Kim Bender brings more than 30 years of industry leadership to her role as President of Preferred Apartment Communities, which she joined in 2024. She leads the strategy and execution of PAC’s national multifamily portfolio, combining operational excellence with a focus on creating standout experiences for residents, associates, and investors alike.

Before joining PAC, Kim spent 23 years at Fairfield, where she served as President of Property Management. There, she led a broad team across strategic operations, revenue management, affordable housing compliance, ancillary services, marketing, maintenance, and training – driving innovation and performance across the portfolio.

Earlier in her career, Kim held leadership roles with AIMCO, the NHP Foundation, and Hall Financial Group, deepening her expertise across both public and private real estate organizations.

She is a committed member of the National Multifamily Housing Council and the Institute of Real Estate Management. Kim also holds the Certified Apartment Property Supervisor (CAPS) designation from NAA, the Certified Property Manager® (CPM) credential from IREM, and is a licensed real estate professional in California.

Kim’s passion for people and performance continues to shape PAC’s growth, community impact, and resident experience.

Easther Liu brings strategic vision and a resident-first mindset to her role as Senior Vice President of Strategic Business Services and Transformation at Preferred Apartment Communities, which she joined in 2025. She leads the evolution of PAC’s operations, centralization, marketing, and training functions nationwide, shaping experiences that strengthen communities and drive performance across the portfolio.

A seasoned real estate leader, Easther has built her career at the intersection of branding, marketing, consumer insights, and experience strategy. Before joining PAC, she served as Chief Marketing Officer at Fairfield, overseeing marketing and brand strategy for multifamily and retail assets. Prior, she held senior leadership roles in marketing, strategy, and consumer research at Irvine Company and Westfield, delivering transformative initiatives for residential, retail, office, and resort properties.

Easther’s ability to align operational excellence with a deep understanding of resident and associate needs continues to fuel PAC’s growth and reinforce its reputation for superior service.

William Arias brings deep expertise and a hands-on approach to his role as Senior Vice President of Maintenance Operations at Preferred Apartment Communities, which he joined in 2025. He leads the company’s national maintenance strategy, ensuring every PAC community delivers safe, efficient, and well-maintained living environments for residents, while empowering teams to excel across the portfolio.

William’s career spans leadership roles at some of the nation’s top multifamily operators, including Vice President of Maintenance Operations at Fairfield and Senior Regional Director at AvalonBay Communities. His extensive technical knowledge is complemented by GREEN certifications in HVAC, electrical, and plumbing, reflecting his commitment to sustainable, high-performing properties.

Outside of work, William remains active in his local community as a dedicated volunteer, bringing the same care and service-minded spirit to those around him.

Faye Shaw brings more than two decades of multifamily leadership to her role as Senior Vice President of Property Operations at Preferred Apartment Communities. Since joining PAC in 2016, she has guided operations across the company’s national portfolio, including oversight of new development assets and lease-up efforts through the PAC Mezzanine program, ensuring excellence at every stage of the resident experience.

Faye’s career includes senior leadership roles at Harbor Group Management Company, where she oversaw operations for 18,000 units across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic as Vice President of Multifamily. Earlier, she held multifamily roles at Trammell Crow Residential and SWH Properties, building deep expertise in portfolio operations and team leadership.

Faye began her career in the hospitality industry with JW Marriott and Starwood, bringing a service-oriented mindset that continues to shape her approach to community operations and resident care at PAC.

Logan Hodge serves as Vice President of Property Operations at Preferred Apartment Communities, supporting the Multifamily Operations Team and overseeing a diverse portfolio of communities across the Southeast and East Coast. Since joining PAC in 2016, he has played an integral role in expanding the company’s footprint, including the growth of the former student housing portfolio and the development of the Mezzanine Program in partnership with new collaborators.

With more than 17 years of property management experience, Logan combines operational expertise with a strategic approach to growth and performance. Prior to PAC, he spent over five years at Ambling Management Company, gaining valuable experience in multifamily operations and leadership.
Logan’s focus on operational excellence and collaborative growth continues to position PAC as a leader in delivering superior resident experiences.

Kelly Hughes brings more than 18 years of multifamily housing experience to her role as Vice President of Property Operations at Preferred Apartment Communities. She is known for driving operational excellence, revenue growth, and client satisfaction through strategic leadership, financial acumen, and the development of high-performing teams.

Before joining PAC, Kelly served as Associate Vice President at Portico Property Management, where she led a high-performing team overseeing a boutique portfolio in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. Her expertise in market analysis, performance management, and business development has earned her numerous accolades and a reputation for delivering results.

Kelly’s commitment to elevating both team performance and asset value continues to enhance PAC’s operations and strengthen community experiences nationwide.

Stephanie Aronson serves as Regional Vice President of Property Operations at Preferred Apartment Communities, where she oversees a growing portfolio and leads initiatives to enhance team performance and operational efficiency. Since joining PAC in July 2024, she has played a key role in transitioning more than 15 Atlanta communities.

With nearly a decade of property management experience, Stephanie spent seven years at Trinity Property Consultants, where she helped grow the Eastern portfolio and led centralization across 150+ communities. Her leadership has been instrumental in streamlining operations and fostering collaboration across teams.

Stephanie’s passion for building strong teams and creating thriving communities continues to support PAC’s mission of delivering exceptional living experiences.

Erin Smith brings over 20 years of multifamily industry experience to her role as Regional Vice President of Property Operations at Preferred Apartment Communities. She oversees operations across Georgia and Florida, managing a portfolio of 16 stabilized, conventional properties totaling nearly 5,000 units.

Her career spans leadership of diverse asset types, including new lease-ups, student housing, value-add communities, and core conventional properties. Erin began her career as a leasing consultant and has since built a reputation for developing high-performing teams and fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.

A graduate of the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University, Erin combines deep operational expertise with a passion for creating environments where both residents and associates can thrive.