Leadership

We started Portico in 2011 with a simple premise in mind: A management company can either be big or great. It can't be both. We believe that you start a great company with a single, key ingredient: Talent. You must have a single, unwavering commitment to attracting and keeping top talent.

Darren Williams

President

Darren began his career in the multi-family industry as a lowly resident assistant at Arizona State University. There he learned important leadership lessons like how to win friends and influence people while pouring their beer down the sink.

In 2007 he joined Verde Apartment Communities as the Vice President of Operations where he created an institutional level management company and brought 5,000 units in house overseeing 13 lease-ups and one acquisition. Prior to Verde he was Regional Director for Firstworthing Companies (now Inland American Communities) and oversaw properties in California, Arizona, Colorado and Texas. Mr. Williams holds a BS in Political Science from Arizona State University and received his MBA from ASU as well.

During his career Mr. Williams has helped to acquire, build and manage over Two Billion dollars in Multi-Family real estate. His passion remains focused on building the very best teams. Today, Portico manages approximately 10000 units across 40 properties, with focused expansion in the metropolitan areas of Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Nashville and Phoenix the greater Southwest.

Robyn Killion

Senior Vice President of Support Services

Robyn joined the property management industry in 2007 and has served in various roles both on-site and at the corporate level since then. As Senior Vice President of Support Services, Robyn focuses on all property operations including process implementation, management transitions, support services, software, and training. Ms. Killion served 3 ½ years with Verde Apartment Communities in multiple roles, including Community Manager, Regional Resource Manager, and brief stint as Director of Training. Robyn specializes in identifying and correcting the weaknesses on troubled properties and process implementation. She has a true passion for building and growing exceptional on-site teams.

Prior to joining Portico, Robyn served as a Regional Portfolio Manager for Wood Residential Services, the in-house management company for Wood Partners. With WRS, Robyn oversaw 4 stabilized properties in the Houston and San Antonio markets, as well as, 4 development/pre-lease up properties in Houston and Denver. Robyn has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of Houston.

Gianna Negretti

Vice President of Marketing

Gianna Negretti, VP of Marketing, oversees the planning, implementation and execution of all marketing activities and strategic communication plans for clients and properties at Portico. Additionally, Gianna has acquired a vast amount of knowledge in lease-up marketing over the eight years she has been in the industry.

With more than 18 years of experience, Gianna has an extensive background in Marketing, Advertising and Client Services and has held positions with Greystar where she oversaw 75,000 units for the Desert Region, Alliance Residential, Arizona Cardinals Football Club and LaneTerralever.

Gianna is a University of South Carolina graduate and holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

Clint Thomas

Regional Vice President

Clint has served in the property management industry since 1985 managing Class A+, A, B, C, rehabs, brand new construction, lease ups, trouble shoot property & portfolio "turn arounds", 55+ and 62+ Senior communities, garden style, hi rise, quad, scattered sites, Tax Credit and affordable properties. His properties have included Fee and Owner management throughout Texas markets such as Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, El Paso, Amarillo, and national markets such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, Las Vegas, Kansas City, St. Louis, New Mexico, South Carolina, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Since 1985 Clint has supervised over 50,000 units in total with several great companies in a variety of positions - (Principal, Regional Vice President, Regional Manager, Regional Trainer & Marketing, District Manager and Property Manager).

Mr. Thomas has a Bachelor of Science in Management and Business Administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and is a Certified Occupancy Specialists. Mr. Thomas is committed to the hiring and retaining of the best talent, recognizing our business is to serve our owners, meet their goals, provide excellent service for our residents, develop and support our Portico team members, faithfully. As Principal at Portico he is charged with ensuring that we treat each property as if it were our own.

Heather Richardson

Senior Regional Vice President

Heather currently serves as a Senior Regional Vice President for Portico Property Management overseeing the Houston market. Ms. Richardson began her multifamily career in 2003 as a Leasing Consultant with EPT Management (currently TVO) and then served as Community Manager for them at several communities in the Lubbock, Dallas and Houston area between 2003 and 2009. Properties under her management included garden style Class A to Class C both Owner and Fee managed. Prior to joining Portico, she served as District Manager for Camden Property Trust overseeing 7 Class A and B communities in the Atlanta area including repositions totaling over 2100 units. During her tenure with Camden she also served as Community Manager at 5 Houston communities, ranging in size from 300 to 756 units which included high rise and garden style. Before joining Camden in October 2011, she was a Community Manager for Verde Apartment Communities where she oversaw a 300 unit Class A garden style community in Katy, TX.

Heather has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Texas Tech University and her passion is building and maintaining great teams.

Patty Utley

Regional Vice President

Patty currently serves as a Regional Vice President overseeing the Dallas/Fort Worth market. Ms. Utley is a well-accomplished and seasoned multifamily professional with more than 29 years of experience in the industry. Ms. Utley began her multifamily career in 1997 as a Property Manager with Equity Management. Prior to joining Portico, she served as Area Vice President for BH Management. Patty is currently serving as the 2022 President at the Apartment Association of Tarrant County (AATC) in Hurst, TX and Board of Director for the Texas Apartment Association (TAA). Her passion is building and coaching leaders and teams as well as developing opportunities for individual growth.