behringer Harvard and Goldman Sachs.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Arkansas and maintains an active real estate license in the state of Texas.

Robyn serves as Senior Vice President of Support Services for Portico, overseeing Human Resources, Learning & Development, IT, Systems Support, and Transitions. Since entering the multifamily industry in 2007, she has built extensive experience across both onsite operations and corporate leadership.

Throughout her career, Robyn has held roles including Community Manager, Regional Resource Manager, Regional Property Manager, and Director of Training. Her background includes direct oversight of diverse asset types, along with operational support focused on systems implementation, training, and process improvement.

At Portico, Robyn plays a key role in supporting property operations, management transitions, and organizational development across the portfolio. She is passionate about creating efficient systems, strengthening operational processes, and supporting teams through growth and change.

Heather serves as Senior Vice President of Operations for Portico, where she oversees the day-to-day operations across all markets within the company’s portfolio. Since joining Portico in 2015 as a Regional Director, Heather has played a key role in the company’s growth, operational strategy, and development of high-performing teams.

With more than 20 years of multifamily experience, Heather began her career in 2003 as a Leasing Consultant and quickly advanced through leadership roles across multiple markets, including Lubbock, Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta. Heather is known for her hands-on leadership style, operational discipline, and passion for building strong teams that drive results. She brings an ownership mindset to every asset and is focused on delivering consistent performance, enhancing the resident experience, and creating long-term value for clients and partners.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Texas Tech University.

Kara serves as Vice President of Operations for Portico, overseeing the San Antonio, Austin, Nashville, and Phoenix markets. Since joining Portico in 2016, she has played a key role in operational leadership and portfolio growth across multiple regions.

With more than 25 years of multifamily experience, Kara brings expertise across new construction, conventional housing, mid-rise communities, repositioning projects, renovations, build-to-rent (BTR), and student housing. She is known for her strong leadership, industry knowledge, and ability to build high-performing teams that drive results.

Kara is actively involved within the apartment industry and has held leadership roles with the San Antonio Apartment Association (SAAA), including serving on the Board of Directors. She was named San Antonio Apartment Association Regional Manager of the Year in 2022 and received the Texas Apartment Association Rita Kirby Regional Manager of the Year award in 2023.

Kara attended The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Yessika serves as Regional Vice President for Portico across the DFW and East Texas markets. Since joining Portico in 2022, she has played an instrumental role in operational performance, team development, and driving results across a diverse portfolio.

With more than 14 years of multifamily experience, Yessika has excelled in every onsite role throughout her career, building a strong foundation in operations, systems and processes, acquisitions, and team leadership. Her expertise includes repositioning communities and overseeing renovations, with experience spanning new construction, lease-ups, conventional value-add assets, and mid-rise communities.

Yessika is passionate about building strong client relationships, developing high-performing teams, and creating operational strategies that support long-term success across every community she oversees.

Cara serves as Regional Vice President for Portico’s DFW market, bringing nearly 20 years of multifamily experience across operations, asset management, lease-ups, and stabilized communities.

She began her career in 2004 as a Leasing Consultant with JPI in Austin, TX, before expanding her experience with Colonial Properties Trust and Berkshire Communities. Cara later broadened her expertise in asset management and operational leadership through roles with JPI, RPM Living, and RPM Investments Asset Management.

Most recently, she oversaw a portfolio of more than 4,000 units, including newly acquired and value-add communities across DFW, Florida, and the Mid-Atlantic regions. Cara is passionate about developing high-performing teams, mentoring future leaders, and driving operational excellence across every asset she supports.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism Broadcast News with a minor in Political Science from the University of North Texas.

Keshia serves as Regional Vice President for Portico in the Houston market, bringing more than 25 years of multifamily experience across operations, lease-ups, renovations, and portfolio leadership.

Since joining Portico in 2016, Keshia has overseen a diverse range of assets, including Class A to C communities, mid-rise, garden-style, and build-to-rent (BTR) properties. Prior to Portico, she held leadership roles with Camden Property Trust, Greystar, and Capstone, successfully managing new developments, value-add renovations, and large-scale rehabs.

Keshia is passionate about building high-performing teams, strengthening client relationships, and driving operational success across every community she oversees. She is also an active member of the Houston Apartment Association (HAA) and values continued professional growth within the industry.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and an MBA from Texas Tech University.

Heather serves as Regional Vice President for Portico in the Arizona market, bringing more than a decade of multifamily experience across a diverse range of asset types, including luxury, high-rise, mid-rise, new development, renovation, and repositioning communities.

Throughout her career, Heather has developed extensive expertise in operations, team leadership, and asset performance. Prior to joining Portico, she served as a Senior Business Analyst with Cushman & Wakefield, where she strengthened her analytical and operational skill set while supporting data-driven decision making across multifamily portfolios.

Heather is known for her strategic mindset, operational discipline, and ability to drive results across complex assets and evolving markets. She is passionate about building strong teams, enhancing community performance, and creating long-term value for clients and residents alike.

She holds the IREM Accredited Residential Manager designation and continues to expand her leadership development through participation in the Catalyze Program with Valley Leadership.

Amanda serves as Vice President of Accounting for Portico, where she oversees the company’s property accounting operations and leads the continued development of the accounting team.

Since joining Portico in 2018 as Controller, Amanda has played an instrumental role in building and growing the accounting department, successfully recruiting and leading a high-performing team while supporting the onboarding of more than 60 assets across the portfolio. Throughout her tenure, she has contributed to numerous department initiatives focused on improving operational efficiency and supporting company growth.

Known for her collaborative leadership style and strong operational expertise, Amanda works closely with teams across the organization to ensure efficient processes, financial accuracy, and continued team development. She is passionate about mentoring her team and creating systems that support long-term success across the Portico portfolio.

Danya serves as Director of Talent and Education for Portico, leading talent development initiatives focused on leadership growth, employee performance, and organizational success. Most recently, she served as VP of Talent Development at Lantower Residential, where she led learning strategy and designed programs focused on upskilling teams, strengthening leadership pipelines, and driving long-term growth.

Prior to joining Portico, she served as Director of Talent Development at Greystar, supporting more than 20,000 associates through recruiting, leadership development, talent analytics, and career advancement programs. Earlier in her career, Danya was a Senior Director with the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), where she designed more than 120 global educational programs in collaboration with organizations including Google, Nike, Yale, NASCAR, and the U.S. Navy Seals.

Danya is passionate about developing future leaders and creating impactful learning experiences. She also co-founded the Young Next Generation (YNG) network focused on leadership development.

She holds a Master of Arts in Human Resource Development and a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from The University of Texas at Austin.

Michelle serves as Director of Marketing for Portico, bringing more than 15 years of experience in brand strategy, customer engagement, and team leadership.

Prior to joining Portico, Michelle led marketing initiatives for nationally recognized brands including Chick-fil-A, James Coney Island, and Smoothie King. Her background has provided her with extensive experience in brand management, strategic marketing, and creating impactful customer experiences.

At Portico, Michelle leads the marketing team in developing strategies that drive value, strengthen brand presence, and maximize ROI across the portfolio. She is passionate about building collaborative teams, leveraging creative and data-driven marketing solutions, and supporting both company and client success.

Known for her innovative mindset and results-focused approach, Michelle is committed to elevating the Portico brand and supporting the company’s continued growth.

Danny serves as Vice President of Analytics for Portico, where he oversees the company’s data strategy and leads the development of analytics tools that improve visibility, forecasting, and operational decision-making.

Prior to joining Portico, Danny held analytics leadership roles with RPM Living and Alliance Residential, where he developed enterprise data platforms, KPI programs, and predictive models supporting large national portfolios. His work focused on creating scalable tools that improved operational efficiency and performance across multifamily assets.

Since joining Portico, Danny has helped advance the company’s technology and analytics infrastructure, including the implementation of a new Business Intelligence platform, CRM, and enterprise data systems. He is passionate about leveraging data-driven strategies to support operational excellence and long-term growth.

Danny holds a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology, along with Master’s degrees in Public Affairs and Public Health from The University of Texas.