A Culture of Commitment: Inside the 2025 Fitch Irick Conference
Charlotte, NC | May 27–28, 2025
In a time when the demand for affordable, quality housing continues to grow, Fitch Irick is doubling down on its mission—starting with its people. This May, leaders from the organization convened in Charlotte, North Carolina for the 2025 Fitch Irick Conference, a two-day event that blended strategy, recognition, and relationship-building.
Held at The Casey by Beau Monde, the conference created space for cross-functional collaboration, professional development, and celebration of the outstanding work happening across the organization’s portfolio. Whether in compliance, operations, development, or property management, each attendee walked away reconnected to the company’s purpose and better equipped to meet the complex demands of affordable housing today.
Leadership That Inspires: Guest Speakers Take the Stage
The first day featured a keynote by guest speaker Rocky Garza, who delivered a compelling talk on leadership and accountability. Drawing from his experience as a performance coach and storyteller, Rocky encouraged attendees to reflect on their core identities and the power of consistent leadership. His engaging presence set the tone for the conference’s theme of purpose-driven leadership.
Following Rocky’s keynote, Will McCauley and Tyler Civils—both representing our title sponsor, Creative Builders—delivered a memorable and uplifting presentation. Taking the stage in matching “Fitch” and “Irick”, they infused their message with both humor and heart, emphasizing legacy, partnership, and purpose. Their talk served as a powerful reminder of the strong partnerships and shared values that fuel our work.
Celebrating Leadership and Excellence
The evening of May 27 culminated in one of the conference’s most anticipated events, the Annual Awards Celebration. This formal program honored individuals and teams whose contributions embody our values of community building and service to those who depend on us.
Award Honorees:
- The COTIRE Award – Tammy Narron
- Innovation in Affordable Housing Compliance Award – LeShea Long
- Collaboration Award – Christina Staab, Nicole Burt, Barry Eleey, Anderea Gonzalez
- Rookie Rockstar Award – Jennifer Russ
- Maintenance Technician (RD) of the Year – Eric Nerone
- Service Manager (TC) of the Year – Charles Lesine
- Property Manager (RD) of the Year – Cynthia Williams
- Property Manager (TC) of the Year – Altravise Ross-Bagot
- Regional Manager (RD) of the Year – Melena Helton
- Regional Manager (TC) of the Year – Liz Cherry
- Brass Knuckle Award – Stone Springs
- Lease-Up of the Year – James Lewis, Jr. Apartments
- Property (RD) of the Year – Heritage Apartments
- Property (TC) of the Year – Oakside Apartments
Each recipient was celebrated not just for what they do, but for how they do it—with dedication, empathy, and a deep belief in the importance of stable, affordable housing.
Learning Through Collaboration
The second day of the conference focused on advancing knowledge and strengthening collaboration between teams. Attendees participated in a variety of sessions and workshops led by internal leaders and key industry partners.
Workshops encouraged hands-on participation and candid dialogue between departments. A recurring theme throughout the sessions was the importance of cross-functional synergy—particularly in a mission-driven business like affordable housing, where every decision, from development to maintenance, impacts resident well-being.
Partners also played a key role in the day’s programming. Representatives from:
- Creative Builders, Inc.
- Automatic Leasing Service
- HD Supply
- Elise AI
- SBT Partners
- Yardi
- Caldwell & Gregory
- BRC
- Renovation 1 Contracting
- DrizzleX
- Connexus
- HappyCo
…all shared innovations and insights that support operational excellence across Fitch Irick’s communities.
Looking Forward
The 2025 Fitch Irick Conference was a reaffirmation of purpose. As the company grows and its portfolio expands, gatherings like this remind every team member why the work matters: to ensure that every individual and family has access to a safe, affordable place to call home.
Explore more photos from the event:
