EXECUTIVE PROFILE
People first, properties second Collaboration fosters lasting connections for real estate executive By ALYSSA TUFTS
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ibby Ekre, principal and certified public manager for MEB Management Services, found her footing early on in her career. Her dedication and skills earned her leadership positions, and she became a director in her mid-20s. “I started my career in multifamily real estate. As a young person trying to figure out what I wanted to do when I grew up, I accepted a position as a leasing consultant on a newly constructed community that included a free apartment,” Ekre says. “After many trials and errors, I found
10 | May-June 2021
myself infatuated with the incredible opportunity to run a multimilliondollar business and actually change outcomes for residents and clients. I managed my first new build at the age of 21 and worked my way up to an asset director by age 25, overseeing six communities for multiple clients. Eventually this opened up opportunities with my clients to manage their commercial sites.” MEB manages more than 23,000 multifamily units and 3 million square feet of commercial properties throughout the Southwest and
Midwest. The company’s 600-plus team members aim to enrich client lives by providing management, consulting, receivership and rehab services for all types and asset classes of rental housing, including luxury apartment and rental home communities, workforce apartments, studentoriented communities, affordable communities and active senior housing. Over the years, Ekre had opportunities to work with incredible regional and national companies, but after three acquisitions in three years, she and her clients were exhausted
