Capitol Summit Speakers

Speaker: Brett Layson

Brett Layson is the Sr. Director of Federal Government Relations at The Home Depot, the world’s largest home improvement retailer. He has served in a variety of positions of increasing responsibility at the Company over seven years and currently leads the team that’s responsible for all federal lobbying and political activity in Washington. Prior to The Home Depot, Brett was a senior legislative assistant to Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.).

Moderator: Keith Becker

• 30+ years’ experience in the property management industry
• Current Director of PM Compliance and Education, Pure Property Management
• Previously President/General Manager of DeDe’s Rentals, Santa Rosa, CA
• Licensed California Real Estate Broker since 1998
• Member of California Apartment Association (CAA)
  • Present member, CAA Executive Board
• Past President of North Coast Rental Housing Association (aka CAA North Bay Division)
• Present member of CAA North Bay Division Advisory Board
• Obtained CCRM (California Certified Residential Manager) designation
• Accredited teacher for CAA-authored continuing education courses
• Member of National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM)
  • Past Regional Vice-President, Pacific and Pacific Islands Regions
  • Past President of CALNARPM, the California chapter of NARPM
  • MPM (Master Property Manager) designation
  • RMP (Residential Management Professional) designation

Adjunct instructor for Santa Rosa Junior College – business management department

Moderator: Kristina DiSanto

Kristina is a Product Manager at AppFolio, a technology leader powering the future of the real estate industry. She works with a team on AppFolio’s FolioScreen product, building solutions to empower property management teams to make informed decisions about applicants and lease with confidence. She spends her time connecting with property managers to understand what challenges they face in the world of applicant screening to guide product strategy. Beyond AppFolio, Kristina is a certified yoga teacher supporting students of all abilities and ages to build strength and reduce stress in their daily lives.

Speaker: Helene Hopkins

With an impressive career span of over 40 years, Helene Hopkins has established herself as a trailblazer and trusted authority in the real estate industry. Since founding her own business in 1999, she has celebrated 25 years of excellence in managing diverse portfolios and serving her community with dedication and expertise. Currently, Helene manages a thriving client base of over 70 individuals, overseeing more than 400 doors, multiple homeowners’ associations, and several fraternities. Her exceptional ability to navigate the complexities of property management and client relations has earned her a reputation as a dependable and results-driven professional. Helene’s influence extends well beyond her business. She has been an active leader in the Whitman County Association of Realtors (WCAR), serving in key roles such as President, Treasurer, Government Affairs Chair, RPAC Chair, and as a State Director. Her leadership and commitment to advancing the real estate profession have left an indelible mark on the industry.

Speaker: Troy Garrett

Troy Garrett serves as Government Affairs Director for Legislative Strategies Group, a division of OMG. He holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Political Science from Virginia Tech and has a broad knowledge base of various policy arenas and has legislative experience through his work as Chief of Staff for former Virginia Delegate Chris L. Hurst. He worked extensively in the private sector for both large financial institutions and technology firms before turning to academia and public service. Troy serves on several research teams at Virginia Tech, including the Virginia Tech International Refugee Research Project, and was recognized for his master’s level work with the Virginia Tech William Preston Award. Troy also serves as an editor-at-large for a political academic journal.

Speaker: Tyler Craddock

Tyler serves as director of Legislative Strategies Group, a division of OMG, and brings with him over two decades of local- and state-level legislative and lobbying experience in issues impacting regulation and governance of business and trade associations. He has held positions in the government, education, business and nonprofit sectors. Most recently, he was executive director of the Virginia Manufactured and Modular Housing Association, the trade association representing the state’s factory-built housing industry, and previously served as director of public and government affairs for the Home Building Association of Richmond. Tyler also served as director of government affairs for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and was the legislative aide to former Del. Allen W. Dudley. A member of the Virginia Society of Association Executives, he is an adjunct instructor at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and chairs the Chesterfield County Committee on the Future. In addition, he has served as a member and chair of the Chesterfield County Community Services Board and as a member of the Alamance-Caswell Area Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Authority.

Speaker: Lior Abramovich

Lior Abramovich is the Co-Founder & CEO of Blanket, bringing a decade of experience in the single-family rental market with over $200 million worth of acquisitions for over 1,000 individual investors.

At Blanket, Lior and his team are working hard to help property managers stop losing doors and grow their revenue and number of doors under management.
Lior also served for 8 years as a naval commander in the Israeli Navy and co-founded a non-profit organization that renovates homes of senior citizens in need.

Speaker: Stacy Holden

Stacy Holden brings over 25 years of experience in the rental housing industry. A former controller at a large property management firm, Stacy has firsthand experience leveraging technology to solve urgent business challenges. In her role as an Industry Principal at AppFolio, Stacy engages operators to understand their needs and guides product strategy within AppFolio’s research and development process. Beyond AppFolio, Stacy serves on the board of Portland State University’s School of Real Estate Development and the National Apartment Association Services Board.

Speaker: Aaron Seaholm

Aaron Seaholm is Vice President of Operations, Property Meld. Aaron is an experienced executive with over 20 years of leadership experience spanning aerospace, defense, and SaaS industries. Currently serving as Vice President of Operations at Property Meld, Aaron has been instrumental in driving customer experience and growth, including spearheading initiatives that generated recurring revenue, a successful Series-B private equity funding round, and leading the successful acquisition of Mezo. Prior to joining Property Meld, Aaron spent two decades at Northrop Grumman and Honeywell, where he led large projects, directed IT and engineering teams, and cultivated strong partnerships with government and private sector stakeholders. Aaron is known for his knowledge in people development, system thinking, and operational excellence. Beyond his professional achievements, Aaron is a dedicated husband of over 20 years and a proud father of two teenagers. Born and raised in Montana, Aaron’s competitive spirit is reflected in his athletic background as a former Division I baseball player and an 8-time national champion in radio control flying events. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Engineering Management, embodying a lifelong commitment to growth and learning.

Speaker: Monica Gilroy

Monica Gilroy is the founding member and managing partner of the Gilroy Law Firm in Atlanta Georgia. For over 30 years, Monica’s national law practice has centered on real estate litigation and assisting Property Management Companies, Brokers and Owners with all aspects of their business. She is the General Counsel of the Atlanta NARPM Chapter, providing legal services to its members. As a subject matter expert, Monica works closely with property managers, lenders and real estate companies in handling their Fair Housing issues and working to create protocols to prevent the same. Monica has been named a Top 50 Woman Attorney in the state of Georgia. Monica is a national speaker and educator on property management, real estate and related litigation topics.

Speaker: Sarah Hatch

Sarah Hatch is the Principal Broker and owner of Hatch Property Management and Sales, LLC which operates out of the Washington DC Metropolitan area. Her company services property owners across three states including Virginia, Maryland, and DC where they do third party management of single-family homes as well as real estate sales. Sarah also has a strong social media presence and uses her maintenance knowledge to gain ancillary income from TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook with brand deals and LIVE demonstrations. Sarah is also the current Chairman of the 2025 Capitol Summit and was the Co-Chair for the 2024 Capitol Summit last year. She is also the 2025 President of her local NOVA NARPM Chapter and is on the Board of Directors for the PM Systems Conference where she teaches on automation and creating a social media presence.

Speaker: Alex Zweydoff

Alex Zweydoff is the Director of Business Development and a REALTOR^® at Allegiant Management Group in Orlando, FL. With almost 15 years of experience in real estate and property management, Alex has successfully placed thousands of tenants and managed numerous properties for landlords. His focus now is helping landlords and investors build their portfolio and reach their investment goals.

He holds the RMP^® designation, along with certifications like C2EX^® and AHWD^®. A recognized leader in the industry, Alex serves in key roles with NARPM^®, Florida REALTORS^®, the Osceola County Association of REALTORS^®, and other various organizations.

As a passionate advocate for private property rights and affordable housing, Alex actively engages in legislative advocacy, which earned him the 2024 NARPM^® Florida Advocate of the Year for his efforts and advocacy on the state level.

Helene Hopkins (noted above as a mastermind moderator) will also be on this panel.