Zillow Group Advisory Boards

Greg Benson

Greg is the managing director of the U.S. strategic property marketing for Greystar, the largest manager of apartments in the U.S. He is responsible for strategy, program development, and standards of excellence for all facets of property marketing, from lead generation, to resident retention, to tracking and analysis. Greg is also responsible for marketing support for the Greystar conventional and active adult portfolios in the U.S. totaling more than 50,000 units.

Jeremy Brown

Jeremy Brown is Vice President of Marketing at ZRS Management, a third-party management company with 150 apartment communities totaling 50,000 units throughout Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia. With over 20 years in property management, Jeremy has been with ZRS Management since its inception, coming from the ZOM Residential Services transition. His responsibilities at ZRS include overseeing the marketing department, planning and directing marketing strategy and related programs for lease-up, reposition and stabilized communities, supporting resident relations and retention, brand management, and corporate communications. Jeremy has been with ZRS since 1999 and is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

David Dear

David Dear is Vice President of marketing and operations for Equity Residential. He is responsible for marketing strategy development and oversight of customer facing technology for over 75K apartment homes. David joined Equity Residential in 2002 with over 10 years of experience in marketing and technology for a variety of industries. 

Jamie Gorski

Jamie is chief marketing officer for Windsor Communities and is an industry visionary who taps her expertise in brand strategy to strengthen brands and improve customer experiences. At Windsor Communities Jamie provides strategic direction, overseeing all brand, marketing, lead generation, content marketing, and public relations efforts for Windsor’s top-rated communities. With more than 30 years of real estate experience, Jamie is well-known for revolutionizing brand marketing in the industry. She has won numerous awards, including over 40 national honors from The Webby Awards, and CMO’s Leading Innovation, to Industry awards from MFE, NAA and NAHB.

Sara Graham

Sara is Senior Vice President, Marketing, at Beacon Communities. With more than 20 years of experience, her responsibilities include marketing and communication strategy, corporate branding, driving occupancy and rent growth, enhancing marketing technology, and training. Sara is a frequent speaker, moderator, and facilitator at national multifamily conferences, and also serves on a number of industry committees and advisory boards.

Sara Greenough

Sarah is chief marketing officer / executive vice president of Princeton Properties. She provides strategic marketing direction for the entire company, overseeing all marketing and sales efforts, social media, revenue generation, reputation management and customer-facing technology for Princeton. Sarah brings more than 25 years of multifamily marketing, management and sales experience. As an active industry leader, Sarah is a frequent speaker and panelist at national multifamily conferences and serves on a number of committees and advisory boards.

Sheri Killingsworth

Sheri joined Lincoln Property Company in 2000, beginning her career in the multifamily industry as a leasing professional in Dallas, Texas. She established herself as an expert in the fields of branding, reputation management, and social media and digital marketing as a regional marketing director and national marketing manager. Sheri is now the vice president of marketing and communications, overseeing all facets of marketing and communications for the conventional division, corporate branding management and client services.

Michael Manfred

Multifamily industry veteran with diverse experiences with AvalonBay, ForestCity, Brookfield Properties and currently Vice President of Marketing with The NRP Group. Has overseen Marketing, Revenue Management, Training and Development and was responsible for the operations of 1600 units in Chicago. Currently focused on marketing a portfolio of affordable and market rate buildings across 10 states as well as a robust pipeline of new developments. Thought‐leader in the industry with expertise in creating innovative, effective and results driven strategic marketing programs.

Brian Miller

Brian is the Director of Marketing for Berger Rental Communities where he oversees all company and community marketing efforts, lead flow management, and portfolio branding. Brian brings over 11 years of experience in the multifamily and real estate industry, having formerly worked with Korman Residential Properties and Long & Foster Real Estate. In addition to his work at Berger Rental Communities, he often lends his experience to the Pennsylvania Apartment Association, serving on committees and leading trainings.

Jared Miller

Jared Miller joined RedPeak as Chief Operating Officer in 2018. He has over 20 years of multifamily experience and has held executive and ownership positions at firms including Homestead Development Partners, INNOVATIVE Real Estate, The Bainbridge Companies, Lane Company (CF Real Estate) and at RedPeak earlier in his career. He has experience in conventional, affordable and student housing including operations, asset management, marketing, acquisitions and development. Jared is excited to be back in Denver and working alongside some of the best people in the business.

Jennifer Staciokas

Ms. Staciokas is responsible for the strategic oversight of the property management organization at the newly formed Western Wealth Communities to include operations, marketing, training, revenue management and human resources. Jennifer began her career in the multifamily industry over 20 years ago. Since that time, Ms. Staciokas has served in numerous capacities at two of the nation’s largest property management firms focusing on digital marketing strategies, employee development, corporate communications, revenue enhancement and client relations.

Bevan White

Bevan is the Director of Marketing for RAM Partners. He has over 25 years of Property Management experience working primarily as a marketing professional in the Nashville, Denver, Atlanta, and Los Angeles Markets. Over the past 15 years, Bevan has worked primarily in the digital marketing arena as well as an internal brand manager for new construction and development projects. Bevan has also had the opportunity to spend five years working in the advertising field with a national vendor to the apartment industry. Bevan manages both corporate and community marketing efforts as well as client relations for RAM Partners.

Laurel Zacher

Laurel Zacher, Vice President of Marketing and Talent Development with Security Properties Residential, is a multifamily marketing strategist with 25+ years’ real estate and media experience. She directs the strategic planning and execution of all marketing, communications, and training programs at SPR. She has worked with a broad variety of communities including conventional apartment communities, affordable, mixed-use developments, and commercial buildings, across North America (both US and Canada). She currently leads a team of national marketing professionals with specialties in advertising (print and digital), SEO/SEM, branding, design, social media, reputation management, customer service and web development. Ms. Zacher holds a BS in Business Management from California State University, Long Beach.

Sparkle Allen

Sparkle Allen serves as the Senior Vice President of Marketing & Brand Experience at FirstKey Homes, operating at the intersection of marketing, technology, brand experience, and creative. An accomplished marketing executive with over 20 years in the real estate industry, she is passionate about connecting, engaging, and helping people find a place to call home and building purpose-driven brands grounded in consumer insights. Sparkle sits on the Diversity & Inclusion Council at FirstKey Homes as well as the Zillow Rental Advisory and Humanified Advisory boards.

Nicole Conniff

Nicole Conniff oversees marketing and advertising for Tricon Residential and its North American portfolio of more than 30,000 apartment and single-family homes. In this role, she leads marketing strategy, digital marketing, lead procurement and segmentation, lead management, reputation management and the customer experience. She is the Marketing and Communications Chair of the National Rental Housing Council and an advisory board member of Zillow. Ms. Conniff has a Master of Business degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Emory University.

Justin Lieberknecht

Justin Lieberknecht is Vice President, Marketing for Poplar Homes.  Prior to Poplar, he served as the AVP Marketing at American Homes 4 Rent.  With a background in experimental psychology and analytics, Justin has helped to apply systems and metrics directly to reputation management, lead production, tenant retention, and lead conversion.  These efforts have resulted in improved lead conversion and production results at cost and an improved engagement with stakeholders, resulting in an improved reputation.  He holds an MA in Psychology from New York University and a BA in Philosophy from San Francisco State University.

Lee Montgomery

Lee Montgomery is the Senior Vice President of Operations for Main Street Renewal. His main responsibility is to maximize Main Street Renewal Revenue. He is responsible for ASC Leasing Support consisting of Resident Renewals, Marketing, Leasing Call Center as well as the Branch Leasing teams and Regional support teams.  Lee has 17 years’ experience in Real Estate Operations with Multi Family Real Estate.  He most recently was on the Senior Leadership Operations team at Holland Residential – a fully integrated Multi Family operator with 25,000 units – where he oversaw Financial Operations, Business Intelligence, Revenue Management and Leasing.  Lee has a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA in Accounting and Information Systems from the University of Houston.  He is also a licensed CPA in the state of Colorado and Texas.

Tina Mortera

Tina, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, brings more than 20 years of rental housing experience and is currently responsible for guiding Progress Residential’s innovative marketing strategy that leverages data insights with sophisticated consumer branding to produce industry-leading results. Prior to joining Progress Residential, Tina was the Senior Vice President of Performance for Alliance Residential. Tina holds a master’s in art history and archaeology from Southern Methodist University. 

Eduardo Nigro

Eduardo is the SVP Marketing and Analytics of American Homes 4 Rent (AH4R), a leading REIT focused on acquiring, developing, operating, and leasing more than 57,000 single-family rental homes in 22 states. Eduardo joined AH4R in 2021 and has 25 years of experience in multiple industries (Real Estate, Travel & Leisure and Consumer Goods) in the areas of consumer / customer marketing, business strategy, data analytics and consumer insights. Eduardo is a Systems Engineer and has an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis.

Kevin Ortner

Kevin Ortner is President and CEO of Renters Warehouse which manages more than $4 billion in residential real estate, servicing over 13,000 investors across nearly 20,000 residential homes in 40 markets across the U.S. Winning dozens of awards and securing many honors, Renters Warehouse is recognized as being both one of the fastest growing companies in America, as well as one renowned for being an exceptional employer.  In 2017, Kevin published his first book – Rent Estate™ Revolution. Throughout the book Kevin shares his philosophy and business expertise around single-family rentals and their power to drive long-term wealth creation, retirement security and financial freedom for the everyday American.

Marnie Vaughn

Marnie Vaughn is Senior Vice President, Operations Support for Invitation Homes where she oversees leasing and property management activities for the company’s portfolio of more than 85,000 single family rental homes across 16 U.S. markets. She joined the company in 2012, orchestrating the deployment of and directing ongoing end-to-end leasing operations. Prior to joining Invitation Homes, Marnie held sales and marketing leadership roles in multifamily property management, the Design-Build and luxury private club and resort industries, and general real estate. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism: Advertising & Public Relations from the University of Central Florida and a state of Florida real estate broker’s license.

Linnea Chapman

Linnea Chapman is the Corporate Vice President of Marketing at Trumark Companies. She leads the planning, development, and execution of Trumark Companies’ corporate marketing and advertising initiatives, including digital marketing, branding, and public relations efforts. She joined Trumark Homes in January 2020 and has implemented multiple digital tools during her tenure to grow the online sales divisions and support the company’s marketing strategies with notable success.

Prior to joining Trumark Homes, Linnea was the Marketing Director for DeNova Homes. Her life’s journey also included six years living in Cape Town, South Africa, with her husband and two daughters, where she started a social stationery company, Somersault Press, which was featured on Oprah’s “TheO List.”

Meredith Doucette

Meridith Doucette serves as the National Vice President of Digital Strategy for Shea Homes. With a career in homebuilding spanning over two decades, Meridith leads digital transformation by focusing on innovative solutions that elevate the customer experience and streamline operations. She develops standards, systems, and best practices that bolster the company’s digital presence and leads large-scale technology initiatives that span across departments. Prior to homebuilding, Meridith worked on technology initiatives in both the advertising and publishing industries. Meridith holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. She is an active member of the Homebuilder’s Association of Central Arizona (HBACA) and the Phoenix chapter of Professional Women in Building (PWB).

Will Duderstadt

Will Duderstadt is currently the VP, Chief Marketing Officer at M/I Homes, Inc. (MHO), one of the nation’s leading builders of single-family homes, having delivered over 140,000 homes. He oversees marketing strategy and campaigns for 16 divisions in 11 states. Will provides insight and leadership for M/I Homes’ Internet Sales program and trains the team in best practices for lead creation and management. Will is an active member of the new construction industry and has was selected to Professional Builder™ 40 Under 40 in 2017, is a 5-time speaker at NAHB International Builders™ Show (2015 – 2019) and was awarded the Corporate Excellence Award at M/I Homes in 2013

Rachel Eaton

Rachel Eaton is the Chief Marketing Officer at LGI Homes, where she has been driving growth and innovation since 2003. With over 20 years in the homebuilding industry, Rachel leads the company’s marketing strategy, technology initiatives, and efforts to attract top talent. She’s focused on lead-generation, enhancing the customer experience and maintaining operational efficiency across all departments.

Her diverse background in marketing, administration, and operations has equipped her with a unique, well-rounded perspective on the homebuilding industry. Before becoming CMO, Rachel held several roles at LGI Homes, including VP of Marketing & Administration and Director of Marketing & Special Events, helping expand the company’s brand and visibility.

Rachel was named a “Rising Star” by Pro Builder magazine in 2020 and serves on the Zillow Group Builder Advisory Board. She also contributes to the Consumer Insights Council at the New Home Trends Institute, shaping the future of the homebuilding industry.

Tyson Kirksey

Tyson Kirksey is an experienced digital leader and currently Vice President of Digital Marketing for Highland Homes, an employee-owned homebuilder serving markets in Texas. Prior to joining Highland in 2016, Tyson spent 15 years agency-side working with leading brands like Intel, Pizza Hut, The Container Store and Tivo. He has a passion for digital optimization and believes the best marketing is an exceptional customer experience. Tyson resides in Plano, TX with his amazing wife and three kids. He is a lifelong baseball fan, enjoys home improvement, and tries to stay active on the tennis court and golf course.

Ira Kramer

As National VP of Marketing for D.R. Horton, Ira Kramer oversees digital marketing, strategy, creativity, and technology for the company and its 104 markets. Ira has transformed marketing support, processes, and bridged communications creating an ethos rich environment for the company, it’s markets, communities, and partners. From a total rebrand to delivering critical enterprise technology tools for the largest homebuilder in America, support for all markets and communities is his number one priority. Through Ira’s leadership, and vision, the company has progressed in strides becoming an industry leader in marketing and technology. Prior to becoming the VP of Marketing, Ira has spent over 28 years with the company, starting as a marketing coordinator in the Atlanta division before becoming a regional marketing manager and stand out storyteller for D.R. Horton.

Melissa Mitchell

Melissa Mitchell is a Marketing Director at PulteGroup, the 3rd largest home construction company in the United States with operations in 23 states and 42 major markets.   She joined the company in 2015 where she leads strategic planning and execution across media, SEO/SEM and brand strategic initiatives.   Prior to PulteGroup, Ms. Mitchell spent over 10 years at the Coca-Cola Company in marketing leadership roles  in brand management, customer marketing and multicultural marketing across their major brands.  She holds a B.A in English and MBA from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Linda Peak

As the Vice President of Digital Marketing at Brookfield Residential, Linda brings a wealth of senior-level experience in creating digital strategies, delivering exceptional consumer experiences within the real estate industry. With over a decade of experience at Brookfield Residential, she has spearheaded innovative digital and product launches with Apple, Amazon, and more. She focuses on driving transparency, education, and advocacy in her customer focused solutions.

Linda’s leadership style emphasizes cultivating high-performing teams capable of executing forward-thinking digital initiatives. Combining creative design thinking with an eye on the bottom line, she fosters team collaboration to achieve strategic objectives. Her ability to communicate effectively across all cohorts, ensures alignment, adoption, and execution of initiatives.

She is passionate about leveraging technology and data-driven insights to identify new opportunities that drive impactful results for customers. Linda’s commitment to education and curiosity as a proud UCLA graduate and continued digital certifications, complements her practical expertise, shaping her into a dynamic leader committed to driving innovation and excellence in the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing.

Cindy Plackmeyer

With over 25 years in marketing in the home building industry, Cindy Plackmeyer brings a wealth of experience and connections to Zillow. Not only is she well-versed in the industry, she also has given this time and talent to NAHB and several local BIAs – namely, Maryland Building Industry Association (on the board of directors for 13 years), Northern Virginia BIA, Frederick BIA, HBA of Delaware, and most recently on the board of the Home Builders Care Foundation – giving time and talent to lead sales and marketing, membership, and fund raising.

Stormy Rasmussen

Stormy Rasmussen, Vice President of Performance and Field Marketing with Taylor Morrison, is an experienced and accomplished marketing professional with a 25+ year history of marketing strategy, brand management, and leadership. Today Stormy leads the in-house paid media, email/automation, analytics, and brand activation teams focused on attribution and revenue growth. She also leads the field marketing teams including direct supervision of four area marketing directors covering 21 divisions and a resort lifestyle brand team focused on delivering exceptional in-person customer experiences.

Chris Thornton

Chris Thornton currently serves as the Vice President of Digital Marketing and Technology at Ashton Woods Homes, the nation’s (2nd) largest private home builder. Chris is responsible for driving the digital marketing strategy for both the Ashton Woods and Starlight Homes brands and also directs MarTech and CRM implementation for the companies’ sales teams. Prior to joining Ashton Woods in 2014, Chris spent nearly two decades in the retail and digital agency worlds where he delivered numerous nationally recognized solutions across multiple categories including homebuilding, CPG, and entertainment . Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Georgia.

Michael Weaver

Michael Weaver is an accomplished growth marketer with over 20 years of experience in digital marketing encompassing paid advertising, website optimization, and digital transformation. Currently serving as Head of Customer Acquisition at Lennar, he has driven significant outcomes including a 3.5x increase in qualified leads and a 36% reduction in customer acquisition costs. His previous roles include leading digital marketing efforts at ADT Security and founding an early programmatic Native Advertising platform. Michael holds an MBA from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor’s degree in Theoretical Mathematics from Kent State University.

Steve Whaley

Stephen Whaley, Director of Marketing for Fischer Homes, joined the company in 2012 and has been pivotal in bringing the Fischer Homes brand into the digital age. In addition to traditional marketing, Stephen leads the strategic marketing team responsible for company analytics and strategic planning and established the online sales team. Fischer Homes has tripled its annual revenue over the last 6 years. Prior to Fischer Homes, Stephen worked for Perfetti Van Melle leading the launch of Mentos Gum in the US, and numerous product launches and sourcing for the Mentos and Airheads brands over his nine years there. Stephen began his career working for Procter & Gamble in the Health Care and Food & Beverage Businesses. His undergraduate degree is in Business Economics and International Business from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and he holds an MBA from the University of Cincinnati.