Leadership Team
Meet our team of
experienced leaders
Mike Peter
President and CEO
Alma Mater:
University of Wisconsin
My hometown:
Rochester, MN
Favorite Travel Destination:
Australia
Favorite Family Tradition:
Fishing in Alaska
About mike:
Mike is the founder of Campus Advantage and serves as its President and CEO. He is responsible for all strategic planning and financial operations. Mike initiates new and maintains existing relationships with colleges, universities, private owners, and allied business partners. Mike began his career in student housing in the mid-1980s rising from Resident Assistant to Resident Director and, quickly, to Manager for Allen & O’Hara in Wisconsin and California. Mike then served in the U.S. Peace Corps in the West Indies before returning to earn a Law Degree at top ranked University of Minnesota. He returned to student housing full-time in 1997 as the Director of On-Campus Business Development for American Campus Communities. Mike was a National Communications Coordinator (NCC) for the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH), and is an active professional member of the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I), National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), and the National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS). Mike has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Minnesota.
Beth Pinder
Chief Operating Officer
My hometown:
Richmond, Virginia
Favorite CA core value:
Passion. If you are passionate about your job, it never feels like work.
Favorite family tradition:
Family champagne toast on Christmas Eve at midnight
My go-to karaoke song:
“Love Shack” by The B-52s
About beth:
Beth Pinder joined Campus Advantage as Chief Operating Officer in 2021. As COO, Beth leads the Management Services division and oversees the operations of the company’s portfolios. Beth came to us from CA Ventures where she served as COO of CA Management Services. In that role, Beth oversaw the development of a vertically integrated PM platform (CA Management Services). She has successfully built teams and launched offices in South America and Europe, and provided leasing and operations oversight to a portfolio consisting of 23,945 beds in the U.S., South America, and Europe. In addition, she guided objectives from initial planning to delivery of 13,980 beds to ensure all aspects of the projects met operational guidelines. Beth has more than 20 years of experience in real estate and has a passion and expertise in sales, marketing, training, revenue management, new development, turnover processes, stabilization, and on-site operations.
Scott Barton
Chief Investment Officer
About scott:
Scott joined Campus Advantage in September 2021 and leads the Investments division, which oversees all acquisition, development, asset management, and capital efforts. Scott brings more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate with a specific focus in the student housing, hotel, land, and retail sectors. Scott recently served as Senior Vice President for EdR, where he was responsible for all acquisitions, dispositions, and off-campus development activities for a $4.6 billion publicly traded student housing REIT. Following EdR’s corporate merger with Greystar, he was responsible for coordinating the process of growing the portfolio of student housing assets through domestic acquisitions at Greystar Real Estate Partners. Scott has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Washington University and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from Texas A&M.
Dan Oltersdorf
Chief People Officer
Alma mater:
Colorado State and Florida State
Proudest moment:
One of my proudest moments was earning my undergraduate degree as a first-generation college student.
Favorite CA core value:
Intelligence, because for us, this value is all about innovation, which is central to success in this industry — and innovating is fun!
My first job:
Remodeling houses while in high school.
About dan:
As Chief People Officer, Dan oversees the People & Culture division which encompasses Learning & Development, Human Resources, and The Experience Department, all of which drive the holistic “people experience” at Campus Advantage. Dan is responsible for developing policies as well as directing and coordinating human resources activities such as employment, compensation, labor relations, benefits, training, and employee services. In addition, he oversees the development of the company’s highly regarded Students First® residence life program, resources, and training. Dan has worked in the student housing industry since 1998. He has become a thought leader in the industry through his speaking engagements and development of print and online resources for both on- and off-campus housing markets. Dan received a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, Adolescent Development from Colorado State University and a Master of Science in Higher Education with a minor in Group Training and Development from Florida State University.
Clark Hoffman
Chief Financial Officer
My hometown:
Corpus Christi, Texas
Passionate about:
Sailing
Favorite travel destination:
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
On weekends, you can find me:
Watching college sports
About clark:
Clark Hoffman serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Campus Advantage. Clark’s experience includes companies engaged in construction, manufacturing, technology services, wholesale distribution, and retail sales. He specializes in building financial and operational capacity through effective planning, sound strategy, combined with effective implementation. His previous career includes leadership positions for Adjacent Technologies, Austin Ribbon & Computer Supplies, Architectural Granite & Marble, Cold Spring Granite Company, Centex Corporation, and Mobil Chemical Company. Clark holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.
Theresa Sopata
Vice President of Business Development and Client Relations
My hometown:
Chicago, IL
Causes I support:
American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House, Harbin SHS Animal Rescue
On my bucket list:
I have 30 items on my current bucket list, but the item that fills the first spot is a hike to the base camp of Mt. Everest
Best meal I’ve ever had:
My Oma’s homemade kluski filled with apple cinnamon
About theresa:
Theresa Sopata joined the company in January 2021 and maintains management oversight and identification of all new business opportunities. She is also responsible for establishing and nurturing client and investor relationships. She has nearly 15 years of successful property management and business development experience that includes student housing, multifamily, commercial, and new developments. Prior to joining Campus Advantage, Theresa served as Director of Client Services at Greystar where she was responsible for facilitating key communication with clients to drive portfolio growth, assisting clients with their strategies for asset renovation, consulting on lease-up assets, tracking changing market conditions, and tracking new management technologies. Theresa received a bachelor’s degree in individual and family studies from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She is currently a CPM candidate with the Institute of Real Estate Management.
Christy McFerren
Managing Director, Catalyst
A cause I support:
Serving foster kids and the homeless
Favorite travel destination:
Greek Isles
Favorite sports team:
Mercedes-AMG Formula 1
My personal (family) motto:
Labora est Ora; “to work is to pray”
About christy:
Christy is the Managing Director of Catalyst, where she brings more than 20 years of experience as a marketing strategist, digitally first thinker, people leader, and problem solver. Before Catalyst, Christy began an independent creative career that allowed her the opportunity to work in a variety of industries, from e-commerce to publishing. She joined Catalyst in 2014 where she served in a variety of roles from Creative Director to Director of Operations, helping to drive individual potential and meaningful business results for partners across a spectrum of real estate verticals — student, multifamily, and senior living. Christy assumed leadership of Catalyst in 2019 and currently guides our team of marketing professionals on a mission to add value to people’s lives. She has worked with the team to create The Gold Standard, a code of ethics that establishes a culture of thriving relationships, excellence in strategy, powerful creative, and the transparent and punctual delivery of high-performing marketing results. Through her passion for leadership, Christy strives to inspire others to their own greatness and motivate her team to realize their potential. Outside the office, she is happiest spending time with Dan, her husband of 10 years; their foster family; and their two dogs, Ruby and Daisy. Outside of work, you can usually find her at the movies or in the water. Christy attended the Art Institute of Dallas and also holds an MBA in Finance and Economics from Regent University.
Aaron Wells
Vice President of Finance
Passionate about:
I am passionate about my children. I have hobbies outside of work, but they are my main focus when not at Campus Advantage.
Favorite CA core value:
Passion. Everyone I work with at Campus Advantage cares about the success of the students we serve, and providing them with housing during their collegiate journey, which results in caring about the success of the overall organization.
Favorite sports team:
New Orleans Saints
On weekends, you can find me:
Either spending time with family, on the lake, or both.
About aaron:
Aaron Wells joined Campus Advantage as Vice President, Finance in April 2021. He currently oversees the management of the company’s finance, accounting, budgeting, planning, tax, and billing. Prior to joining Campus Advantage, Aaron served as CFO at ONIT Home Services and VP, Finance at Protect America. He has over 13 years of accounting, finance, and leadership experience in the home service and hospitality industries. He received a bachelor’s degree in hospitality administration from Lamar University and is currently working toward an MBA and MS in finance at Indiana University, Kelley School of Business. Aaron is a licensed CPA in Texas.
Michael Hanley
Senior Vice President of Facilities and Development Services
Alma mater:
Old Dominion University
Favorite CA core value:
Integrity
Favorite travel destination:
Italy
My personal motto:
Carpe diem
About michael:
Michael provides senior-level oversight of all CapEx, FF&E, and maintenance programs. He works closely with operations to ensure that Campus Advantage standards are in place when managing large CapEx projects. He also provides consulting on new development projects during the planning and design phase. Michael began his career in student housing in 1988 at Old Dominion University as a housing officer after serving in various roles, including Resident Assistant and Director. In 1997, he joined American Campus Communities and helped establish new operating policies and procedures as a Regional Manager and General Manager. He was intimately involved in designing and opening University Village at Texas A&M International, as well as a full-service residence hall at Texas A&M University in College Station. Throughout his career, he has a remarkable record of rescuing troubled and failing properties through improved operations and attention to detail. Michael is a U.S. Navy veteran, holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Old Dominion University, and has participated in the Association of College and University Housing Officers (ACUHO) organization. He is trained in Compliance Bridge and Timberline management systems and has specialized training in low voltage and information technology issues. He has been involved in the design of more than 25 student housing communities.
Lindsay Brown
Senior Vice President of Leasing
Alma mater:
University of Florida
Passionate about:
Leasing, dogs, and plants
Favorite CA core value:
Passion with a dash of Intelligence
My go-to karaoke song:
“Shoop” by Salt-N-Pepa
About lindsay:
Lindsay Brown joined Campus Advantage in 2017 as Vice President of Leasing & Marketing, where she oversees the Leasing Department as well as all leasing and marketing activity across the Campus Advantage property portfolio. She brings more than 19 years of marketing and leasing experience in the student housing industry. Prior to joining Campus Advantage, Lindsay served as Director of Marketing at Asset Campus Housing, where she was responsible for a team that helped create and implement marketing initiatives for more than 200 properties and more than 112,000 beds across the United States. Her experience includes large-scale implementation of marketing campaigns across a portfolio of properties; developing training in customer service, reputation management, sales skills, and resident retention; and implementing guerrilla and digital marketing solutions to increase traffic to communities. Lindsay received a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Florida.
Anna Flores
Senior Vice President of Operations
My hometown:
Humboldt, Kansas
Favorite family tradition:
Playing music bingo at holiday get-togethers
My first job:
Working as a waitress at age 14 and the same Mexican restaurant that my dad did when he was a teenager!
On weekends, you can find me:
Spending time with my husband, Reuben, and our two Westies, Mister and Odie
About anna:
Anna Flores joined Campus Advantage as Senior Regional Manager in 2017. Anna has proven to be an outstanding leader and was promoted to Regional Vice President in September 2018, Vice President of Operations in May 2019, and Senior Vice President of Operations in December 2020. Anna oversees a portfolio of third-party relationships and works alongside other Vice Presidents of Operations to ensure excellence at our properties. Anna has over 18 years of experience in the student housing industry and attended Pittsburg State University.
Pam West
Senior Vice President of Operations
Passionate about:
Being a good leader and making sure my teams are supported
Favorite sports team:
The Pittsburgh Steelers
Favorite travel destination:
Anywhere in the Caribbean
On weekends, you can find me:
At a farmers market or craft show with my daughter
About pam:
Pam West joined Campus Advantage as Vice President of Operations, where she oversees the companies third-party management portfolio. Pam’s career in student housing began shortly after receiving her degree from TSTC in Waco, Texas, where she worked with Dinerstein Companies for over 15 years. Pam comes to Campus Advantage from Peak Campus, where she served as Regional Manager for many years.
Carlos Gonzalez
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF ASSET MANAGEMENT
ALMA MATER:
University of Texas at Austin
MY HOMETOWN:
San Antonio, Texas
PASSIONATE ABOUT:
Going to see live music
FAVORITE CA CORE VALUE:
Intelligence
About carlos:
Carlos joined Campus Advantage in October 2021 as Senior VP of Asset Management where he is responsible for the overall economic performance of the portfolio and works in partnership with property operations to maximize value by setting the strategy for each asset and overseeing revenue management, physical conditions, and ongoing capital projects. He has over 16 years of experience in commercial real estate with proven success in the acquisition, disposition, and asset management of institutional real estate. Carlos has led teams executing asset management strategies at several student housing companies including American Campus Communities and The Cardinal Group. He received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Business at the University of Texas at Austin, and Master of Business Administration in Real Estate and Finance at American University -- Kogod School of Business.
Katy Smerko
Vice President of Operations
My hometown:
Roscoe, IL
A cause I support:
The Special Olympics
Favorite sports team:
Chicago Cubs
On weekends, you can find me:
Watching my kiddos do what they love. Seeing them thrive is my happy place!
About katy:
Katy serves as Vice President of Operations for Campus Advantage, overseeing all aspects of her portfolio, including leasing and overall financial performance, as well as client relations. She has nearly a decade of industry experience in increasingly senior roles. Previously, she served as a National Director of Leasing and Marketing, overseeing a portfolio of communities. In addition, she directed the marketing and branding efforts of initial operations, rebranded properties, and provided corporate-level leasing and marketing support. Prior to joining Campus Advantage, Katy served as a Regional Supervisor and held multiple property management positions for the Dinerstein Management Company. She attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Raka Sandell
Vice President of Project Management
Alma mater:
University of Texas at Austin
My hometown:
New Delhi, India
Favorite CA core value:
MOJO
On my bucket list:
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
About raka:
Raka Sandell joined Campus Advantage in 2014. She brings over 20 years of experience in process improvement and operational optimization across industries spanning semiconductors, computers, and information technology. As the Vice President of Project Management, Raka brings her diverse set of experiences to help structure and successfully execute projects across the company and spanning their entire lifecycle. Previously, Raka was responsible for managing and executing significant projects at companies such as Motorola Corporate Offices, AMD, Dell, and Northrop Grumman. Raka is a Project Management Institute (PMI) certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She has an MS in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from the University of Texas, Austin and a BS in Electrical Engineering. Raka is also a trained yoga instructor and active supporter of several local organizations engaged in child development and STEM education related projects in underserved communities.
Lori Moran
Vice President of Management Systems
Alma mater:
University of South Florida
Favorite CA core value:
MOJO
Favorite sports team:
Tampa Bay Lightning – Go bolts!
On weekends, you can find me:
In the water!
About lori:
Lori Moran joined the company in 2013 and has held various positions in the organization at the property level and the corporate level, most recently serving as the Director of Management Systems. She was promoted to Vice President, Management Systems in October 2020 and currently oversees the RealPage products, software implementation, training, as well as the transition of all assets into the Campus Advantage portfolio. Lori has over 10 years of experience in the student housing industry and received a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of South Florida.
Katie Zarzana
Senior Executive Assistant
Alma mater:
California State University, Long Beach
Favorite CA core value:
Intelligence
On weekends, you can find me:
Running trails
Favorite travel destination:
Slovenia
About katie:
Katie joined Campus Advantage in 2016 and has over 25 years of experience in executive-level support and office management in both corporate and legal environments. Katie is the go-to resource for the executive management team and plays a key role in moving projects forward, managing corporate communications, and reinforcing the company’s culture. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from California State University, Long Beach.
Alexandra Hildebrandt
Vice President of Information Services
Alma Mater:
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Hometown:
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Favorite CA CORE Value:
Intelligence
On my bucket list:
Scuba diving the Half Moon Caye Wall in Belize
About alexandra:
Alexandra (Alex) Hildebrandt joined Campus Advantage in 2007 as an Accounting Manager. Over the years, she specialized in the transition and setup of all properties that joined the company’s management portfolio and creating the properties’ budgeting tool. During her tenure with the Accounting group, she was promoted to Senior Financial Systems Manager and Director of Financial Systems. In 2016, Alex began to address the growing organizational need for quality, reliable, and centralized information. In 2019, she completed her Master of Science in Accounting and Information Technology from Texas State University and transitioned into a newly-established group as Director of Information Services (IS). After 2019, she and the IS team successfully centralized the budgeting and leasing reporting processes to a cloud-based environment. She was promoted to Vice President of Information Services in September 2021 and currently, in addition to the administration of the financial reporting systems, oversees the company’s data and management reporting tools. In addition to the 15 years within the student housing industry, Alex has 10 years of financial and operational experience in Public Accounting, Aerospace and Defense, Construction, and Chemical Manufacturing. She also has a bachelor's degree in Accounting from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and is bilingual (Spanish).