DAYRISE RESIDENTIAL - Key Persons


Benjamin Schor - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Co - Chief Executive Officer
  • Co - CEO
Benjamin Schor serves as Co-CEO and is also a partner at InterCapital Group, its affiliated property owner. Since joining Dayrise in 2013, Benjamin has overseen the management of real estate investments across the United States totaling over 50,000 units and approximately $4 Billion in asset value. Mr. Schor graduated from Yale University, where he received his MBA. He received his BS in International Relations from Boston University. He currently resides in New York.

Brian Fries

Job Titles:
  • Vice President, Construction

Courtney Bastian

Job Titles:
  • Senior Director of Marketing

Erich Klothen - COO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Operating Officer

Jenifer Paneral

Job Titles:
  • Executive Vice President, Operations
Jenifer Paneral is an experienced real estate professional with more than 35 years of industry experience. She has a proven track record in leadership with success in profit and loss management and marketing of multisite operations for multiple portfolios. Jenifer has led teams through rapid growth, startups, new development, renovations, acquisitions, turnarounds, business value add, and repositioning. Before joining Dayrise Residential, Jenifer was the Regional Vice President for Pinnacle, where she enhanced the operational efficiencies of more than 37 communities in the Houston metropolitan area. Her background also includes serving as the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Concierge Management Services, leading the operations for 19,000+ units on 86 properties in 9 states and 23 markets. Before that, Jenifer held the Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager Position at Alliance Residential. Jenifer led an operational team of over seven portfolios with over 60,000+ apartment homes in 250+ properties and oversaw relationships with the Organization's owner-investors. Jenifer holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Minnesota State University, a CPM from IREM, and a Texas Broker License. Presently, Jenifer serves as a delegate to the Texas Apartment Association and National Apartment Association and a Houston Apartment Association Board Member. Her past service includes President of Houston Apartment Association, Texas Apartment Associations VP at Large, and President-Elect of the New Mexico Apartment Association.

Mary Sheets

Job Titles:
  • Vice President, Talent and People

Melanie Grafton

Job Titles:
  • Regional Vice President
  • Regional Vice President ( Texas )
Melanie Grafton is the Regional Vice President overseeing Dayrise Residential portfolios in Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, and Laredo regions. She brings over 25 years of experience in multi-family property management, property operations, acquisitions, due diligence, evaluation and coordination of capital improvements, renovations, and community planning

Melissa Morales - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Financial Officer
Melissa joined the Dayrise team in 2022 and is responsible for corporate services. She has more than 20 years of experience in multiple industries including real estate, property management, hospitality, and professional services. Melissa started her career in public accounting at a boutique firm in New Orleans, Louisiana, eventually transitioning to private industry. Melissa has worked with start-ups, privately held mature businesses, and family offices. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of New Orleans and is a licensed CPA. She has a passion for service and serves as a Board Member for Zoey's Angels, a Houston, Texas based nonprofit that supports families who have lost an infant. Over the years, Melissa has worked in Louisiana, Alaska, Arizona, and Florida and has been a Texas resident for the past thirteen years. A passion of Melissa's is working with her dog to become formally trained as a service animal.

Melissa Pianko - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Co - Chief Executive Officer
  • Dayrise As Co - CEO
Melissa Pianko joined Dayrise as Co-CEO in 2023 and also is a partner at InterCapital Group, its affiliated property owner. From 2016 to 2022, she was a Managing Director at Blackstone where she led asset management for Blackstone's US and Canadian residential portfolios. Earlier in her career, Ms. Pianko oversaw development for Gotham Organization, a privately held NY multifamily developer, and was a banker at Goldman Sachs. Ms. Pianko received an MBA from Stanford and a BA from Columbia.

Monette Miller

Job Titles:
  • Controller

Monica Gracia

Job Titles:
  • Regional Vice President ( Texas )
Monica Gracia has over 24 years experience in the multifamily industry, in which she has demonstrated growth, success, and knowledge throughout her career. She started her career as a leasing consultant, quickly working her way up through the ranks as Assistant Manager, Manager, Director of Training, and Regional Manager. She is highly skilled in training, revenue growth, expense management, budgeting, resident relations, marketing, sales, and team building. Monica has won multiple awards at the company and association level and is a 2018 HAA Leadership Lyceum Graduate. Committed to giving back, Monica is an active member of the Houston Apartment Association. She serves on various committees, is on the Board of Directors, and is the 2020/2021 Education Advisory Council Chairperson. She joined Dayrise in 2020 as a Regional Director overseeing operations for a portfolio of 2,800+

Myra Teufel

Job Titles:
  • Vice President, Operations Services
Myra has over 20 years experience in multi-family real estate in both property management and on the software side with a focus on revenue maximization. Myra worked most recently with the leading real estate management software provider as an advisor for real estate management companies nationwide. Prior to that, she was the Director of Information Technology for a mid-size California property management company for more than 15 years. Myra's experience includes the implementation and support of many multifamily software programs, as well as the development of training programs, reporting, and operational processes. She has extensive experience working with asset acquisitions, dispositions, and renovations.

William Cutt

Job Titles:
  • Executive Vice President of Construction
William serves as Executive Vice President of Construction for Dayrise Residential. He has over 15 years of experience in management and team supervision, safety controls, sub-contractor negotiations, organizational experience in facility construction and maintenance. William is responsible for all aspects of construction for multiple communities nation-wide varying from due diligence, acquisitions, design, staffing, to complete management of all phases of construction.