Executive team at Pillar Properties in Seattle, Washington

Executive Team

Just as our properties have won numerous awards, our executive leadership team has also been recognized for industry excellence. With years of experience and a focus on building something remarkable at every turn, our leadership team brings a long-term vision to Pillar Properties.

Cole Wright, Chairman of Pillar Properties in Seattle, Washington

Chairman, R.D. Merrill Company
Cole Wright

Cole Wright serves as the Chairman of the Board of the R.D. Merrill Company and as a fifth-generation family member, he carries on his great-great grandfather’s vision today.  Wright is responsible for all aspects of the company’s operating divisions including multifamily housing, senior living, and timber holdings. Pillar Properties, Merrill Gardens, and Truewood by Merrill are all leaders in their respective fields.

Pillar Properties has been recognized with numerous awards and currently has a portfolio of 2,114 apartment homes throughout the Puget Sound region, with plans to add another 750 units over the next several years. As the developer for sister-company Merrill Gardens, Pillar has added more than 3,000 units to the senior housing portfolio and is currently managing an active development pipeline of over 10 projects.

Merrill Gardens, the company’s senior housing operator, has grown from a single community in 1993 to one of the nation’s most respected providers of independent and assisted living with 72 communities in 20 states.  Wright has been a key leader in the company for the past ten years, successfully launching senior living communities in China where Merrill Gardens is now one of the most respected United States operators in that country.  Wright recently played a key role in the development and birth of Truewood by Merrill, the company’s industry leading senior living middle market initiative. The R.D. Merrill Company was named the Puget Sound Business Journal 2020 Family Business of the Year.  

Wright has been a member of the Board of Directors of the R.D. Merrill Company since 2012.  He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Duke University in 2006 and a J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2011.  He studied Mandarin at Fudan University in Shanghai.

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Cole Wright, Chairman of Pillar Properties in Seattle, Washington

Chairman, R.D. Merrill Company
Cole Wright

Cole Wright serves as the Chairman of the Board of the R.D. Merrill Company and as a fifth-generation family member, he carries on his great-great grandfather’s vision today.  Wright is responsible for all aspects of the company’s operating divisions including multifamily housing, senior living, and timber holdings. Pillar Properties, Merrill Gardens, and Truewood by Merrill are all leaders in their respective fields.

Pillar Properties has been recognized with numerous awards and currently has a portfolio of 2,114 apartment homes throughout the Puget Sound region, with plans to add another 750 units over the next several years. As the developer for sister-company Merrill Gardens, Pillar has added more than 3,000 units to the senior housing portfolio and is currently managing an active development pipeline of over 10 projects.

Merrill Gardens, the company’s senior housing operator, has grown from a single community in 1993 to one of the nation’s most respected providers of independent and assisted living with 72 communities in 20 states.  Wright has been a key leader in the company for the past ten years, successfully launching senior living communities in China where Merrill Gardens is now one of the most respected United States operators in that country.  Wright recently played a key role in the development and birth of Truewood by Merrill, the company’s industry leading senior living middle market initiative. The R.D. Merrill Company was named the Puget Sound Business Journal 2020 Family Business of the Year.  

Wright has been a member of the Board of Directors of the R.D. Merrill Company since 2012.  He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Duke University in 2006 and a J.D. from New York University School of Law in 2011.  He studied Mandarin at Fudan University in Shanghai.

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President of Pillar Properties
Joe Polito

Joe Polito serves as the President of Pillar Properties bringing nearly 20 years of real estate experience to the company. Joe is responsible for all aspects of Pillar’s business interests, working closely with senior leadership in investment, capitalization, development, operations, partnerships and setting strategic direction.

Prior to joining Pillar, Joe spent 15 years with Touchstone, an Urban Renaissance Group company, where he served as the Managing Director of Development. During Joe’s tenure at Touchstone, they completed developments of over two million square feet of office space (seven buildings), six hotels, and over 1,000 multi-family units, collectively valued at over $2.5 billion.

Joe is heavily involved in the real estate community where he has played an active role as a Board Member, advisor, volunteer, or mentor with NAIOP Washington, ULI Northwest, DSA, the University of Washington Commercial Real Estate Certificate program and Runstad Center, and Seattle University School of Law. Joe is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Seattle University Law School. A licensed attorney in the state of Washington, Joe began his career as a commercial real estate broker in Detroit, MI.

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President of Pillar Properties at Pillar Properties in Seattle, Washington
President  Joe Polito at Pillar Properties in Seattle, Washington

President of Pillar Properties
Joe Polito

Joe Polito serves as the President of Pillar Properties bringing nearly 20 years of real estate experience to the company. Joe is responsible for all aspects of Pillar’s business interests, working closely with senior leadership in investment, capitalization, development, operations, partnerships and setting strategic direction.

Prior to joining Pillar, Joe spent 15 years with Touchstone, an Urban Renaissance Group company, where he served as the Managing Director of Development. During Joe’s tenure at Touchstone, they completed developments of over two million square feet of office space (seven buildings), six hotels, and over 1,000 multi-family units, collectively valued at over $2.5 billion.

Joe is heavily involved in the real estate community where he has played an active role as a Board Member, advisor, volunteer, or mentor with NAIOP Washington, ULI Northwest, DSA, the University of Washington Commercial Real Estate Certificate program and Runstad Center, and Seattle University School of Law. Joe is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Seattle University Law School. A licensed attorney in the state of Washington, Joe began his career as a commercial real estate broker in Detroit, MI.

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Diana Norbury, Senior Vice President of Multifamily Operations at Pillar Properties in Seattle, Washington

Senior Vice President of Multifamily Operations
Diana Norbury

Diana Norbury is responsible for Pillar Properties multifamily portfolio with a focus on operational and financial performance. Her passion lies in combining superior talent management with technology and innovative solutions to create the best possible resident experience. Since joining Pillar, her focus and efforts have encompassed the refinement of revenue management and business intelligence practices, talent management and education, operational systems implementation and training, lease-up and marketing strategies and the development of company policies and procedures for the growing portfolio. The superior team she has assembled at Pillar Properties speaks to her strength in attracting and retaining talent and mentoring them into future leaders.

With over 20 years of experience, her tenure includes portfolio management of multifamily rental communities and condominiums in a number of markets throughout the U.S. She is also an IREM Certified Property Manager, serving on the local chapter's executive council as a member at large as well as the National Education and Product Knowledge Committee. IREM honored Norbury by naming her the 2018 CPM of the Year.

Norbury holds a B.S. in Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a minor in Organizational Psychology and Marketing.

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Diana Norbury, Senior Vice President of Multifamily Operations at Pillar Properties in Seattle, Washington

Senior Vice President of Multifamily Operations
Diana Norbury

Diana Norbury is responsible for Pillar Properties multifamily portfolio with a focus on operational and financial performance. Her passion lies in combining superior talent management with technology and innovative solutions to create the best possible resident experience. Since joining Pillar, her focus and efforts have encompassed the refinement of revenue management and business intelligence practices, talent management and education, operational systems implementation and training, lease-up and marketing strategies and the development of company policies and procedures for the growing portfolio. The superior team she has assembled at Pillar Properties speaks to her strength in attracting and retaining talent and mentoring them into future leaders.

With over 18 years of experience, her tenure includes portfolio management of multifamily rental communities and condominiums in a number of markets throughout the U.S. She is also an IREM Certified Property Manager, serving on the local chapter's executive council as Vice President of Education as well as serving as a member at large on the National Education and Product Knowledge Committee. IREM honored Norbury by naming her the 2018 CPM of the Year.

Norbury holds a B.S. in Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a minor in Organizational Psychology and Marketing.

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Senior Vice President of Development and Plant Operations
Scott Haines

Scott Haines is responsible for the oversight of all construction and development for both Pillar Properties and sister company Merrill Gardens. In the past 15 years he has overseen the construction and development of over 30 new projects totaling in excess of two billion dollars. Haines leads the teams from development through construction at each of these projects, managing the architects, consultants and contractors throughout the duration of every phase of construction up to delivery. He is also responsible for setting the direction and leading Pillar’s in-house development and construction managers.

Haines oversees and manages all plant operations for the existing Pillar Properties portfolio, including residential, retail and office space. He is also responsible for managing all capital improvement processes for the portfolio. Haines developed an aggressive maintenance program for all Pillar Properties teams with the goal of providing service to residents as quickly as possible. As a result, his property teams have been ranked best in the country by SatisFacts for six years in a row based on resident feedback.

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Scott Haines, Senior Vice President of Development and Maintenance Operations at Pillar Properties in Seattle, Washington
Scott Haines, Senior Vice President of Development and Maintenance Operations at Pillar Properties in Seattle, Washington

Senior Vice President of Development and Plant Operations
Scott Haines

Scott Haines is responsible for the oversight of all construction and development for both Pillar Properties and sister company Merrill Gardens. In the past 12 years he has overseen the construction and development of over 30 new projects totaling in excess of one billion dollars. Haines leads the teams from development through construction at each of these projects, managing the architects, consultants and contractors throughout the duration of every phase of construction up to delivery. He is also responsible for setting the direction and leading Pillar’s in-house development and construction managers.

Haines oversees and manages all plant operations for the existing Pillar Properties portfolio, including residential, retail and office space. He is also responsible for managing all capital improvement processes for the portfolio. Haines developed an aggressive maintenance program for all Pillar Properties teams with the goal of providing service to residents as quickly as possible. As a result, his property teams have been ranked best in the country by SatisFacts for six years in a row based on resident feedback.

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Build something remarkable graphic from Pillar Properties in Seattle, Washington