Sometimes, the thing that changes the course of a career is simply someone willing to take a chance on you. For Caitlin Medina, that chance came at a time when she needed it most.
Caitlin was living at 11Fifty on Olson in Waukee, Iowa, one of The BAM Companies’ communities, while carrying the weight of supporting her family of five on a single income. She wasn’t sure what was next, including how she would pay the following month’s rent.
An active resident who regularly stopped by the office and attended community events with her children, Caitlin had built a relationship with the onsite team. Then an opportunity opened up—not as a resident, but as a leasing professional.
“It just so happened they were hiring a leasing consultant,” Caitlin shared during the Voices of Excellence breakout session at BAMcon, The BAM Companies’ annual company-wide conference, held Sept. 30-Oct. 1 in Indianapolis. “Lindsey Herman, our property manager, said, ‘I think you’d be good in this role,’ and sent me the application. I’ve never filled something out faster.
“Three interviews later, I had the job and some relief from my financial struggles. I could finally breathe. My first year was a whirlwind, and I worked diligently to prove my worth because I had never worked in property management before. Having someone believe in me and help me grow, especially during such a tough time in my life, meant so much to me.”
Since then, Caitlin has continued to grow with The BAM Companies, reaching two major career milestones in late 2025. She was promoted to leasing manager at Kinsley Forest in Kansas City, Missouri, and was named Leasing Professional of the Year at the 2025 Pinnacle of Excellence Awards, hosted by the Greater Iowa Apartment Association.
Caitlin’s story reflects a core part of The BAM Companies’ culture: people who recognize potential, create opportunities, and provide the support and tools others need to grow into meaningful careers.
That same spirit was evident during Voices of Excellence, a panel featuring five award-winning team members from across The BAM Companies: Caitlin, Cassidy Freeh, Jay Hervey, Jonathan Rivera, and Lisa Benson. Moderated by Laura Wood, the conversation explored their career journeys, the challenges they’ve overcome, the people who helped them along the way, and the advice they’d share with others looking to grow.
For Jonathan, the property manager at Camden Park Apartments in Fort Wayne, Indiana, it’s the people he gets to work alongside every day that make working at The BAM Companies fulfilling.
“My team. They’re all sitting back there now,” Jonathan said, gesturing toward the audience. “Having such a great team … it really doesn’t feel like work when I’m enjoying what I do.”
Jonathan’s own path has taken him through several roles, starting as a ground tech before moving into leasing and eventually property management.
His advice was refreshingly honest: “Not everything is an emergency. Mistakes are going to happen, and the important thing is learning from them and doing better the next time.”
Lisa Benson, property manager at Ascent 430 in Pittsburgh, offered another piece of advice for anyone looking to grow within The BAM Companies or elsewhere: “Just be open, transparent to who you are and willing to learn and grow.”
That willingness to learn came up throughout the conversation. Cassidy, an investor relations associate for BAM Capital, encouraged team members not to feel like they need to have all the answers immediately.
“Trust yourself,” she said. “Don’t worry about knowing everything right away. The best way to grow is to ask questions, stay curious and open to learning more, and raise your hand when the opportunity presents itself. You never know where it might take you.”
And maybe that’s the thread connecting all five stories: growth can begin in unexpected ways—by saying yes, asking a question, staying curious, or taking pride in the small things.
Sometimes, though, it starts with someone simply saying, “I think you’d be good at this.”
For Caitlin, that moment changed everything.
“I’m grateful to The BAM Companies for giving me a home,” she said.
