John Ruglio is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Kushner. With over 35 years of experience in Information Technology, he oversees technology strategy, operations, cybersecurity, and support for various multifamily, commercial, and hotel assets. The pioneering leader has been a technologist for over 35 years and worked in several different industries ranging from apparel manufacturing, banking, magazine publishing, and Hotel/Casinos.
At Time Warner, John learned creative, effective problem-solving skills and leadership techniques, and at JP Morgan Chase, he knew how to build data centers and manage projects/programs. While at Resorts Hotel/Casino, he learned about the hospitality industry (and how the house always wins in a casino). As per John, each sector has its own business-specific technology needs, but the underlying systems like network/security infrastructure, CRM, and financial systems, to name a few, are very much the same across any industry. “I am a geek at heart and have a ravenous appetite to learn new things.
I’ve taken elements from each job I have had to develop my knowledge, problem-solving skills, and understanding that in order for me to be successful, I need to understand and ultimately apply technology solutions to meet the business requirements,” explains John. “My success can also be attributed to my ability to convey technical content to a non-technical person/group. I like to say that I wear a suit with a toolbelt underneath. I also need to develop my team’s abilities to assist in achieving my goals as well as the business. A successful manager is only as good as the team that supports them.”
According to John, the role of the CTO has changed by keeping up with the ever-accelerating development in current and emerging technologies such as AI, cloud computing, information security, and document management. “I also need to develop my team’s abilities to assist in achieving my goals as well as the business. A successful manager is only as good as the team that supports them.” He states that for him, it is critical to leverage dynamic problem-solving by accurately capturing requirements from key stakeholders in the business and defining standards across all technology disciplines to facilitate better support for all properties in his company’s multifamily rental apartment portfolio. Most of John’s career has been primarily working for Fortune 100/500 companies. Big company methodologies such as process improvement, project management, and systems support models can be adopted for smaller companies like Kushner; as both a multifamily property developer and operator, Property Technology (PROPTECH) is continually evolving.
Kushner is a diversified real estate organization responsible for the ownership, management, development, and redevelopment of properties throughout the country. They are strategically focused on setting the pace for the way people live and work. Their mission is to provide the tenants with environments that are productive, efficient, and state-of-the-art. Investment decisions are based on their successful experiences in the past and, more importantly, their vision for the future. The company’s national reach consists of more than 20,000 multifamily apartments, as well as 13 million square feet of office, industrial, hotel, and retail space throughout New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana & Washington DC.
By leveraging standards, Kushner reduces support costs by minimizing staff and being agile so they can solve problems faster. “In my industry, our prime directive is to keep our locations fully operational with little to no downtime. That has a direct impact on revenue. We simply cannot have a property down for any reason,” he elucidates. “Leveraging redundancy, documenting support processes are key to achieving this goal. I know that our competitors often overlook some of these strategies resulting in them not being able to conduct business effectively.”
AI. This buzz word is used in literally every new product offering across any industry. Leveraging AI based chatbots for prospect/resident engagement is already an established use of AI and has been very beneficial to date. This application of AI is just scratching the surface. From developing underwriting models to proactive systems maintenance, AI offers efficiencies in completing complex tasks. We must be cognizant that AI is in its infancy and is not the best solution for all applications.
Product standardization across the portfolio makes us more agile and facilitates better support of our properties. As my support staff is east coast based and our property portfolio is nationwide, having standards in place makes support much easier. I cannot always send someone onsite to fix a simple issue, so we get a little creative with our property setup. One simple example of this is leveraging a red colored network cable for the primary internet connection in every location. This allows us to direct local property staff to assist us in solving connectivity issues by pointing them to the right Infrastructure that may be the root cause of the problem. Simple and effective. We label every piece of gear to allow local property staff to understand what is what.
As a mid-sized property management company, Kushner is continually developing its processes and has already achieved efficiencies that differentiate it from the competition. “Our talented team across every facet of the business are the best and brightest! From our IT, Operations, HR, Tax, Accounting, and Development to name a few, we collaborate as one. This allows us to be more agile to face the ever-changing landscape collectively,” says John. “For the days to come, Kushner is excited to bring our new LIVANA brand to market. These new properties have world class design, state of the art technologies and amenities to make our residents feel at home.” The company already has six projects under development in NJ, with our East Hanover and Fair Lawn NJ properties opening in September 2024. The Journal, a 1723-door property in Jersey City in the heart of Journal Square, is comprised of 2-64 story hi-rise towers with unbelievable views of NYC. This flagship property will have world-class amenities and retail that will be unmatched by the competitors. “We have also broken ground on some exciting new projects in Colt’s Neck, Eatontown and Long Branch, NJ with more to come. The future holds great potential, and we are waiting for what is next to come,” concludes John.
John Ruglio
Chief Technology Officer
Kushner
Kushner is a diversified real estate organization responsible for the ownership, management, development, and redevelopment of properties throughout the country. We are strategically focused on setting the pace for the way people live and work.