KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Payton Mayes, CEO at JPI

Payton Mayes is a results-driven leader with extensive experience in global real estate investment and development. He currently serves as CEO of JPI and is a partner at Cephas Partners. Previously, he held senior roles at Merrill Lynch Global Real Estate Principal Investments and DHIC Communities (a D.R. Horton company). A CFA® charterholder, he holds a B.S. in Agribusiness (summa cum laude) and an MBA in Finance. A native of rural Texas, Payton’s leadership is grounded in integrity, servant-leadership, and his Christian faith. He’s actively involved in community service through organizations like the National Christian Foundation of North Texas, Lionheart Children’s Academy and his church, 121 Community Church. He lives in the Dallas area with his wife Andrea and their three children.

EMCEE:

Kendall Pretzer, CEO at Grace Hill

Chief Executive Officer at Grace Hill where I joined the team in 2018 after Grace Hill purchased my company, The Strategic Solution, joining policies and procedures with training. Prior to being appointed Grace Hill’s CEO in May 2021, I served as Chief Operating Officer overseeing Account Management, Customer Success, and People Success. Led my company for 18 years before joining Grace Hill.

In real estate for over 30 years, in multifamily and commercial, I have been with Trammell Crow Residential, Gables Residential, R&B Commercial Management, and Security Capital/Archstone companies serving in many roles: vice president of training and marketing, senior regional manager, financial analyst, project manager and assistant director of business development. I hold a BBA in Finance from Texas Tech University and is a 2015 NAA Lyceum graduate. I’m an avid tennis and pickleball player, married to Fred for 35 years, and have two children, Allison and Ben. I am also a breast cancer survivor!

SPECIAL GUEST:

Danielle Koontz, Senior Managing Director of Business Development, RangeWater

Danielle Koontz serves as Senior Managing Director of Business Development at RangeWater Real Estate, leading strategic growth for the firm’s third-party management platform across the Southwest and Mountain West. With over 15 years of multifamily experience, she’s known as a connector—aligning owners, operators, developers, and partners around investment strategy and operational excellence.

A passionate advocate for Apartment Life, Danielle serves on its West Coast advisory board, helping bridge the business value of resident engagement with the mission of building authentic community. Her faith in Jesus is the foundation of her leadership, guiding her to lead with grace, integrity, and a heart for service. She holds an MBA from Auburn University, a BS in Business Administration from SIU Edwardsville, and is active in NMHC and CREW Dallas. Danielle lives in Dallas with her husband, Chase, and their two children, Caroline and Clark.