Parks Associates is pleased to highlight Dave Lillis, Chief Executive Officer of DOOR (formerly Latch), as a featured speaker at the 2025 Smart Spaces Conference, taking place September 16-17 in Dallas. The event will bring together multifamily leaders, technology innovators, and service providers to explore how connected solutions are redefining modern living.

Dave Lillis is the CEO of DOOR, a Building Intelligence company unifying access, automation, and building operations into one seamless platform. With a background spanning finance, operations, and enterprise technology, Dave has built a proven track record of scaling businesses in complex and regulated markets. Before joining DOOR, he held leadership roles at Mastercard and Wells Fargo, including serving as CFO of Mastercard’s Prepaid business, which generated over $1 billion in revenue with annual growth above 15 percent. He also spearheaded enterprise-wide Technology Business Management, aligning more than $1.5 billion of technology expenses with products and services to improve transparency, strengthen decision-making, and tie investments directly to business priorities.

At DOOR, Dave is leading the company’s evolution from access to intelligence, pairing connected hardware with SaaS automation to unlock new revenue streams, streamline operations, and elevate the living experience. Recognized for clarity under pressure and cross-functional leadership, he continues to drive scalable, long-term growth. Dave holds an MBA and a BBA in Accounting and Computer Applications Programming from the University of Notre Dame and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

When asked about the most promising technology trend in the multifamily industry, Dave pointed to the growing shift toward connected platforms. “The most promising trend is the shift from isolated tools to connected, cloud-based platforms that serve both residents and operators. For years, properties adopted technology in pieces: a solution for access here, a tool for maintenance there. Each was valuable on its own, but together they created complexity and inefficiency. Now, we are seeing a move toward unification, with systems that bring everything into one place. For residents, this means seamless experiences like mobile access and service requests that simply work. For operators, it means centralized visibility, real-time data, and the ability to scale without adding staff or costs. This shift is setting a new standard for how buildings operate and how value is created for owners and investors.”

Artificial intelligence and automation are also beginning to reshape resident experiences in meaningful ways. Dave explained, “AI and automation are starting to transform building operations in ways that directly benefit residents, often without them realizing it. For residents, the result is a smoother, more reliable experience. Lockouts are prevented before they happen, maintenance requests are handled faster, and services run quietly in the background. A well-managed building fades into the background of daily life, creating trust and satisfaction. For property teams, AI provides better insight and foresight. It helps them identify issues earlier, automate routine tasks, and focus on service rather than manual work. The most immediate impact is in operational efficiency, reducing costs and improving speed while creating a better living experience for residents.”

Despite these advances, scaling smart solutions across multifamily communities remains a challenge. Dave noted, “The greatest challenge to scaling is fragmentation. Many portfolios run separate systems for access, maintenance, communications, and reporting. When those systems do not connect, they create inefficiency, added costs, and a disjointed experience for residents and staff alike. The solution is simplification. Owners and operators need technology that integrates seamlessly with the tools they already use and provides a single, connected view of their portfolio. When systems work together, teams can scale efficiently, reduce friction, and deliver a consistent experience, whether it is one building or one hundred.”

Looking ahead, Dave envisions communities that feel effortless for residents while empowering operators with clarity and control. “The communities of the future will not feel like smart buildings to residents, they will simply feel seamless. Access will be secure and simple, booking services will be seamless, and buildings will adapt to the needs of the people who live and work inside them. For operators, real-time data will provide clarity across entire portfolios, allowing them to anticipate issues, manage proactively, and make decisions with confidence. This future is not about adding more devices or complexity. It is about creating harmony between technology, people, and operations so that buildings run smoothly, residents feel supported, and owners see consistent, scalable value.”

Dave’s insights highlight a central theme of Smart Spaces 2025: the future of multifamily lies in integration, intelligence, and resident-first design. Attendees can look forward to hearing more of his perspective during the conference, alongside other leaders shaping the next generation of connected living.

Join us at Smart Spaces to hear Dave and other visionary leaders discuss the future of connected communities and intelligent living.

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