Preiss Secures Top National Honors for Female Leadership and Innovation

With Multiple Individual and Organizational Awards, Preiss Solidifies Status at a National Leader in Executive and Operational Excellence

RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Preiss, a woman-owned and founded pioneer in the student housing and multifamily industry, is proud to announce a series of prestigious honors recognizing the company’s organizational culture, innovation, and individual achievements of its executive leadership. This recent streak of accolades includes being named the first-ever recipient of the RETCON HERizon Award for female-led innovation, as well as high-profile “Woman of Influence” and “Women in Business” distinctions for top executives.

These accolades complement Preiss’s standing as the #5 Largest Women-Owned Business by the Triangle Business Journal. From its corporate headquarters to its national portfolio, the company remains a steadfast leader in the student and multifamily housing industry.

LANDMARK WIN FOR FEMALE EXCELLENCE

Preiss was recently honored as the first-ever recipient of the RETCON HERizon Award, a distinction recognizing organizations for their outstanding female leadership and transformative achievements within the PropTech space. As a woman-owned company, this award highlights Preiss’s role in shaping the future of real estate through a culture that empowers women to drive technical progress; a commitment more recently showcased by the development of the industry’s first humanoid robot. Named D.O.N.N.A. (Dynamic Operating Neural Network Assistant) after Preiss’s CEO and founder, Donna Preiss, the robot was intentionally designed as female to represent a significant leap forward in how the industry views the intersection of AI, female representation, and the resident experience.

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE RECOGNITION

The 2026 award season highlights the caliber of female leadership driving the Preiss portfolio and underscores the company’s reputation as a powerhouse for female talent.

• GlobeSt. Women of Influence: Two Preiss executives were selected for this prestigious national honor, which recognizes female professionals who have significantly driven the commercial real estate industry to new heights. Both will be honored at the annual awards dinner in Denver, CO, on July 13, 2026.

• Susan Folckemer, Chief Investment Officer:
  Recognized as a Woman of Influence in the Investment Professional/Owner category. This follows her recent 2026 Women in Business Award from the Triangle Business Journal.

• Sara Clark, Executive Vice President of Property Management:
  Recognized as a Woman of Influence in the Corporate Real Estate Executive category.

• Whitney Kidd, Senior Vice President of Innovation:
  Recognized as one of the 2026 Influential Female Executives in Business among the Top 50 Women Execs by Chief Women Leaders Magazine.

QUOTES FROM LEADERSHIP

“At Preiss, diversity is our identity,” said Donna Preiss, Founder & CEO. “To be recognized as the inspiration for the HERizon Award is deeply humbling. We believe that by creating a seat at the table for everyone, we drive the innovation necessary to move the entire industry forward."

Whitney Kidd, SVP of Innovation, added: “Merging technology with a human-centric approach to inclusion is what allows us to stay ahead. Developing the industry’s first female humanoid robot was a testament to our belief that the future of PropTech must be representative of the diverse world that we serve. We’re thrilled to accept this award and look forward to continuing this legacy.”

Susan Folckemer, CIO, said: "I am profoundly honored to receive this award. It symbolizes the mentorship and courage that have defined my journey, and I hope it motivates other women to pursue their own paths with equal boldness. This recognition reinforces my dedication to empowering others and challenging the limits of what women can achieve in business."

Sara Clark, EVP of Property Management, noted: “It is a privilege to be recognized by GlobeSt. alongside Susan and such an accomplished group of women. Since joining Preiss in 2005, I have seen firsthand how our leadership’s dedication to excellence empowers every level of our organization. I am proud to contribute to a team that is constantly redefining success.”

About Preiss

Celebrating its 39th year, Raleigh, North Carolina-based Preiss specializes in the development, acquisition, and management of conventional multifamily and off-campus student housing. Currently ranked as the 11th largest privately held student housing owner-operator in the nation, the company manages a diverse portfolio across multiple states. Preiss leverages a data-driven management platform and a dual-layered support model to enhance asset value and set the standard for high-quality, amenity-rich environments. This model pairs expert on-site teams with specialized corporate oversight to ensure operational excellence across every community in its portfolio. For more information, visit www.preiss.com.

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