At BAM Capital, keeping our investors’ goals at the forefront is central to everything we do. To give you a behind-the-scenes look, we sat down with Katherine Herron, VP of Investor Relations, for a quick Q&A. From her path into investor relations to the principles that guide her work, get to know what drives Katherine, both in and out of the office.

Tell us a little about yourself

I’m originally from Indy — born and raised! I went to IU for undergrad, then was in California early in my career, where I earned my MBA. I actually went to undergrad thinking I was going to teach Spanish and French.

When I realized that wasn’t the path for me, I locked into IR/private equity pretty quickly because it shares a lot of similarities to language education — connecting with people, thinking in systems, and translating.

What initially drew you to real estate?

Real estate was always in the background growing up, but choosing it as a career was very intentional. I love that there is no finish line when it comes to learning. Every deal has its own story, every investor has a different perspective, and every market cycle teaches you something new. I still find myself connecting dots and seeing things in new ways I didn’t expect.  

What attracted you to BAM Capital, and what has kept you here?

What initially attracted me to BAM Capital was the investment thesis. It was one of those situations where the more I learned, the more it made sense. What has kept me here is that, time and again, I’ve seen the team ask, “What does this mean for our investors?” as decisions are being made. Having spent almost my entire career in this industry, I don’t take that for granted. 

How would you describe your role as VP of Investor Relations? 

It’s definitely changed as the firm has grown, and the honest answer is that it changes every day. But at its core, my role is to serve as a bridge between our investors and the business. Investors need to know what we’re doing and why it matters to them, and the business needs to know what’s on investors’ minds. 

What separates a great multifamily syndicator from the rest?

There are a lot of ways to look at this, but execution, alignment, and communication are what actually matter.

• Execution: Any deal can look great on paper. The real question is whether the sponsor can actually do what they said they would. 
• Alignment: Does the sponsor actually have skin in the game? Do they have their own money in the deal? Are they structured so that they win only when investors win? That belief has to be core to how they operate. 
• Communication: It sounds basic, but it matters. These are passive investments, so investors aren’t in the day-to-day — and they shouldn’t have to be. But they should always know what’s going on. A great sponsor keeps people informed across all kinds of conditions, not just the good ones. And if an investor has a question, they should never have to wonder whether they can get a real person on the phone. 

Why does BAM Capital focus heavily on Midwest multifamily markets?

We’re a Midwest-based firm, and there’s a built-in advantage when you’re investing in markets you know or markets that look and feel like your backyard. But beyond that, the Midwest is just fundamentally sound. It doesn’t boom the way some coastal markets do, but it doesn’t bust either.

And the data backs that up. A number of Midwest cities are seeing real infrastructure investment, job growth, population growth, and household formation. The fundamentals are there for exactly the kind of investments our investors are looking for.

What advice would you give someone considering their first passive investment?

Do your homework on the deal, but spend just as much time on the sponsor. Look at their track record, their team, because a great operator can navigate a deal that hits bumps. 

And don’t ignore your gut. Not every red flag shows up in a spreadsheet. When you get off the phone, how do you feel? If you strip away the real estate, strip away the returns, ask yourself: are these people you’d want to do business with?

What three words would you use to describe the future of BAM Capital?

Disciplined, rooted, compounding.

Which BAM Capital property is your favorite and why?

Nese Apartments in Whitestown, Indiana. Admittedly, I’m biased. My family and I actually lived there for a period of time when we relocated to Indianapolis while we closed on our current home. It’s one thing to be in my role and talk about how important property operations are. It’s another thing to live the resident experience.

The property was clean, welcoming, very well-maintained — it just felt like a community. We were happy there. And that experience meant a lot to me personally, because I got to see what exceptional property management looks like in real life. Our strategy is to buy great properties, in great areas, and run them exceptionally well, and I saw that firsthand at Nese.

When you were a child, what was your dream job?

A teacher. I’ve always loved that moment when something clicks for someone. When you can take something complicated and make it feel approachable. There’s a real satisfaction in that. Education and Investor Relations are different settings, but they share a similar instinct and appeal. 

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Well, I have two little kids, so a lot of my time outside of work is just keeping up with them — my husband and I stay pretty busy. But when I find myself with a stretch of quiet time, I’m usually deep in a book or taking on a house project I have absolutely no business undertaking. I like figuring things out.

To learn more about BAM Capital’s approach to Midwest multifamily real estate and the team behind the numbers, connect with our Investor Relations team at invest@bamcapital.com or review our current offerings.