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Wesley Deese

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Student Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightSHI.Talks with Courtney Colegrove - SHI 1023🎙️ Episode Summary: In this episode, host Wesley Deese is joined by Student Housing Insight Ambassador Courtney Colegrove from Core Spaces.They discuss Courtney's journey from resident assistant to the corporate side of student housing and the inspiration behind her new content project, "SHI Talks" (a cheeky play on "Shit Talks"). Recorded on-site at LeaseCon / TurnCon 2025, the episode features a series of "man-on-the-street" style interviews. Courtney puts vendors and operators on the spot with rapid-fire questions, revealing candid takes on everything from "last-minute approvals" vs. "last-minute cancellations" to the real villains of property management: construction delays or un...
2026-02-0323 minStudent Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightBehind The Biz - VerbaFlo - SHI 0121🎙️Episode Summary In this episode, recorded live from Lease Con / Turn Con in Charlotte, host Wesley Deese sits down with Dan Smith, co-founder of Verbaflo and host of the Housed podcast. While Dan is a familiar voice in the UK and European student housing sectors, he is making his debut in the US market with Verbaflo, an award-winning conversational AI platform designed specifically for student accommodations. The conversation covers Dan's journey from operations and consultancy to tech entrepreneurship, driven by the need for better communication tools in the industry. Dan and Wes discuss the capabilities of Ve...
2026-01-2333 minStudent Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightThe Student Perspective: What Off-Campus Housing Gets Right (and Wrong) - SHI1020🎙️Episode Summary In this episode, recorded live at the LeaseCon+TurnCon in Charlotte, host Wesley Deese moderates a candid panel with five college students about their off-campus housing experiences. The students share unfiltered feedback on the increasingly early timeline for signing leases—with some securing senior housing as early as their freshman year. The discussion covers the critical role of social media and word-of-mouth in their decision-making, often outweighing traditional marketing or AI tools. The panel also dives into the realities of move-in day, the amenities that actually matter (versus those that just look good on a tour...
2026-01-151h 05Student Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightProfiles in Student Housing - Teddy Abdelmalek - SHI 1019🎧 Episode Summary In this episode, host Wesley Deese sits down with Teddy Abdelmalek from HH Redstone to discuss the current state of student housing operations following the recent Shop Talk Executive Summit and LeaseCon/TurnCon conferences. Teddy shares his unique professional journey, transitioning from a pre-med track and Resident Assistant (RA) role into a career in property management and business development. The conversation explores the critical impact of FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment) on leasing success, specifically highlighting how comfortable mattresses can significantly influence a resident's experience and decision-making. Teddy also outlines HH Redstone's "sec...
2025-12-2741 minStudent Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightServing the Degree-Free Generation: New Models for Student Housing - SHI1013🎧Episode Summary: In this episode, Wesley Deese sits down with Hannah Maruyama, co-founder of Degree Free, to explore how Gen Z and Gen Alpha are redefining higher education. The discussion centers on the growing number of young adults who are choosing alternative paths outside of traditional college—and what that means for student housing, property managers, and the broader industry. Hannah shares insights on the motivations and needs of “degree free” students, how off-campus housing can adapt to serve them, and why operators should rethink lease terms, amenities, and marketing. Together, they examine opportunities for housing providers to suppor...
2025-09-121h 12Student Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightThe Hospitality Effect: Redefining Student Living with Unreasonable Experiences - SHI1012🎧Episode Summary: In this episode of the Student Housing Insight podcast SHI Ambassador and CORE Spaces’ Sr. Mgr of Sales & Stabilization, Sarah Maxson sits down with CORE Spaces’ President, Dan Goldberg, for a discussion exploring the integration of hospitality principles into student housing. Emphasizing user experience (UX), resident engagement, and innovative branding, Sarah and Dan share insights on creating memorable moments, empowering teams, and differentiating properties through thoughtful design and service. The episode also covers Sarah's background in the industry, the SHI Ambassador program, and upcoming industry events.   💡 Sponsor Spotlight: This episode is brought to...
2025-09-041h 28Student Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightSHI Tough Talk with William Butler - SHI1009📄 Episode Summary In this episode of the Student Housing Insight Podcast, host Wesley Deese welcomes John Barr for the fourth installment of the Tough Talks series. John interviews Willie Butler, principal at Empower Property Management Consulting, a seasoned expert in the student housing industry known for his book “Releasing” and his work as a "leasing assassin." The conversation dives into the importance of returning to fundamental leasing practices, the pitfalls of over-relying on technology, and the value of humility in addressing leasing challenges. Willie shares his spicy take on the industry, emphasizing the need to focus on grassro...
2025-07-1035 minStudent Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightSHI Tough Talk with Nick Hill - SHI1008🔍 Summary In this episode of the Student Housing Insight Podcast, hosts Wesley Deese and John Barr welcome Nick Hill, COO of Up Campus, for a candid and insightful conversation as part of the Tough Talks series. With a diverse background in student housing across both U.S. and international markets, Nick shares a unique perspective on development, acquisitions, leadership, and the grit it takes to navigate tough transitions and late deliveries. Listeners will gain a behind-the-scenes look at Nick's career journey, his take on what’s harder—acquisitions or new developments—and how challenges in delivery...
2025-06-2734 minStudent Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightBill Bayless - Profiles in Student Housing - SHI 1004🎙️ Episode Title: Profiles in Student Housing: Bill Bayless of Maslow’s Campus Communities 📋 Episode Summary: In this special episode of the Student Housing Insight Podcast, host Wesley Deese sits down with industry legend Bill Bayless, co-founder and former CEO of American Campus Communities and current CEO and founder of Maslow’s Campus Communities. From his humble beginnings in West Virginia to founding one of the largest student housing companies in the world, Bill shares the pivotal moments, challenges, and philosophies that have defined his career and shaped the industry. This candid, in-depth interview also covers his new vision for Maslow’s Cam...
2025-04-231h 41Student Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightAffordable Housing for Students: The Mission of College Housing Northwest - SHI1003In this episode, co-host Greta Dare sits down with Alex Wallace, Development Manager at College Housing Northwest (CHNW), to explore how the nonprofit has been delivering affordable housing to Portland-area students since 1969. They discuss CHNW’s origins, current initiatives, and how the organization is partnering with schools and government programs to address rising student housing insecurity and homelessness. With innovative redevelopment strategies and a mission-driven approach, CHNW presents a compelling model for expanding access to affordable student housing across the U.S. 🕒 Time Stamps: 00:00:00 – Sponsor Message from Campus Technologies 00:01:00 – Introduction by Wesley Deese 00:03:00 – Why afforda...
2025-04-1837 minStudent Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightBehind The Biz - South Park InteriorsIn this milestone episode of Student Housing Insight, host Wesley Deese sits down with founders and co-owners of SouthPark Interiors, Martha Thomley and Lisa Brooks, to commemorate 20 years of excellence in interior design for the student housing industry. From their humble beginnings to establishing one of the most trusted design firms in the market, this episode is a heartfelt and insightful conversation about entrepreneurship, innovation, and the impact of design on student living communities. Listeners will gain a behind-the-scenes look at how SouthPark Interiors built a reputation for creative, budget-conscious, and impactful design that enhances both branding...
2025-04-0938 minStudent Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightMaking Social Media Relevant - SHI1001In this episode, Wesley Deese and co-host Alexis Krissay dive into the world of social media marketing for student housing. They discuss the importance of creating engaging, two-way conversations online rather than just posting content for the sake of it. The episode covers strategies for making social media content relevant to students, the role of leasing agents as social media ambassadors, and best practices for leveraging automation tools to maintain instant communication with prospects and residents. Alexis shares her insights from working with student housing properties across the country, highlighting common mistakes properties make with their digital...
2025-03-1031 minStudent Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightBehind The Biz - Campus Technologies, Inc.In this episode of the Student Housing Insight podcast, host Wesley Deese sits down with Andrew Marshall and Rob Collins of Campus Technologies, Inc. to discuss the critical role of internet infrastructure in student housing. As expectations for fast, reliable Wi-Fi continue to rise, student housing operators must navigate the challenges of upgrading aging networks, optimizing connectivity, and future-proofing their properties. Andrew and Rob share insights from their decades of experience, tracing the evolution of student housing internet services—from the early struggles with traditional telcos to today’s sophisticated enterprise-grade Wi-Fi solutions. They discuss: The hist...
2025-02-2740 minStudent Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightRecalibrating Your Leasing Team - SHI222In this insightful episode of the Student Housing Insight Podcast, host Wesley Deese and guest Alexis Krisay, founder of Serendipit Consulting, tackle a critical topic: how leasing teams can better engage with prospects. Drawing from experiences that student residents described at the recent LeaseCon+TurnCon event, Wesley and Alexis discuss why strong interpersonal connections are crucial to creating memorable leasing experiences and how the industry can overcome challenges in training staff for relationship-driven sales. Hear real feedback from a student panel about their leasing experiences—some surprising, others disappointing—and gain actionable tips for transforming leasing agents into dynamic, cust...
2025-01-2344 minStudent Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightKick-Off to the '25 Pre-Leasing Season - SHI918In this episode, host Wesley Deese welcomes special co-host Alex Rippy, VP of Leasing and Systems at GMH Communities, to discuss to discuss how the kick-off of the '25 Pre-leasing season is going for the U.S. student housing industry. They also review October's ShopTalk panel on pre-leasing and what the early data is showing.  Topics include market insights on leasing velocity, and rent growth expectations. Rippy shares strategies for optimizing rate achievement in diverse markets, and the impact of fluctuating student enrollment, particularly for commuter-heavy regions. They also discuss the recent FAFSA complications and recent reports around a l...
2024-10-281h 16Student Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightBehind the Biz: How Zego is Innovating Utility Management in Student Housing - SHI917In this special "Behind the Biz" episode of the Student Housing Insight podcast, host Wesley Deese chats with Danny Soule from Zego to explore how the company is bringing innovation to utility management in student housing. From their origins in payment processing to their recent work with American Campus Communities (ACC), Zego has developed a robust platform that helps operators reduce utility costs and improve efficiency. Learn how Zego’s utility management services streamline the move-in/move-out process, enhance ESG reporting, and ensure no money is left on the table. Plus, discover why their competitive pricing could boost your NO...
2024-10-2328 minStudent Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightWhat Does The Future Hold - SHI 719Enrollment declines, artificial intelligence, political migration, leadership, and consolidation are likely the biggest factors impacting the student housing industry's future.  Yet, no one is really talking about it outside of their own company.  While attending the Interface Student Housing Conference in Austin TX a couple of weeks ago, SHI's CEO, Wesley Deese, took the opportunity to sit down with 5 executives from many of the industry's top management firms to get their perspectives on what the future holds for the industry and student housing operations.  This episode includes the recording of that conversation with industry leaders, Dan Shoupe, Jenn Cassidy, Jes...
2023-04-211h 02Student Housing Insight
Student Housing InsightHeather Sizemore - Profiles in Student Housing - SHI704In this episode Wesley Deese sits down with Heather Sizemore, SVP of Operations at RPM Student Living, to discuss her student housing journey and advice she has for others looking to grow in the industry.  They also discuss the evolution of student housing prop tech and the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone.  Wes also gives a shout out to some other student housing podcasts and reminds everyone about the upcoming LeaseCon/TurnCon event happening December 6th - 7th in Charlotte, NC. This episode is sponsored by Qira.  For more information on their tailored student hou...
2022-11-0552 minStudent Housing Insight
Student Housing Insight”From The Top” Perspectives From The Industry‘s Top CEO‘s - SHI 608In this episode, Wes sits down with 3 of the top CEO's in the US student housing industry to discuss their perspectives on the future of student housing, career growth opportunities, the evolution of leasing, and frustrations with prop tech.  The power panel line-up of Alex O'Brien of Cardinal Group, Donna Priess of The Preiss Co., and Loren King of Trinitas provide incredible insight and optimism in this live recording that took place at the Interface Student Housing Conference in Austin, TX back in July. This episode is sponsored by Vector Travel.  For more information about how Vector Tr...
2021-09-301h 16