Ep. 34 | From Foster Care to the C-Suite: A Compliance Leader’s Grit-Fueled Rise in Property Management

In this episode, Kerri Davis, CEO and Founder of Fortress, sits down with Gladys Stephenson, Senior Director of Compliance and Asset Management at Devon Management, for a powerful conversation about resilience, reinvention, and rising through the ranks in multifamily. Listen in to hear Gladys:

• Share how she went from a teenage mom working in maintenance to leading compliance and asset strategy at a growing firm—and how her foster care background fuels her passion for mentorship, growth, and affordable housing
• Reflect on Devon’s bold rebrand, the launch of its third-party management arm, and why she believes success is built on structure, heart, and showing up for your team—especially the often-overlooked maintenance staff
• Break down the power of internal innovation, including how Devon’s custom-built CRM is streamlining operations, supporting compliance, and laying the foundation for national expansion