Every great brand starts with a great story, and few people know AVE’s story better than Ashley Cerasaro. On Multi-Housing News’ Top Marketers podcast, AVE’s Executive Vice President of Communications joined host Corina Stef to share how a hospitality-driven apartment brand grows nationally while staying true to its voice. Ashley began her career as a journalist. Fourteen years ago, while reporting a magazine story, she was introduced to AVE, which then had seven communities, mostly in Greater Philadelphia. Lea Anne Welsh invited her to become “the voice of AVE,” a title she still proudly holds today.

Ashley’s journalism roots shape her approach to this day. She sees today’s marketing as a shift from persuasion to trust, built on curiosity, thoughtful questions, and quality storytelling. That trust shows up in the results. AVE holds an average Google rating of 4.75 across its portfolio. With its partner Kingsley Surveys by Grace Hill, AVE has also ranked number one in resident satisfaction in its tier for four consecutive years, an honor based entirely on resident feedback. As Ashley puts it, service has become the new marketing.

Listening to residents also shapes how AVE communities are designed. Residents consistently asked for spaces that support work, wellness, and connection, all under one roof. At AVE Navy Yard in Philadelphia, that feedback inspired seven private workout pods for residents who want to be “alone in the crowd,” along with business spaces ranging from executive conference rooms to individual work pods. The same insights guided recent renovations in Phoenix, Florham Park, and King of Prussia that created more private workspaces.

Ashley also shared the story behind AVE’s redesigned website, which launched after 18 months of work. As AVE expanded into markets like Tampa, Phoenix, and White Plains, more residents began discovering and booking furnished, flexible-stay apartments directly online. The new site makes that journey seamless, and it brings the in-person AVE experience to life online through resident stories, reviews, and photos and videos from community events. Looking ahead, Ashley sees AI as a powerful tool for working faster and turning resident insights into action, as long as it never comes at the cost of AVE’s authentic voice.

With its portfolio doubled since 2021 and new communities underway in Denver and suburban Philadelphia, AVE is in an exciting season of growth. Through it all, Ashley explains, the focus remains the same: developing cultural leaders, scaling the programs that work, and making sure every resident feels the AVE experience, from AVE Florham Park to AVE Santa Clara, so they can Live Better® wherever they call home.