Management Team

Biography

Staci Gelfound is President of WPM’s Association Management Division, overseeing the company’s portfolio of condominium and homeowner association clients. She brings over 30 years of experience to the role and is a well-respected leader in the industry at both regional and national levels.

Prior to joining WPM, Staci served as Vice President for FirstService Residential’s Bethesda office. Her career also includes an 11-year tenure as CEO/President of Association Integrated Management Services, LLC, and various leadership roles with Armstrong Management Services, Inc., Summit Management Services, MacDonald Management and Smartstreet, a service of RBC.

Staci has been a member of the national faculty for the Community Association Institute (CAI) since 2007. She currently serves on the National CAI Community Association Managers Council and served on the Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Associations Institute (WMCCAI) where she was Chapter President in 2005-2006 and was inducted into WMCCAI’s Hall of Fame in 2010. Staci also held positions as Chair and Vice Chair with the Montgomery County Commission on Common Ownership Communities (CCOC), which serves as an advisor to the County on legislative issues and focuses on improving the quality of life in common ownership communities through public awareness, board education and training, and dispute resolution.

Staci holds multiple industry designations from CAI, including Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA®), Association Management Specialist (AMS®), and the Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM®), the highest professional recognition available nationwide to managers who specialize in community association management. She is also active in the local community and is a longtime resident of Montgomery County, Maryland.

Biography

Tim Lewis is Chief Financial Officer for WPM Real Estate Management. He brings to the role over 30 years of management experience with an extensive background in finance and strategic business advisory services. He also has actively managed both commercial and residential real estate.

Prior to joining WPM in 2019, Tim served as Interim CFO and strategic advisor to WPM. His professional experience includes leadership positions with Chesapeake Corporate Advisors, NeighborCare, Adaptive Trade, Signet Bank (now Wachovia), Ernst & Young Corporate Finance Consulting, and MNB/Equitable Bank (now Bank of America). His career also includes roles as President and COO of Ripken Holdings and CFO at the Becker Group, Ltd., a nationally recognized experiential marketing solution provider.

Tim is a CPA and Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor (CMMA). He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and his MBA from the University of Maryland. He is a 2016 graduate of Leadership Maryland and was named one of the Top 25 CFOs of Maryland in 2023 by Finance and Investing.

Tim is an Adjunct Professor at Stevenson University’s Brown School of Business and Leadership. He has served on numerous boards, including Leadership Howard County, The Jim Rouse Entrepreneurial Fund, The Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber, the Accounting Advisory Board at Loyola University, and the Development Committee for Catholic Charities of Baltimore. He regularly participates in competitive polo matches and has served as co-chair for the Ten Oaks Cup Polo Charity Event with all proceeds raised for the benefit of Our Daily Bread.

Biography

Kristin Peterson is Vice President of Administration at WPM. Her primary responsibilities include improving operational efficiencies and ensuring that resources within WPM’s corporate services departments meet the evolving needs of the company. In this role, she acts as a bridge between Accounting, Human Resources, and Information Technology and WPM’s divisional business units, often leading large scale internal projects that overlap areas of influence and responsibility, such as software implementations and new property onboarding.

Kristin is a member of WPM’s Executive Management Team and participates in multiple internal, future-focused committees, including the Executive Advisory Committee, the Multifamily Next Leadership Group, and the Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Advocacy (IDEA) Council. Kristin started at WPM in February 2007 as Executive Assistant to the President of the Multifamily Real Estate division. She quickly began taking on greater corporate-wide responsibility, leading multiple technology initiatives and creating systems and processes to help streamline daily operations. In 2011, she was promoted to Corporate Administrator and served in that role until being appointed to the position of Vice President in early 2018.

Prior to joining WPM, Kristin held roles in administration with AT&T Government Solutions and Aeronautical Radio Incorporated (ARINC). Kristin is also a classically trained ballet dancer, having started lessons at the age of three. Before entering the corporate workforce, she deferred her education at University of California to apprentice with the Sarasota Ballet of Florida where she spent five years as a professional ballerina and achieved the rank of soloist.

Biography

Melissa Gambuto is President of WPM’s Multifamily Real Estate Division and has 25 years of experience in the multifamily residential industry. As part of the company’s strategic succession planning, she joined WPM in 2019 as Regional Property Manager and served as Director of Operations before taking over as Division President.

Prior to WPM, Melissa’s career included various property management and senior leadership positions with companies such as Bozzuto, Greystar and Kettler. She has managed a wide variety of property types, sizes and locations, giving her a breadth of experience and industry knowledge across all aspects of multifamily management.

Under Melissa’s leadership, WPM has significantly grown its multifamily portfolio and expanded its professional development and mentorship programs, incorporating self-paced and on-demand learning options as well as digital 3D Virtual Reality Simulation tools for service teams. She also established a dedicated trainer position, responsible for functional job training, curriculum, career pathways, and leadership development.

Melissa holds the Certified Property Manager (CPM®) designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), the elite mark of distinction for property managers that designates them as reliable, committed authorities in the industry. She is a frequent guest speaker at industry events on the local, regional and national levels, and was featured at the national 2022 Multifamily Women® Summit and IREM’s regional Innovation Conference. She is actively involved and has held board-level and committee positions with IREM Chapter 16 and the Maryland Multi Housing Association (MMHA). She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Towson University and is a lifetime resident of Baltimore.

Biography

Kristen Ferguson is Director of Human Resources at WPM Real Estate Management. She has over 20 years of experience in human resources and management, including the development of policies and procedures focused on learning and development, as well as employee relations, workforce planning, compensation, and recruiting. She is also well-versed in strategic planning, conflict resolution and performance issues.

Kristen joined WPM in 2015 as an HR Generalist and was later promoted to Senior Manager for Human Resources, where she worked closely with divisional leaders to identify business unit staffing and training needs, as well as recognize potential problems and propose effective solutions to meet business requirements. Prior to joining WPM, Kristen held HR leadership positions with a number of small start-up companies as well as large, multi-state employers such as Target and Under Armour.

Kristen holds multiple industry credentials including, the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). Certified Training Facilitator, and COVID-19 Contact Tracing Certification. She is currently working toward her Diversity & Inclusion Certification. Kristen is a member of the Maryland Multi-Housing Association (MMHA) and serves on the Association’s HR Council. In addition, she is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Chesapeake Human Resources Association (CHRA)

Kristen earned her M.S. in Human Resources Management from Troy State University and B.S. from Hood College. She is actively involved in the community and has served on numerous Recreation Council Boards as well as the Ravens on the Rise Advisory Committee for the Baltimore Ravens.

Biography

Bill Wolf is Director of Information Technology at WPM Real Estate Management with more than 33 years of experience in information technology. He is responsible for evaluating the company’s information technology capabilities against business needs and planning, supporting infrastructure processes, driving continual process improvement, and advising leadership on effectively leveraging technology to help shape business practices and methodologies.

Prior to joining WPM in 2015, Bill held director-level technology roles at Transwestern Commercial Services, Royal Farms, Peak Technologies and Manekin. He has provided guidance and managed all aspects of hardware and software proposals, staffing, and project implementation. His career also includes work as an independent information technology consultant, as well as various IT positions at Haven Custom Homes, Oxford Development and The Rouse Company.

Bill serves on the WPM Executive Advisory Committee, which engages senior managers from across the company to focus on continual improvement and innovation. He also participates in the company’s future planning committees in the Multifamily and Association divisions. Bill is Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL 3.0) certified and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Towson University. He was awarded WPM’s Outstanding Achievement Award in 2017. He also holds a license in residential real estate.

Biography

Brent Gratton is Vice President of Marketing. In addition to directing the overall marketing strategy for WPM’s multifamily portfolio, he also oversees the company’s corporate marketing and communications and advises on marketing strategy for business development. He has over 20 years of sales and marketing experience, with more than 15 years working in the residential and commercial property management industry.

Since joining WPM in 2012, Brent has been instrumental in transforming the perceptions of the company's associates, clients, residents, and prospective residents through the use of the internet and multimedia. He currently serves as Chair for both WPM’s Community Impact Committee and the Multifamily Marketing & Training Committee and is a member of the Multifamily Recruiting Committee as well as the division’s Next Leadership Group. Prior to his role as Vice President, Brent served as Director of Multimedia Marketing and Communications for WPM’s Multifamily Real Estate division. He directed the marketing efforts of over 20 lease-up properties as well as managed the ongoing marketing efforts of over 50 stabilized properties in distinct markets throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia.

Brent is active with the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and the Maryland Multi-Housing Association (MMHA). He is continuing his education with IREM and is currently a Certified Property Manager (CPM) candidate. He is also certified in Google Ads Display & Google Ads Search and helped WPM earn Google Partner Status in 2021. Brent was awarded WPM Real Estate Management's Outstanding Achievement Award in 2014 and again in 2016. A lifetime resident of Baltimore, Brent graduated from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and holds a bachelor’s degree from Towson University.

Biography

Rita Dore is WPM’s Senior Commercial Manager and leads the company’s commercial line of business. She has over 20 years of experience and is responsible for overseeing and assessing the needs of WPM’s commercial portfolio, improving processes to create greater efficiency and growth.

Since joining WPM in 2005, Rita has held positions in the company’s Association Management and Commercial and Maintenance divisions. She played an integral role in the daily operations of WPM’s Association division where she improved processes, streamlined procedures, and implemented new software programs that have increased efficiencies and strengthened the quality of service. She has in-depth knowledge of the company’s operations, strong relationships, and detailed project management skills, and has helped champion WPM’s corporate recruitment and training efforts. Prior to joining WPM, Rita held several roles in multifamily property management where she gained experience managing leasing processes and coordinating maintenance requests, cleaning, turnovers, and lead paint inspections.

Rita is a member of WPM’s Executive Management Team, Emergency Response Committee, and Executive Advisory Council, which focuses on continual improvement and innovation. She is an active member of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) and the Community Associations Institute (CAI). She holds the designations of Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA®) and Association Management Specialist (AMS®) and is a graduate of both WPM’s Service Mentoring and Response Training (SMART) program and the Future Leaders in Training of Excellence (FLITE) program, where she now serves as a Senior Mentor to rising leaders.

Biography

Michael “Mike” Mangum brings over 20 years of industry-related experience to the role of Director of Operations for WPM’s Maintenance and Construction Services Division. He oversees all of the company’s service operations and sets standards and policies that ensure compliance, create greater operational efficiency, accelerate response times, and deliver the highest levels of customer service for WPM’s clients. Additionally, he is focused on advancing the division and opening up new lines of services support that are tailored to meet client needs, including project management and consulting, onsite staff augmentation, due diligence, navigating insurance claims, as well as technical support and oversight for major property initiatives and capital projects.

Most recently, Mike served as Maintenance Operations Advisor for WPM’s Multifamily Real Estate Division where he has been instrumental in the growth and expansion of WPM’s services operations and training programs. He joined WPM in 2009 as a service technician, was promoted to Service Manager two years later, and continued to take on additional service responsibilities. He is a founding member and chair of WPM’s Service Committee, which guides the development of service policies and service training programs for WPM Associates. He is a 2017 graduate of WPM’s Future Leaders in Training of Excellence (FLITE) program and helped create WPM’s Service Mentoring and Response Training (SMART) program, where he continues to serve as a Senior Mentor.

Mike has been actively involved with the Maryland Multi-Housing Authority (MMHA) and currently serves on the MMHA Service Training Academy Board. Well-respected in the industry, Mike has received multiple honors, including WPM’s Outstanding Achievement Award in 2022.

Biography

Mark Caplan serves on the WPM Board of Directors as Chairman. He is a Baltimore native and is active in real estate investment and management as well as equipment and vehicle financing in the region. He is the President and CEO of The Time Group, a real estate equity firm where he has worked since the mid-1970s. The Time Group has interests in approximately 6,000 units of multi-family, manufactured housing, and senior living. He is also a founder and is currently the Chairman of WPM Real Estate Management, a manager of multi-family properties as well as other property types currently comprising in excess of 18,000 units. In addition to his real estate activities, Mr. Caplan is Chairman of Madison Capital, an independent vehicle and equipment financing firm he and his father, Caswell, founded in 1984. Mr. Caplan is a member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Compensation Committee at Bay Bank, a publicly traded community bank (NASDAQ symbol BYBK). Mr. Caplan is active in the non-for-profit community in Baltimore, having served or currently serving on the Boards of The Walters Art Museum, The Bryn Mawr School, The Gilman School, Center Stage, B.E.S.T., Charles Street Development Corp., Real Estate Advisory Board of Columbia Business School, and St. Ignatius Loyola Academy. Mr. Caplan graduated from Gilman School in 1976 and Johns Hopkins University in 1981 where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Social & Behavioral Sciences. He received his Master of Business Administration from the Columbia Business School in 1983, which he attended as a Dean’s Fellow.

Biography

Leonard I. Frenkil Jr., CPM, is a Principal of WPM and currently services as a strategic advisor for clients and Associates. Past President of the Multifamily Division, Len has been with WPM for over 30 years. A lifetime resident of Baltimore, Leonard graduated from Gilman School. Active in the industry, Leonard is Past-President of both Maryland Multi Housing Association and IREM Maryland Chapter #16. He has been published in a variety of real estate publications and is a speaker for various industry events. Leonard teaches property and asset management nationally for IREM and in 2007 became the 19th recipient of the Lloyd D. Hanford Distinguished Faculty Award.

Biography

M. Barry Yatovitz is a Principal of WPM and currently serves as a strategic advisor for clients and Associates. Past President of Association Real Estate, Barry brings over 24 years of experience in property management and has earned the Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM®), Community Association Manager (CMCA®) and Association Management Specialist (AMS®) credentials. Barry earned a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Maryland. His management and accounting experience includes working with Marriott Hotels Corp., Po Folks Restaurants and as Controller for Premier Design Systems, a firm specializing in Computer Aided Design Systems.

Biography

Connie Caplan serves on the WPM Board of Directors and is Chairman of The Time Group, a real estate investment company in Baltimore, Maryland. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in American Civilization from Goucher College and Masters Degree in Political Science from Johns Hopkins University. She is a Trustee Emeritus of the Johns Hopkins University, and member of the Boards of Directors of Johns Hopkins Medicine, Downtown Partnership, The Baltimore Symphony, Honorary Trustee of the Community Foundation of Baltimore, and the Founder and Chair of the Mount Vernon Cultural District in Baltimore.

Biography

Jennifer Torres is the Regional Director of Business Development for WPM’s Multifamily Real Estate Division in Maryland and Pennsylvania, where she is responsible for expanding and growing WPM’s management portfolio in the region. She has 15 years of experience working in the multifamily industry and has successfully transitioned and onboarded multiple properties both under new and existing third-party ownership.

Jennifer joined WPM in 2013 as Senior Property Manager. In 2014, she was awarded Property Manager of the Year by her local National Apartment Association (NAA) affiliate and obtained her CAM (Certified Apartment Manager) designation. She continued to take on additional responsibility and stepped into the role of Regional Property Manager in 2018 to oversee a portfolio of assets throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania. Prior to joining WPM, Jennifer began her career as a Resident Service Manager with EDR Trust and was recruited by Asset Campus Housing and Campus Apartments to serve as a Property Manager.

A strong believer in professional development and continual learning, Jennifer is a candidate for the Certified Property Manager (CPM) designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®). She remains active as a member of the Regional Advisory Council for the Pennsylvania Apartment Association-Central and WPM’s Service Committee. She is a graduate of WPM’s Future Leaders in Training for Excellence (FLITE) program, and now serves as an instructor for the financial course in this program.

Biography

Matt Sugg is the Regional Director of Business Development for WPM’s Multifamily Real Estate Division in the MidSouth region. Based out of WPM’s Richmond satellite office, he brings 17 years of industry experience, including work with Conventional Value-Add, Luxury Class A Lease-ups, Tax Credit, Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA), and Senior Living assets.

Prior to joining WPM, Matt was owner and principal of J&H Capital, a multifamily real estate consulting and recruitment firm specializing in new construction lease-ups and rebranding of challenged assets. He has held multiple positions at PRG Real Estate, most recently as Regional Director where he led PRG’s operations for all new developments and acquisitions in the Richmond market. He has also served as a portfolio manager for a real estate start-up company and Regional Director at Greystar, where he focused on new construction lease-ups and business development throughout several different markets in Virginia.

Matt holds the Certified Property Manager (CPM®) designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and is active with IREM Chapter 38 and the Virginia Apartment Management Association (VAMA). He has also earned the Certified Apartment Manager credential (CAM) and Certified Apartment Portfolio credential (CAPS) with the National Apartment Association. Matt has held leadership positions within the local and state apartment associations, including VAMA, IREM, and the Urban Land Institute, and has served on the Executive Board for the Innsbrook Foundation. He was awarded the Central Virginia Apartment Association’s (CVAA) Corporate Employee of the Year in 2019 and again in 2021. A lifetime resident of Richmond, VA, Matt earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing Management from Virginia Tech.