Inside HZ: How Berit Tomten Improves Resident Experience and Investment Outcomes

For Berit Tomten, excelling at her craft is nothing new. The Senior Director of Project Management for Hamilton Zanze, who was recently named to GlobeSt.’s Women of Influence Class of 2025, has received several accolades as an athlete, as well.

Her extensive background includes time as an All-American swimmer, a collegiate rower at the University of Minnesota and competing internationally in ski jumping, bobsled and curling.

The Seattle-based Tomten, who joined HZ in 2013, recently took some time for a Q&A about the immense value she brings to the company. The conversation details the many ways in which she helps to create great experiences for residents and drive strong returns for investors.

How would you describe the role your team plays in driving value at HZ properties?

Tomten: We’re heavily involved with the execution of large capital projects. When we acquire a property, we work with our construction services team from Mission Rock Residential and specialized contractors to thoroughly inspect the property so we can develop a comprehensive plan and budget to execute on within the first year of ownership.

Our biggest role is executing on the work for the budget we’ve established. We are involved in managing the projects from the start of planning and design until the final invoice is paid. Overall, we have one of the smallest teams at HZ—five of us—and everyone comes from a different background, which is great, because it’s made us a really nimble team.

Can you share an example where your team’s work directly improved a property’s performance or resident experience?

Tomten: That pretty much sums up the primary objective of most of the work that we do. When we develop these projects, we work with the site team and asset management team not only to drive value, but also to improve the resident experience. This includes initiatives such as amenity improvements to the clubhouse or pool area, and full-scale siding and window replacement projects. It can be anything from smaller-scale deferred maintenance items to larger property upgrades.

How do you collaborate with other departments—like Acquisitions or Asset Management—to ensure your work aligns with overall property goals?

Tomten: From the minute we agree to buy a property, we’re working directly with the acquisitions team to achieve the goals they have for budgets and pricing. A lot of early collaboration goes on with that team when we’re performing inspections, because they’re handling all the conversations with the seller and there is a lot to handle up front. When we’re developing our budgets, sometimes it’s a give-and-take process, so a lot of goals need to align on the front end.

Our team looks out not only for the property management team and the work that needs to be done, but also the asset as a whole. So, there are always some back-and-forth constructive conversations when you’re advocating for things you believe are really important for an asset, the site teams or the residents.

Once we take over ownership, we work directly with our asset management team to work through any newfound items that might have arisen after inspections. We also explore whether we need to shift any plans because things have changed, or we determine a better way to allocate our resources.

What are some common challenges you face across the portfolio, and how do you work through them?

Tomten: The overriding challenge is always working within our budget, aiming to get as much as we can for the properties while driving as much value as possible. One of the reasons I genuinely enjoy working for Hamilton Zanze is because we’re always trying to do the right thing—we’re never pushing things under the rug and looking the other way. That’s not always the case in real estate, but I believe we hold ourselves to a high moral standard.

There are always a number of stakeholders that we are responsible for managing and it can be challenging to balance everyone’s needs.

How has your approach evolved as the portfolio has grown or as the market has shifted?

Tomten: Post-covid, we’ve shifted the class of assets that we’ve purchased. Deals are tighter, so we are tasked with stretching a dollar a lot further than in the past. This can be challenging in a market where material and labor costs have only increased.

Who or what has shaped your leadership style over the years?

Tomten: Regarding leadership style, much of that is rooted in my background as an athlete, performing at a high level through college and beyond. We have a lot of people at Hamilton Zanze who come from a high-level athletic background, which is impressive, and you tend to see some of the same qualities among people who have that experience. So, a lot of foundational leadership style comes from being in sports and working with teammates.

Also, I’ve had a number of great bosses at various positions prior to HZ, who have really shaped my experience in how to treat people, work with people and work through difficult tasks. And one of the reasons I’ve remained at HZ as long as I have is because of John Gilmore, who is a really great boss and great mentor. He is someone I can go to when I have anything to discuss, and he’s kind of my gut check. Sometimes he walks me back from the edge. He’s been a great influence.

What advice would you give to women coming up in the industry, especially those looking to lead operational or property-focused teams?

Tomten: I always knew coming into the construction industry that it was going to be a very male-oriented field and that I’d be working for and with a lot of men. I always thought I’d have to be this very strong-willed person, but I think that can be something of a faux pas as a woman. The strong will can sometimes be misinterpreted, because I can be very direct and black-and-white with some of my responses. I would recommend not trying to fit into a particular personality type, because sometimes you have to be all the things as a woman in the industry and it’s best to just be yourself.

What do you enjoy most about your work at HZ?

Tomten: It is never boring (laughs). Just when I think things might slow down, things change—every day. There are always new things that I never envisioned to be asked or have to navigate. I know it’s odd to say that I enjoy that, but it’s ever-changing, it’s fast-paced and no day is ever the same.

With HZ as a whole, I’ve always been impressed with the high level of people who work at this company. I learn something from everybody on a regular basis. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to learn from these amazing people who have all these different backgrounds.

How does the culture at HZ support the work you and your team are doing?

Tomten: It’s comforting knowing that if I encounter a problem, there are so many people I can talk to. Everybody is very supportive, and nobody will say “that’s a stupid question.” I’ll hear things in meetings and have to ask someone to provide a deeper explanation afterwards, and everyone is always willing to teach and spend time. It’s a very collaborative environment.