People & Culture

Stream Deep Dive: Beyond the Bio with Brianna McHenry

May 20 5 min read

Meet Brianna McHenry, RPA®, CPM®, CCIM®, and Vice President of Property ManagementStream’s Southern California (SoCal) region, overseeing operational activity for nearly 10 million square feet of commercial assets. Learn about her goals and ambitions as recently named President of the Institute of Real Estate Management’s (IREM’s) Orange County chapter, the importance of a client-first philosophy, as well as what drives her to surpass expectations with her teams in meeting client and tenant needs. 

Tell us a little about your background, role, and responsibilities. What three words describe you most accurately?  

I started in the property management industry 18 years ago, first as a Project Coordinator at RiverRock Real Estate Group and then worked my way up to become Vice President of Engagement. I joined Stream a little over a year ago as Vice President of Property Management, responsible for leading and growing Stream’s property management team in SoCal, helping develop new business, and taking on the dual role of Business Operations for Stream’s SoCal region.  

Three words that best describe me: ambitious, positive, and composed. 

If you had to pick one aspect of your role that energizes you the most, what would it be? 

I love working with our team and helping them develop and grow so they can thrive in their careers.   

How do you approach delivering client service and solutions, and how has it evolved in your current role? 

Client service is one of the most important parts of our job. Within property management, it’s critical to understand the goals and needs of our clients, and that all starts with a business plan. My approach is a client-first philosophy in meeting their needs—this helps shape the entire relationship.  

How would you describe your leadership style, and what role has mentorship or company culture played in that? 

My leadership style is honest and transparent, and I try to lead by example. As I’ve grown, I’ve realized that managers are also just figuring it out. If there is communication, collaboration, and opportunity for multiple perspectives, it allows teams to truly feel like their voices are heard and ensures everyone’s on the same page about goals and objectives. 

What motivates you to push beyond the standard expectations of your role or property management? 

Mostly, my desire to constantly challenge and improve myself. Growth happens by pushing your limits. I also love being part of a team and winning: it motivates me to work harder when the whole team can be successful, and our clients and tenants are happy.  

What initially drew you to Stream, and how has that impacted your career/personal growth, as well as client/peer relationships? 

The people and the culture. It all goes back to Stream’s mission statement: relationships first, then real estate. Valuing people as a company’s greatest asset sets us apart. When you value your people, they do great work.  

When I decided to join Stream, it was important to know that our clients would be properly serviced. From the start, I knew they would be receiving exemplary care, and Stream’s vision is a big reason why.  

How does your passion for property management align with Stream’s approach to delivering exceptional service? 

Property management means delivering the best service and developing great relationships. Providing the highest level of service and having a great reputation in our market is very important to me. Stream shares this passion for top-notch customer service, building trusted relationships with our clients, and developing employees to reach their highest potential. 

Stream encourages an entrepreneurial mindset. How have you been able to apply that spirit in your role? How does that impact your clients? 

We have well-established procedures and systems in place, but staying open to evolution and change is key. I’ve felt empowered to bring new ideas and approaches to the table, which has helped elevate our processes. It’s refreshing to have the freedom and flexibility to think outside the box. Some of the best practices established within our team directly impact our clients. We may have a great foundation, but the fact that we can tailor our methods and practices to provide that exceptional service is essential.  

If you could describe your experience at Stream in three words, what would they be and why? 

  1. Refreshing. With Stream being a full-service firm, I’ve learned even more about the business. The company also has a small family feel, even though it employs over 1,550 real estate professionals. 
  2. Challenging: I’m always up for a new challenge, so taking on different roles here has allowed me to do that.  
  3. Rewarding: It feels like I’m making an impact and helping the team and region grow.  

What advice would you give to someone just starting in property management? 

Jump in and tackle every challenge head-on—but don’t forget to pause, step back, and view it all from a big-picture perspective. A lot of critical thinking and problem-solving occurs within property management. Even if you don’t have all the answers to an issue that comes your way, don’t be afraid to dig in and come up with a solution. Try to master your skillset and ask to take on more.  

I would also recommend getting involved in industry organizations as a whole. There’s a great network of mentors, resources, and community. 

Speaking of industry organizations, you were recently appointed President of IREM’s Orange County chapter. What does this mean to you both personally and professionally? 

It’s an honor to lead the IREM Orange County chapter and share my passion for property management, especially while helping to develop future professionals who share that same drive and dedication. IREM has a deep history; it’s been around for 90+ years, with the Orange County chapter established 50 years ago. IREM’s mission is to advance professionals within real estate management, and it’s the best place for property managers to get training and education—their educational courses lead the industry. A property management degree didn’t exist until recently; historically, you’d learn on the job—which makes the networking and educational opportunities through an organization like IREM all the more vital.  

What key initiatives or goals do you hope to accomplish during your tenure as IREM President? 

I hope to continue to keep the real estate community together and provide an environment where people can network, support each other, educate our young professionals, and help them develop as they come up in their careers. 

What’s one challenge in the industry that you’re passionate about addressing through your leadership in IREM? 

Succession is one of the biggest. Only a few colleges have programs or clubs focused on property management, but not many offer degrees in property management. We partner with local colleges and universities to help expose students to the industry, create awareness, and get them involved from an earlier age. It’s so refreshing to have more and more students say they already know about the property management industry and want to get involved.  

Outside of property management, what’s something you’re deeply passionate about that people might not expect? 

I’m incredibly passionate about supporting youth and mentorship in our community. I am a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for youth in foster care and was previously a “Big” with Big Brothers Big Sisters for over 10 years. 

If you could master one new skill overnight—professional or personal—what would it be and why? 

To become fluent in a new language; it’s something I’ve always wanted to do.  

Who has been the biggest influence on your career, and how have they shaped the way you approach your work at Stream? 

There was a Director I used to work with at my last company, Peggy Sanchez. She’s made a lasting impact on me and has influenced my career. How she treated people, how she led her teams, and her passion for property management rubbed off on me. She’s retired now, but still teaches (she’s even developed her own courses) and continues to be active on the BOMA International Board. We try to get together once a month and catch up.  

If you could leave a lasting impact on Stream’s property management platform, what would you want it to be? 

To continue developing the culture of a people-first company and to strengthen our career development and training platform, giving people the ability to learn new skill sets and take on more challenges. Our teams want to learn and grow, but it’s tough when everyone’s so busy…if I could just get that extra piece in place, I’d be happy.  

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Brianna McHenry

Vice President, Property Management Contact