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Island Palm Communities And Hickam Communities Named Among Hawai’i’s Best Places To Work In 2026

HONOLULU (April 20, 2026) — Island Palm Communities (IPC) and Hickam Communities have once again earned recognition as one of the 2026 Hawai’i Business Magazine Best Places to Work, demonstrating Centinel Public Partnerships’ commitment to building strong workplace cultures and delivering exceptional service to military families across O’ahu.

The annual selection process consists of two parts: an assessment of each organization’s workplace policies and practices, and an employee survey measuring workplace experience. Only organizations meeting the established benchmarks for scoring and participation are honored.

In 2026, IPC was named a Platinum Winner in the large employer category—its 11th consecutive year on the list—earning induction into the program’s Hall of Fame. Hickam Communities received Gold Winner status in the medium employer category, celebrating its ninth consecutive year of recognition.

Ron Johnson, Centinel project director supporting Hawai’i, attended this year’s recognition event to celebrate alongside team members.

“Seeing this team recognized firsthand was powerful,” Johnson said. “The pride, connection and respect for the work were unmistakable—and it speaks volumes about the culture that’s been built here, which shapes the experience residents have in communities every day.”

At its core, this recognition reflects the commitment of the teams who extend beyond the day-to-day operations to help create communities where service members and their families feel supported, connected and at home.

“This kind of consistency doesn’t happen by chance,” said Tom Adams, senior vice president at WinnResidential, Centinel’s property management and maintenance partner. “It reflects years of dedication from teams who care deeply about each other, the mission and the military families they serve.” 

This year’s honorees represent some of Hawai’i’s most recognized employers, honored for high employee engagement and long‐term investment in their people. For IPC and Hickam Communities, continued inclusion on the list reflects both the strength of their local teams and the positive impact they make in the communities they serve.

“Our success starts with listening and being present—for our team, our residents and our base partners,” said Mladena Johnson Providence, project director at Hickam Communities. “When people feel heard and supported, it shows up in how we work together and in the sense of community our residents experience every day.”

About Centinel Public Partnerships
Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Centinel Public Partnerships is dedicated to enhancing the lives of U.S. military members and their families through its high-quality housing and lodging communities. With a portfolio of 10 housing communities and over 70 hotels across 26 states and Puerto Rico, Centinel’s leadership team brings 25 years of experience to one of the largest military housing privatization portfolios in the United States. Through its established partnerships with WinnResidential Military Housing Services and IHG® Hotels & Resorts, hotel operator and manager of IHG Army Hotels, Centinel provides exceptional communities and lodging experiences for service members and their families.  

About WinnCompanies 

WinnCompanies is an award-winning owner, developer and manager of high-impact, quality apartment homes. Winn is known as a leading manager of multifamily apartment communities, operating the nation’s largest portfolio of affordable housing with a groundbreaking resident services platform. Its community development work focuses on creating and revitalizing mixed-income properties through environmentally sustainable new construction and pioneering adaptive reuse techniques. The company has also been a top manager of privatized housing for members of the U.S. armed forces and their families since 2001. 

Chief Commercial Officer Kevin Davis is responsible for Centinel’s commercial services, including transactions, operations and government relations. He also oversees risk and compliance, along with leadership of Environment, Health and Safety, and Marketing and Public Affairs. Kevin spent 18 years with Lendlease in senior business development, commercial and legal roles, following earlier experience in private law practice and service in the U.S. Air Force.

With nearly two decades of experience in marketing and communications, Meryl Exley leads Centinel’s brand, communications and public affairs strategy as Executive Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs. She oversees corporate communications, client and customer engagement, public relations, media, and crisis management, strengthening the company’s reputation and community connections. Before Centinel, Meryl held senior marketing leadership roles at Lendlease, where she advanced growth and visibility for its military housing and lodging platform.

Matthew Garrett is Executive Vice President responsible for Centinel’s Air Force Housing and Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) portfolios. He directs operations and strategic initiatives across both programs. Before joining Centinel, Matt held senior leadership roles at Lendlease, where he expanded its student housing platform and managed a military housing portfolio of more than 40,000 homes. He also led federal lobbying and outreach efforts, engaging with congressional and Department of Defense stakeholders. Earlier in his career, Matt served as a U.S. Army officer, earning a Bronze Star for Valor during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Leading Centinel’s legal, compliance and governance functions, Heather Niemeyer provides strategic counsel to support growth and manage risk across the portfolio. She brings more than 15 years of experience advising global organizations, including senior legal roles at Lendlease and earlier practice with two international law firms.

As Centinel’s Chief Financial Officer, Jeremy Martin is responsible for financial strategy, operations and reporting, guiding the company’s long-term growth and performance. He has more than 20 years of experience in corporate and real estate finance, with expertise in financial planning, compliance and risk management. Jeremy served as CFO for Lendlease (US) Public Partnerships Holdings LLC prior to the company’s acquisition by Centinel, where he directed financial operations for Lendlease Communities.

Gretchen Turpen serves as Executive Vice President, Asset Management, where she directs operations and asset, property and development management for Centinel’s Army housing portfolio of more than 25,000 homes. In this role, she leads corporate strategy, financial performance, and client and customer relationships. Previously, Gretchen was Head of Lodging, where she delivered the Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) program including the renovation of over 12,000 hotel rooms across 40 military installations nationwide.

In his role as President, Phillip Carpenter guides operations for Centinel’s Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) and Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) portfolios. He is responsible for property management, asset management, development, construction, and environmental health and safety. With more than 40 years of experience supporting the Department of Defense, Phillip has held senior leadership positions with Lendlease and J&J Worldwide Services, bringing expertise in real estate, development and facilities management. 

Justin Kern, Chief Executive Officer of Centinel, sets the company’s strategic direction with a focus on long-term sustainment and outcomes for customers, partners and employees. He has more than 20 years of leadership in real estate finance, construction and operations. Prior to Centinel, Justin served as President and CEO of Lendlease (US) Public Partnerships Holdings LLC, where he oversaw asset management, property management and development for military housing and lodging communities.