MEET OUR

RESULTS DRIVEN TEAM

The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development. There is almost no limit to the potential of an organization that recruits good people, raises them up as leaders and continually develops them.

John Maxwell

Founded in 2008 to initially manage her syndicated operations, Shelley Nichols is the Founder and Principal of Banyan Equity Management. With nearly two decades of experience in real estate investment, brokerage, and operations, she has built and managed her own portfolio exceeding 1,800 units and $170 million in total asset value, consistently delivering strong returns and NOI growth for investors.

Under her leadership, Banyan Equity Management has transformed underperforming communities into high-value assets, achieving ROI ranging from 87% to over 250% across multiple properties. Shelley is also the Broker and Owner of Banyan Realty Associates, representing multifamily buyers and sellers while providing strategic guidance on underwriting, due diligence, and financing.

Prior to founding Banyan, Shelley served as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Member of Professional Alternatives of Texas, scaling twelve staffing offices across three cities and generating $7.5 million in annual revenue within the first two years. She has also held senior leadership and consulting roles focused on operational turnaround, financial management, and business growth strategy.

A University of South Florida graduate, Shelley is a licensed Texas Real Estate Broker, an active member of the Houston Apartment Association, and a frequent industry speaker and mentor. She is known for her data-driven approach, strong investor relations, and commitment to creating thriving, high-performing communities.

Outside of work, Shelley values her family above all. She has four children and three fur babies, and enjoys tending orchids, baking sourdough, weightlifting, boating in the Florida Keys, and spending time with her friends.

Jimilea Thibodeaux has been a leader in the multifamily industry since 1988, beginning her career with one of the largest developers of the 1980s, Harold Farb Investments. Since 1995, she has held executive leadership roles, including Director of Operations for Trimark Properties and Vice President of the Stone Legacy Group, before joining Banyan Equity Management in May 2019. In these roles, Jimilea has overseen operations for portfolios ranging from 3,000 to 10,000 units across four states.

Throughout her career, she has been directly involved in more than 80 acquisitions and dispositions, primarily in Houston, Texas, where she has lived her entire life. She holds a Texas Real Estate License since 2019 and brings a deep, personal passion for the industry—a passion rooted in family, as her mother was active in real estate since the 1960s and held executive roles for major players in the field.

At Banyan, Jimilea works closely with clients through underwriting, due diligence, acquisitions, and execution to ensure alignment between operations and ownership, maximizing the potential of every asset under management. She approaches every project with an ownership mentality and strongly believes that financial training at all levels and alignment with our clients is essential to driving asset performance.

Outside of work, Jimilea enjoys spending time with her family including her dog Princess, playing tennis, attending different workout classes, and cherishes the holidays when all three of her children are home.

With over 20 years of experience in the multifamily industry, Lisa Harrison has been an integral part of Banyan Equity Management’s growth and success. She began her career with Aimco in 2005 and joined Banyan Equity in 2010 as a Property Manager.

After successfully turning around several Banyan assets, Lisa transitioned into the accounting department in 2016, where she gained extensive financial and operational expertise. Her dedication and leadership led to her promotion to Director of Operations in 2021 and, subsequently, to Vice President in 2023.

Since joining Banyan, Lisa has been a key contributor in expanding Banyan’s portfolio to over 3400 units since it was founded in 2008. Her commitment to clients, investors, and lenders has fostered strong relationships built on trust, transparency and integrity – values that define Banyan’s success. Contributing greatly to Banyan’s continued success.

Outside of work, Lisa enjoys gardening, crafting, and spending time with her family. She also tends to her farm, where she raises chickens and cows—a reflection of her grounded and hardworking nature.

Andrea Salazar has been part of the multifamily industry for over 15 years, bringing a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for people to her leadership role. She began her career in 2010 with Wilmax Capital as a Leasing Agent and was promoted to Property Manager in 2015.

In January 2020, Andrea joined Banyan Equity Management as a Property Manager, and her dedication, professionalism, and ability to foster team growth quickly earned her a promotion to Director of Employee Resources in November 2023.

In her current role, Andrea oversees training, employee relations, payroll, and online reputation management. She is deeply committed to building strong, supportive teams and creating a culture where every team member feels valued and empowered to grow.

What Andrea loves most about her work is connecting with others—whether it’s welcoming new team members, helping employees navigate their careers, or ensuring the Banyan team feels appreciated and supported.

Outside of work, Andrea enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the outdoors with her kids, dancing, and tackling a good puzzle.

With 17 years of experience in the multifamily industry, including over eight years as a Regional Manager, April Conway brings a proven track record of leadership, operational excellence, and team development to her role with Banyan Equity Management.

April began her career in 2008 as a part-time Leasing Consultant while earning her bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Her dedication and drive quickly propelled her career forward, and by 2012, she was managing a 488-unit community. Throughout her tenure as a Regional Manager, April has played a key role in more than 20 successful property dispositions and refinances, as well as overseeing multiple million-dollar renovation projects.

A holder of both CAM and CAPS certifications, April is passionate about developing and mentoring her teams, consistently helping them achieve growth and earn promotions within the company.

Outside of work, April enjoys traveling, spending time with family, and volunteering with I9 Sports for her stepdaughter’s basketball team. A summer enthusiast, she loves relaxing by the pool in her free time.

Jessica Avila brings over 25 years of multifamily experience to Banyan Equity Management. She began her career in 2000 with Blue Stone Management as a Leasing Consultant and advanced to Property Manager with Dalcor in 2005. Over the years, Jessica has continued to expand her expertise through leadership roles with Newport Ventures and Sunridge Management, where she successfully guided teams and improved property performance.

In 2023, Jessica earned her first Regional Supervisor position before joining Banyan Equity in 2024 as a Regional Manager. With a proven track record of turning around underperforming assets, she is known for her strong leadership, motivational style, and ability to inspire her teams to deliver exceptional results.

Jessica also holds her Certified Apartment Property Supervisor (CAPS) designation, reflecting her commitment to professional excellence.

When she’s not working, Jessica enjoys cheering on her son at his AAU and Nimitz Varsity basketball games, riding her ATV in the wooded trails in Humble, shopping and exploring new restaurants.

With more than 13 years of experience in the multifamily industry, Natalie Torres brings proven leadership, operational expertise, and a strong commitment to performance in her role as Regional Manager at Banyan Equity Management. Natalie joined Banyan in 2024 as a Property Manager and was quickly promoted to District Manager in early 2025, where she led the successful onboarding and stabilization of one of Banyan’s newest portfolios. Her ability to drive results, develop teams, and strengthen operations earned her the title of Regional Manager shortly after.

Natalie began her multifamily career with Orion Real Estate, advancing from Leasing Consultant to Property Manager through her strong work ethic, hands-on leadership approach, and dedication to operational excellence. She is well-known among her onsite teams for her genuine support, collaborative mindset, and commitment to empowering others to succeed.

Natalie also holds her CAM certification, underscoring her professionalism and deep industry knowledge.

Outside of work, Natalie enjoys staying active through bike riding and working out. She also loves spending quality time with her daughter and cheering her on at her softball games.

Alyssa Broussard joined Banyan Equity Management in 2019 as a Senior Accountant—her first position following college. In her role, she supports the financial operations of Banyan’s multifamily property management portfolio, overseeing accounts payable, banking, vendor relations, and the seamless integration of new acquisitions into Banyan’s accounting systems and software.

Known for her keen eye for financial analysis and exceptional attention to detail, Alyssa ensures accurate and timely financial reporting for Banyan’s clients.

Alyssa holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is currently pursuing her CPA license to further expand her expertise.

Outside of work, Alyssa enjoys reading and growing her book collection. Most of her free time is spent with her family at social gatherings and outings.