SAN DIEGO—Companies involved in multifamily are focusing more on class-B product and value-add deals than ever now that the capital spigots are more open to purchasing and renovating these properties, the ConAm Group's EVP of property management Julie Brawn-Whitesides tells GlobeSt.com. Brawn-Whitesides recently joined the firm, as part of its strategy to increase its national multifamily property portfolio aggressively through both company-owned and third-party fee-management assets. We spoke with Brawn-Whitesides exclusively about her new post, trends in apartment management and dealing with renters' amenities expectations.

GlobeSt.com: What are your main goals in your new role at ConAm?

Brawn-Whitesides: First is really fostering an environment where we can improve and maintain the core competencies of the company to the highest levels. Growth is always an objective, but controlled growth, where we can be successful at internal and third-party accounts, collaborating with a team of professionals to offer a high level of talent at all times and to put our best foot forward. We're becoming a better company in terms of services, responsiveness and technology that's meaningful to our clients.