Unlocking Doors Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:44:35 -0500 https://unlockingdoors.buzzsprout.com en-us © 2026 Unlocking Doors yes f8a3b083-26c4-595b-936e-327f152ba781 Texas Apartment Education Foundation (TAAEF) episodic false Unlocking Doors is a Texas Apartment Association Education Foundation (TAAEF) podcast series focused on career growth and advancement in the Texas rental housing industry. It highlights real career stories, lessons learned, and practical advice from professionals across multifamily housing. The purpose of the podcast is to inspire jobseekers, early‑career professionals, and those exploring career paths in the Texas apartment industry by showcasing real journeys and the many ways people enter and grow in the field. Hosted by Christy Rodriguez, with Judwin Properties and the immediate past-TAAEF President. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Texas Apartment Education Foundation (TAAEF) https://storage.buzzsprout.com/rkx25tadky9xs0c89myvc6ad559g?.jpg Unlocking Doors Unlocking Doors: Turning Setbacks into a Thriving Career in Multifamily with Dani Brown Unlocking Doors: Turning Setbacks into a Thriving Career in Multifamily with Dani Brown Unlocking Doors is a new podcast dedicated to exploring career growth and advancement in the Texas rental housing industry. This series showcases the diverse opportunities within multifamily housing, the unique career paths professionals have taken, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you're new to the industry or looking to take your career to the next level, Unlocking Doors offers valuable insights, inspiring stories, and expert advice to help you open the next door in your professional journey.

In this episode, we meet Dani Brown, her journey shows how persistence and adaptability can lead to rapid growth in multifamily. After breaking into the industry through leasing, she quickly advanced into a new type of role, proving that transferable skills and resilience can open powerful career opportunities.

]]> Unlocking Doors is a new podcast dedicated to exploring career growth and advancement in the Texas rental housing industry. This series showcases the diverse opportunities within multifamily housing, the unique career paths professionals have taken, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you're new to the industry or looking to take your career to the next level, Unlocking Doors offers valuable insights, inspiring stories, and expert advice to help you open the next door in your professional journey.

In this episode, we meet Dani Brown, her journey shows how persistence and adaptability can lead to rapid growth in multifamily. After breaking into the industry through leasing, she quickly advanced into a new type of role, proving that transferable skills and resilience can open powerful career opportunities.

]]> Texas Apartment Education Foundation (TAAEF) Buzzsprout-18930696 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 13:00:00 -0500 1857 full false Unlocking Doors: Building a Career in Apartment Maintenance with Coby Racine Unlocking Doors: Building a Career in Apartment Maintenance with Coby Racine Unlocking Doors is a new podcast dedicated to exploring career growth and advancement in the Texas rental housing industry. This series showcases the diverse opportunities within multifamily housing, the unique career paths professionals have taken, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you're new to the industry or looking to take your career to the next level, Unlocking Doors offers valuable insights, inspiring stories, and expert advice to help you open the next door in your professional journey.

On this episode you'll hear from Coby Racine, an Assistant Maintenance Supervisor with Camden. Coby started in the industry through a maintenance apprenticeship program and has taken been excited to grow so quickly in this industry while learning and doing something that he loves.

]]> Unlocking Doors is a new podcast dedicated to exploring career growth and advancement in the Texas rental housing industry. This series showcases the diverse opportunities within multifamily housing, the unique career paths professionals have taken, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you're new to the industry or looking to take your career to the next level, Unlocking Doors offers valuable insights, inspiring stories, and expert advice to help you open the next door in your professional journey.

On this episode you'll hear from Coby Racine, an Assistant Maintenance Supervisor with Camden. Coby started in the industry through a maintenance apprenticeship program and has taken been excited to grow so quickly in this industry while learning and doing something that he loves.

]]> Texas Apartment Education Foundation (TAAEF) Buzzsprout-18729212 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0500 1278 full false Unlocking Doors: From Leasing Assistant to COO with Danny Perea Unlocking Doors: From Leasing Assistant to COO with Danny Perea Unlocking Doors is a new podcast dedicated to exploring career growth and advancement in the Texas rental housing industry. This series showcases the diverse opportunities within multifamily housing, the unique career paths professionals have taken, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you're new to the industry or looking to take your career to the next level, Unlocking Doors offers valuable insights, inspiring stories, and expert advice to help you open the next door in your professional journey.

On this episode you'll hear from Danny Perea with Tropicana Properties out of El Paso. Danny serves as the Chief Operating Officer and has 20+ years in the industry, even without a college degree.

]]> Unlocking Doors is a new podcast dedicated to exploring career growth and advancement in the Texas rental housing industry. This series showcases the diverse opportunities within multifamily housing, the unique career paths professionals have taken, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you're new to the industry or looking to take your career to the next level, Unlocking Doors offers valuable insights, inspiring stories, and expert advice to help you open the next door in your professional journey.

On this episode you'll hear from Danny Perea with Tropicana Properties out of El Paso. Danny serves as the Chief Operating Officer and has 20+ years in the industry, even without a college degree.

]]> Buzzsprout-18696689 Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500 1294 1 4 full true Unlocking Doors: From Retail to Running a Business with Makenna Caffey Unlocking Doors: From Retail to Running a Business with Makenna Caffey Unlocking Doors is a new podcast dedicated to exploring career growth and advancement in the Texas rental housing industry. This series showcases the diverse opportunities within multifamily housing, the unique career paths professionals have taken, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you're new to the industry or looking to take your career to the next level, Unlocking Doors offers valuable insights, inspiring stories, and expert advice to help you open the next door in your professional journey.

Makenna Caffey began her career in retail at Buc-ee’s while attending college and discovered the apartment industry through a temporary leasing role that quickly turned into a long-term career. In just five years, she advanced from leasing professional to community manager, proving how leadership, customer service skills, and a willingness to grow can open powerful doors in multifamily.

]]> Unlocking Doors is a new podcast dedicated to exploring career growth and advancement in the Texas rental housing industry. This series showcases the diverse opportunities within multifamily housing, the unique career paths professionals have taken, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you're new to the industry or looking to take your career to the next level, Unlocking Doors offers valuable insights, inspiring stories, and expert advice to help you open the next door in your professional journey.

Makenna Caffey began her career in retail at Buc-ee’s while attending college and discovered the apartment industry through a temporary leasing role that quickly turned into a long-term career. In just five years, she advanced from leasing professional to community manager, proving how leadership, customer service skills, and a willingness to grow can open powerful doors in multifamily.

]]> Texas Apartment Education Foundation (TAAEF) Buzzsprout-18729153 Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500 1563 1 3 full false Unlocking Doors: From Coaching to Sales and Multifamily with Derek DeVries Unlocking Doors: From Coaching to Sales and Multifamily with Derek DeVries Unlocking Doors is a new podcast dedicated to exploring career growth and advancement in the Texas rental housing industry. This series showcases the diverse opportunities within multifamily housing, the unique career paths professionals have taken, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you're new to the industry or looking to take your career to the next level, Unlocking Doors offers valuable insights, inspiring stories, and expert advice to help you open the next door in your professional journey.

Derek DeVries shares how he transitioned from a 15-year career in education and coaching into multifamily construction sales, proving that leadership and relationship-building skills translate powerfully into the rental housing industry. In this episode of Unlocking Doors, he reflects on mentorship, association involvement, and why initiative and strong relationships are the keys to long-term success in multifamily.

]]> Unlocking Doors is a new podcast dedicated to exploring career growth and advancement in the Texas rental housing industry. This series showcases the diverse opportunities within multifamily housing, the unique career paths professionals have taken, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you're new to the industry or looking to take your career to the next level, Unlocking Doors offers valuable insights, inspiring stories, and expert advice to help you open the next door in your professional journey.

Derek DeVries shares how he transitioned from a 15-year career in education and coaching into multifamily construction sales, proving that leadership and relationship-building skills translate powerfully into the rental housing industry. In this episode of Unlocking Doors, he reflects on mentorship, association involvement, and why initiative and strong relationships are the keys to long-term success in multifamily.

]]> Texas Apartment Education Foundation (TAAEF) Buzzsprout-18743935 Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500 1345 1 2 full false Unlocking Doors - Leadership, Service, and the Human Side of Multifamily with Mike Rust Unlocking Doors - Leadership, Service, and the Human Side of Multifamily with Mike Rust Unlocking Doors is a new podcast dedicated to exploring career growth and advancement in the Texas rental housing industry. This series showcases the diverse opportunities within multifamily housing, the unique career paths professionals have taken, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you're new to the industry or looking to take your career to the next level, Unlocking Doors offers valuable insights, inspiring stories, and expert advice to help you open the next door in your professional journey.

In this episode of Unlocking Doors, Mike Rust—Vice President and partner at Highland Commercial Properties and the 2026 President of the Texas Apartment Association—shares how his military background shaped his leadership approach and the unique journey that led him to the multifamily industry.

]]> Unlocking Doors is a new podcast dedicated to exploring career growth and advancement in the Texas rental housing industry. This series showcases the diverse opportunities within multifamily housing, the unique career paths professionals have taken, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Whether you're new to the industry or looking to take your career to the next level, Unlocking Doors offers valuable insights, inspiring stories, and expert advice to help you open the next door in your professional journey.

In this episode of Unlocking Doors, Mike Rust—Vice President and partner at Highland Commercial Properties and the 2026 President of the Texas Apartment Association—shares how his military background shaped his leadership approach and the unique journey that led him to the multifamily industry.

]]> Texas Apartment Education Foundation (TAAEF) Buzzsprout-18696668 Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0600 1437 1 1 full true