Grace Hill, the innovator of software-driven talent and customer management solutions for commercial and multifamily real estate covering policies, training, assessment and surveys, today announced that Kendall Pretzer has been appointed Chief Executive Officer.
 
The appointment comes after Grace Hill’s acquisition by Aurora Capital Partners earlier in May. As CEO, Pretzer will be responsible for partnering with Aurora and leading the team to extend and amplify Grace Hill’s market leadership position. She will drive further product, market and geographic expansion through continued investment in the product suite, the team and strategic acquisitions. 
 
“Kendall is a highly experienced real estate professional with a sterling reputation within the industry and within the Grace Hill team,” said Rob Fraser, Partner at Aurora Capital. “She is a highly accomplished leader and entrepreneur. We are excited to work closely with her as we embark on new ways to innovate and grow the Grace Hill training and performance platform.”
 
Prior to her new role, Pretzer served as Chief Operating Officer for Grace Hill where she oversaw account management, customer success and associate success. Kendall has cultivated relationships with all stakeholders, earning the trust of Grace Hill clients and team members. Her responsibilities with Grace Hill have grown throughout her tenure, positioning her for success as CEO. 

“It is truly humbling to step into the role of CEO for Grace Hill and to lead this amazing team,” Pretzer said. “What we have built together is already phenomenal. I can’t even begin to imagine the impact we will have with the support of Aurora to further invest in our software platform. The sky's the limit for Grace Hill and I am honored to be leading our next chapter in growth and innovation.”

Current CEO Dru Armstrong will be transitioning into an advisory role. “Kendall has earned the respect and support of our team, our clients and our board,” said Armstrong. “I know under her leadership Grace Hill will continue to grow and prosper.” 

Pretzer joined Grace Hill in October 2018 after the company acquired The Strategic Solution, a software-based policy platform which she founded. In her 30-plus years in real estate, Kendall has served in various roles with Trammell Crow Residential, Gables Residential, R&B Commercial Management, and Security Capital/Archstone. She has served in many capacities, including vice president of training and marketing, senior regional manager, financial analyst, project manager and assistant director of business development. She holds a BBA in Finance from Texas Tech University and is a 2015 NAA Lyceum graduate. 

Grace Hill’s software-driven property performance loop establishes the policies, training, assessment, and survey components of the talent and customer experience management process. The framework of the solution ensures that the fundamental aspects of the process are always working together seamlessly and building upon one another. The integrated, scalable solution enables customers to configure the process to develop, retain and grow their talent and property performance. 

About Grace Hill 
Grace Hill provides technology-enabled performance solutions that help owners and operators of real estate properties increase property performance, reduce operating risk and grow top talent. Its industry-leading solutions covering policy, training, assessment, survey, and data-driven insights are bolstered by years of real estate experience, in-depth service-level expertise and outstanding customer support. Today, more than 500,000 real estate professionals from more than 1,700 companies rely on talent performance solutions from Grace Hill. Visit us at gracehill.com or on LinkedIn.

Grace Hill today announced that Aurora Capital Partners (Aurora), has agreed to acquire the company from investment funds managed by Stone Point Capital LLC. Grace Hill is the innovator of talent and customer management solutions for commercial and multifamily real estate covering policies, training, assessment and surveys. Its platform is designed to drive property performance and reduce operating risk by developing and retaining property management talent and customers. 
 
The injection of capital and insights will better position Grace Hill to scale effectively. Specifically, Aurora plans to facilitate an intentional acceleration of Grace Hill’s growth and overall market reach, strengthen its property performance solutions and build out its customer management solution.
 
“Grace Hill’s acquisition marks an exciting opportunity to further bolster our core products and elevate performance for our clients through talent growth, resident and tenant retention and reduced operational risk,” said Dru Armstrong, chief executive officer at Grace Hill. “It is an honor and humbling that two highly regarded investment firms, Stone Point and now Aurora, have recognized our best-in-breed talent solution and our ability to drive client success in multifamily and commercial real estate. On behalf of the entire Grace Hill leadership team, we look forward to working closely with Aurora to build on our past achievements and elevate the solutions and level of support we deliver to clients.”
 
Aurora’s commitment to growth and innovation of its portfolio companies will empower Grace Hill to further invest in its software platform, optimize service level performance, develop efficiencies, hone best practices, and deliver the talent management and customer experience solution that the industry needs moving forward. 
 
“Stone Point’s support helped us revolutionize the way the multifamily and commercial real estate industries manage talent and property performance,” said Kendall Pretzer, chief operating officer for Grace Hill. “We are excited to continue on that momentum and deliver even greater solutions and services to our clients.”
 
The Grace Hill senior management team of highly experienced and talented multifamily and commercial real estate industry experts will help guide the acquisition process. The continuity and cultural alignment enable the talent solution provider to maintain and expand its multifamily business relationships, strive for even greater successes and renew its commitment to industry leadership. 
 
Grace Hill’s property performance loop establishes the policies, training, assessment, and survey components of the talent and customer experience management process. The framework of the solution ensures that the fundamental aspects of the process are always working together seamlessly and building upon one another. The integrated, scalable solution enables customers to configure the process to develop, retain and grow their talent and property performance.
 
William Blair acted as exclusive financial advisor to Grace Hill on the transaction. Baird acted as exclusive financial advisor to Aurora on the transaction.

Grace Hill, a provider of online training courseware, administration and mystery shopping for the multifamily property management industry, was recently acquired by funds managed by Stone Point Capital LLC. The sale was finalized on Feb. 28, 2018. The transaction follows a three‑year period in which Grace Hill indicated they increased revenue, profitability, and customers while under ownership by its founders and The Riverside Company. Today, Grace Hill serves more than 1,300 customers that manage approximately 6.2 million housing units.

"Grace Hill is thrilled to be partnering with Stone Point," stated Dru Armstrong, the company's chief executive officer. "Stone Point is deeply entrenched in the real estate services industry and is therefore able to support Grace Hill in key, strategic ways beyond the firm's significant investment. Our mission is to remain the leading, best-in-class training solution for the property management industry while expanding the features and functions that enable Grace Hill clients to deliver their training programs, their way." Armstrong continued, "We are grateful for the investment and partnership of Stone Point, which will allow us to continue to expand our courseware and services. Stone Point shares Grace Hill's commitment to building and delivering to our clients new, high-value solutions."

Chuck Davis, the chief executive officer of Stone Point, said, "We share Dru's enthusiasm regarding the partnership. She and her team have built an outstanding company, with innovative, market-leading products that serve a critical role in the success of property management companies. We congratulate the company's founders and The Riverside Company for their development of Grace Hill, and we look forward to building upon the company's history of success."

"We loved Grace Hill's potential when we invested in 2014, and we worked hard with a great management team to achieve our goals," said Riverside Managing Partner Loren Schlachet. "We focused on enhancing technology and course offerings to take the company to the next level, including expanding product lines to include employee credentialing and mystery shopping solutions."

Grace Hill, which will maintain its base of operations in Greenville, South Carolina, offers a suite of valuable training offerings that are available online, allowing property managers to train employees on topics such as Fair Housing, OSHA, sexual harassment and more.