Leadership

Mr. McKinney is a principal of McKinney Properties, a significant stakeholder in each of the organization’s various real estate investments and a principal in each of the various entities that control the company’s real estate holdings. In addition to his ownership responsibilities, Mr. McKinney is a member of the Investment Committee and is primarily responsible for investor relations and fund raising.

 He joined McKinney in 1987, initially working in commercial real estate, where he gained extensive experience in project management, construction, commercial leasing, property management, and finance. Since that time, Mr. McKinney has worked in the property management, investment, and finance areas of the business. Mr. McKinney holds a B.S. degree in Industrial Management from Georgia Institute of Technology

 

 

Mr. McKinney is a principal of McKinney Properties, a significant stakeholder in each of the organization’s various real estate investments and a principal in each of the various entities that control the company’s real estate holdings. In addition to his ownership responsibilities, Mr. McKinney is a member of the Investment Committee, and is extensively involved in operations, all organizational asset management decision-making, and real estate investment activity.

He joined McKinney in 1985, first working in residential property management. Since then, Mr. McKinney has worked within all facets of McKinney’s operations and has developed considerable expertise in apartment and commercial property management, commercial leasing, construction, finance, and acquisitions. Mr. McKinney graduated Cum Laude from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Business Administration and he holds a Pennsylvania Real Estate Salespersons license.

Mr. Werstil is a principal of McKinney Properties, a significant stakeholder in the organization’s various real estate investments and a principal in the various entities that control the company’s real estate holdings. In addition to his ownership responsibilities, Mr. Werstil is a member of the Investment Committee and is responsible for development, real estate investments, joint venture relationships, and asset management functions including dispositions and budgeting.

Prior to his work in real estate investments, Mr. Werstil spent time at McKinney in residential property management where he was involved in the day-to-day management of multifamily housing. Prior to joining McKinney in 2005, Mr. Werstil was an associate in the Project Finance Group in the New York offices of Chadbourne & Parke, LLP, where he represented numerous Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Werstil graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in Hospitality Management from Florida International University and received his Juris Doctorate Degree from The George Washington University Law School.

Mr. Degnan has a diverse background as a real estate private equity executive, lawyer and strategic advisor. He is a member of the Investment Committee, and is responsible for sourcing, underwriting, due diligence, financing and closing of real estate acquisitions and development opportunities. Prior to joining the McKinney team, Brian was the founder of Monomoit Equities/Monomoit Advisors, a private investment vehicle and consultancy, where he focused on principal investing in commercial real estate and advised CEO’s and development teams on residential projects. He was previously a Vice President, Associate General Counsel and member of the Operating Committee with The Trump Group, a large single family office based in Miami and New York City, where he held leadership roles in approximately $2.5 billion of complex acquisitions and hi-rise development projects. Brian grew up in New England and began his career as an Associate in the Real Estate group at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, an international law firm, where he represented institutional investment advisors, private equity funds and developers in the acquisition, disposition, financing and leasing of more than $600 million in commercial real estate assets nationwide as well as numerous development projects in Florida.

Mr. Degnan is a LEED AP, and a licensed real estate broker in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. Mr. Degnan holds a S.B. in Management Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Florida, and a M.B.A. in Finance from Columbia Business School, where he studied value investing at its birthplace.

Active in the real estate industry since 1999; Employed by McKinney Properties since 2002.

 Mr. Kempton is responsible for oversight of the organization’s residential property management operations.  Mr. Kempton works with both internal regional managers and external third-party managers to direct the management, marketing and leasing of our entire portfolio and the properties we manage on a third-party basis.  He has extensive experience in operations, capital improvements, property take-over, and all of the strategies we employ to grow revenue and enhance value.  Mr. Kempton has prior construction experience and started in a Facilities Management role with McKinney Properties. His experience includes: construction, renovation, capital improvements, marketing, leasing, budgeting and third-party management oversight.  In addition, he has past experience in asset management of commercial retail as well.  Mr. Kempton is a Certified Property Manager (CPM), a member of The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors, the Apartment Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh and is currently the President of the local Chapter of the Institute of Real Estate Management. Mr. Kempton is the Broker of Record at McKinney Properties.  Mr. Kempton has a B.S. in Business Management and Economics from West Virginia Wesleyan College.

 

As Controller, Mr. Roth, a C.P.A., manages all aspects of accounting, tax and financial reporting of the Real Estate Operations.  Mr. Roth oversees the company’s property related cash management function, accounting systems, and internal control procedures and manages the accounting department at McKinney Properties. 

Mr. Roth is also responsible for financial reporting.  Prior to joining McKinney Properties, he had seven years of experience as an Audit and Assurance Manager with Alpern Rosenthal, certified public accountants and holds a B.S. degree in Accounting from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Steckel has a diverse professional background as a business, IT, and real estate consultant. He is a Director of the Acquisitions and Development team and is responsible for underwriting, due diligence, financing and closing of real estate acquisitions and development projects.  He started his career working in business consulting with IBM in Washington DC. He led teams on both commercial and public sector projects around the country. His focus was advising clients on transformational projects through the implementation of enterprise level software and reporting packages. Additionally, Adam worked with Fortune 500 companies on optimizing their financial operations through business process designs.

Mr. Steckel enrolled at Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz School of Public Policy where he focused on real estate and development. He interned at Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), where he concentrated on using data analytics to understand recent land use patterns within the city. Also, he worked with real estate developers throughout the city on using different public financing methods to fund their projects.

Upon graduation, Adam worked as an Analyst at RKG Associates, a leading real estate development and economics consulting firm in Washington DC. Adam focused his time at RKG with helping clients through pro forma analysis, development impact models, and market studies.

Mr. Steckel is a graduate of Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Smeal School of Business. He is also a member of the Urban Land Institute.

Active in Property Management since 2018; Employed by McKinney Properties since June 2021.

Mandy is responsible for the day-to-day marketing and creative efforts for McKinney’s entire conventional and student portfolio. In addition, Mandy provides on-site leasing assistance when needed. Prior to joining McKinney’s corporate team, Mandy was a Sales and Marketing Associate for Glasshouse, a Bozzuto managed community.

Mandy studied at Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she completed a Bachelors of Science in Journalism. Mandy has 8 years of Real Estate experience and obtained her Pennsylvania Real Estate License in 2018.

She has a passion for all things real estate as well as keeping up with the current social media marketing trends. 

 

Rachael is responsible for the leasing and marketing for McKinney Properties. She assists in lead management on various sites, design and social media as well as coordinating with the Marketing Director. While attending Penn State, Rachael worked as a Community Assistant at the Merdian on College Avenue.  Prior to her role as Marketing and Leasing Associate, Rachael worked as a Marketing Specialist for FNB Corporation. 

Rachael studied at the Pennsylvania State University and received a bachelor’s degree in marketing. 

Active in Real Estate Industry since 1998; Employed by McKinney Properties since 1998.

Mr. Gamble is responsible for project management and facility operations, including capital, non-capital and restoration projects, planning and estimating, material selection and specification, contractor qualification, service contract management, government compliance, as well as building utility, automation and mechanical system management.  Mr. Gamble directs the internal Construction Management workforce as well as numerous subcontractors.

Mr. Gamble holds a degree in Civil Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and is a Facility Management Professional with the International Facility Management Association.

Mr. Gillespie is responsible for construction management and engineering, with a primary emphasis on construction and major capital improvement activity.  Mr. Gillespie directs the construction management operations through a team of facility managers, regional managers, contractors, and third-party consultants.

In addition, Mr. Gillespie is the primary contract officer, with responsibility for contractor, sub-contractor and vendor selection, scope development, negotiation and ultimate completion and closeout of each project. He is a Licensed General Contractor and is an active member of several professional and civic organizations. Mr. Gillespie previously worked for such companies as Centex Corporation and McDevitt-Street Company (now Bovis Lend Lease), where he was involved in the construction of approximately $400M of assets in multiple property types, including apartments, retail, office, parking garages and large-scale government facilities. 

He holds an Architectural Engineering and Construction Management Degree from The Pennsylvania State University. He continues to serve The Pennsylvania State University as a consultant and as a judge for the Architectural Engineering Thesis Presentations.

Active in Real Estate Industry since 2005; Employed by McKinney Properties since 2005.

Ms. Gricks is responsible for overseeing the financial operations of special projects as well as the human resources and payroll of the company. With 35 years of financial experience in the construction, property management, manufacturing, family office and restaurant industries, Helen brings a wide variety of skills to her role with McKinney Properties.

Ms. Gricks, a Certified Management Accountant, holds a B. A. in Accounting from Washington & Jefferson College and an M. B. A. from Duquesne University.

Active in Real Estate Industry since 2000; Employed by McKinney Properties since 2000.

 Ms. Hordubay is part of a team of Administrative Assistants in the corporate office providing administrative support to ensure efficient operation of the office.  Her responsibilities include assisting the Principals of the firm and other top-level executives with correspondence, travel, and numerous special projects.  She also works closely with the Construction Management Department and the Investment team to handle contract processing, planning, scheduling, invoice processing and other related activities including the planning of most office related events. 

 Ms. Hordubay is a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Notaries. 

 

Active in Real Estate Industry since 2004; Employed by McKinney Properties since 2011.

Mr. Kushon is responsible for the general management & administration of the IT & IS infrastructure (network, system administration, Office 365, Entrata, third-party IT support vendors) and Desktop/End User Support for the organization, including all remote locations.  Also, to collaborate on technology and business strategy with appropriate company groups and through research, develop and implement systems, policies, and best practices, to ensure stability and efficiency throughout the organization while supporting & meeting company objectives.  Previously with McKinney, Mr. Kushon served as a Regional Manager overseeing a dynamic portfolio including student, conventional & mixed-use properties across multiple states with variable financing terms, including conventional, HUD historic tax credit, HUD conventional financing.

Mr. Kushon is a CPM Candidate, a Certified Apartment Manager, a licensed Pennsylvania Realtor, a member of the Institute of Real Estate Management, and a member of the National Apartment Association.  Prior to McKinney Properties, Mr. Kushon worked for Equity Residential, Roseland Properties, and Kettler.  Mr. Kushon has an M.S. in Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management with an emphasis in Residential Property Management & Housing from Virginia Tech along with a B.A. in History, also from Virginia Tech.

Active in Social Services since 2006; Employed by McKinney Properties since 2021.
 

Ms. Lanz comes to us as an experienced Customer Service Representative/Case Manager within the Department of Labor and Industry Career Services. She has a history of working within various social service agencies, providing a knowledge of resources and services to the multiple communities.

Ms. Lanz is part of a team of Administrative Assistants in the corporate office providing administrative support to ensure efficient operation of the office. Her responsibilities include assisting the VP and other top-level executives within internal reports, correspondence and numerous special projects. She also works directly with the property management group on leasing processing, budgets, credit card coding, resident relations, and other related tasks. She also develops and manages training courses implemented for employees.

Alana has been employed by McKinney Properties Inc. since 2022.

Alana is involved in a wide variety financial tasks and accounting controls. She is responsible for preparing property financial statements, performing tax work, reporting compliance, assisting with audits, and cash management. Alana is responsible for cash distributions and monthly reconciliations as well as many other accounting tasks.  Prior to joining McKinney Properties, Alana worked as an accountant in the industrial equipment industry.

Alana holds a B.S. in Forensic Accounting and an MBA from Waynesburg University. 

Mr. McKinney oversees the management of conventional apartment communities in Pittsburgh and provides support to the property management team through internal business process improvement projects.

 He joined McKinney Properties in 2023 after beginning his career as a business and technology consultant for Accenture in Washington, DC, where he specialized in data analytics and supported federal government clients in the implementation and design of financial audit systems, as well as enterprise data architecture, strategy, and governance.  

Mr. McKinney is a licensed Pennsylvania Realtor and holds a B.S. degree in Systems and Information Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Active in Real Estate Industry since 1999; Employed by McKinney Properties since 2000.

Mrs. Morgan-Faulds is responsible for processing all payables, assisting with utility management, and maintaining the company’s vendor payment workflow. Prior to role in accounts payable, she provided support to several departments including the accounting and property management teams. 

Active in Property Management since 2011; Employed by McKinney Properties since 2024.

Mr. Oberkofler is responsible for the management and oversight of many student and conventional properties located in Pittsburgh and State College. With over 10 years of property management experience, Mr. Oberkofler has held previous Property Manager positions with McKinney Properties. Prior to re-joining Mckinney, he worked for Sampson Morris Group as a Senior Property Manager in charge of the management and oversight of 4 conventional properties.

Mr. Oberkofler has his ARM certification, is a member of the Institute of Real Estate Management and is a licensed Real Estate Associate Broker in Pennsylvania. Mr. Oberkofler received his B.A. in Communications from Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Active in Human Resources since 2008; Employed by McKinney Properties since 2019.

Ms. Persun brings more than 10 years of diverse human resources and payroll experience to our team. Her areas of expertise include employee relations, HR compliance, benefits administration, and personnel file management. Patricia began her career as an HR/Payroll Manager at McCutcheon Enterprises, Inc. She then moved on to join The Ellis School prior to joining the McKinney Properties family.

Ms. Persun earned an Associate Degree in Specialized Business from Newport Business Institute (Formerly New Kensington Commercial School).

Ms. Rowland is responsible for the management of conventional and student housing communities in Pittsburgh and Morgantown. With over 10 years of property management experience, she began her property management career as a Leasing Consultant for North Street Properties.

Ms. Rowland joined McKinney Properties in 2012 as Property Manager for Washington Gardens Apartments. She holds a Pennsylvania Real Estate License and National Apartment Association Certified Apartment Manager designation.  

Active in Real Estate Industry since 1981; Employed by McKinney Properties since 1981

Ms. Scaramouche is part of the Accounting Team in the corporate office.  Her responsibilities include accounting tasks for several Pittsburgh properties including processing rental payments and the monthly closings. She also handles the property tax payments and cash distribution for several properties.

Active in the Real Estate Industry since 2017, employed by McKinney Properties since 2024.

Mr. Smith oversees Facilities Management at McKinney Properties, collaborating closely with the Vice President of Construction on project management and facility operations. His responsibilities encompass capital and non-capital projects, restoration efforts, planning and estimating, material selection and specification, contractor qualification, service contract management, government compliance, and the supervision of building utility, automation, and mechanical systems.

Mr. Smith holds a degree in Pastoral Ministries with a Music minor from Lancaster Bible College, along with various trade certifications such as an EPA 608 Universal and CPO, among others.

Active in Real Estate Industry since 1999; Employed by McKinney Properties since 1999

 Ms. Sparano is part of the team of Administrative Assistants in the corporate office providing administrative support to ensure efficient operation of the office. Her responsibilities include assisting the Accounting Department with tax filings, loan compliance, and risk management.  She also works closely with the Investment team and the Investor Relations Department to produce all investor correspondence, tax documents and offering materials.  In addition, Ms. Sparano handles all administrative functions for the McKinney Family Office.

 Ms. Sparano is a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Notaries. 

Active in Real Estate Industry since 2014; Employed by McKinney Properties since 2014.

 Mr. Tekely is involved in a wide variety financial tasks and accounting controls.  He is responsible for preparing property financial statements, performing tax work, reporting compliance, assisting with audits, and cash management. Mr. Tekely also helps maintain the company’s various accounting systems and he participates in numerous companywide accounting projects.  Prior to joining McKinney Properties, Tim worked as an accountant at BNY Mellon. 

Tim holds a B.S. in Accounting from Penn State University and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.

 

Ms. Wood is responsible for oversight of conventional and student housing on-site operations in multiple Pittsburgh and Texas locations. Prior to joining McKinney, Ms. Wood worked for Lincoln Property Company as a Regional Property Manager in charge of oversight of stabilized properties, as well as the lease up of several Class A properties throughout the Pittsburgh area.

Ms. Wood sits on the Board of Directors for the Apartment Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh. She is also a licensed Real Estate Salesperson in Pennsylvania. Ms. Wood received her B.A. in Communications from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA.