{"id":562,"date":"2026-11-04T22:21:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T22:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveoakwood.com\/blog\/?p=562"},"modified":"2026-11-10T15:33:33","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T15:33:33","slug":"building-whatamp8217s-next-celebrating-new-leadership-on-oakwoodamp8217s-new-development-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.liveoakwood.com\/blog\/2026\/11\/04\/building-whatamp8217s-next-celebrating-new-leadership-on-oakwoodamp8217s-new-development-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Building What’s Next: Celebrating New Leadership on Oakwood’s New Development Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

At Oakwood Management Company, bringing a new apartment community to life takes more than construction and a great location. Behind every successful opening are years of planning, collaboration, market research and a dedicated team working to turn a vision into a place residents are proud to call home.<\/p>\n

Leading those efforts are Cara Cannon, recently promoted to Vice President of New Development, and Lauren Davidson, recently promoted to Regional Manager of New Development.<\/p>\n

With decades of combined experience at Oakwood, Cara and Lauren bring a wealth of knowledge, a shared passion for developing people and a commitment to helping new communities succeed. As they step into their new roles, they're looking forward to continuing Oakwood's growth while strengthening the teams and relationships that make it possible.<\/p>\n

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Growing Their Careers with Oakwood<\/h2>\n

Both Cara and Lauren have built their careers at Oakwood, gaining valuable experience across multiple roles along the way.<\/p>\n

Cara joined Oakwood in 2017 as Property Manager of The Pointe at Polaris. She later advanced to Area Manager and Regional Manager before stepping into her newest role as Vice President of New Development.<\/p>\n

With a background in lease-ups, sales and marketing, Cara has always enjoyed finding creative ways to approach challenges. Early in her career, a mentor encouraged her to think outside the box, a philosophy she continues to share with her teams today.<\/p>\n

Throughout her career, one lesson has remained especially important: "People are the most important asset, always."<\/p>\n

Lauren's Oakwood journey began in 2010 as a weekend leasing agent at Albany Commons. Over the years, she advanced through the roles of Assistant Manager, Property Manager and Director of New Development before her recent promotion to Regional Manager.<\/p>\n

Along the way, Lauren gained extensive hands-on experience with new communities, completing lease-ups at Hilliard Place, Landmark Lofts, River & Rich, The City and The Kensington at Riggins Run, following her first lease-up experience as Assistant Manager at The Ravines at Westar.<\/p>\n

Each position helped shape her understanding of the multifamily industry and the importance of every role within an organization.<\/p>\n

"Each role that I have had has given me a different understanding of what it takes to keep a property, team and company moving forward," Lauren shared. "That has given me a greater appreciation for how every position contributes to the success of our company."<\/p>\n

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Behind the Scenes of New Development<\/h2>\n

While residents typically see a completed community ready for move-in, Oakwood's New Development Team is often involved years before the first doors open.<\/p>\n

Depending on when Oakwood becomes involved in a project, the team may help guide decisions from the earliest planning stages, including apartment layouts, amenities, projected rents and interior finishes. They work alongside developers, owners, architects and designers to ensure each community is thoughtfully planned for both its future residents and the teams who will operate it.<\/p>\n

As construction progresses, their responsibilities expand to include operational planning, market research, marketing strategies, financial reporting, leasing preparation and regular communication with ownership.<\/p>\n

At communities like Galaxy at Polaris, the team was involved well before construction began, reviewing plans and collaborating with other departments to prepare for a successful opening.<\/p>\n

And the work doesn't stop once residents begin moving in.<\/p>\n

Each new community starts at zero occupancy, requiring a strategic approach to leasing, marketing and operations. The team monitors performance, adjusts strategies and supports on-site employees as the property grows toward stabilization.<\/p>\n

For Lauren, one of the most rewarding parts of the process is seeing a community develop its own identity.<\/p>\n

"My favorite part is watching a community's personality come to life," Lauren shared. "We start with a project on paper and an idea of what the community will become, but as construction progresses and the doors open, it truly comes to life."<\/p>\n

Cara shares that excitement, especially when she sees the impact a new community has on both residents and employees.<\/p>\n

"Seeing a construction site become a community where people feel at home is incredibly rewarding," Cara explained.<\/p>\n

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A Partnership Built on Experience and Trust<\/h2>\n

Having worked together throughout Cara's time at Oakwood, Cara and Lauren have developed a strong working relationship built on mutual respect and complementary strengths.<\/p>\n

Cara brings a broader strategic perspective to New Development, helping coordinate the many people and decisions involved in bringing a community to life. Lauren brings extensive on-site experience and a deep understanding of the day-to-day responsibilities that come with operating a successful property.<\/p>\n

Their different perspectives allow them to approach challenges from multiple angles while keeping the needs of owners, residents and employees at the forefront.<\/p>\n

"Cara and I have always had an amazing working relationship, and I think our differing perspectives are what make us such a strong team," Lauren shared. "She leads with compassion and empathy, stands up for our teams when needed and holds our region to a high expectation."<\/p>\n

Cara is equally appreciative of the experience and leadership Lauren brings to the team.<\/p>\n

"Lauren and I work closely together, and I trust her judgment," Cara shared. "We challenge each other, back each other up, and share a commitment to helping our teams succeed. I genuinely couldn't do this job the same way without her."<\/p>\n

Together, they balance strategic planning with hands-on operational knowledge, helping ensure each new development is positioned for success from its earliest stages through stabilization.<\/p>\n

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Looking Ahead: Building Communities and Developing People<\/h2>\n

As Oakwood continues to grow, Cara and Lauren are focused on more than opening new communities. They're equally committed to creating opportunities for the people who help make those communities successful.<\/p>\n

For Cara, that means continuing to develop the New Development Team, encouraging professional growth and strengthening the transition process as new communities move into Oakwood's stabilized regions.<\/p>\n

She also hopes to make an even greater impact across the company in her new leadership role, while continuing to build strong relationships with developers and owners who trust Oakwood with their investments.<\/p>\n

Lauren is looking forward to challenging herself as a leader and building on the foundation established by those who came before her.<\/p>\n

"I am most excited to challenge myself, continue growing as a leader, and see how much we can accomplish as a region year after year," Lauren shared. "I have a tremendous foundation from the leaders before me and I want to continue to build on that to make our teams, communities and region stronger."<\/p>\n

Despite the many responsibilities that come with new development, both leaders agree that their greatest source of pride is the people they work alongside.<\/p>\n

For Cara, it's seeing team members take initiative, solve problems and find opportunities to better themselves and those around them.<\/p>\n

For Lauren, it's the opportunity to support employees who are navigating the same challenges and milestones she experienced earlier in her career.<\/p>\n

"I love working with owners and being a part of the exciting development that shapes Central Ohio," Lauren shared. "But most importantly, I love talking and working with our teams on a daily basis. Having been in their shoes, I have so much appreciation for them and watching them succeed is unlike any feeling."<\/p>\n

As Cara and Lauren begin this next chapter, their leadership reflects Oakwood's continued commitment to thoughtful development, strong partnerships and investing in its people.<\/p>\n

Please join us in congratulating Cara Cannon and Lauren Davidson on their well-deserved promotions! We look forward to seeing the continued growth and success of Oakwood's New Development Team under their leadership.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At Oakwood Management Company, bringing a new apartment community to life takes more than construction and a great location. Behind every successful opening are years of planning, collaboration, market research and a dedicated team working to turn a vision into a place residents are proud to call home. Leading those efforts are Cara Cannon, recently… <\/p>\n

Read More <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25134,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-oakwood-news"],"metadata":{"_yoast_wpseo_metakeywords":[""],"_yoast_wpseo_title":["Building What's Next: Celebrating New Leadership on Oakwood's New Development Team - Oakwood Management Blog"],"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":["At Oakwood Management Company, bringing a new apartment community to life takes more than construction and a great location. Behind every successful opening are years of planning, collaboration, market research and a dedicated team working to turn a vision into a place residents are proud to call home. \u2026 Read More"],"_pingme":["1"]},"yoast_head":"\n