10/21/2026
11 am PT / 12 pm MT / 1 pm CT / 2 pm ET
*approximate length: 45 minutes to 1 hour
Presenter: Michelle Oppelt, CEO of Open Management
Manufactured housing has become an increasingly important part of the U.S. housing landscape, providing an essential source of affordable housing while presenting property management professionals with a unique set of operational opportunities and challenges.
Drawing from her experience leading property and asset management across a $300 million nationwide real estate portfolio, Michelle Oppelt will provide an inside look at what it takes to successfully operate manufactured housing communities at scale. From the day-to-day realities facing onsite teams to resident experience, collections, maintenance, home sales and leasing, capital projects, and centralized support, attendees will explore what makes manufactured housing different from other residential property types and where the fundamentals of great property management remain the same.
The session will also examine how the manufactured housing industry has evolved, the role it plays in addressing housing affordability, and the career opportunities available to real estate professionals interested in the sector. Throughout the discussion, Michelle will share lessons in leadership, culture, process, and building scalable operations that property management professionals can apply across asset classes.
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify the unique operational challenges and opportunities within manufactured housing, including how managing these communities differs from traditional multifamily and other residential property types and what those differences mean for onsite teams and leadership
- Examine the role of manufactured housing within today's affordable housing landscape and recognize how the sector has evolved and professionalized as an increasingly important part of the broader real estate industry
- Apply lessons from operating manufactured housing communities at scale, including strategies for building high-performing teams, creating consistent processes, strengthening culture and accountability, and developing systems that support sustainable growth across property types
- Recognize career pathways within the manufactured housing sector and identify how existing property management, operations, asset management, finance, and leadership skills can translate into opportunities within the industry
Michelle Oppelt is the CEO of Open Management, a property and asset management firm specializing in manufactured housing communities. With nearly 20 years of experience building and scaling companies, Michelle has overseen the property and asset management of a $300 million real estate portfolio and helped build Open Management from a small operation managing a handful of properties into a nationwide platform.
Throughout that growth, Michelle has led teams and operations across property management, asset management, financial management, resident experience, compliance, sales and marketing, and capital projects. Her experience scaling the organization has shaped her approach to leadership: putting people first, creating clear and consistent processes, and building systems that allow teams to perform at a high level without relying on any one individual to hold everything together.
Today, Michelle is focused on building high-performing teams, creating scalable operational systems, and developing leaders who can drive consistent results as organizations grow. She believes sustainable performance starts with strong leadership, clear accountability, and a culture where people feel supported, valued, and invested in the outcome.