Meet Your AANC President, Karen Perkins
Karen Perkins (she/her) is your new President of the AANC Board of Directors. Karen says she “fell into the multifamily industry by accident.” At 21, she was babysitting for a Community Manager who told her about a part-time leasing job. Karen applied, was hired, and has grown, professionally and personally, with Blue Ridge Companies in Fayetteville, NC, ever since.
Fayetteville is Karen’s hometown, where she was born and raised and continues to live today with her husband Ian, a produce farmer, and their two boys, Grayson (9) and Landon (6). Together, her family loves to gather experiences through travel, which Karen believes to be “one of the few things you can spend money on that truly leaves you richer.” She finds the most fulfilling role in her life is being a mom to her sons and is dedicated to helping them become the best men they can be. Karen shares this dedication to others beyond her own family, as demonstrated in her role as a Community Manager, where she works to ensure others appreciate and enjoy their home in Fayetteville as much as she does. She shares that
Property Management is the ultimate customer service job. For most people, a home is a place that is associated with comfort and peace; a place where families are started, and memories are made. Because of this, along with the simple fact that our customer is living with us day in and day out, we have endless opportunities to make a positive impact. From the way the community looks and feels when someone comes home after a hard day of work, to the deep sigh of relief when they walk in their door and realize their a/c has been fixed, to the patience and empathy we show when working with someone struggling with a mental illness or other kind of crisis, there are countless ways that we make a difference in people’s lives. For me, it is a privilege and an honor to serve the community in this way.
KAREN’S FAVORITESCOLOR: BLUE PIE: APPLE
FAMILY VACATION: DIXIE DUDE RANCH
BANDERA, TEXAS
TEAM: DUKE BLUE DEVILS
This month marks Karen’s 21st year with Blue Ridge Companies. She feels incredibly grateful for her time there, where she works alongside an individual whom she claims to be “the most significant mentor in her association career,” Susan Passmore. Karen believes that Susan’s leadership, along with her encouragement and guidance, has taught her “the importance of going beyond just doing (her) job — of understanding the critical role we all play in helping our state and national leaders make informed decisions,” and that through her leadership, Susan has inspired Karen to “always strive to contribute, no matter how big or small the task.”
Another important influence in Karen’s professional life has been Catina Rhinehart, who first encouraged her to volunteer with her local apartment association, the Cumberland County Apartment Association (now the Greater Fayetteville Apartment Association, GFAA). Catina’s “unwavering dedication, impactful contributions, and visionary leadership within the CCAA and GFAA were both inspiring and motivating,” leading to Karen becoming a board member of CCAA in 2014 and President of CCAA in 2016. Karen’s other leadership roles include:
- President of GFAA in 2017 (the year GFAA was established from CCAA).
- Board member of AANC since 2015.
- Executive Committee member of AANC since 2019, when she began as Secretary.
- President of AANC in 2025.
Karen’s journey in the multifamily industry is a testament to her dedication and passion for serving others. Her commitment to making a positive impact on peoples’ lives, be it through her role as a Community Manager, as a volunteer leader, or as a mom, reflects Karen’s deep care for her community and her belief in the importance of “Home.”