Meet the Team

Founder & CEO

Pete Zimek

Pete Zimek is the founder and CEO of Gainesville, Florida based Traffic2Revenue, a company whose Internet Listing Service providers (ILSs) in six Florida cities collectively help over 30,000 people per month in their search to find an apartment that meets their lifestyle and budget.  He is an expert in both the consultative sales process and search engine optimization. In 2011, Pete was named Social Media Person of the Year by the Apartment Association of Greater Orlando for his work in...

Market Director

Sydney Jamieson

Sydney was barely 18 when she toured at her first potential college apartment (College Manor, a true University of Florida classic!) and said to her roommate, "I should be the lady who gives the tours!" A University of Florida Gator graduate with a BS in Business Administration (Marketing), she took her first apartment industry job doing Street Team marketing for a student housing community in Gainesville, FL with nearly 1200 residents! She worked nearly every leasing job in that community's...

Digital Content Strategist

Catie Carey

Catie is passionate about community and connection and how those fundamental human needs intersect in a digital landscape. While her path to marketing, web, and digital content wasn't the most traditional, at its core, her passion for storytelling, improving the lives of those around her, and working with creative and energetic teams resulted in the career trajectory of her dreams.  After graduating with a master's degree from the University of Florida in 2008, Catie spent nearly a decade in...

Market Director

Carina Miles

Carina is a people person who loves all things public relations and marketing! She's done everything from working with PR agencies to entrepreneurial adventures, winning multiple industry awards along the way. Born and raised in Central Florida, she knows all of the ins and outs of the Orlando area. As a market director for iLS network, Carina is ecstatic to use her passion for client relations, while helping residents find their perfect apartment in the city she loves! Carina graduated with...

Digital Content Strategist

Dakota Sproule

Dakota is a creative problem-solver who gets fired up about making a difference in the community through public relations and communications. Fueled by these passions, she has worked in digital marketing, non-profit public relations, fundraising, content creation, social media strategy and market research. She loves using her experience to build meaningful, lasting relationships. As a part of the iLS Network team, she gets to do just that by connecting clients and renters to help them find an...

Digital Marketing Director

Jennifer Norman

Whether it's online or on-air, Jenn has been working to help local, regional and national businesses gain a competitive advantage since graduating from the University of Florida in 2008. Serving as the Director of Digital Marketing, Jenn plans and executes all online strategies including SEO, blogging and social media. Offline she strives to determine and connect SunstateApartments with strategic partners in the community. Having begun her career in local TV news and broadcasting, Jenn gained...

Digital Marketing Associate

Melisa Figueroa

Melisa is a go-getter who loves creating positive change in peoples' lives through public relations and communications. She loves working with and meeting new people and uses her passions to create lasting relationships. She has worked in retail marketing, non-profit public relations, event planning, radio station promotions, creating social media strategies, and more communications areas, all while still in school at the University of Florida. She made it her goal to gain as much experience...

Digital Marketing Strategist

Nicole Frommelt

Nicole is passionate about great products and their impact. Her love of music led her to join Grooveshark in the fall of 2012, where she worked closely with the Product and Data teams to provide the best radio and listening experience to users. During her time with the company, she made it her focus to develop new features and create exciting content for the community to enjoy. As a Digital Marketing Strategist for iLS network, her goal is remarkably similar. Nicole delivers effective copy...

Local Expert

Maria Eisenhart

When she's not at the beach soaking up the sun this Miami girl loves shopping. Whether, she is strolling the mall or surfing the web being up to date on the latest fashion trends is a must for her. Maria, having been a busy city girl her entire life, enjoyed the luxury of always having good restaurants open at all hours to support her nocturnal lifestyle habits. But as she moved to Gainesville in fall 2010 she was ready to embrace the college town life. However, she was nervous about where to...

Local Expert

Julia Barela

Growing up in Jacksonville, Florida since she was seven, her dream was always to attend the University of Florida and be a gator. Now at the age of 21, she is on the verge of graduating on May 2015 with a Bachelor's in Anthropology and minor in Entrepreneurship. Her adventurous spirit has led her to do the craziest of acts from zip lining the canyons to swimming with manta rays in the Bahamas. Julia is no stranger to traveling, especially since she's traveled and lived in four different...

Local Expert

Carter Rolfe

Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Carter moved to Jacksonville, Florida at the young age of seven. From plains to ocean, Carter quickly fell in love with the big blue and, though home is where the heart is, he quickly adjusted to the new lifestyle. Growing up watching the Florida Gators and attending Billy Donovan's summer basketball camp from middle school to high school, Carter felt orange and blue pumping through his veins early on. So when he came to Gainesville to attend the University...

Local Expert

Katie Duguid

Katherine has always been a Florida girl and grew up on the coast - that is, until she moved to Gainesville. There, she attends the University of Florida and studies both Advertising and English. While there isn’t sand or surf, she’s grown to love the area. What she particularly likes about the ‘ville is all the different living options that are available. As someone who has lived on and off campus, she knows the importance of finding a place that fits your lifestyle just...

Local Expert

Ivana Sehovic

Ivana is originally from Sarajevo, Bosnia, a beautiful capital city with a rich history and delicious food. Her family moved to Clearwater, Florida when she was 5 years old. She attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, majoring in English Literature and Pre-Medicine with a minor in Classics. One of her favorite places to visit in Gainesville is Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, where she loves to hike and photograph the wildlife. She also regularly drives up to attend...

Local Expert

Olivia Gonzalez

Food and books are the key to this Florida native's heart. Born and raised mostly in Orlando, Fl., Olivia has moved around and traveled throughout the state with her chef father and amateur chef mother. Reading just took her everywhere else she wanted to go--including Hogwarts! Although she couldn't attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Olivia is a senior at the University of Florida, majoring in public relations. She's had plenty of experience searching for the perfect apartment...

Local Expert

Maggie Teach

Originally from Indiana, Maggie grew up just minutes away from the beautiful beaches of Naples, Florida.  A proud member of the Gator Nation, she is currently pursuing a degree in advertising with a concentration in business. Maggie has a great deal of experience in the retail industry, most recently completing a sales internship with Nordstrom last summer. After enjoying a part-time internship with Swamp Rentals in the spring, she decided to become a member of the team and contribute...

Local Expert

Rebecca Boyd

Rebecca grew up in a tiny town outside of Gainesville, Florida and moved to Tampa to go to college at a small, private school.  She recently graduated with a degree in liberal studies, focusing on Psychology, Communication, and Social Work.  She found through her studies in communication that she loved understanding, talking to, and helping people.  In her free time, Rebecca enjoys reading a good book (all in one sitting, preferably), finding weird stuff at thrift shops, and...

Local Expert

Francesca Lyn

Born and raised in Florida, Francesca grew up in North Lauderdale and later attended the University of Florida in Gainesville. Earning both an undergraduate and graduate degree at UF has resulted in an obsession with the Gators and a compelling urge to buy anything that is orange and blue. Spending so much time living in a college town has made her an expert on apartment hunting. She looks forward to sharing her experiences to help other make the best choices. In her spare time, Francesca...

Local Expert

Victoria Phillips

Born and raised in Key West, Fla., Victoria’s upbringing was a unique one: She learned to swim before she could walk, and whipping up a batch of cupcakes is second nature thanks to her baking-centric family. She’s always down for a dance battle, and binge-watching TV is her guilty pleasure. An alumni of the University of Florida’s journalism school, Victoria is now an editor in New York City. Finding an affordable apartment in the big apple is no easy task, and Victoria has...

Local Expert

Jaclyn Rhoads

Originally from Boston, Jaclyn currently lives in Orlando with her husband Jesse, somewhere between Hogwarts and Cinderella’s castle. A graduate of the University of Florida’s College of Journalism & Communications (Go Gators!), Jaclyn has a degree in journalism and a masters in advertising. She met her hubby her freshman year of college and spent 10 years in Gainesville before moving to Central Florida. She is a marketing professional and has worked in several industries...

Local Expert

Alexa Lash

A hardcore karaoker and occasional bowling enthusiast, Alexa considers herself just as random as Florida weather. When she isn't out with her friends, she's at home editing one thing or another---anything from romance novels to resumes. But Alexa didn't get into writing and editing for giggles; she studied Creative Writing at the University of Central Florida (when the knights were still "Golden"), then got her Master's in Publishing & Writing from Emerson College in Boston. At UCF, she...

Local Expert

Lester Nandati

Lester was born just outside New Haven, Connecticut in the midst of dead-winter. Yet, he has resided in Tallahassee ever since moving down to Florida one and a half years after he was born. Being raised in Tallahassee, he grew accustomed to the heat of Florida summer, and the southern blend of culture. Still quite fond of his cold-climate roots, he never complains about the temperature in winter. Lester currently studies Mechanical Engineering and is pursuing research in mechatronics under...

Local Expert

Jenn Coffman

Unexpected to most, Jenn is not Italian or Hispanic; she’s a mutt from New Jersey. Growing up mostly in Kentucky and Florida, she’s no stranger to southern traditions and values though. Jenn moved to Gainesville, FL to attend the University of Florida (go gators!) and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology with a minor in Spanish and a minor in Anthropology. Jenn’s been working since she was 12 years old. It all started as a child model and progressed to...

Local Expert

Leah Loy

<p>Born in California, raised in Texas, yet transported to Florida as a teen, Leah still considers herself a Texas girl.  The statement is true, “once a Texan, always a Texan” and that describes Leah to a tee!  At the age of 14, Leah moved to Central Florida with her family then moved to the Panhandle to attend college at the Baptist College of Florida.  At the age of 19, Leah met and married her college...

Local Expert

Meghan Bowman

Born in Houston, Texas, where everything is big, Meghan’s birth story is no different than the state that is her birth place. Before Meghan’s mother could even step a foot inside the hospital, she was born right there in the parking lot. Meghan’s eagerness to live and have adventures has carried with her throughout her life. Growing up in a small town outside of Tampa, Florida was less than this spirited young lady aspired for. So, when she graduated she took the first...

Local Expert

Ryann Ivester

A Florida girl at heart, Ryann was born in St. Petersburg and raised in Tallahassee.  Ryann and her husband lived in Brooklyn briefly in a tiny one bedroom studio that she loved.  You would be surprised what you can do when your kitchen consists of a hotplate and a microwave.  Then they went on to Michigan where Ryann earned her degree in Nursing.   After beginning a career in cardiac nursing, Ryann and her husband came back home to Florida.  Whether you are a...

Local Expert

Katie Brady

A true Floridian, Katie grew up in Bradenton, a beachy community just south of Tampa, FL. While moving to Gainesville was a bit of a culture-shock ("Where's the ocean?"), she now cannot picture herself anywhere else. Katie is currently studying advertising at the University of Florida and participates in organizations including Ad Society, Journalism and Communications Ambassadors and the Dean's Student Advisory council. She just can't get enough of the j-school! A self-proclaimed...

Local Expert

Jake Romoser

Jake is a Florida man through and through. He was born and raised in Orlando - specifically, the suburbia of Ocoee. Jake graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in journalism and a minor in environmental studies. For the past year, he has been working in New York City in the photo department at Bon Appetit magazine. After a year of the big city grind, Jake decided 40-minute commutes on packed subway cars, $8 beers and ludicrous apartment rent just wasn't his cup of tea. He is...

Marie Freemole

Marie works at a craft store and is always looking for her next craft project. When she's not crafting, you'll find Marie in the kitchen cooking up one of her favorite recipes. Try her peanut chicken, and you'll soon find out cooking and baking are her real passion. A majority of her free time is spent trying new recipes from cuisines all over the world. She's spent a great deal of time exploring Orlando in some surprisingly unique stores searching for specialty ingredients to use in her...

Local Expert

Nick Sutter

Nick Sutter is a Florida native who grew up in South Florida. He is currently pursuing an Advertising degree at the University of Florida. Born with the heart of a writer and the core of a nerd, he seems to be constantly looking for new experiences to satisfy his own curiosity. Nick’s curiosity got its fill when he came to Gainesville. After four years of college he has learned a lot about the local area, including the apartments within it. Nick understands the importance of having a...

Local Expert

Teresa Martinez

Aside from doctoring her DVR to make sure that E!News and the Fashion Police have recorded, Teresa enjoys exploring Florida’s local outlets and hidden gems. Having an interest in thrifting and vintage décor, Teresa has spent her time discovering various neighborhoods, communities, and absorbing the surrounding culture that makes each city uniquely rich. A native of Louisiana, Teresa grew up in Tampa and attended the University of South Florida.  Moving nearly twice a year...

Local Expert

Ashley Shewey

Born and raised in the Sunshine State, Ashley hails from a one-stoplight town outside of Gainesville, FL. She was born in the same hospital as singer/songwriter Tom Petty (although not at the same time or the same decade for that matter.) With a degree in Journalism from UF (Go Gators!), most of her work has been involved in TV and video; including a stint with The Late Show with David Letterman in NYC. Imagine the culture shock when she left the comforts of laid-back Florida living (and...

Market Director

Noel Myatt

Noel is familiar with the Apartment industry because he has been surrounded by it his entire life. He learned the ropes when his mother served as the Regional Apartment Manager for a Management company and eventually owned her own company servicing apartment communities in Central Florida.  Noel also ran the family business for a number of years, before moving on to carve his own path. He started by graduating from the University of Central Florida in 1993 with his Bachelor of Science and...
Dolores is a problem-solver and likes a challenge—in as many languages as possible. Half Italian and half American, Dolores is no stranger to environments with diverse people and ways of thinking. She moved from Italy to the USA as a tiny tot, grew up in Florida and now attends the University of Florida learning how to produce the news as a telecommunications major. Aside from Italian, Dolores is studying French so she can say "Go Gators!" in three languages. As a member of the noviAMS team,...

Local Expert

Imani Williams

Imani is a ready for the world twenty-something with a passion for unique people and places, and her career in non-profit public relations has allowed her countless experiences with both. With a Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations from Clark Atlanta University and a Masters' Degree in Communication from the University of Louisville, Imani has studied digital marketing and influence, always with the intention of helping others. She enjoys using her personal and social influence to advocate...

Local Expert

Emily Thoures

Emily was born in San Diego, California but spent half of her childhood in Florida, so she knows how to enjoy beaches and sunshine. Having grown up in the town of Spring Hill just north of Tampa, she is very familiar with the surrounding area. After graduating high school, Emily spent time in Gainesville pursuing her Associates Degree from Santa Fe College. When she started missing the water, she moved to Tampa and went on to earn her Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from the University...

Past Contributors

Local Expert

Sasha Samsudean

When she's not busy whipping up a batch of her indulgent chocolate peanut butter cupcakes or catching up on the latest episode of Real Housewives, Sasha enjoys cruising around town visiting various apartment communities. She grew up in Orlando and attended the University of Florida, where she moved seven times within five years. She's had her fair share of bad roommates, noisy neighbors, and insect infestations, but is grateful for the opportunity to share these stories with other renters to...