Apartment Income Investors

Michael Chesser, Founder and President

Michael Chesser founded Apartment Income Investors (Aii) in 1994 to capitalize on diverse real estate opportunities, including retail, office and Class B multifamily. Michael has built a reputation for increasing property values through a well-defined, repeatable investment process: buying underperforming properties at clear discounts to replacement cost and implementing renovation and repositioning strategies to improve occupancy and cash flow. Aii's approach to transforming properties has proven successful through several real estate cycles, and the company recently formed Transformation Housing Fund, LP to take advantage of growing demand for rental housing. Michael began his career as a licensed CPA. Starting at a prominent company in Beverly Hills, California, he later opened his own CPA firm in Santa Monica, California. Michael is an Army veteran and a graduate of Wichita State University with a degree in Business Administration and Accounting.

Neda Abdoh, Accounting Manager

Neda has more than 22 years with Aii and affiliated companies and specializes in accounting and finance/business law. In addition to overseeing all property accounting, she also handles details of purchase and sale transactions. Neda oversees all tax filings and compliance for each of the property entities as well as the management and holding companies. Neda was honored by Chase Manhattan Bank for her decades-long affiliation and service to the bank’s mortgage processing division. She is a graduate of California State University, Northridge.

Carolyn Manwaring, Portfolio Management Consultant

Carolyn is a member of the acquistion team at Aii. She has more than 20 years of experience with Aii and has been involved in all facets of the business including acquisitions, investor relations, property management and senior level management. Carolyn’s detailed analysis during underwriting and due diligence provides the foundation to maximize cash flow and asset values by transforming target assets. Carolyn is instrumental in each phase of Aii’s acquire-transform-realize investment process. She personally has handled mortgage underwriting and originations of over $500 million, and is lauded as an expert by Bank of America, Citigroup, Chase and all the major financial institutions. Carolyn is a graduate of the University of Arizona.

Rachel Brown, Operations Manager

Rachel Brown is a dynamic professional who has demonstrated her prowess in property management and real estate operations with Aii since 2021. A self-starter with a keen problem-solving ability, Rachel approaches her work with a can-do attitude, contributing to the success and efficiency of the team. An asset to our organization, Rachel elevates any situation she is involved in, earning appreciation from tenants, vendors, and co-workers alike. She earned her degree in business and communications from California State University Northridge.

Pearl Chesser, Project Manager

Pearl Chesser assists with accounting, office management, property management, and any task that is needed. Her organizational and project skills have been an asset to Apartment Income Investors. She comes from an airline background, having worked at Air New Zealand in marketing and sales for 18 years. She is completely fluent in Spanish, including reading and writing. Pearl graduated with distinction from California State University Channel Islands with a bachelor's degree in History.

Lauren Ivy, Marketing Consultant

Lauren Ivy has been a valuable part of the Aii team since 2017, contributing her expertise as both a consultant and a full-time employee. Lauren has served as both Marketing Manager and Special Projects Manager, showcasing her versatility and commitment. She has played a pivotal role in property-level and fundraising campaigns, serving as a cross-functional collaborator in marketing capacities. Her talents range from creative marketing strategy, the artful writing and design of marketing materials, and effective project coordination. Lauren's skills were honed in the entertainment industry, including production design of an Emmy award winning original series; these experiences are the origin of the talent she brings to Aii. Lauren earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Northern Illinois University.