Nancy Tartaglino Richards

Nancy Tartaglino Richards is Chairman of First Preston. She is a recognized entrepreneur in the fields of real estate and technology-related companies. Founded in 1988, First Preston HT has grown to become one of the largest residential asset management companies in the United States and has sold over 400,000 single family homes with a total value of over $40 billion. Ms. Richards also founded HomeTelos, a technology company specializing in online real estate sale and offer management with technology products generating 12 million hits per month.

Ms. Richards was recognized by Ernst & Young as their 2004 Southwest “Entrepreneur of the Year” for Real Estate/Construction/Hospitality and won their prestigious “National Entrepreneur of the Year Award” in 2005. As an advocate for small business, she was selected and recognized by the Marion Ewing Kauffman Foundation for her support of entrepreneurship and creation of a national network of small and diverse-owned businesses to provide subcontracted services. She was named as one of the Texas “Women of Excellence” by Women’s Enterprise Magazine and honored as the “2006 Philanthropist of the Year” by the Dallas Women’s Foundation. In 2007, Ms. Richards and her business partner received the “Five Star Humanitarian Award” in recognition of their community support and leadership. Her firm received the 2010 REO Expo “Pinnacle Awards” in two categories for excellence in best practice services and best overall outsourcer. In 2011, HousingWire magazine named Ms. Richards one of the most “Influential Women of the Housing Economy.” She currently serves on Texas Christian University’s Board of Trustees and the Advisory Boards of the Dallas Women’s Foundation and the YWCA-Dallas. She is a charter member of the Texas Women’s Ventures Fund. Ms. Richards graduated with honors from Baylor University.

Lisa Barrentine

Lisa Barrentine is President and CEO.  She has been the President of First Preston HT since 2005, leading the company in securing over $1 billion in asset management and asset management technology contracts.  Joining the company in 1991, Ms. Barrentine currently leads a team of 300 real estate professionals serving financial institution, government entities and real estate investor clients with large portfolios of residential properties and selling an average of 35,000 assets annually.  A Certified Public Accountant, she has been instrumental in building the company’s reputation as an industry innovator with key roles in the development of First Preston HT’s award-winning business model and the creation of intelligent technologies, including patented applications, used extensively throughout the management and marketing process.

Ms. Barrentine earned a BSBA degree from the University of Arkansas in 1986.  She is a charter member of the Texas Women’s Ventures Fund, a venture capital fund investing in businesses created by women entrepreneurs.  She was recognized in 2005 by Ernst and Young and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, along with Nancy Tartaglino Richards, as the “Entrepreneur of the Year” in the category of “Supporter of Entrepreneurship.”  In 2007, she received the “Five Star Humanitarian Award,” an industry award recognizing her community support and leadership.  She currently serves on the Neeley Entrepreneurship Center Advisory Board at Texas Christian University. Ms. Barrentine previously served on the Board of Trustees for Southwestern University, and is a member of the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity-South Collin County.

Kathryn Cantwell

Kathryn Cantwell is Chief Financial Officer for First Preston HT, one of the largest residential asset management firms in the U.S. With an extensive background in real estate lending and finance, Ms. Cantwell provides strategic direction for the company and leads a team of financial and accounting experts that manage a portfolio of 35,000 properties annually for the company’s clients. She previously served as Executive Director and Treasurer of two Morgan Stanley subsidiaries, Saxon Mortgage Services and Morgan Stanley Credit Corporation. Her professional experience also includes the position of CFO and Controller of R H Lending, Inc., a regional mortgage bank, and Principal of Lawson & Associates, a processing and underwriting firm for mortgage brokers. Ms. Cantwell is a Certified Public Accountant, graduating with honors from Texas Woman’s University. She is also a Certified Residential Underwriter and a member of the National Association of Professional Mortgage Women, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Association for Financial Professionals.

Richard Watts

Richard Watts is Chief Operating Officer for First Preston HT. His 35 years of extensive broad-based real estate experience includes the management and marketing of REO inventory in 18 states with a volume of assets exceeding 54,000 properties as well as commercial and residential lending and real estate development.  Mr. Watts leads a team of property management professionals working with a national network of subcontracting partners that provide property inspectors, valuation services, landscaping, and repair and maintenance services for large portfolios of properties.   In his current position, he drives performance improvements throughout the company, preparing properties for market and ensuring excellent service to clients while reducing costs.