Gretchen Turpen - Centinel

Executive Vice President, Asset Management

As Executive Vice President for Centinel’s portfolio of military housing, Gretchen Turpen oversees all aspects of operations for the Army housing portfolio (over 25,000 homes). This includes all asset management, property management and development management activities across the portfolio, as well as all client and customer relationships. Gretchen is a member of the Senior Leadership Team of Centinel and is responsible for executing corporate strategy and driving financial performance across the housing portfolio.

In her role, Gretchen is responsible for implementing strategic asset and development planning initiatives and ensures all project objectives are met. She develops long-term strategies and short-term business plans to achieve optimum profitability and operating efficiency. Gretchen is adept at understanding that the balance of revenue and profit are ultimately driven by a positive customer experience and sustainment of the project in line with goals from the DoD partner. She is accountable for the performance of the project and services required to deliver the projects’ obligations to the various stakeholders, including customer experience, asset and financial management, development management, property and maintenance management, environmental health/safety, sustainability, brand reputation, and communications.

Prior to leading the housing portfolio, Gretchen served as Head of Lodging for seven years, responsible for the delivery of the Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) program. The lodging portfolio included the development and/or renovation of over 12,000 hotel rooms across 40 military installations nationwide. Gretchen was responsible for all aspects of this program, as Centinel is the exclusive asset manager, developer, and design builder for the Army’s entire lodging portfolio.

Gretchen joined Lendlease in 2007 and transitioned to Centinel Public Partnerships in 2025. Prior to joining Lendlease, Gretchen held positions with the United States Department of State as a Physical Security Engineer with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

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.