Officers

Mr. Paul T. McDermott was elected to the Board and named President and Chief Executive Officer of Elme Communities in October 2013.  Following the 2018 Annual Meeting, Mr. McDermott became the Chairman of the Board of Elme Communities. Prior to joining Elme Communities, he was Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Rockefeller Group Investment Management Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. from 2010 to 2013. Between 2006 to 2010, he served as Principal and Chief Transaction Officer at PNC Realty Investors. Between 2002 and 2006, Mr. McDermott held two primary officer roles at Freddie Mac — Chief Credit Officer of the Multifamily Division and Head of Multifamily Structured Finance and Affordable Housing. From 1997 to 2002, he served as Head of the Washington, D.C. Region for Lend Lease Real Estate Investments. 

Mr. Steven Freishtat joined Elme Communities in November 2015 and serves as Executive Vice President and CFO. Prior to joining Elme Communities, Steve served as Vice President for CapitalSource, Inc. from 2004 to 2015, overseeing a portfolio of middle market loans in the Cash Flow group. Prior to CapitalSource, Steve worked as a Senior Financial Analyst in the Financial Planning and Analysis group at Marriott International. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Indiana University and a Masters of Business Administration from the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University. He earned his CPA in 1997 (inactive) and is a CFA Charterholder.

Ms. Tiffany Butcher joined Elme Communities in July 2023 and serves as Executive Vice President and COO. In this capacity, she is responsible for guiding the company’s operating strategy, advancing and implementing operational improvements and aligning the day-to-day operations and asset management with the strategic goals set by the CEO and Board of Trustees.

Prior to joining Elme Communities, Ms. Butcher held various positions at JBG SMITH Properties since 2007. She was named JBG SMITH’s Chief Residential Officer in January 2023 and previously served as Executive Vice President from 2017 to 2023. Ms. Butcher holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia. She serves on the Board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and The House DC.

Ms. Susan Gerock joined Elme Communities in April 2016 and serves as Senior Vice President, Information Technology and Chief Information Officer. In this capacity, she is responsible for the leadership, integrative management, and direction for company information systems including corporate-wide planning, budgeting for information technologies, and coordination and integration of all company information technology matters. Ms. Gerock has over 28 years of management and information technology experience in commercial real estate, manufacturing and retail. Prior to joining Elme Communities, Ms. Gerock held various roles at Corporate Office Properties Trust, her most recent serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. She previously served as a Senior Information Technology Director for CarrAmerica and as an Information Technology Director for Archstone-Smith. Ms. Gerock holds an undergraduate degree from The College of William & Mary and holds a Master of Science, Management of Information Technology degree from the University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce. Ms. Gerock serves on the Board of Directors of 826DC and OSCRE International.

Mr. Drew Hammond joined Elme Communities in October 2012 and serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Treasurer and Secretary. In his current capacity, he oversees the company’s day-to-day operations, facilitates corporate strategic planning, and provides input for strategy and companywide goal setting. He also oversees the accounting, human resource, legal and treasury functions. 

Prior to joining Elme Communities, Mr. Hammond held various roles at CapitalSource, Inc. from 2003 – 2012, most recently as Controller.  Prior to CapitalSource, Mr. Hammond was a Senior Manager at Ernst & Young LLP from May 2002 to December 2003, and held various positions in the assurance practice at Arthur Andersen LLP from 1995 to 2002.  Mr. Hammond earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting from Washington and Lee University and is a certified public accountant.