Centinel logo

Centinel Public Partnerships Executives Named 2026 GlobeSt. Women of Influence

Gretchen Turpen and Meryl Exley honored for leadership in asset management, marketing and public affairs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 29, 2026) — Centinel Public Partnerships is proud to announce that two of its senior leaders, Gretchen Turpen, executive vice president of Asset Management, and Meryl Exley, executive vice president of Marketing and Public Affairs, have been named 2026 GlobeSt. Women of Influence honorees.

Turpen was recognized in the Investment Professional/Owner category, and Exley was honored in the Marketing/Communications Professional category. Together, these recognitions reflect the strength of leadership across the Centinel team and demonstrate the organization’s continued commitment to fostering innovation, excellence and service.

Turpen oversees Centinel’s privatized military housing portfolio of more than 32,000 homes—one of the largest in the nation—and has led major initiatives in asset management, development and operations that support long-term value and strong living experiences for military families.

“It is an honor to be recognized by GlobeSt. alongside so many accomplished women in at the top of our field,” Turpen said. “This ultimately reflects the dedication, talent and work ethic of the entire Centinel team and our shared commitment to delivering quality housing experiences and hospitality for military families.”

Exley leads Centinel’s brand, communications and public affairs strategy across its national multifamily housing, lodging and hospitality portfolio. Through her work, she elevates the company’s expertise in military housing and lodging while strengthening stakeholder trust.

“It is a privilege to receive this award and continue advancing Centinel’s mission internally and throughout our sector,” Exley said. “This year’s honorees—including and especially Gretchen—are women who truly shape and advance our industry. I’m humbled and thrilled to play a role in that advancement and proud of the important work our Centinel team is doing to elevate our platform, strengthen engagement and reinforce our commitment to the military communities we serve.”

GlobeSt.’s Women of Influence program recognizes leaders whose achievements have made a meaningful impact within their firms and across the commercial real estate industry. Turpen and Exley exemplify these qualities through their strong reputations, record of innovation and results, ability to solve complex challenges with creativity and strategic insight, and commitment to advancing their field, supporting their communities, and upholding the highest standards of service, integrity and excellence.

For more information on the 2026 GlobeSt.’s Women of Influence awards, please visit here.

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. Centinel’s leadership team brings nearly 25 years of experience to one of the largest military housing and lodging privatization portfolios in the United States, serving nearly 3.8 million military personnel, families and guests annually. 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. For more information, visit CentinelUS.com.

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.