Cardinal Group Celebrates the 5-Year Anniversary of Caroline Krebs

At Cardinal, our culture embodies many different elements: it’s about improving as a team while having fun growing together both personally and professionally. Our team members are the heart and soul of our culture! We are so grateful for the efforts our team members put in daily to go the extra mile to help change the industry and challenge the status quo.

Today we’re celebrating Caroline Krebs and her dedicated years of service to the growth of our team over the last five years.

Learn more about Caroline’s journey below!

What is your role?

Portfolio Sales and Marketing Manager dedicated to the BB Living Portfolio.

Describe your Cardinal Journey (roles you previously worked in before your current position)

My journey at Cardinal began five years ago when I started as an LMTL at Copper Social, which is where I first landed within CGI as part of an acquisition. I quickly learned that Cardinal was unlike any other property management company I had worked for, and from that moment on, I was committed to staying. From there, I transitioned into the world of conventional lease-ups, where I spent three formative years growing and evolving.

My path there progressed from a Lease-Up Specialist to a Leasing and Marketing Team Leader, and eventually to an Assistant Community Manager. This experience provided me with a comprehensive understanding of launching and stabilizing new communities. That experience led me to one of the most rewarding chapters of my career: serving as an Operations Specialist, traveling to communities nationwide—student, conventional, and build-to-rent—and supporting some truly amazing teams. And now, I’m beyond grateful to say I’ve landed in my dream role as a Portfolio Sales & Marketing Manager for Build-to-Rent!

What is your proudest moment working at Cardinal Group?

While I’m generally not one to toot my own horn, my proudest moment must be centered around the incredible success we achieved at Tech Junction, my first conventional lease-up community.

Our team worked tirelessly, and the hard work paid off when we hit an incredible milestone: 45% pre-lease on the very first day we opened our doors to the public! This initial surge set the tone for the entire project. We not only met, but exceeded, our goals, ultimately stabilizing the community after only six months of operation. Seeing the dedication of the team and the immediate, overwhelming success of that community remains one of the most rewarding and proudest accomplishments of my career here.

How did you decide to join the Cardinal team?

It’s actually a great story! Throughout my career in property management, Cardinal was the name my friends and colleagues would always drop as being an organization that was difficult to get the opportunity to get in with—a testament to its high standards and strong reputation.

So, when the acquisition took place and I found out that Cardinal was the new management team coming in for Copper Social, it was an easy decision to accept the role of LMTL and become a part of the team. I quickly learned that Cardinal was unlike any other community management company I had worked for, thanks to its strong culture and commitment to innovation. From that moment on, I intended to stay with Cardinal as long as I possibly could, and I’m thrilled I’ve been able to grow here for five years!

What’s a memorable project or initiative you’ve been part of at Cardinal?

The most memorable initiative was my entire 13-month tenure on the Travel Team as an Operations Specialist. Rather than one singular project, it was an ever-changing series of rapid-fire challenges—a new project every two weeks!

This role was defined by constant change and deep immersion: having to quickly transition from supporting Student communities to Conventional communities, and then adapting again for Build-to-Rent communities. With a new team every two weeks, the core project was always the same: going in with open arms and listening ears to quickly understand the unique needs of that community.

Being on the travel team was by far one of the most rewarding roles I’ve had, but also the one that presented the most frequent and diverse projects to overcome, making it an experience that truly shaped my perspective on the entire Cardinal portfolio.

If you were to live at any Cardinal property outside of your own city for a year, where would you go and why?

Since I just made my big move to Denver, I’ve successfully achieved my mountain dream, so I’d have to pick a new, equally exciting location like Boise, Idaho.

I’m fascinated by Boise’s unique position as a quickly growing metro area that still maintains its accessibility to incredible nature. I would love to spend a year there taking advantage of the Boise River Greenbelt and exploring the proximity to Sun Valley for weekend trips. It offers a truly different experience than the mountain towns of Colorado while still having the feel of an active, outdoor-focused city.

What are three books or podcasts you have found educational or inspirational?

The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest – This book speaks directly to navigating times of transition and growth, which has been the theme of my journey at Cardinal. It’s been highly inspirational in teaching me how to be intentional about continuous self-improvement and embracing change—a mindset that was essential during my quick transitions through various roles, especially as an Operations Specialist.

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear – This book fundamentally changed how I approach my daily work. The concept that small, consistent improvements lead to massive results is critical in portfolio management, where driving incremental growth across multiple communities is the goal. It reinforces the importance of strong, repeatable processes, a lesson I took from every operations assignment.

The Build-to-Rent Show – Since landing my dream role as Portfolio Sales & Marketing Manager for BTR, this podcast has been an essential tool for keeping my finger on the pulse of our rapidly evolving industry. It provides deep dives into market trends, development strategies, and investor challenges—all of which directly inform how I position and market our communities to succeed in this niche sector.”

What’s something you’ve learned at Cardinal that you carry with you daily?

The most profound lessons I’ve learned at Cardinal—one I carry with me every day—is the critical importance of adaptability, coupled with the power of listening and grace.

During my time as an Operations Specialist, I had to walk into a completely new community environment—student, conventional, or BTR—and quickly become an effective resource. I learned that you cannot apply a one-size-fits-all solution; you first have to listen to the team, understand their unique pain points, and then tailor the solution. This experience reinforced the importance of patience and handling every situation with the grace I would expect someone to give me.

This principle of high-level listening and operational flexibility is essential for my role now, as I build sales and marketing strategies that need to resonate across an entire portfolio of diverse Build-to-Rent communities. My strategic strength helps me map out the long-term vision for each community, while woo and includer ensure I’m building enthusiasm and bringing all stakeholders along for the journey. Finally, the positivity and futuristic in me constantly remind me to focus on creating an exciting, optimistic vision of what’s possible for our communities, keeping us focused on future success rather than past challenges.