Community and Social Enthusiast

Khadeejah oversees operational efficiency and strategic initiatives for the brokerage, audit, and partnership divisions. With extensive experience in real estate management and brokerage operations, she ensures compliance with state and local regulations, while guiding referral agents in adherence to contract law. Khadeejah also fosters collaborative partnerships within the referral program, all while leading a high-performing team. She is known for her strong leadership, attention to detail, and dedication to fostering growth in the brokerage community.

Bill Ness is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of 55places.com. His real estate career began in sales for Del Webb before becoming a sales manager for Sun City Huntley. After noticing that the industry lacked a central, reliable, and unbiased resource for active adult communities, Bill left Del Webb in 2007 to start 55places.com. Having traveled to countless 55+ communities and having interviewed residents, builders, and agents around the country, Bill is considered a leading expert on the active adult lifestyle.

Elliot Crumpley is a seasoned content strategist and writer with a strong background in real estate, lifestyle, and digital publishing. During his tenure at Neighborhoods.com and 55places.com from 2014 to 2018, he held various editorial roles. In these positions, Elliot produced and oversaw a wide range of content focused on active adult communities, retirement planning, and lifestyle topics. Currently, he serves as a Content Designer III at Expedia Group.

Born in St. Louis, Karl has called the Chicagoland area home for over two decades. His background as a touring musician and his academic studies in sociology inform his nuanced perspectives on community and place. Whether writing about historic bars, architectural tours, or the intricacies of homeowners' associations, Karl brings a blend of storytelling and research to his work. As a contributor to 55places.com, he has authored numerous articles exploring active adult communities and topics relevant to 55+ living.

Madeline Crozier Sutton (she/her) is an experienced freelance writer and editor who has worked with 55places since 2018. Now a fifth-year PhD Candidate in English at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, she has a BA and MA in Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse from DePaul University. She specializes in researching real estate trends across the country with a focus on the Midwest and Southeast regions, including the housing markets of Chicago, Indianapolis, and East Tennessee. Dedicated to helping homebuyers make evidence-based decisions, she brings six years of experience in real estate writing and research.

Mayra Rocha is a writer and editor from Chicago with a strong background in real estate, lifestyle, and digital content. As an Editorial Manager at 55places.com, she helped lead the creation of engaging articles, community profiles, and lifestyle features focused on active adult communities and urban living. Over the years, Mayra has built a diverse editorial career with roles at well-known companies such as Groupon, Info.com, Remilon LLC, Thomas P. Gohagan & Co., Screen Magazine, The Chicago Reporter, Greenhouse Business Magazine, and Crane Works Magazine. Her writing consistently blends clarity, creativity, and reader-focused insights across a wide range of subjects.

Cari Oleskewicz is a writer based in Gainesville, Florida. She has been writing about real estate, property management, travel, and active adult lifestyles for 10 years. She has delivered lectures on the importance of high-value website copy for small businesses, and has ghostwritten books for real estate investors. Before settling in Gainesville, she lived in Tampa, Florida; Baltimore, Maryland; Los Angeles, California; and Florence, Italy. Before launching her writing career, Cari was a communications and editorial strategist for a digital advertising agency in Tampa and managed the communications department of a nonprofit organization serving people with disabilities in Maryland. She has also taught middle school and writes poetry. Cari graduated from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1994, with a BA in Communications/Journalism. She currently lives in Tampa, travels frequently, and recently helped her father find the perfect 55+ community to call home.

Kristina R. Gaddy is a Baltimore-based writer and historian with a passion for uncovering overlooked stories in American history. She has contributed extensively to publications such as The Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Washington City Paper, Baltimore magazine, Narratively, Proximity, Atlas Obscura, and OZY, among others. She resides in the Waverly neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, in a 1920s daylight-style rowhouse, which she considers exemplary of the city's housing stock.

Ellen Kershner is our creative content writer from New Jersey. She has 20+ years of experience writing for local publications, websites, and real estate marketing companies. She has a knack for crafting reader-friendly, original content that educates our readers with clear information. Ellen has lived in Central NJ, Southern NJ, Washington, DC, and Owings Mills, Maryland.