There is something incredibly meaningful about coming home to the industry that shaped you.
Marty and I are just coming off a 48-hour whirlwind with the Nevada State Apartment Association (NVSAA), delivering back-to-back keynote events in Reno and Las Vegas for their DE&I Committee. And I can honestly say this one hit differently.
Multifamily housing is where I built my corporate career. It’s where I learned leadership, resilience, innovation, and business strategy. It’s also where I first began understanding what disability inclusion truly looks like inside an industry that quite literally builds the spaces people call home.
So to return, not as an executive in a SaaS company but as a keynote speaker delivering The Heart of Inclusion, felt full circle.
How It Started: A Grant, A Budget, and A Creative Yes
The initial outreach came from Carrie Williamson, Leasing Operations Manager, who had received my profile package and reached out about potential engagements in Reno and Las Vegas for early 2026. The events would be hosted by the NVSAA DE&I Committee, with funding coming from a grant designed to keep the events free for members.
Soon after, Executive Director Robin Crawford joined the conversation. She was transparent and thoughtful about budget constraints, explaining that the grant funding needed to cover venue, production, and all event essentials, not just speaker fees.
Instead of walking away, we leaned into collaboration.
This opportunity came as a referral from FPI Management, a previous client who believed in the impact of my work. That trust mattered. It created space for creative conversations instead of transactional ones.
And that’s the thing about this industry. Relationships matter.
Two events were ultimately confirmed:
- Day 1: Reno
- Day 2: Las Vegas
- Hosted by the NVSAA DE&I Committee
- Featuring myself and Dr. Lorri Goldmann, VP of Diversity and Inclusion at Avenue5 Residential
These were their first DE&I initiative events.
What an honor to be part of the beginning.
Day One: Reno. A Familiar Stage
We woke up at 4:00 a.m., dropped the dog at the sitter, and hit the road by 6:00 a.m. for Reno, about 100 miles from our home in Roseville. It was a quaint auditorium near downtown, filled with roughly 100 multifamily professionals.
From the moment I walked in, it felt familiar.
It felt like being back with my people.
There is something powerful about speaking disability forward initiatives into the housing industry. Housing determines independence. Accessibility determines opportunity. Representation determines culture.
And when you combine that with education, transformation becomes possible.
Dr. Lorri Goldmann and I shared the keynote spotlight. Her session focused on career growth, respect in leadership, and the distinction between likability and respect, such an important conversation in today’s workplace. Our messages complemented one another beautifully. Where she spoke about leadership development, I spoke about identity, disability inclusion, and the human side of belonging.
You could feel the energy in the room.
You could feel the camaraderie.
This was the first DE&I event of its kind for NVSAA, and the members were engaged, inspired, and ready.
One moment that meant so much to me was watching Marty step into the conversation and speak about our partnership, how we work together with organizations, how inclusion is a business strategy, and how companies can build meaningful initiatives. It was eloquent and powerful. I am hoping for more of those moments.
Day Two: Vegas. Emotion, Ovations, and Impact
After Reno, we drove straight home, grabbed a quick power nap, and headed to the Sacramento airport for our flight to Las Vegas.
We had a small hiccup. The plane stalled on the tarmac, returned to the gate, and we had to change aircraft. We ended up arriving at our hotel around 10:30 p.m. instead of 8:30. Real life. Real travel.
We stayed at the New York, New York, and their accessible rooms are excellent. The next morning we headed to the event venue, a stunning real estate building off Rainbow and Russell.
Another room of about 100 multifamily leaders.
Another opportunity to deliver The Heart of Inclusion.
And this time, something shifted.
Marty later said I was fully back in stride, comfortable, confident, on top of my game. There is something about being one month into a new year, standing tall in your signature keynote, and knowing the message is landing.
There were multiple rounds of ovation at the end.
Then came a question from the audience about my parents.
I reflected on the reality that my parents never got to see this part of my journey, the big stages, the audiences, the impact. It was emotional. It opened something in the room. And I allowed myself to sit in that moment.
The vulnerability was not planned.
But it was real.
Afterward, people surrounded me, asking questions, sharing stories, expressing how moved they were. In Reno, one woman who had transitioned from special education into housing spoke passionately about advocating loudly for accessibility initiatives. In Vegas, younger women shared how inspired they felt to bring this work back into their communities.
That is the point.
Not applause.
Not accolades.
Action.
If they walk back into their properties and:
- Rethink how accessible units are marketed
- Advocate for inclusive hiring
- Shift how residents with disabilities are supported
- Or simply lead with greater empathy
Then the speech worked.
Why Multifamily Matters
Housing is independence.
Housing is dignity.
Housing is community.
And the multifamily industry has a massive opportunity to lead disability inclusion, not just because it is the right thing to do but because it is smart business. Accessible housing expands markets. Inclusive leadership strengthens teams. Representation builds trust.
Returning to this industry feels like coming home, but with a new purpose.
I am no longer building SaaS platforms.
I am building awareness.
I am building mindset shifts.
I am building leaders.
For Future Clients: The Ripple Effect
When you invest in inclusion education, you are not purchasing a keynote.
You are creating ripple effects.
These two NVSAA events were funded by a grant. They required creative budget conversations. They required partnership. They required belief from leaders like Carrie and Robin who were willing to launch something new.
And now they have momentum.
That is how change starts.
For Other Disabled Speakers: You Belong on These Stages
If you are a disabled speaker wondering how to step into industries like multifamily, here is what I will say:
- Your lived experience is expertise.
- Relationships open doors.
- Be flexible, but know your value.
- Learn the business language of the industry you are serving.
- Show up ready.
This work did not happen overnight. It came from decades in multifamily, leadership roles, building credibility, and staying consistent.
But there is space for more of us.
Industries need our voices.
A Personal Note to Remember
48 hours.
Two cities.
Two stages.
One message.
We ended the Vegas night with a small celebratory drink and a few pulls at the slots. No big win, but we had fun. Then back home, pick up the dog, and launch night for the podcast.
This is what this season of life looks like.
Travel.
Partnership.
Emotion.
Impact.
Home.
And I never want to forget that there was a time when I wondered if I would ever be seen this way, not just as a woman in a wheelchair, but as a leader, educator, and voice of influence in an industry I love.
Nevada State Apartment Association, thank you for trusting me with your first DE&I initiative events.
Multifamily, I am back.
And we are just getting started.