Executive Leadership

Andrew Kadish is the Chief Executive Officer of CAPREIT and is responsible for setting the strategic direction and culture of the company. Throughout his tenure at CAPREIT, Mr. Kadish has served in a variety of roles, learning a great deal from his predecessor at the company, his father, Dick Kadish. Rather than resting upon the company’s numerous past successes, Mr. Kadish continues to push the envelope, supporting and encouraging his valued team to ascend even greater heights while growing into new investment areas. As an active investor and thought-leader, Mr. Kadish enjoys advising start-ups and early-stage businesses within the real estate, technology and social well-being spaces. Mr. Kadish holds a Juris Doctorate from the Villanova University School of Law. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Kadish is a member of the Bars of New Jersey and Pennsylvania and the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).

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Jennifer Kadish Cassell is the President of CAPREIT and is responsible for the day-to-day administration of all Company matters, as well as direct responsibility over all legal matters affecting the property management operations of the company’s portfolio. Previously, Ms. Cassell served as an adjunct professor with the American University College of Law. Prior to joining CAPREIT, Ms. Cassell served as a legal intern for the General Counsel’s Office of the National Archives and Records Administration. Ms. Cassell holds a Juris Doctorate from the American University Washington College of Law, a Master of Arts (Art History) from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University. Ms. Cassell is a member of the Bar of Maryland, the American Bar Association, and Chief.

Stephen A. Catarinella is the Chief Investment Officer of CAPREIT. During Mr. Catarinella’s tenure with CAPREIT he has been an influential member of the team, having had responsibilities throughout the company including but not limited to managing over $500MM of Market Rate and Affordable Multi-Family Housing transactions, overseeing litigation matters of the company, being extensively involved in construction and service-related projects within the portfolio, securing national contracts, overseeing the formation of strategic business partnerships, and spearheading the implementation of new ideas and tools for the company. Currently, Mr. Catarinella is primarily tasked with assisting in the creation of the development, acquisition, and disposition strategies of the company and implementing such strategies by leading and assisting the transaction teams throughout the entirety of the process. This includes determining the feasibility of any project, as well as a sourcing and working with equity, debt, partners, and third parties necessary for a successful investment. Mr. Catarinella was previously vice president and general counsel of a long-standing real estate firm located in Pittsburgh, PA, and was a litigation associate with a national law firm. Mr. Catarinella received his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from Villanova University School of Law and his Bachelor of Science in Management, with distinction, from The Pennsylvania State University. Mr. Catarinella is a member of the Bars of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Miguel J. Gutierrez is the Chief Operating Officer of CAPREIT and has broad responsibility for the development and implementation of the company’s business strategy including the operation of the company’s apartment portfolio. Prior to joining CAPREIT in 2015, Mr. Gutierrez provided advisory and business development services to private-sector clients in the real estate, financial services, and default services industries. From 2013 to 2015, Mr. Gutierrez served as Vice President of Portfolio Management for Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust, where he managed the transition of a real estate portfolio in the spinoff from Starwood Property Trust, and integrated operations in the merger between Starwood and Waypoint Homes. Mr. Gutierrez is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Master of Business Administration (Finance) from the University of Miami and a Bachelor in Science (Accounting) from American University.

Savas J. Karas is the Chief Technology & Transformation Officer. Mr. Karas has over thirty years of management and information technology leadership experience across multiple industries. Prior to joining CAPREIT, Mr. Karas was President of Enterprise Solutions Group, a solutions-oriented consulting firm. His focus is on creating world-class teams and a culture that allows staff to thrive. He has extensive experience in the areas of process improvement and creating centers of excellence. His focus is the optimization of people, processes, and technology in creating a data-led, process driven and technology-enabled organization. Mr. Karas is also a noted expert in the implementation and optimization of enterprise resource planning and financial management systems. Mr. Karas holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and a Masters of Business Administration, with concentrations in Accounting, Management, and Management Information Systems from Loyola University Maryland. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Global Managerial Accountant (CGMA), and a Six Sigma Master Black Belt (SSMB). He completed post-graduate work in Taxation and Business Law from American University.

As the Chief Development and Construction Officer at CAPREIT, J. Chris Pilato III, combines a multifaceted educational background with a wealth of experience.  With an impressive track record spanning over 20 years, Mr. Pilato has successfully completed over $250 million worth of construction and development projects. This portfolio encompasses over 120 commercial and residential projects across 23 states, showcasing a national reach and a proven ability to navigate diverse regulatory environments.

At the helm of CAPREIT’s Development and Construction Division, Mr. Pilato has demonstrated exceptional leadership, overseeing all national construction contracts with an unwavering commitment to quality and efficiency. His expertise extends to meticulous budgeting, ensuring financial prudence in every project undertaken. A leader in strategic planning, Mr. Pilato plays a pivotal role in shaping the future trajectory of CAPREIT, aligning construction and development initiatives with the broader corporate strategy.

Beyond the numbers, Mr. Pilato is recognized for his ability to foster collaboration among cross-functional teams, driving innovation and ensuring that every project reflects the highest standards of craftsmanship. His leadership style blends a profound understanding of the industry with a forward-thinking approach, positioning CAPREIT as a trusted name in the construction and development arena.

Mr. Pilato holds a Juris Doctorate from Villanova University School of Law, a Master of Business Administration from Villanova University, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, cum laude, from Villanova University. Mr. Pilato is a member of the Bar of New York.

Mr. Strassberg brings over 30 years of industry leadership, finance experience and accounting expertise to CAPREIT. He has held senior-level commercial real estate finance, financial services, and consulting positions. He was Chief Financial Officer of Berkeley Point Capital (now part of Newmark – NASDAQ: NMRK), Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), and Cantor Commercial Real Estate Company, L.P., as well as Deputy Chief Financial Officer of Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. Mr. Strassberg also served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Fannie Mae’s Multifamily division. His experience with complex commercial transactions enabled him to hold senior roles in audit at KPMG, and he was a Managing Director at KPMG Consulting, serving domestic and international clients. He previously served on the Board of Directors of Continental Building Products, Inc. (NYSE: CBPX). He earned his B.S. in Accounting from Georgetown University and continues to serve on the Alumni Advisory Board of Students of Georgetown, Inc. (“The Corp”). Mr. Strassberg is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, and Certified Global Management Accountant.

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Rick J. Band is the Executive Director – Investments of CAPREIT and assists in the financial underwriting for all CAPREIT acquisitions. Prior to joining CAPREIT in 1993, Mr. Band was a principal of AB Asset Advisors, Inc., a Washington-based real estate acquisition and consulting firm. From 1989 through 1991, Mr. Band was Vice President of BRW Acquisitions, Inc., where he was responsible for identifying, evaluating, and structuring real estate investments. Mr. Band also served as a supervisor in the real estate/tax department of Reznick Fedder & Silverman, P.C. Mr. Band holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Florida.

Christopher McParland is the General Counsel of CAPREIT, where he provides comprehensive legal guidance and strategic advice to the company and directly oversees all legal matters affecting the company and the real estate investment portfolio.  Prior to joining CAPREIT, Mr. McParland served as the career law clerk for Hon. Edward A. Godoy of the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Puerto Rico.  Before undertaking his clerkship, Mr. McParland practiced in the New York office of Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP, where he focused on real estate, complex civil and business litigation, products liability and employment matters.  Mr. McParland holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a B.A. in Psychology from Princeton University.  Mr. McParland is a member of the bars of the State of New York and the District of Puerto Rico.

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Dawn Coggins is the Senior Vice President of Property Management and is responsible for overseeing the overall management and operation of CAPREIT’s portfolio throughout the United States. Ms. Coggins is responsible for the oversight of all property management initiatives to promote optimal performance throughout the portfolio and provides strategic leadership and oversight of all activities, including property operations, financial planning, product marketing, staff selection, and management. Ms. Coggins received a CAPS (Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor) designation from the National Apartment Association (NAA). Prior to joining the company in 1994, Ms. Coggins was employed by CRI where she served as a property manager for several communities.

Danielle Cooney is the Senior Vice President of Operations. Ms. Cooney oversees several departments and an apartment portfolio. Ms. Cooney develops, tests and documents processes, delivering strategies that accelerate value creation and efficiency in the operation of CAPREIT’s portfolio. Prior to joining CAPREIT in 2015, Ms. Cooney maintained a career in executive management for owned and fee-managed companies consisting of apartments and single-family homes. The most recent was the Vice President of Property Management for Starwood Waypoint – Sway Management, LLC, overseeing the management of over 10,000 single-family homes. As an active leader within the multifamily industry, Ms. Cooney is a Certified Property Manager (CPM), Certified Apartment Manager (CAM), and a Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP). Ms. Cooney is a licensed real estate broker in multiple states and a licensed community association manager in Florida. Ms. Cooney holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Peirce University.

Jeff Cox is the Senior Vice President of Acquisitions for CAPREIT.  Responsibilities include procurement of existing multifamily projects, procurement of land and entitlement opportunities and a specific focus Build For Rent projects pre and post development.  Mr. Cox has had a 30-year career in real estate development and has been involved in all facets of the business.  Mr. Cox has been largely focused on residential real estate development from land acquisitions, land planning, entitlements, site work, amenity planning, product development, marketing, sales, leasing, and vertical construction management.  Mr. Cox has a Bachelors of Science Degree from Towson University.

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Sarah Khu is the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at CAPREIT and is responsible for guiding the company’s human resources strategies, specifically employee relations, payroll, benefits, compensation, recruiting, and talent development. Prior to joining the company in 2016, Ms. Khu served as Equity Residential’s Human Resources Director for over 1,300 employees located in the Northeast. In addition to working in the property management industry, Ms. Khu held various leadership positions in human resources at State Farm, as well as a number of IPO and Pre-IPO companies in the Silicon Valley of Northern California. Ms. Khu has twenty-five years of experience in human resources and holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Professional in Human Resources Certification from HR Certification Institute.

Elizabeth Stewart is the Senior Vice President of Finance and Controller of CAPREIT and is responsible for the oversight and coordination of all finance and property accounting functions of the Company. Ms. Stewart was responsible for spearheading the move to a paperless environment for the corporate and property accounting groups as well as moving corporate and property accounting to the same software platform to streamline reporting capabilities and increase efficiencies. Ms. Stewart successfully reduced staffing needs while still meeting reporting deadlines. Ms. Stewart is an experienced leader in the Finance and Accounting industry with an emphasis on team building, improving internal controls, and streamlining processes and procedures. She has extensive experience in implementing new software platforms to improve the efficiency and accuracy of financial reporting. Prior to joining CAPREIT in 2012, Ms. Stewart was Senior Vice President and Controller at IBG Partners, LLC. Ms. Stewart is a graduate of the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant.