Our
Team

Shelley James is the President and Founder of High 5 Residential, LLC, where she brings more than 35 years of multifamily real estate leadership experience to help owners enhance asset performance and long-term value. Shelley partners closely with clients to develop practical, results-driven strategies aligned with their investment goals.

Before founding High 5 Residential, Shelley held senior executive roles overseeing thousands of multifamily units across the Southeastern United States. Her background spans both owner-operated and fee-managed portfolios, providing her with a well-rounded perspective on operations, finance, and performance optimization.

Shelley is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to building high-performing teams. She is passionate about developing talent, encouraging innovation, and implementing data-informed strategies that drive measurable results for owners and investors.

A Certified Property Manager (CPM®), Shelley has also earned the CAPS® and CAM® designations through the National Apartment Association and is an active member of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®). Her industry service includes serving as President of IREM Nashville and as Past Chairman of the Board for both the Greater Nashville Apartment Association and the Tennessee Apartment Association.

Shelley attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is a licensed real estate broker in Tennessee, Alabama, and North Carolina.

Amy Stephens brings more than 25 years of experience in residential property management to High 5. Her background includes multifamily, condominium, and homeowner association management across both REITs and privately held organizations. Throughout her career, she has served in both on-site operational and corporate administrative roles, providing support to senior leadership.

Since joining High 5 in 2018, Amy has played an integral role in the firm’s day-to-day operations. Her responsibilities include office management, human resources support, payroll, bookkeeping, vendor compliance, and meeting and event planning. She also supports due diligence efforts and oversees the company’s learning management system and other digital platforms, helping keep operations running smoothly across the organization.

Amy holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Alabama and is a Microsoft Office Specialist with certifications in Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Cara Kunz is a seasoned multifamily leader with more than 15 years of industry experience, including deep expertise in the Franklin, Tennessee market. Her background spans lease-up execution, operational leadership, and team development, with a proven ability to guide properties from initial delivery through stabilization and long-term performance.

Beginning her career in lease-up operations, Cara advanced into senior on-site leadership, where she directed all aspects of property operations, including unit and amenity acceptance, construction coordination, resident experience, and outreach marketing initiatives. She led weekly construction and delivery meetings, ensuring schedules, quality standards, and operational readiness were consistently met while cultivating strong resident communities.

Following a property ownership transition in 2020, Cara was retained to provide continuity and leadership under new management. As the organization expanded regionally, she played a strategic role in growth initiatives, leading multiple due diligence processes, establishing systems for unit walks and file audits, and supporting successful onboarding efforts. She later served as a trainer and mentor to on-site leadership teams in the North Carolina market, contributing to operational consistency, compliance, and performance excellence across the portfolio and assumed her current role of Regional Property Manager in 2025.

Chad Raphael serves as Controller at High 5 Residential, where he oversees financial operations and supports the company’s long-term strategic growth. With more than 20 years of experience spanning corporate finance, audit, and institutional operations, Chad brings a disciplined and thoughtful approach to financial management.

Before joining High 5, Chad served as Chief Financial Officer at MP&F Strategic Communications, leading financial planning, system implementation, and compliance across the organization. Earlier, he held senior financial roles at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, managing complex research funding, academic budgeting, and regulatory oversight.

His experience across both institutional and private-sector environments provides a strong foundation for supporting High 5 Residential’s continued growth and operational excellence.

Teresa Ciucci serves as Marketing and Systems Manager at High 5 Residential, where she drives marketing strategy and supports system optimization to enhance portfolio performance. With more than 26 years of experience in multifamily property management, she brings a strategic, data-driven approach that blends analytics, creative execution, and operational efficiency.

Before joining High 5 Residential, Teresa served as Director of Marketing at Planned Property Management, where she oversaw a 31-property portfolio of more than 3,200 units. She improved marketing performance by optimizing budgets, strengthening digital campaigns, and enhancing online reputation while maintaining strong occupancy. She also led team development initiatives, mentoring and training staff to elevate performance and drive results.

Earlier in her career, Teresa spent nearly two decades with TLC Management, where she advanced to Director of Marketing, leading company-wide training programs and supporting team growth. Her leadership-driven approach and strategic mindset make her a valuable contributor to High 5 Residential’s continued growth and operational excellence.

Brian Greene serves as an Accounting Associate at High 5 Residential, supporting the company’s financial operations with a focus on accuracy, analysis, and process improvement. His background in audit and corporate accounting provides a strong foundation for ensuring reliable financial reporting and operational efficiency.

Before joining High 5, Brian was a Senior Audit Associate at Puryear & Noonan, CPAs, where he led audits across a variety of industries, including construction, healthcare, and nonprofit organizations. He also gained experience at LBMC and began his career at LSC Communications, where he supported core accounting functions and process initiatives.

Brian holds both a Master of Accountancy and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee. His analytical mindset and attention to detail make him a valuable member of the High 5 Residential team.

Charles Terrell, Jr. leads business development at High 5 Residential, where he is responsible for sourcing new management opportunities and strengthening relationships with property owners and partners. His background spans development, acquisitions support, brokerage, and leasing across multifamily and retail assets.

Before joining High 5, Charles advised private equity firms on mixed-use acquisitions across Texas, providing market insight and hands-on transactional expertise. He previously held roles with Vantage Companies, Henry S. Miller, and The Staubach Company, and later founded Terrell Property Company, focused on urban leasing and development.

Charles has also held several civic leadership positions, including serving as a City Plan Commissioner, a board member of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), and President of Safer Dallas Better Dallas.

He earned his B.B.A. from Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business, with a concentration in real estate and finance.

Sam Bediako joined High 5 in 2019 and serves as the company’s Property Accountant, bringing more than seven years of experience in property management accounting. For the past seven years, he has been responsible for High 5’s financial accounting and reporting, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and accountability across the portfolio.

Sam supports both internal teams and clients through reliable financial reporting and a disciplined, detail oriented approach that helps drive informed decision making. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Administration from the University of Ghana, a Master of Science from Tennessee State University, and a Master of Accountancy from Middle Tennessee State University. Sam has extensive experience with the Yardi and OneSite platforms and is valued for his collaborative mindset and commitment to delivering dependable results.

Rebecca Welch serves as Vice President of Operations for High 5 Residential, bringing more than 30 years of multifamily experience and a proven track record of building strong teams, improving operational performance, and driving financial results.

Rebecca began her career onsite and spent 28 years with one organization, advancing from Leasing to Senior Area Vice President. She later served as Vice President of Operations, overseeing approximately 9,500 apartment homes across Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida.

Building on her extensive operations background, Rebecca transitioned into asset management, expanding her experience to the ownership side of the business. As an Asset Manager, she was responsible for the financial and operational performance of a 4,500-unit multifamily portfolio throughout the Southeast, partnering closely with third-party management teams to drive NOI, revenue strategy, budgeting and forecasting, capital planning, and overall asset performance.

At High 5 Residential, Rebecca brings these experiences together to strengthen property performance, support continued growth, and create an exceptional experience for both team members and residents.