Professional Accomplishments Since the Summer Development Program

The Summer Development Program (SDP) at Cardinal Group Management has a proven track record of setting participants on a path to professional success. This program welcomes 15 onsite Team Members who are seeking growth in operations and Facilities to our HQ office in Denver, Colorado for one week. From leadership roles to innovative projects, the program equips individuals with the skills, confidence, and networking they need to thrive in our fast-paced, dynamic industry. Below, we highlight some of the proudest professional accomplishments of SDP alumni.

Leadership in Action: Leading Teams

Several alumni shared their pride in successfully stepping into leadership roles and guiding their teams through challenging situations using what they learned in SDP. Rachel Welte, Community Manager, reflected on the success of leading a team through a particularly tough move-in day. “Successfully managing a team during our move-in day, along with navigating several other challenges throughout the year, was incredibly rewarding,” she said.

Caroline Krebs is an Operations Specialist who takes pride in her new role as the leader of the WIL (Women in Leadership) Celebrations Committee, furthering her commitment to inclusivity and empowerment within the company. “It allowed me to support my colleagues while also growing as a leader,” she shared.

From an Area Leasing and Marketing Team Lead in SDP in 2020 to a current Portfolio Manager, Katie Ellis shares that one of her biggest takeaways from the program was how exciting it can be to help upskill the Team Members around you and the reminder that “there’s a place for everyone within Cardinal Group Companies.”

 

SDP Alum Liz Rustin and Katie Ellis at Leadership Summit 2024

Innovating and Piloting New Initiatives

Innovation was another major theme in the accomplishments shared by SDP alumni. Madison Wedgeworth, Customer Sales Specialist, discussed her success in piloting a new offering that allowed her to showcase her technical skills and ability to drive meaningful change. “I successfully rolled out a new initiative within CX3, enhancing AI-powered renewals for our communities. It was exciting to see my hard work come to fruition and have a tangible impact on the business,” she said.

Kaitlyn McConnell shared her team successfully leased her community to 100% occupancy for the 2024-2025 lease term with her team. “Our community had faced many challenges in the past, but through dedication and teamwork, we achieved a 100% lease-up and was a huge reward for the entire team’s hard work.”

Promotions and Role Transitions: Climbing the Ladder

Promotions are a significant source of pride for many SDP alumni. With eight onsite promotions and six promotions to HQ teams from the Classes of 2023 and 2024 alone, these alumni are forced to be reckoned with.

SDP reflects Cardinal Group’s commitment to internal development with an approximately 20% internal promotion rate in the last 12 months company-wide. “Getting promoted to CX3 was a huge milestone for me,” shared Sonu Patel. “It’s rewarding to see how the experiences and lessons learned during SDP paved the way for my advancement within Cardinal Group.”

Liz Rustin shared her pride in taking over the role of Community Manager for a new development property in College Station, successfully increasing occupancy to 100% ahead of market expectations. “After SDP I had the opportunity to lead a community that was behind the market in pre-lease percentage when I took over. The team and I worked hard to overcome challenges related to retention and reputation, and the results were amazing,” she said.

SDP Alum Liz Rustin and Katie-Claire Highsmith at Rev Northgate in Summer 2024

Olivia Culpepper reflected on her recent promotion where she took a risk and “yes” to new opportunities and embraced change. “Since SDP, I’ve taken on a new position at a different community that is very different from what I was used to,” she said. “It’s been a growth process, and I’m proud of how much I’ve learned and the new skills I’ve gained.”

Cassidy Siedlecki spoke about assuming a new leadership role as a Leasing and Marketing Team Lead without a Community Manager for two months following SDP, a situation that tested their adaptability and resilience. “Taking on that responsibility without much guidance was tough, but our team performed incredibly well. We’re now leading the market in pre-lease, and I couldn’t be prouder,” she reflected.

SDP Alum Cassidy Siedlecki at Locale Allendale Move-In Day 2024

Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders

The SDP experience not only opened doors to new roles but also boosted participants’ credibility within the company. Hunter Wilson leveraged their leasing and marketing expertise, honed during the program, to become a respected leader in their cell. “It’s incredibly rewarding to be recognized as a go-to expert,” he said.

Trenton Teter seized the opportunity to step into a Maintenance Team Lead role. Inspired by the networking opportunities and positive feedback from HQ Team Members, he embraced his new role with enthusiasm. “Gordon John’s kind words and perspective-shifting insights made me feel valued and appreciated,” he shared.

Joseph Alvarez also took on a leadership role and returned to facilitate the first Summer Development Program Facilities Day for three Team members this year, one of which has already been promoted to Traveling Facilities Operations Manager along with Joseph.

Spreading Their (Cardinal) Wings

This program is designed to develop our Team Members intro growth-driven mindsets, and sometimes that means hitting it out of the park. Emily Pina is now a Group Sales Account Executive for the world-series winning Dodgers and shared that being a part of SDP has “ignited my interest in sales, allowed me to develop my networking skills, and understand client relationships.”

Emily Pina at the Major Leauge Baseball Opening Day 2024

Returning to Cardinal: Boomerang Success

One of the most exciting outcomes of SDP is the way it fosters long-term relationships with Cardinal Group, with many participants returning to the company even years after the program ends. Monica Samson started at Cardinal in 2018 as a Leasing Team Member and grew through her relocation to the University of Texas market and later being selected for SDP in 2020. Following the program, her community dispositioned but her passion for the culture and relationships she built through the program brought her back as a Portfolio Sales and Marketing Manager for a Private Label client in 2024. 

The experience and network gained through SDP have opened doors for new opportunities, creating a sense of belonging within the Cardinal Group community that many chose to return to.

 

SDP Alum Monica Samson doing on-campus marketing in 2018 and at a team outing with Rambler Austin in 2024

A Legacy of Core Value #7 – Pursue Growth and Knowledge

As these individuals continue to push boundaries, embrace new challenges, and give back to others, they demonstrate the enduring power of the Summer Development Program in shaping the leaders of tomorrow. Cardinal Group is proud to have been part of their journey—and we look forward to supporting many more future leaders as they make their mark on the real estate industry.

Summer Development Program Alum that contributed to this blog: Kaitlyn McConnell, Alli Lambin, Gabby Buteau, Marcus McNeal, Rachel Welte, Felicia Lachney, Caroline Krebs, Olivia Culpepper, Madison Wedgeworth, Hunter Wilson, Liz Rustin, Monica Samson, Sonu Patel, Joseph Alvarez, Trenton Teter, Katie Ellis, Emily Pina