Renewals are having a moment. In this episode, Andrew Bowen is joined by Darcey Forbes of Renew to examine the shift in multifamily toward prioritizing resident retention. Drawing on two decades of industry experience and current market data, Darcey breaks down what’s driving this movement, why it’s more than a temporary trend, and how operators can build better renewal strategies across technology, culture, and communication.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• What’s fueling the rise in renewal conversion rates across the industry
• Why retention is no longer a side conversation — it’s the strategy
• How centralized and specialized teams are changing the game
• The power of forecasting vs. just measuring renewal performance
• Why “automate the routine, humanize the exceptions” is the new operations mantra
• The evolving loyalty opportunity in multifamily (and what we can learn from hotels)
• How budgeting should reflect the true financial impact of retention
• The friction points that are holding back renewal performance today

Guest Info:
Darcey Forbes
Industry Principal
Renew
Website: https://www.heyrenew.com

Host:
Andrew Bowen
ApartmentJedi.com | https://www.apartmentjedi.com

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Renew.
• UDR earnings commentary on lifetime value
• ApartmentJedi.com

In this episode, Andrew Bowen sits down with Mike Whaling, founder of multifamily marketing agency 30 Lines, to explore how agentic AI is transforming marketing — and why content strategy matters more than ever. From zero-click search to corporate branding and centralized marketing, Mike breaks down how operators, marketers, and even asset managers can better position themselves for the next evolution of leasing.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why agentic AI is already shaping renter behavior
• How zero-click search is disrupting traditional SEO
• Why content marketing is more important than ever (and how to do it right)
• The real difference between leasing and locating
• Why every community amenity should have its own content page
• How centralized roles (like event planners) can drive both retention and ancillary revenue
• The missed opportunity of corporate branding in multifamily
• What property managers can learn from hotels and auto dealerships

Guest Info:
Mike Whaling
President & Founder
30 Lines
Website: https://www.30lines.com

Host:
Andrew Bowen
ApartmentJedi.com | https://www.apartmentjedi.com

Mentioned in the Episode:

• 30 Lines
• ApartmentJedi.com
• U-Haul Migration Trends Report

In this episode, Andrew Bowen is joined by Kadi Mancuso Rice of the Tailwind Group — affectionately dubbed the “Wellness Walk Queen.”
 Recorded during NAA’s Apartmentalize in Las Vegas, this conversation explores how wellness and intentional leadership intersect with conference culture and onsite performance in multifamily. From 5:45 AM hikes to redefining what self-care means for site teams, Kadi shares actionable insights for building resilient, human-first organizations.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How the wellness walk started and why it’s spreading across industry conferences
• The difference between perks and culture when it comes to wellness at work
• Small wellness rituals that make a big leadership impact
• Why walking your property at 3 PM might teach you more than you expect
• The importance of asking “Hi, how are you?” — and meaning it
• Tips for translating conference takeaways into action across teams
• How to foster inclusion for those not attending industry events
• Why self-care is leadership, not indulgence

Guest Info:
Kadi Mancuso Rice
Vice President of Leasing & Marketing
Tailwind Group
Website: https://www.tailwind-group.com

Host:
Andrew Bowen
ApartmentJedi.com

In the premiere episode of the Apartment Jedi podcast, Andrew Bowen sits down with Darren Williams, President of Portico Property Management, for a candid conversation about how culture, technology, and human connection intersect in multifamily housing. From aligning incentives around resident retention to tackling AI-driven fears head-on, Darren brings real talk and sharp insights.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why culture matters more than ever in multifamily operations
• How Portico is using ChatGPT and CoPilot to empower site teams
• The difference between customer service and true community-building
• Why leasing offices should evolve into resident service hubs
• How renewals are redefining the meaning of repeat business
• Portico’s playbook for leadership development and scale

Guest Info:
Darren Williams
President, Portico Property Management
Website: https://www.porticopm.com

Host:
Andrew Bowen
ApartmentJedi.com | https://www.apartmentjedi.com

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Portico Property Management
• ApartmentJedi.com