How the MIND Program is Turning Mentees into Industry Leaders
BY DESIREE ROMERO & JENNY JORGENSEN
INCLUSION & DIVERSITY
The MIND( Mentoring Into New Dimensions) Program, an initiative of AAMD ' s Inclusion & Diversity Committee, continues to meet the moment with its quarterly panels, each one intentionally centered around what our mentees are navigating in real time.
For our first meeting of 2026, that meant addressing all the new construction. To tackle this topic, we were fortunate to have an incredible panel featuring Marcella Eppsteiner, April Andrews, Brian Sanchez, and Anissa Faus, who shared honest insights and practical strategies with a highly engaged group of leasing professionals, assistant managers, property managers, and maintenance associates.
One message came through loud and clear: in a tough market, you’ re not just selling an apartment, you’ re selling an experience( see article on page 28).
What made the session especially impactful, and what continues to make MIND so unique, was what happened beyond the panel itself.
From early networking conversations to post-session breakouts, mentees compared notes and talked through how they could bring these ideas back to their communities. There’ s something powerful about watching that shift from listening to applying happen in real time. The strength of the panelists, paired with the curiosity and drive of our participants, is exactly what makes this program work.
We’ ve honestly lost count of how many promotions have come out of the MIND program, but the stories speak for themselves. Leasing agents have grown into community managers. Assistant managers have stepped into multisite manager roles. Community managers have been promoted to regional managers. These are not small steps, they are career-defining leaps, and fueled by mentorship, accountability, and belief. Jenny Jorgenson, head of the MIND Program, says“ The mentor-mentee relationship is the cornerstone."
Beyond the one-on-one relationships, MIND creates an entire community of support. Our mentees don’ t just gain a mentor, they gain a network. They lean on one another, share advice, problem-solve together, and celebrate wins. Time is intentionally carved out for connection, so when these future leaders step into larger industry events, they do so with confidence and a strong sense of belonging. MIND is not just preparing the next generation of leaders— it is empowering them to lead with confidence, compassion, and community.
Desiree Romero is the District Manager at Avenue5 Residential.
Jenny Jorgensen is the Director of Operations at Colorado Turns.
UPCOMING M. I. N. D. EVENT
MAY 27, 2026:
M. I. N. D. LEGISLATIVE PANEL
The Q2 M. I. N. D. Panel brings together mentors and mentees from the MIND program alongside legislators from across Colorado for a dynamic conversation on the multifamily industry. The discussion highlights legislative perspectives on industry alignment while providing MIND participants the opportunity to share their real-world challenges and experiences.
MORE INFO
WWW. AAMDHQ. ORG / MIND-MENTOR-PROGRAM www. aamdhq. org TRENDS MAY 2026 | 9