Leadership
At Asset, leadership isn’t reflected in your title –– it’s a mentality that’s ingrained into who we are and how we serve.
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Ryan is a seasoned expert in multi-site management, strategic planning, and executive leadership. As President and Chief Executive Officer of Asset Living, a company comprised of nearly 6,000+ employees, Ryan McGrath oversees all operational aspects of the firm—leading an executive team to deliver the highest value to clients. He is responsible for the company’s growth initiatives, acquisition strategy, and overall talent development. Under his direction, the family-built real estate firm has grown from a small, Houston-based company into the fourth-largest property management firm in the nation with over 200,000 units under management.
Prior to joining Asset in 2007, Ryan worked in the investment banking division at Goldman Sachs and was responsible for the execution of M&A and financing transactions. He is an honors graduate of Vanderbilt University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics while competing on the varsity soccer team. Ryan is currently Chairman of the Young Presidents’ Organization’s (YPO) Houston Chapter, a Lifetime Ambassador for Texas Children’s Hospital, a member of the Board of Visitors for MD Anderson, and the Board of Directors for Strake Jesuit College Preparatory. Most recently, Ryan was named a 2021 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
A native Houstonian, Ryan resides in his hometown with his wife, Meredith, his children, Stone and Tess, and his two labs, Sako and Gunner. He enjoys outdoor adventure sports, mixed martial arts, reading, and spending time with his family. Be sure to ask him about his efforts to become the world’s best ping-pong player.
Gretchen Stephenson is the Chief Financial Officer and leads Finance, Treasury, and Accounting for Asset Living. She has worked in executive financial leadership roles for over 25 years, gaining experience and expertise in financial planning and management, business transformations and controllership. At Asset Living, her goals include driving increased value and growth for our clients and employees, guiding strategic initiatives, and leading a high performing team of finance professionals. Gretchen is a former Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas A&M University.
When Gretchen is not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her family, riding her Peloton as much as possible and following her beloved Aggies.
Joey leads Asset Living’s legal team, which oversees the company’s legal and risk functions – including handling legal disputes, leasing materials, insurance procurement, contract negotiations, M&A, and operational support. Prior to Asset, Joey spent four years in private practice as a commercial litigator in Houston. He has worked in the property management industry for over ten years, gaining a breadth of expertise in the variety of legal issues pertinent to the industry. At Asset Living, his goals include efficiently managing open legal matters, working with clients and their counsel to resolve legal issues, managing the company’s client-exclusive insurance program, supporting the company’s M&A initiatives, and providing the best possible support and guidance to the company’s executive and operations teams.
Joey graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s degree in Management. In addition, he also earned JD and MBA degrees from Baylor University. Outside the office, Joey enjoys spending time with friends and family, sports, and putting his mind to strategy games.
Rulissa is responsible for leading and overseeing human resources at Asset Living. She has worked in the HR industry for 25 years, gaining experience and expertise in benefits, human relations, and compliance with employment law. At Asset Living, her goals include empowering our properties and corporate teams to attract and retain top talent, creating the best possible employee experience, and helping every Asset employee reach their full potential within the company.
Rulissa is SPHR certified and holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management from Southern Nazarene University. When Rulissa is not in the office, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family (dogs included!), traveling, and live music.
Alex Moore is Asset Living’s Chief People Officer. She is responsible for driving all programs and initiatives associated with talent strategy and people engagement for the company. At Asset Living, she ensures the company attracts, develops, and retains the best talent in the industry by consistently evaluating and strengthening the company’s recruitment, mobility, learning and development, culture, and wellness efforts. Her goal is to serve all of Asset’s people through embedding the company’s values and opportunities for career growth into every employee’s experience at the company. She has worked in the people function for 10+ years, previously in the technology start-up and consulting industries. Alex went to the University of Texas at Austin, where she graduated with a Bachelors degree in Corporate Communications. Outside of the office, Alex spends her time with her husband and two sons, travels, volunteers, and stays active by playing tennis, running, and cycling.
David is responsible for partnerships, strategic initiatives, and M&A for Asset Living. David has worked in finance for more than 10 years, gaining experience and expertise in real estate, acquisitions, and financial reporting. At Asset Living, his goals include driving organizational growth through acquisitions and leading initiatives for continuous improvement.
David is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Master of Business Administration from Valparaiso University. When David is not in the office, he enjoys kayaking, reading, and spending time with his wife and two-year-old son.
Dan Wolff is an Senior Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) and leads reporting, budgeting, and analysis for Asset Living’s Corporate Finance team. He has worked in finance for 10 years, gaining experience and expertise in financial modeling, forecasting, and leading finance teams in large corporations (Amazon, Lenovo, and IBM). At Asset Living his goals include building a first-class finance organization to scale with the business, and providing accurate, in-depth analysis to enable Asset Living to provide the best service possible. Dan holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelors of Science, Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame.
When Dan is not in the office, he enjoys doing activities with his two children, squeezing in a Peloton ride, and exploring Houston on monthly “Parents’ Night Out” evenings with his wife.
Kate Novick is a Controller and leads the accounting department for Asset Living’s corporate business. She has worked in the real estate industry for the last 5 years, gaining experience and expertise in property accounting (multi-family and campus housing), accounting for new development and construction, and financial reporting. She previously worked for Ernst & Young providing assurance services for clients in financial services and real estate. At Asset Living, her goals include supporting the growth of the organization by providing high-quality financial information and fostering a culture of continual learning and improvement in her department.
Kate is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Accountancy from the Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University.
When Kate is not in the office, she enjoys baking sourdough bread, making friends with neighborhood cats, running, and exploring all of the barbeque Texas has to offer with her husband and daughter.
Julie is responsible for overseeing client relations and new business efforts for the student housing division for Asset Living. She has worked in the property management industry for 31 years, with the last 16 years devoted to student housing operations. Julie has developed a strong reputation in the industry for being a leader in student housing operations and serves on numerous panels highlighting innovative operating procedures.
Julie is a graduate of the University of Houston with an associate degree in Real Estate Finance and Appraisals. When she’s not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, cooking for friends and family, watching old western movies, and watching hockey (she’s a die-hard fan).
Stephen is responsible for overseeing Asset’s client acquisition group, which includes business development and client portfolio services. He has over 20 years of operational real estate experience, with expertise in multi-family and student housing property management, asset management, and acquisitions in both domestic and international markets. At Asset, his goals include guiding high profile institutional investors, private equity groups, family offices, and high net worth individuals through their analysis and strategy surrounding acquisition, development, and disposition decisions.
Stephen holds a Master of Business Administration from Goizueta Business School at Emory University, a top 20 national program, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Kennesaw State University. Outside of work, he enjoys exercise, perpetual online shopping for unique cars and bucket list vehicles, and cherishing his time as a proud father of three.
Jason is responsible for leading the Asset Living business development department. In his 17 year Asset Living career he has been responsible for supervising multiple portfolios of student housing and multi-family properties nationwide and also overseeing our new development lease-up team, along with the training department. Jason’s 28 years of experience in student housing and multi-family provides a wealth of knowledge and in-depth, hands-on experience with full-service dormitory and high and mid-rise mixed use properties, including new developments. At Asset Living, Jason’s goals include increasing the overall size of assets under management through oversight of the business development team, and continually working in lockstep with existing clients to expand their portfolio with continued focus on client relationships. His goals also include training and mentoring every member of the Asset Living family, leading the new development team in lease-ups nationwide while providing pre-development consulting to clients.
Jason holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas A&M University. Outside of the office, he enjoys spending quality time with his wife and two beautiful daughters, morning workouts, and golfing whenever he can.
JC Reeves is an Executive Vice President leading the multi-family business development arm for Asset Living’s national portfolio. He has worked in the real estate industry for eight years and has gained expertise in property and market research, client acquisitions, and underwriting. Since joining Asset Living, he has grown the managed portfolio by more than 65,000 units and continues to lead the sales team to provide best in class services for all of our clients. JC is an escrow officer, licensed real estate agent, and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Rice University. When JC is not in the office or on the road, he enjoys golfing, hunting, and spending time with his wife and son, Bennett.
Jake is responsible for developing and expanding Asset Living's multi-family portfolio nationwide. He has worked in the real estate industry for seven years, gaining expertise in asset management, client portfolio growth, and market analysis. As a Regional Lease-up Specialist, he managed a portfolio of new developments and stabilized properties from the ground up. At Asset Living, his goals include growing the multi-family platform while assisting his clients with the growth of their properties.
Jake holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Mississippi. Outside of the office he enjoys golfing, hunting, and rooting for all his troubled sports teams.
Tyler Johnson is a Division President and leads Operations for the Central region of Asset Living's Market Rate and Affordable portfolio. He has worked in the property management industry for 15 years, gaining experience and expertise in new construction lease-ups, value-add repositioning, compliance monitoring, and underwriting. At Asset Living, his goals include developing and retaining the best talent in the industry, executing best-in-class standard operating procedures, and employing cutting edge leasing and operating technology to maximize value. Tyler holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Economics from Texas A&M.
When Tyler is not in the office, he enjoys time with family, home improvement projects, and barbeque. A fun fact about Tyler is that he has completed a 140.6 mile Ironman triathlon.
Stephanie Nascimento is Division President and leads Central Texas's Property Management Operations team. She has over 25 years of experience in the multi-family industry with a focus on Class A lease-ups, value add rehab, and stabilized assets ranging from all class levels. Stephanie is also involved in strategic client relationships and business development. Previously, Stephanie has held Senior Leadership roles at Cardinal Group, RPM, and Alliance Residential, overseeing these organizations' strategic planning and growth efforts.
When Kate is not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, Ethan and Addison, and our two dogs. My daughter's competitive and Highschool cheer keeps us busy. We also enjoy attending and traveling to Texas A&M Aggie football games, spending time on the lake, and traveling to new places.
Robert Hicks is a Division President and leads the western division for Asset Living’s conventional business. He has worked in the industry for 27 years, gaining experience and expertise in corporate administration, asset and property management. At Asset Living, his goals include providing a “best in class” operational platform for both our associates and clients. Robert holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Theory with an emphasis in Organizational Communication and Business Management from Arizona State University. When Robert is not in the office or on the road, he enjoys spending time with his children Brennan, Grace, Jackson, and Hanna. While Division President is his primary job function by day, Robert also enjoys playing pickleball and attending various music festivals across the country.
Bonnie Smetzer is an Executive Vice President and leads multifamily operations in Florida and the Southeast Coast. She has worked in the apartment industry over 40 years and is experienced in both market rate and affordable housing including new construction, mixed-use, mixed income, garden, and high-rise apartments. Bonnie was a founding Partner and Principal of JMG Realty, which sold to Asset Living in 2021. Bonnie is a past President of the Space Coast Apartment Association and the Florida Apartment Association and serves on the NAA Board of Directors as a Region 9 RVP. She received the Advocate of the Year Award in 2020 from the National Apartment Association, the Hall of Fame Award in 2021 from the Florida Apartment Association, the Advocate of the Year award in 2022 from the Apartment Association of Greater in 2022, and the Neil Armstrong Award in 2020 from the Space Coast Apartment Association. Bonnie is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Florida and serves on the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulations Hotel & Restaurant Advisory Council, the first multifamily operator to hold a seat on the council. Bonnie attended the University of Georgia and received her Certified Property Manager designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management 1985 and her HCCP designation from the National Association of Home Builders.
When not in the office, Bonnie is an advocate for the apartment industry at the local, state, and national level and enjoys butterfly gardening.
Stacey is responsible for leading and overseeing the student housing operations division while meeting clients’ financial performance for Asset Living. She has worked in the property management industry for 28 years, gaining experience and expertise across all class types from new development to stabilized to property repositioning. At Asset Living, her goals include providing mentorship and support to the management team and ensuring communities operate with a competitive advantage. Stacey drives property performance, monitors market conditions, and develops specific strategies to ensure her client’s goals and objectives are achieved. In addition, she is dedicated to new business development with a concentration on cultivating and preserving third party relationships.
Stacey attended San Antonio Court Reporting Institute where she received her certification as a stenographer. When Stacey is not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters watching soccer, traveling, and staying current on their favorite family show, Survivor.
Abby is responsible for overseeing and leading portfolio performance and operation management for Asset Livings’ Student, Campus division. She has worked in the student housing industry for nearly 15 years, gaining experience in all aspects of operations, stabilization, rebranding, new development, and client relations. At Asset Living, her goals include creating the company culture within her teams while ensuring her portfolio exceeds client expectations. Abby specializes in developing strong, professional on-site teams while training in high-level personal service. She focuses on building personal and client relationships and driving top performance results.Abby grew up near Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she studied finance and banking. When she is not working hard with her teams, Abby’s favorite things include yoga, reading, and spending time with her family, especially outdoors. Reading a good book at the lake while enjoying time with family is her definition of a perfect weekend.
Johanna is responsible for overseeing and leading portfolio and performance management for Asset Living’s campus business. She has worked in the industry for 29 years, gaining experience and expertise in conventional, new development, and student living. At Asset Living, her goals include driving employee performance through mentorship, development, and ongoing motivation, all while supporting and producing bottom line results for her clients.
Johanna Janovsky studied at the University of North Texas and holds a CAM designation. When Johanna is not in the office, she enjoys boating on the Chesapeake Bay and hanging out with her two dogs, Mocha and Bentley.
Todd is responsible for overseeing and leading portfolio and performance management for Asset Living’s campus division. He has worked in the student housing and multi-family sectors for more than 24 years, gaining experience and expertise in all aspects of property management, new development, and restructuring of value-add properties. At Asset Living, his goals include ensuring properties exceed resident, client, and company expectations. He consistently delivers high performance through key operational components that drive success for Asset Living––and our clients.
Todd holds CAM and NALP certifications with the National Apartment Association, and has held several seats throughout his career with various local apartment associations. He attended Chattanooga St. Edmondson Jr. College. When he’s not in the office, Todd enjoys camping, boating, and fishing––but only when he has gloves on hand to bait the hook!
Monica is responsible for leading accounting within Asset’s multi-family sector. She has worked in the industry for 37 years, gaining experience and expertise in accounting, cash projections, and HUD knowledge. At Asset Living, her goals include providing timely and accurate reporting, cash forecasting, and supporting employees and clients with the best possible management tools.
Monica is a Certified Public Accountant in the state of Texas and holds a Bachelor’s Degree of Accounting from the University of Houston. Outside of the office, Monica also enjoys movies, yoga, spending time with family, and spoiling her dogs (over the years she has owned six Rottweilers).
Ruth is responsible for the co-supervision of the Asset campus accounting department and supervises all corporate operations of the College Station office.
She has served in the role of corporate controller since joining the firm 25 years ago. Previously, Ruth was the corporate controller for Real Estate Management of America (REMA), prior to it being purchased by Asset Living in 1991. Ruth is a graduate of Northwestern State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. Outside of work, Ruth enjoys spending time with her family (especially her grandchildren) and going to the beach.
Patricia is responsible for overseeing all aspects of Asset’s multi-family properties and corporate accounting. She joined the real estate industry over six years ago while working as an Accounting Manager for both a public company that managed over 6,000 single family homes, and a private multi-family residential company.
Her 30 years of business experience began in banking in Chicago and New York City, working for Citi Corp as an Assistant Vice-President while most recently working for Shelton Residential. Outside of the office, she enjoys traveling the world with her family, Friday date nights with her husband, and a good book.
Valerie is responsible for leading the accounting department for Asset Living’s corporate business. She has worked in the industry for over 30 years, gaining experience and expertise in asset management, property management (both multi-family and campus housing), and other aspects of corporate accounting. At Asset Living, her goals include improving reporting to add value to Asset Living, ensuring accuracy in the processing and reporting for all financial transactions, growing a talented team, and providing the best possible reporting and communication to optimize corporate financial processes.
When Valerie is not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her family and pets. She also enjoys painting furniture, going to the dog park, and attending plays. Outside of her day job, she spends her time volunteering for various pet rescues, both in Houston and nationally.
