Pratik Dhebri is a senior enterprise product and digital transformation executive specializing in multifamily platforms, smart building ecosystems, and AI-enabled operating models. He currently leads digital product strategy and AI initiatives for a $30B+ publicly traded multifamily REIT, where his teams have driven substantial operating margin growth through platform modernization, data integration, and intelligent automation. Pratik has held executive leadership roles at global real estate and technology organizations, managing multi-million-dollar digital P&Ls and consolidating complex product portfolios into scalable, customer-centric platforms. His work spans resident experience, building systems integration, IoT enablement, pricing and revenue optimization, and data-driven property operations. With over 20 years of experience aligning product, engineering, and business strategy, Pratik focuses on how smart building technologies and AI can translate into measurable portfolio performance, operational efficiency, and differentiated resident engagement at scale.

Melanie French is a respected expert in multifamily management, strategic planning, property operations on all asset types, human capital, organizational development, financial execution and executive leadership. With over 20 years in executive roles at top firms like Cortland, AIMCO, and DLP Capital, she brings deep industry insight and proven leadership to every endeavor. As RR Living’s first Chief Executive Officer, Melanie oversees all operational functions and is focused on ensuring that each owner’s business plan is successfully achieved. She believes sustainable growth starts with attracting and developing top talent—ensuring over 30,000 residents in RR Living communities feel truly at home. An active member of the Forbes® Council and a 2024 Chief® member, Melanie also serves on the Multifamily Innovation® Council and has been a regular speaker at leading real estate conferences including IMN, MFE, NMHC, NAA and Bisnow®. Before joining RR Living, Melanie was Managing Principal and President at DLP Capital, where she led all real estate operations across 12,000+ units. At Cortland, she served as EVP over property management, growing the management platform from 9,000 to over 50,000 units, overseeing more than $200 million in renovations. Her 13-year tenure at AIMCO saw her rise from RVP to SVP of Learning & Organizational Development, supporting 200,000+ apartment homes nationwide. She holds certifications as an IREM® CPM, SPHR, and DDI® Master Trainer & Facilitator. Melanie is a frequent speaker, panelist, and thought leader in the industry. Her journey began as a leasing consultant, where she discovered her passion for turning apartments into long-term homes. Known for her gritty yet approachable leadership, she’s celebrated for mentoring future leaders and empowering high-performing teams. Outside of work, Melanie enjoys reading, boating, traveling, and time with her grandchildren alongside her husband of over 35 years.

Adam Hepworth, a trailblazer in the smart building industry since 1999, long before the era of smartphones. With visionary foresight, Adam pioneered web interfaces for building management, laying the foundation for today's intelligent infrastructures. Through highs and lows, Adam's resilience has been unwavering. A founding partner of Solexica, Connectrix Citylink & Della Connect, and a distinguished Senior Executive, he boasts a stellar track record in the global automation and smart building sectors. Throughout his illustrious career, Adam has masterfully navigated challenges, transforming them into opportunities and leading businesses to unparalleled success.

As Director of Smart Building Technology at Greystar, I lead the development and implementation of innovative solutions that enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and profitability of multifamily properties. I establish and maintain strong relationships with clients, partners, and vendors to drive the adoption and growth of modern community Wi-Fi and smart building technology solutions across Greystar's portfolio. I am always eager to learn new skills, collaborate with diverse teams, and contribute to Greystar's mission of redefining excellence in apartment living.

Ed Keathley serves as Vice President of Product Strategy at Preiss and IRIS Technologies, where he drives technology strategy and innovation across a national multifamily portfolio. With more than a decade in the industry, he specializes in smart building strategy, connected technologies, and leveraging proptech to enhance operations, asset performance, and resident experience. Ed partners with executive leadership and operational teams to translate emerging technologies into practical, scalable solutions.

At Asset Living, I focus on optimizing operations across a portfolio of 20,000 apartment homes across 7 states, blending strategic initiatives and property management expertise. My tenure in the industry, marked by strategic growth and operational excellence, reflects a steadfast commitment to enhancing asset performance and fostering innovation in multi-family housing. Previously, as Director at Christopher Todd Communities, I played a pivotal role in national expansion, contributing to the pioneering success of the build-to-rent sector. My professional journey is underscored by a dedication to industry education and a drive to influence positive change, illustrated by my active engagement with the Arizona Multihousing Association and the Arizona Department of Real Estate Education Advisory Committee.

Matt Knight is a PropTech investor focused on Seed-stage investments in the US. He is the founder and owner of the largest angel group in the world focused exclusively on technology in real estate - PropTech Angel Group. He is also the Executive Director of the Foundation for Innovation in Real Estate ("FIRE") whose mission is to catalyze high-impact innovation in the world's largest asset class. Matt was formerly a partner at Sway Ventures and Shadow Ventures. Both are venture capital funds focused exclusively on construction and real estate technology. Matt was responsible for capital formation as well as deal sourcing and underwriting. During his venture capital days, he helped build an incubator, an accelerator, and an annual summit. Matt often speaks and writes about emerging trends or false narratives in PropTech via his newsletter - Vertical. Prior to venture capital, Matt had a decade-long career in institutional real estate and was involved in more than $1B of commercial transactions. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Davidson College and lives in Phoenix, AZ.

Dave Lillis is the Chief Executive Officer of DOOR (formerly Latch), a Building Intelligence company redefining how modern properties operate. By unifying access, automation, and building operations into one seamless platform, DOOR helps properties think ahead, reduce complexity, and elevate everyday life. With a background spanning finance, operations, and enterprise technology, Dave brings a proven ability to scale businesses in complex and regulated markets. Before joining DOOR, Dave held leadership roles at Mastercard and Wells Fargo. His experience includes serving as CFO of Mastercard’s Prepaid business, which generated more than $1 billion in revenue with annual growth above 15 percent, as well as implementing Technology Business Management to align more than $1.5 billion of technology expenses with products and services. This enterprise-wide initiative improved transparency, tied technology investments directly to business priorities, and created a structured framework for more effective decision-making. Across these roles, he built a track record of financial discipline, operational efficiency, and successful M&A integration. At DOOR, Dave is leading the company’s evolution from access to intelligence by pairing connected hardware with SaaS automation to unlock new revenue streams, streamline operations, and deliver a seamless living experience. He is recognized for clarity under pressure, aligning teams across functions, and building momentum toward long-term, scalable growth. Dave holds a MBA and a BBA in Accounting and Computer Applications Programming from the University of Notre Dame. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Shahrukh Raheem is passionate about technology's impact on business and society. With extensive experience of leading product innovation, strategy, AI and technology transformation projects across multiple sectors globally, Shahrukh leads the software product management and analytics business functions at Amazon / eero. Shahrukh was also recognized as a Siebel Scholar at MIT and has led SaaS, automation and AI-driven products in his past roles at Cisco, Accenture and Credit Suisse.

Josh Siddon, VP, IT Architecture, MAA - Mid America Apartment Company

Todd Thorpe is the Director of Business Development for Cambium Network’s Multifamily and Student Housing group. As a trusted advisor with over 20 years of industry experience, Todd helps owners and developers assess their opportunities, increase NOI, and maximize ancillary revenue by leveraging Cambium’s One Network solution for property-wide managed Wi-Fi. He’s passionate about technology and its potential to enhance resident satisfaction and enhance property value.

Joesar Watkins is a Digital Resident Engagement Manager at Atria Senior Living, where he leads the delivery of resident-facing technology initiatives across senior living communities. With a background in computer science and business, he specializes in bridging technology, operations, and user experience to improve engagement and service outcomes for residents. His work includes overseeing digital signage, connectivity solutions, device deployments, and vendor partnerships, while collaborating closely with IT leadership on strategy, standards, and continuous improvement. Joesar is passionate about using technology to enhance quality of life and create seamless digital experiences in senior living environments.

James Malone, CRO, DOOR

Jackie Ware, CEO, Pegasus Residential

INDUSTRY EXPERTISE: Consumer electronics, mobility services and devices, connected health and wellness. Kristen Hanich heads Parks Associates' consumer electronics and mobility research, with expertise in other verticals including connected cars, mobile networking, healthcare, wellness, and independent living. She leads a mix of custom and syndicated research projects throughout the year, with a focus on major players and emerging trends. Kristen specializes in bridging the gap between data-driven and narrative approaches to understanding the consumer markets via a mix of qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Kristen has dual master's degrees in applied anthropology and public health from the Universities of North Texas in Denton and Fort Worth. She earned her BSc in health at the University of Texas at San Antonio and has a graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems.

Daniel is responsible for smart home research involving market trend analysis, competitor and positioning assessments, technology evaluations, and forecasts of relevant industry metrics. Daniel is a market research industry veteran with 13 years of experience across multiple research types such as shopper insights, brand equity and brand health tracking, and customer experience. Daniel has also conducted research across multiple sectors such as consumer packaged goods, consumer electronics, specialty retail, and transportation, travel, and hospitality. Daniel has a BA in Sociology from the University of Texas at Arlington, with specializations in Research and Evaluation, Diversity, and Family and Gender Studies.

INDUSTRY EXPERTISE: Connected Health, Connected Home Technologies and Services, Connected Entertainment Products and Services. Jennifer manages the research department and Parks Associates' process for producing high-quality, relevant, and meaningful research. Jennifer also leads and advises on syndicated and custom research projects across all connected consumer verticals and guides questionnaire development for Parks Associates’ extensive consumer analytics survey program. Jennifer is a certified focus group moderator, with training from the Burke Institute. Jennifer earned her PhD in religion, politics, and society and an MA in church-state studies from Baylor University. She earned her BA in politics from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.

Parks Associates mission is to help companies navigate the changing consumer technology landscapes through data-driven market insights, extensive consumer and industry intelligence, and executive conferences. With over two decades of dedication to the company, Elizabeth Parks, President and Chief Marketing Officer, has been instrumental in shaping its growth and success, along with the continued focus of delivering timely and quality industry and consumer insights on the broadband, entertainment, connected home and SMB industries. Elizabeth's commitment to Parks Associates' overarching mission is unwavering. Parks Associates provides clients with the most comprehensive consumer and industry research and analysis to empower businesses to make informed decisions in an ever-evolving landscape. Elizabeth's journey with Parks Associates began after graduating with a BA in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. She lives in Plano Texas with her husband and three children.