"As chief executive officer, Bill provides the guiding vision for the organization while providing strategic input and supporting the team in their execution of the company’s business plan. Known for his contagious enthusiasm and true passion for creating environments conducive for student success, he is widely recognized as the nation’s foremost expert on the student housing business. Over his 30 year career, he has been involved in the development and acquisition of more than $12 billion of student housing assets.

The son and grandson of steelworkers, Bill was born and raised in the northern panhandle of West Virginia and first forged his vision of what would someday become American Campus Communities while he was still a student at WVU working as a dishwasher, grill cook, night desk attendant, and as a resident assistant at Summit Hall. He saw students and parents as under-served consumers, worthy of better products and services. He saw the need and the opportunity to provide modern, high quality, well-amenitized student communities that could foster an environment conducive to academic success.

Bill spent the first six years of his career with traditional real estate companies that were intrigued by student housing as a side business. In 1993, with less than $3,000 in the bank, the 29-year-old moved his wife and two small children to Austin, Texas where he co-founded American Campus Communities with Wayne Senecal and Joseph Domberger. The fledging company, with only one third-party student housing management contract, established an ambitious mission statement: “To be the nation’s premier provider of quality student housing communities and services through a unique understanding of, and an unrelenting commitment to, students, parents and educational institutions.”

From 1993 to 2003, Bill worked to establish the company as the nation’s premier third-party developer and manager of on campus student housing, pioneering large development transactions with the SUNY System, the University of California System and the Texas A&M University System. In 1997, he secured venture capital from a fund controlled by Reckson Associates to buy out his original partners and to fund the company’s expansion from a third-party service provider to an owner of student housing communities. In 2004, after building the company to more than $300 million in owned assets, Bill led the student housing industry to a new plateau when American Campus successfully consummated its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange, becoming the first publicly-traded student housing company in the nation and introducing the sector to Wall Street and institutional investors.

Under his executive leadership, American Campus has been one of the top performing publicly traded real estate companies in America. In the twelve years since going public, the company has averaged a compounded annual growth rate in net operating income in excess of 26 percent. In addition, the company’s same store portfolio has achieved average fall occupancy of 97.7 percent and has produced positive same store growth in rental rate, rental revenue and net operating income each and every year, even during the great recession. From the IPO to June 30, 2017, ACC stock has delivered a total shareholder return of more than 370 percent, outperforming the Morgan Stanley REIT Index, the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq; with the company having grown to total enterprise value of nearly $9 billion.

Beyond the company’s operational success and financial performance, under Bill’s purview, American Campus has been widely recognized as the sector’s “Best in Class” company. In 2011, ACC achieved an investment grade rating from both Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s. The company received national accolades in 2013 when it was named “Development Firm of the Year” by the National Association of Home Builders and also named by Forbes as one of “America’s 100 Most Trustworthy Companies.” ACC has also been voted as one of the best companies to work for in its home state of Texas on three separate occasions. In addition, American Campus developments have won more than three dozen national and regional real estate awards.

Bill’s vision, passion, and tenacious determination have not only fueled the success and prominence of American Campus, but have also served as a catalyst for the entire student housing industry becoming a well-respected asset class within the commercial real estate sector, resulting in students and parents across the nation now having a wide variety of modern, high quality, professionally managed, affordable student housing options from which to choose.

In 2007, Bill was the Regional Winner of the coveted Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, and was subsequently named as a National Finalist. In 2015, he was featured by Commercial Property Executive as one of commercial real estate’s Most Innovative Executives. In 2017, he was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the category of real estate, construction and lodging. He has also been featured in prominent publications, such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and The New York Times; has made numerous appearances on CNBC; and has been featured on ABC’s Nightline. He is frequently invited to speak nationally and at business schools regarding American Campus’ success and his personal success as an entrepreneur. He has been recognized by his alma mater, West Virginia University, where he was added to the College of Business & Economics Roll of Distinguished Alumni and has been inducted into the WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni. Bill is also a member of Mensa International.

On the charitable front, Bill serves as the Chairman and was instrumental in the formation of American Campus Charities Foundation, which supports charitable activities focused on disadvantaged youth and education in ACC’s hometown of Austin, Texas, as well as in the local markets served by ACC’s communities. The Foundation has raised in excess of $1 million for the causes consistent with its focus. Bill also currently serves on the Board for the Rise School of Austin, which provides high quality early childhood education for gifted, traditional and developmentally delayed children in an inclusive setting, using individualized learning techniques."

Over the course of nearly two decades with the company, Preiss has held a series of increasingly responsible roles, including Broker and Vice President, Executive Vice President of New Business Development, and Chief Investments Officer, where he was responsible for overseeing all of The Preiss Company's investments and joint ventures. John earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the College of Charleston. He currently serves on the board of directors and the executive committee for the National Multi-Housing Council (NMHC) and is also a member of the ULI Student Housing Council.

As CIO of Core Spaces, Andrew Wiedner is responsible for identifying and evaluating new development and acquisition opportunities for the company. His role includes site selection, due diligence, analyzing the company’s investment strategy, and managing debt and equity relationships.

Prior to joining Core Spaces, Andrew spent 13 years sourcing debt and equity for a broad-reaching client base, ranging from small family shops to billion-dollar pension funds. In his mortgage banking role, Andrew arranged more than $3 billion of financing for all property types, including office buildings, shopping centers, student housing developments, single-tenant buildings, hotels, industrial warehouses and land development.

Andrew graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and minor in Italian. He is currently the President of the Illini Real Estate Forum and Chairman of the Memory Rock Committee benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association.

illiam W. Talbot has served as ACC’s Chief Investment Officer/EVP since November 2012 and currently oversees all of the company’s investment activity – including mergers and acquisitions, dispositions, and on and off campus development as well as the company’s market research. During his time at the company, Mr. Talbot has been involved in transactions totaling more than 200 communities and more than $7.0 billion of student housing product, including the public merger with GMH as well as several of the largest portfolio acquisitions in the sector.

Mr. Talbot joined ACC in August 2001 as Director of Acquisitions and has since served in increasing capacities – including Director of Asset Management, Vice President of Investments, Senior Vice President of Investments and Executive Vice President of Investments. Prior to joining ACC, Mr. Talbot worked as an Acquisition Analyst for Lend Lease Real Estate Investments.

Mr. Talbot currently serves as Chairman of ULI’s Student Housing Council, member of the NMHC Finance Committee and as Chair-Elect of the Boys and Girls Club of Austin and Travis County, Inc. Mr. Talbot is a graduate of Vanderbilt University.

Mr. Gronlie joined the firm in 2010 and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. As a Director and Head of Education Real Estate in the Transactions group, he oversees the firm’s education investment platform. He is responsible for defining and implementing the firm’s investment strategy in university markets throughout the US as well as expanding Harrison Street’s Public Private Partnerships (P3’s). Mr. Gronlie has fostered relationships with public universities, academically selective private colleges and various other institutions, which has allowed Harrison Street to invest capital enabling its higher education partners to further their academic missions.

Prior to joining Harrison Street, Mr. Gronlie was an Assistant Vice President within the Commercial Real Estate Group at Citizens Bank. In this capacity, he was responsible for underwriting and portfolio management in the Mid-Atlantic region. He also served as the bank’s student housing specialist, whereby he analyzed each lending opportunity the bank evaluated within the asset class. Before working at Citizens, Mr. Gronlie was a Senior Acquisitions Analyst at GMH Communities Trust, a student housing REIT.

Mr. Gronlie holds a BBA in Finance from James Madison University.

Rodney, as a Vice President of Real Estate Development, is responsible for overseeing day-to-day activities of the entire development process for collegiate housing facilities, including projects for university clients, joint venture partners and EdR's own portfolio. His experience ranges from garden style apartments to large urban mixed-use projects. Rodney also helps determines the most effective method of financing to ensure the project meets its intended goals. Upon closing of financing, he works directly with the construction and operations teams to ensure the project is transitioned seamlessly. Rodney joined EdR in 2011, serving as a regional director in EdR’s management services department. He came to EdR from Summit Housing Partners, a multifamily housing company, where he served as regional portfolio manager. He holds a Tennessee real estate broker’s license. He earned an M.B.A. from Belhaven University and a B.S., Financial and Organizational Management from Crichton College.

Kevin White, Acquisitions Director – Alternative Multifamily, is responsible for the firm’s multifamily investing efforts including student housing and workforce housing. He is responsible for developing investment strategy, sourcing joint venture partners and investment opportunities, and overseeing all aspects of underwriting, due diligence, investment structuring, closing and disposition. Since joining Virtus in 2011, Kevin has acquired more than $860 million of projects. He holds a B.B.A. in Finance from the Ohio State University and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining Virtus, Kevin was the Director of Acquisitions for a privately held real estate investment company. He was responsible for leading an acquisitions team that successfully closed $150 million of commercial real estate in 2 years. He has experience with numerous property types in sourcing, underwriting, due diligence, lender management, closing process, asset management and dispositions. Kevin is the President and one of the founding members of Club Blue of the Austin Area, which is a non-profit that supports the Boys and Girls Club of the Austin Area.

Bryan is the Business Unit Leader for the Central Region Austin office of DPR Construction. He provides vision and direction for the company with 22 years in the industry, and has established his reputation, as well as DPR's, by exceeding customer's expectations. As a DPR partner, Bryan brings the unique ability to lead project teams in team building by utilizing a collaborative process and high-performance problem-solving techniques.

Page Senior Principal Lawrence W. Speck, FAIA, has worked on many of Austin’s landmark projects, open spaces and central Austin master planning efforts including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Barbara Jordan Terminal and the recent Terminal East Infill; Austin Convention Center; Town Lake Comprehensive Plan; 2nd Street District; UT Austin Master Plan; UT Dell Medical School Master Plan and Texas Facilities Commission Capitol Complex Master Plan. Speck’s work on the UT Dell Medical School Innovation Zone dates back to 2013 when the district was conceived. His firm has continuing involvement with the Medical School Master Plan and four buildings in that complex. Speck’s far-reaching healthcare design experience has put him at the forefront of changing dynamics and emphasis on patience-centric philosophies and innovation shaping the field. Within the last 10 years alone, Speck’s work has been recognized with over 75 design awards, and his thoughts on architecture and urban planning have been published throughout the world.

Fred Pierce (“Pierce”) is CEO of Pierce Education Properties (“PEP”), a leading national student housing

investment, development and operating company that was listed amongst the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private

Companies in America (2018 & 2019). Mr. Pierce was selected a “Student Housing Pioneer” by Real Estate

Forum Magazine (2013), received Ernst & Young’s San Diego Region “Entrepreneur of the Year®” Award for

the Real Estate & Construction Industry (2012), named one of “50 Influential Leaders in San Diego” by the San

Diego Daily Transcript (2017–2019), included in “San Diego 500 Influential Business Leaders” by the San

Diego Business Journal (“SDBJ”) (2018–2023), named finalist for the “Most Admired CEO” by SDBJ (2018-

2019) and received the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce’s “Moving San Diego Forward Award”

(2019) on behalf of “Friends of SDSU”, for his work on the successful SDSU West Ballot Initiative (Nov. 2018)

that has become San Diego State’s (“SDSU”) Mission Valley Campus and Snapdragon Stadium (opened Fall

2022). Fred was twice awarded SDSU’s “Distinguished Alumni Award” by the Alumni Association (2022) and

Fowler College of Business (1999), he being one of six alumni to have won that award twice in the last 25+ years.

Since 2007, PEP has completed $1.3 billion in student housing acquisitions and operated more than 34,000 beds

serving 34 universities in 19 states, ranking it among the leading buyers and managers of student apartments in

the country during that period. PEP was ranked by Student Housing Business Magazine (“SHB”) in 2023 amongst

the “Top 25 Owners” of student housing in the U.S. and has been listed by SHB as an “Industry Titan” every

year since 2016. PEP has ranked #6 nationally amongst student housing companies in J. Turner’s “Online

Reputation Assessment (ORA) Power Rankings”. For 10+ years, the firm served as master developer of the

award-winning, 131-acre, multi-billion-dollar College Community Redevelopment Project at SDSU together with

SDSU Foundation (now known as SDSU Research Foundation). PEP has earned numerous national and

international awards for its development projects including three “Gold Nugget Awards of Merit” from the Pacific

Coast Builders Conference and the “Award of Excellence” as The Outstanding University Real Estate Project in

the country from the Association of University Real Estate Officials.

Previously, Fred was a principal and CFO of Los Angeles-based Platt Companies where he directed the acquisition

and financing of $400 million in real estate assets. Prior to that, Fred was West Region Director of Real Estate

Consulting for Price Waterhouse (now known as PwC), and Director of Real Estate Investment Consulting for

KPMG Peat Marwick/Goodkin Group (now known as KPMG). Fred is Chairman of the NMHC Student Housing

Research Fund Board, Chairman-Elect of The Campanile Foundation Board (SDSU’s Endowment), Vice

Chairman of Beta Theta Pi Foundation Board, and Executive Committee Member of SDSU’s Corky McMillin

Center for Real Estate Board. He is a Member of the Franklin Pierce University Board of Trustees (immediate

past Chairman), SDSU Fowler College of Business Board (immediate past Chairman), SDSU Mission Valley

Campus’ Residential Advisory Board and Public Art Advisory Board, Sonoma State University Wine Business

Institute Board and University of Georgia Residential Property Management Board. Mr. Pierce is a Trustee

Emeritus of the 460,000-student, 23-campus California State University (CSU) System Board and Past Board

President of the City of San Diego’s Pension Fund (SDCERS, $10.6 Billion AUM), where he also chaired its Real

Estate Investment Committee. Fred is a former Board Member of INVESCO’s $350 million Real Estate Fund I,

and Past President of the CSU Alumni Council, SDSU Alumni Association and Poway Unified School District

Foundation Board. Fred completed real estate finance studies in the MBA program at SDSU, and earned a

bachelor’s degree in finance, cum laude, from SDSU.

Prior to founding PEP, Fred was a principal and chief financial officer of Los Angeles-based Platt Companies where he directed the acquisition and financing of $400 million in real estate assets. Prior to that, Fred was Western Regional Director of Real Estate Consulting for Price Waterhouse, as well as Director of Real Estate Investment Consulting for KPMG Peat Marwick/Goodkin Group. For six years (1999-2004), Fred served as a Trustee of the 23-campus, 460,000-student California State University (CSU) System, where he chaired the Institutional Advancement, Audit, and University and Faculty Personnel committees. Fred is also Past President of the Board of Trustees of the City of San Diego’s Pension Fund ($4+ Billion), where he also chaired its Real Estate Investment Committee. He is currently Chairman of SDSU’s Fowler College of Business Board and Executive Committee Member of SDSU’s Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate. Mr. Pierce is also a board member of Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Institute and The Aztec Club at SDSU. Fred is a former board member of INVESCO’s $350 million Real Estate Fund I, and Past President of the CSU Alumni Council, SDSU Alumni Association and Poway Unified School District Foundation. Fred completed real estate finance studies in the MBA program at SDSU, and earned a bachelor’s degree in finance, cum laude, from SDSU.

Chris Black is a Senior Originator and Regional Manager with KeyBank Real Estate Capital in

Boston, MA. Mr. Black oversees the National Multifamily Accounts Group and is responsible for

permanent financing needs for KeyBank’s largest and most prolific multifamily clients. The

National Multifamily Accounts Group is partnered with KeyBank’s Institutional Real Estate

Group’s offices in Boston and Atlanta. Together they specialize in structured finance, lines of

credit, portfolio executions, non-traditional borrower structures, corporate recapitalizations and

institutional borrowing entities. Additionally, Mr. Black heads up KeyBank’s Southeast Region

with offices in Orlando, Tampa and Atlanta. Mr. Black and his team originate over $3 billion of

permanent loans annually through Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in addition to life companies,

banks, CMBS, HUD, and debt funds which places him in the top echelon of originators,

perennially. Mr. Black has been working in commercial real estate for 23 years and has been with

Key for 17 years.

Jacky is a growing entrepreneur and has diverse experience in real estate development and investment in the US market. He founded DMG Investments LLC (“DMG”), a subsidiary of a leading China-based real estate development and investment firm Do Think Group. Jacky is the Chief Executive Officer of DMG. Within six years, Jacky has successfully made visionary investment solutions and targeted major and suburban US markets and helped the company invest in 9 premier multi-family and condo projects with over $500 million. His entrepreneurial mindset and business acumen allowed him to lead the company to expand and grow rapidly.

As a Partnership Innovator, Greg oversees the application of Corvias’ innovative public-private partnership (P3) model to challenges faced by public sector institutions nationwide. Greg joined Corvias in 2003 and has nearly two decades of P3 and business development experience. His expertise in development, structured financing, and managing the implementation of P3s has brought value to partners where he has identified and articulated progressive solutions for a complex infrastructure program that utilize both private and public funding sources. He was instrumental in the development of The Clean Water Partnership, a first-of-its-kind P3 pilot program that is addressing federal environmental regulatory requirements for stormwater management in Prince George’s County. Previously the Senior Vice President of Program Development of Corvias Group, Greg successfully managed operations representing a total development budget of over $500M at Fort Meade and Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, as well as the development of Reece Crossings, the Army’s first-ever on-post apartments for junior unaccompanied service members. Greg served in the U.S. Marine Corps and holds a B.S. in Finance from Virginia Tech University.

As Vice President of Investments, Josh leads the acquisition strategy and provides guidance on other various key areas of the overall Campus Advantage investment strategy, including dispositions and development. He also provides support in capital markets initiatives and investment management. Josh joined Campus Advantage in 2010 and has been involved in the acquisition of over $1.5 billion in assets, leading Campus Advantage to being one of the largest owners in the industry. Josh holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Trinity University, and is a CFA® charterholder and member of the CFA Society of Austin.

Ryan Lang, vice chairman and head of Newmark Knight Frank’s Student Housing division, spearheads best-in-class investment sales, capital markets and advisory services on behalf of the firm’s clients. He has represented many of the largest global institutional, public and private real estate companies and has completed approximately $10 billion in real estate transactions.

Prior to joining Newmark Knight Frank, Ryan was vice president with CBRE’s National Student Housing Group, where he helped lead their team to number one market share position in the country. Before that, Ryan worked as director of multifamily investments for New Orleans-based Stirling Properties, where he specialized in the sale of conventional and student housing assets. While there, he was recognized as the top investment sales broker at Stirling Properties for both 2011 and 2012. Ryan began his real estate career in New York City at Marcus & Millichap, where he gained experience in seller representation, acquisitions and investment underwriting. During his first year there, his investment team was recognized as the number one top-earning team in the office. He was also awarded the Pace Setter award for 2008.

Ryan was named to the NKF Chairman’s Circle in recognition of being one of the top producing brokers in the entire company and he regularly speaks at acclaimed student housing events throughout North America and Europe. Ryan has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and on National Public Radio for his expertise and leadership within the sector. Ryan serves on the board of directors of the National Brain Tumor Society, the largest non-profit brain cancer organization in the world.

Professional Achievements

NKF Chairman’s Circle, 2017-Present

Top Five Producer, Newmark Knight Frank

Top Producer, Stirling Properties, 2011-2012

Connect Media Top Broker Award, 2019

Co-Star Power Broker Award

Pace Setter Award, Marcus & Millichap, 2008

Based in Lafayette with offices in New Orleans and Austin, TX, Roger has over 25 years of experience in the acquisition, development and management of multi-family and student-housing properties throughout the U.S. He spent his early career acquiring multi-family and student competitive assets in from Baton Rouge to Lake Charles, LA along the I-10 corridor. This built up into an approximate 2,000 unit portfolio that was sold in 2000. Roger subsequently went to work for student-housing firms JPI, American Campus Communities, and CLV. During his tenure has acquired, developed and disposed of approximately $750 million in conventional and student housing real estate. These transactions have involved multiple financing structures including tax-exempt bonds and conventional debt financing. Since starting Texla, he has acquired approximately $275 million in student housing assets for JV partners Harrison Street and Crow Holdings. Roger holds a B.B.A. from Louisiana State University.

Ari founded the Company in 2001 and is recognized as a trailblazer in student housing. Ari began by acquiring stabilized assets located in markets throughout the United States and grown the company to become one of the largest privately held student housing companies in the industry. Since, 2001, he has managed more than $250 million of equity and secured more than $800 million of debt financing. With equity partners ranging from family offices to institutional private equity funds, Vie has become recognized for its ability to deliver attractive returns on investment as a result of its value added investment strategy. The Company is known for its commitment to deliver a lifestyle brand and experience to Millennials. Ari is a graduate of Dartmouth College.