Draper and Kramer’s Kurstie Butcher receives IREM PREMIER Accredited Residential Manager (ARM) of the Year award 

Kurstie Butcher

Draper and Kramer, Incorporated announced Kurstie Butcher, property management and operations specialist, was named Accredited Residential Manager (ARM) of the Year by the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM)’s Chicago chapter. The award was presented to Butcher at IREM Chicago’s annual Premier Awards, held May 6 at Chicago’s Drake Hotel. 

ARM certification through IREM signifies an individual has met requirements set by the organization for residential management experience and education, passed the ARM certification exam, completed IREM ethics education, and pledged to uphold the IREM Code of Professional Ethics.

Butcher was nominated for the ARM of the Year honor for her dedication to advancing the real estate management profession through demonstrated leadership skills, commitment to community service, and the earned respect of her colleagues, employees and industry peers.

A 10-year veteran of the property management industry, Butcher joined Draper and Kramer in 2018 as property manager at North 680, a180-unit luxury rental community in Schaumburg, Ill. Since 2021 she has served as property management and operations specialist, a new position she helped envision and create as part of Draper and Kramer’s DK Elevate development program for high-performing employees. In this role, she provides a valuable level of company-wide support and reinforces best practices by acting as a ‘floating’ property manager to fill in as needed across property sites; provide support and mentorship to teams; train current and new employees; and head up special projects.

Butcher has a long track record of service with IREM. She sits on the organization’s National DEI Advisory Board, is a member of the judging committee for the Diversity & Inclusion Succession Initiatives Leaders’ program, serves on the Cares Committee for the Chicago Chapter and participates in the national Next Gen CPM program. She has also been involved with DEI efforts at Draper and Kramer, where she was a founding member of a group dedicated to DEI initiatives.