Management Team

Biography

As President of Association Real Estate for WPM, Staci oversees Condominium and Homeowner Association Management. Staci brings to WPM over 30 years of experience in community association management, most recently as Vice President for FirstService Residential’s Bethesda office. Staci is a well-respected leader in the industry at both regional and national levels. She has been a member of the national faculty for the Community Association Institute (CAI) since 2007, and she holds multiple industry designations including the Professional Community Association Manager (PCAM®), the highest professional recognition for association management. She also has served as Chair and Vice Chair for the Montgomery County Commission on Common Ownership Communities (CCOC), led education and training programs for Boards, and testified in Annapolis on legislation affecting community associations.

Biography

Timothy D. Lewis was appointed Chief Financial Officer of WPM Real Estate Management in October 2019. Most recently, he served as Interim CFO and previously served as a strategic advisor to WPM. His professional experience includes banking, strategic business advisory services, and C-Level leadership roles with multiple regional entrepreneurial companies, specifically: Chesapeake Corporate Advisors, NeighborCare, Adaptive Trade, The Becker Group, and Ripken Holdings where he served as President and COO.

Tim is a CPA with a B.S. from Cornell University and a M.B.A. from the University of Maryland. Tim serves on numerous Boards both professionally and philanthropically and regularly participates in competitive polo matches.

Biography

Kristin T. Peterson joined WPM in 2007 as Executive Assistant to Len Frenkil in the Multifamily Real Estate division and subsequently moved to take over greater corporate-wide responsibility as Corporate Administrator in 2011. In 2018, she was promoted to Vice President of Administration, assuming responsibility for the company’s back-office operations, including information technology, information systems and corporate training.

Prior to coming to WPM, Kristin held roles in administration with AT&T Government Solutions and Aeronautical Radio Incorporated (ARINC). Before entering the corporate workforce, Kristin was a classically-trained ballerina. She deferred her education at University of California Davis 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 R. Gambuto is President of WPM’s Multifamily Real Estate Division. A tenured management professional, Melissa has over 21 years of experience in the multifamily residential industry, starting in property management as a leasing specialist and moving through various management positions into leadership roles. She has managed a wide variety of property types, sizes and locations with companies such as Bozzuto, Greystar and Kettler, giving her a breadth of experience and industry knowledge of all aspects of MRE management.

Melissa holds the Certified Property Manager (CPM®) designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) and is active with IREM Chapter 16 and the Maryland Multi Housing Association (MMHA). Melissa is a lifetime resident of Baltimore and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Towson University in Business Administration with a Track in Management.

Biography

Kristen Ferguson joined WPM in 2015 as Senior HR Generalist. She has over 15 years of experience in human resources and management and is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), SHRM Senior Certified Professional, and Certified Training Facilitator. Kristen earned her MS in Human Resources Management from Troy State University and BS from Hood College in Frederick, Md.

Prior to joining WPM, Kristen served as an HR Business Partner for a multi-state Shared Services Organization. She has also been responsible for the employment practices across ten states for a Baltimore-based sports apparel company.

Biography

Bill Wolf joined WPM in 2015 and brings over 33 years of experience in information technology. Prior to his tenure at WPM, Bill held Director level technology roles at Transwestern Commercial Services, Royal Farms, Peak Technologies and Manekin. Earlier in his career, Bill has worked as an independent IT consultant, as well as held IT positions at Haven Custom Homes, Oxford Development and The Rouse Company

Bill is a graduate of Towson University with a B.S. in Business Administration. He also holds a license in residential real estate.

Biography

Brent Gratton joined WPM in 2012, bringing over 20 years of sales and marketing experience and over 10 years of residential and commercial property management experience. Throughout his career in the multifamily housing industry, he has had a concentration of experience with new construction and has been directly involved in the stabilization of over 20 lease-up properties as well as the ongoing marketing efforts of over 75 stabilized properties in distinct markets throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Delaware.

As the Vice President of Marketing for WPM Real Estate Management, Brent continues to transform the perceptions of the company's associates, clients, residents, and prospective residents through the use of internet and multimedia communications initiatives.

Brent is active with the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), the Maryland Multi-Housing Association (MMHA), and Toastmasters International. He is continuing his education with IREM and is currently a Certified Property Manager (CPM) candidate. Brent was honored with 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 brings more than 20 years of industry experience to her role with WPM as Senior Commercial Manager. Rita joined WPM in 2005 and has held positions with both the Association Management and the Commercial and Maintenance divisions. She has also helped champion the company’s efforts to attract, train and retain the best employees for WPM’s high-performing team.

During her 17-year tenure with WPM she has played an integral role in the daily operations of the Association Management division, improving processes, streamlining procedures, and implementing new software programs that have increased efficiencies and strengthened the quality of service. She has in-depth knowledge of WPM’s operations, strong relationships, and detailed project management skills all critical to ensuring timely and accurate task management for the communities she serves. 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.

Recognized for her responsive, customer-service mindset, Rita combines an ability to synthesize information, prioritize actions and implement effective solutions with strong communications skills and a caring spirit. Ensuring the needs of property owners and their tenants are met and a proven ability to consistently perform to high standards are part of the excellence Rita brings to her position.

Rita has in-depth industry knowledge having participated in numerous CAI programs and seminars over the years. She currently holds the Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA®) designation and the Association Management Specialist (AMS®) designation. She also participates in WPM’s Service Mentoring and Response Training (SMART) program and participates as a Senior Mentor in WPM’s Future Leaders in Training of Excellence (FLITE) program. In addition, she serves as a member of both WPM’s Executive Advisory Council and WPM’s Association Real Estate Division Council which provides feedback and recommendations for the company’s continual improvement and innovation.

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 is responsible for overseeing all of the company’s service operations as well as establishing 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 opening up new lines of services support, including project management and consulting, due diligence, navigating insurance claims, as well as providing 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 Association (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 services 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.