Ben Schall, the current CEO and president of AvalonBay Communities, joined the company in late 2020. He previously worked in retail-oriented roles at companies like Rouse and Seritage Growth Properties. Despite being a newcomer to the multifamily sector compared to other senior leaders at AvalonBay’s peers, Schall was drawn to the company because of its longstanding core values.
In a recent Walker Webcast interview with Willy Walker, CEO of Walker & Dunlop, Schall discussed how these values – including caring for others, integrity and continuous improvement – align with his own leadership style. He also shared how his previous experience leading Seritage has influenced his approach at AvalonBay.
When he joined AvalonBay during a period of post-pandemic flux in the multifamily sector, one key focus for Schall was continuing to evolve their business model given changing market conditions. This included expanding into gateway suburban markets that were not traditionally targeted by other industry players but have since proven successful for AvalonBay.
Schall emphasized that this push into expansion markets is part of an ongoing evolution within their portfolio composition as they aim to optimize growth opportunities through various channels such as acquisitions and development projects funded by third-party developers.
One notable area where there has been significant change is within their operating model which now heavily relies on technology-based solutions like AI-powered tools from EliseAI (a startup they have invested in). According to Schall: “If you’re our customer we want your first interaction with us be AI-based.”
Overall it’s clear that constant evolution is ingrained within both Ben’s personal leadership style as well as throughout all aspects of operations at Avolon Bay Communities – making them well-positioned for continued success going forward.
