Farrah Falcone, Author at Tailwind Group

Tailwind Talks | Season 2 Episode 1

The wait is over—Tailwind Talks is back and better than ever! After a long hiatus, Tailwind Group is thrilled to kick off Season 2 with an exciting new set, a fresh lineup of episodes, and even more great conversations.

To launch the season, Tailwind’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Brandon Smith, sits down with Krystal Pierce, Vice President of Investor Relations & General Counsel, for an episode you won’t want to miss.

Krystal’s career has taken some unexpected turns—from a childhood on an Illinois farm to dreams of working for the FBI, to law school, and eventually landing a role at Tailwind. Along the way, she’s navigated high-stakes legal work, built strong investor relationships, and made some bold career moves that shaped her path. How did she end up here? What key moments changed her course? And what lessons has she learned along the way? Tune in to hear her fascinating journey, insights on leadership, and maybe even a few surprising stories. Plus, Brandon and Krystal put their honesty to the test in a fun round of Never Have I Ever!

🎬 New Look, Same Great Conversations
We’ve upgraded our set to a warm, inviting space to make these conversations even better—and we’re just getting started.

🎧 Listen Anytime, Anywhere
Join us for engaging discussions that give you a behind-the-scenes look at Tailwind Group, real estate, and investment. Whether you’re a seasoned investor, a business professional, or someone who loves a great career story, this season promises to deliver fresh insights and inspiration.

💡 Help Shape Future Episodes
The marketing team values your input! Have ideas, questions, or feedback? Email us—we’d love to hear from you.

Farrah Falcone2025-04-09T11:05:58-05:00April 9th, 2025|

Tailwind Group Acquires Fourth Student Housing Property in 2025

Tailwind Group and its partners are pleased to announce the recent acquisition of The Beacon in Auburn, Alabama, marking the fourth student housing acquisition for Tailwind Group in 2025. This property is located less than one mile from Auburn University and consists of 180 units and 576 bedrooms. The asset was purchased from an undisclosed seller, and the deal was brokered by Ryan Lang and his team at Newmark.

In the Fall, the property will undergo a capital improvement plan that includes clubhouse renovations and upgrades to the property’s amenities and exteriors. This property will also be re-branded to The Quarters Auburn.

“We are thrilled to add another property in the SEC market,” said Jake Ouradnik, Tailwind Group’s Chief Financial Officer. “The enrollment has skyrocketed here, and it trends well with the SEC growth we have seen, and we are confident for the future. The premier location to campus and the ability to add value to this property has our team ready to hit the ground running on our business plans.”

Tailwind Group is a top 20 owner and manager of off-campus student housing in the country, with 39 different communities comprising approximately 18,500 bedrooms in their portfolio. Their reach spans 16 states and 23 universities.

Inquiries:
Brandon Smith, President & Chief Executive Officer
Michael Sather, Principal & Chief Investment Officer
Nick Sheak, Director of Investments

Farrah Falcone2025-04-08T18:54:13-05:00April 9th, 2025|

Tailwind Group Acquires Student Housing Property in Huntsville, TX

Tailwind Group and its partners are pleased to announce the recent acquisition of Connection at Huntsville in Huntsville, Texas. This property is situated near Sam Houston State University and features 288 units and 792 bedrooms. The asset was purchased from an undisclosed seller, and the deal was brokered by Brandon Buell and his team at Berkadia. This is Tailwind Group’s third student housing acquisition thus far in 2025.

In the coming months, this property will be rebranded to The Quarters Huntsville, one of Tailwind Group’s flagship garden-style brands. It will undergo a strategic capital improvement plan that includes a complete renovation and redesign of the clubhouse and leasing office, replacement of roofs and gutters, and strategic deferred maintenance and unit improvements.

“We are excited to enter the Huntsville, TX market,” said Brandon Smith, Tailwind Group’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “While Sam Houston State is not the typical Power 4 market that we acquire assets in, we believe strongly in the fundamentals and upside this specific opportunity presented. This purchase reinforces Tailwind Group’s commitment to pursuing value-add opportunities in the student housing sector. Our team is extremely excited to launch the rebrand and implement the capital improvement plan.”

Tailwind Group is a top 20 owner and manager of off-campus student housing in the country, with 38 different communities comprising approximately 18,000 bedrooms in their portfolio. Their reach spans across 15 states and 22 universities.

Inquiries:
Brandon Smith, President & Chief Executive Officer
Michael Sather, Principal & Chief Investment Officer
Nick Sheak, Director of Investments

Farrah Falcone2025-03-28T09:39:18-05:00March 28th, 2025|

Tailwind Group Hires Casey Petersen as Chief Operating Officer

(Mankato, MN) Tailwind Group is pleased to announce the hiring of Casey Petersen, who will serve as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer (COO).

With a proven track record in the student housing industry, Petersen brings extensive experience in all facets of leadership, operations, business development, strategic growth, and driving organizational efficiency. Prior to joining Tailwind Group, he most recently served as PeakMade Real Estate’s COO, where he was responsible for all aspects of the operating platform, including marketing, leasing, training, property management operations, and support functions.

Petersen will work as part of Tailwind Group’s Executive Leadership Team. He will lead and manage the core operational teams, utilizing his unique skillset and experience to drive operational performance and maximize value at each asset. Casey’s role will be critical as Tailwind continues to grow and scale its real estate portfolio and operational teams, specifically in student housing. “I’ve been admiring the organization from the sidelines for the past several years and am super impressed with everything that has been accomplished. In speaking with the leadership team, I know that we are closely aligned in our view that people – customers, partners, or team members – are the center point of any successful company in our business. I’m excited to join the team and be a part of leading the next chapter of the Tailwind story,” commented Petersen.

Tailwind Group’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Brandon Smith, commented, “I could not be more excited to bring Casey in as our COO. His track record of leadership and operational excellence is something that I have observed and been impressed with for the past several years, as we have competed in many similar markets.”

Smith continued, “As I have gotten to know Casey, I am confident that he will grow and enhance Tailwind Group’s workplace culture, which is our top priority. He is a “people first” leader but also brings a tenacity and vision that will be crucial to our ongoing growth and objectives.”

Tailwind Group is a vertically integrated real estate company. Its core focus is off-campus student housing, in which it is a top twenty owner and manager in the country. Its current real estate portfolio consists of approximately $1.3B in assets under management, 18,500 student housing bedrooms, and nearly 700,000 square feet of commercial real estate. Its reach spans 16 states and 23 different college communities.

Farrah Falcone2025-03-18T10:58:40-05:00March 18th, 2025|

Tailwind Group Acquires Student Housing Property in Columbus, OH

Tailwind Group and its partners are pleased to announce the recent acquisition of Commons on Kinnear, a 166-unit, 534-bedroom property in Columbus, OH. The property is located less than one mile from the Ohio State University campus. The asset consists of studio, two, three and four-bedroom units. The asset was purchased from an undisclosed seller and the deal was brokered by William Vonderfecht and his team at CBRE. This acquisition is the second student housing purchase of 2025 for Tailwind Group.

Over the next six months, the property will undergo significant property renovations, which will include apartment interiors being upgraded with new appliances, cabinets, countertops, flooring, and fixtures. The leasing office and clubhouse will also be renovated and repurposed to maximize the resident experience. Over the course of the renovation, the property will be re-branded to one of Tailwind Group’s flagship brands, “Altitude”.

“This purchase fits within Tailwind Group’s investment thesis well,” said Joe Lindberg, Tailwind Group’s Director of Capital Markets. “It’s been underperforming in recent years and is prime for our value-add implementation. After renovations have been completed, coupled with our property management strategy, we believe this property will undergo a complete transformation not only from an appearance and financial standpoint, but also delivering a great product and experience for our current and prospective residents. We are very excited about the future of the property and the Ohio State market as a whole.”

Tailwind Group is a top 20 owner and manager of off-campus student housing in the country, with 37 different communities comprising approximately 17,500 bedrooms in their portfolio. Their reach spans across 15 states and 21 universities.

Inquiries:
Brandon Smith, Chief Executive Officer
Michael Sather, Managing Principal & Chief Investment Officer
Nick Sheak, Director of Investments

Farrah Falcone2025-02-26T11:11:28-06:00February 26th, 2025|

Tailwind Group Acquires Student Housing Property in Gainesville, FL

Tailwind Group and its partners are pleased to announce the recent acquisition of BLVD Gainesville, a 252-unit, 924-bedroom property in Gainesville, FL. The property is located approximately one mile from the University of Florida campus. The asset consists of 3-bedroom and 4-bedroom units. The asset was purchased from an undisclosed seller and the deal was brokered by Ryan Lang and his team at Newmark. This acquisition is the first student housing purchase of 2025 for Tailwind Group.

Over the next 18 months, the property will undergo major renovations which will include full unit conversions and upgrades, repurposing of the interior and exterior amenity spaces, and general property enhancements. The property will also be re-branded to one of Tailwind Group’s flagship brands, “The Quarters”, in the spring of 2025 to coincide with the start of renovations.

“We are excited to enter the Gainesville market after years of sourcing different opportunities”, said Nick Sheak, Tailwind Group’s Director of Investments. “This acquisition perfectly fits into our strategic value-add platform from both a capital improvement and management standpoint. We are proud of the effort and execution our team put into this acquisition and confident in our business plan and investment strategy.”

Tailwind Group is a top 20 owner and manager of off-campus student housing in the country, with 37 different communities comprising approximately 17,500 bedrooms in their portfolio. Their reach spans across 14 states and 21 universities.

Inquiries:
Brandon Smith, Chief Executive Officer
Michael Sather, Chief Investment Officer & Managing Principal
Nick Sheak, Director of Investments

Farrah Falcone2025-01-24T09:11:45-06:00January 24th, 2025|

Tailwind Group Hires Jacob Ouradnik as Chief Financial Officer

(Mankato, MN) Tailwind Group is pleased to announce its recent hire of Jacob Ouradnik, who will serve as the organization’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Ouradnik is an experienced finance and accounting executive with various experiences in business and individual tax planning, 1031 exchanges, real estate and business structure formation, and financial review. He most recently served as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Partner at one of the top accounting firms in the Midwest, where he primarily serviced clients in the real estate industry. Tailwind Group had previously been one of Ouradnik’s key clients for several years.

Ouradnik will work as CFO alongside the Principals and the Executive Leadership Team. He will oversee the corporate finance, accounting, and data analytics teams, guide all financial operations for Tailwind Group, and play a pivotal role in shaping its financial strategy and supporting its long-term objectives. “I am thrilled to join an organization that heavily emphasizes their culture and lives by a very entrepreneurial mindset. Working as a service provider for Tailwind allowed me to meet many team members and see how the company functions from a distance. I cannot wait to be actively involved in the future of Tailwind and the great opportunities that lie ahead,” commented Ouradnik.

Tailwind Group’s CEO, Brandon Smith, commented, “We are ecstatic to welcome Jake to the team. He is an accomplished financial leader who is already familiar with Tailwind Group’s entities and real estate portfolio. He has a strong track record of developing and implementing strategic initiatives and is a great leader of people. We look forward to working together and know his contributions to Tailwind Group will be significant.”

Smith continued, “Jake will play a pivotal role as we continue to grow and scale our real estate portfolio and develop our team members.”

Tailwind Group is a vertically integrated real estate company. Its core focus is off-campus student housing, in which it is a top twenty owner and manager in the country. Its current real estate portfolio consists of approximately $1.3B in assets under management, 17,000 student housing bedrooms, and nearly 700,000 square feet of commercial real estate. Its reach spans 15 states and 21 different college communities.

Farrah Falcone2025-03-17T21:05:15-05:00January 8th, 2025|

Episode 6: Culture, Collaboration, and Growth

Tailwind Group is excited to announce the sixth episode of Tailwind Talks! Hosted by Devan Schaly-Brumbaugh, Director of Leasing and Marketing, this episode with Lane Gravley, Chief People Officer, dives into Lane’s leadership philosophy and the unique vision he brings to Tailwind Group.

In this episode, Lane shares personal stories, including some about his family, his active lifestyle, and his early career. He also reflects on his leadership principles, emphasizing servant leadership, team collaboration, and fostering a culture of empowerment and engagement. He talks about memorable site visits, overcoming challenges, and his passion for helping teams succeed. Lane’s philosophy of “work yourself out of a job” has shaped Tailwind’s leadership structure and growth, including mentoring Brandon into his current role as CEO. Additionally, Carli Davis, Social Media Manager, and Dylan Gregory, Outreach Marketing Specialist, join us for a special segment where they recap the last Leasing and Marketing Summit, fall lease launch, and the rebrand parties at multiple sites.

This podcast is available on all major platforms, making it easy for you to listen whenever you want! The marketing team would love your feedback to help us shape future episodes and enhance our content. Please complete this short survey. Thank you for listening!

Chapters:
00:45 Getting to Know Lane Gravley
01:15 Lane’s Personal Life and Hobbies
04:39 Professional Journey to Tailwind
10:52 Reflecting on Four Years at Tailwind
13:48 Holiday Music Trivia Game
20:04 Surprise Messages for Lane
26:57 Reflecting on Leadership Transition
31:04 The Importance of Leadership Development
34:13 Mentorship and Personal Growth
38:34 Defining Company Culture
43:21 Celebrating Achievements: Leasing Belt and Social Icon Awards
51:43 Looking Ahead: Reflections and Future Plans

Whether you’re an experienced investor, an ambitious professional, or simply intrigued about the world of real estate, our episodes promise to inform, inspire, and keep you eagerly anticipating what’s next for Tailwind Group.

Farrah Falcone2025-04-09T09:12:25-05:00December 19th, 2024|

Episode 5: Building More Than Spaces – Jon Fahning on Commercial Real Estate & Tailwind Group’s Vision

Tailwind Group’s Corporate Marketing Team is thrilled to release the fifth episode of Tailwind Talks, featuring an insightful conversation with Jon Fahning, Director of Development and Commercial Real Estate. Hosted by Brandon Smith, CEO, this episode dives into Jon’s journey, his team, and his expertise in managing Tailwind Group’s commercial real estate portfolio.

In this episode, Jon shares his career experiences, starting with a landscape architecture degree at Iowa State University to working in land development, golf course design, and leading large-scale international projects. He and Brandon also discuss Jon’s path to Tailwind and his eventual move to Minnesota.

Jon details his daily responsibilities managing over 700,000 square feet of commercial space and provides insights into his team’s work on planning, tenant acquisition, and key partnerships. He also touches on current challenges in the real estate industry, including COVID’s impact on supply chains, inflation, and shifting market trends.

You’ll also hear a special segment from David Hughes, Director of Information Technology, and Zach Kaufenberg, Senior Property Accountant. Zach shares his career journey, his role in accounting at Tailwind, and some fun stories from his first commercial flight!

Whether you’re an experienced investor, an ambitious professional, or simply intrigued about the world of real estate, our episodes promise to inform, inspire, and keep you eagerly anticipating what’s next for Tailwind Group.

This podcast is available on all major platforms, making it easy for you to listen whenever you want! The marketing team values your feedback and suggestions. Share your thoughts, questions, and ideas to help shape future episodes. You can send your feedback by emailing us.

Farrah Falcone2024-11-07T10:10:58-06:00November 7th, 2024|

Tailwind Group Rebrands Three Properties to Align with Core Brands

(Mankato, MN) Tailwind Group is excited to announce that three of their acquisitions have recently rebranded to each align with one of the company’s four core property brands. The rebrand launches were each meticulously planned and executed in alignment with preleasing kick offs and larger scale property improvements. Each rebrand launch was met with strong attendance that resulted in significant increases in preleasing velocity for Fall 2025. Tailwind Group’s rebrand strategy aims to provide residents and local community members an experience that highlights exciting changes at the property and showcases their resident experience-driven management philosophy.

The Landing Ames | Ames, Iowa

South Duff was acquired by Tailwind Group in 2022. After two years of being managed by Tailwind Group, it was time to transition South Duff into a core brand, The Landing. The Landing Ames launched renewal leasing for their residents during the rebrand celebration, which resulted in an outstanding kickoff to leasing. The rebrand celebration was a collaboration of giveaways, free food, exclusive merchandise, games, and more. The celebration highlighted the vibrant lifestyle and community of The Landing Ames, setting the tone for what it means to call The Landing home.

The Quarters Manhattan | Manhattan, Kansas

Tailwind Group acquired The Gramercy in June 2024, and quickly rebranded the property to The Quarters Manhattan in October. Residents and prospective residents were filled with enthusiasm as they embraced The Quarters identity. The rebrand celebration laid the foundation for an exhilarating community atmosphere that Tailwind Group strives to provide for residents. The Quarters Manhattan set a record for the most leases signed during a rebrand party in Tailwind Group history with 30 executed leases, an outstanding start to 2025-26 preleasing. Residents were left with excitement as they await the upcoming clubhouse renovations.

The Landing Lawrence | Lawrence, Kansas

The Reserve on West 31st was also acquired by Tailwind Group in June 2024. In October, The Reserve was rebranded to The Landing Lawrence. In addition to preleasing kickoff, The Landing hosted an incredible rebrand celebration for residents and prospective residents featuring mascot, Baby Jay! Another Tailwind Group record was set this month, The Landing Lawrence had the highest attended rebrand celebration with an incredible number of 238 attendees. The residents and site staff are looking forward to unveiling the renovations that embody the same spirit and community focus that The Landing brand fosters.

As Tailwind Group continues to grow and evolve, we’re excited to see how these celebrations inspire creativity and innovation within our teams, ultimately enhancing the experience for our residents. Together, we’re paving the way for student housing, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for Tailwind Group!

Tailwind Group is a vertically integrated real estate company. Its core focus is off-campus student housing, in which it is a top twenty owner and manager in the country. Its current real estate portfolio consists of approximately $1.3B in assets under management, 17,000 student housing bedrooms, and nearly 700,000 square feet of commercial real estate. Its reach spans 15 different states and 21 different college communities.

Farrah Falcone2024-10-24T16:21:19-05:00October 24th, 2024|

About Farrah Falcone

The Landing Ames | Ames, Iowa

The Quarters Manhattan | Manhattan, Kansas

The Landing Lawrence | Lawrence, Kansas

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