Meet the Team
People you can rely on. Results you can see.
Ascend’s leadership team provides strategic direction, operational oversight and accountability across all departments. This team ensures the company operates with integrity, consistency, and long-term focus on serving property owners.
Leadership
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Nik Boone is the founder and CEO of Ascend Real Estate & Property Management and leads the company’s long-term vision, growth, and community involvement. Nik has guided Ascend to earn multiple recognitions, including Inc. 5000 and Best of Bakersfield, reflecting the company’s performance, reputation, and local impact.
Nik’s leadership and expertise in real estate have also been recognized through individual honors such as the National Association of Realtors 30 Under 30, Bakersfield Californian’s 20 Under 40, and the Institute of Real Estate Management’s 30 Under 30.
Beyond Ascend, Nik actively supports the Bakersfield community through leadership and board service with the Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, CSU Bakersfield, Taft College, and Mercy Hospital. His involvement reflects Ascend’s commitment to responsible growth, local investment, and long-term community partnership.
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Vanessa Villalobos serves as Ascend’s General Manager and oversees daily operations across all departments. She leads the internal team while ensuring owners receive consistent, high-level service throughout the management process.
Vanessa works directly with property owners when situations require additional attention, including complex concerns or escalated issues. Her role bridges leadership and client support, helping resolve challenges efficiently while maintaining strong relationships and clear communication. Through her oversight, Ascend maintains accountability, responsiveness, and operational consistency across its Bakersfield portfolio.
The Sales, Marketing, and Owner Onboarding department supports property owners from their first interaction with Ascend through onboarding and property promotion. This team answers questions, explains services, and creates marketing materials and listings to help properties gain visibility and lease or sell efficiently.
Sales & Marketing
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Sarah supports new property owners as they begin working with Ascend. She guides owners through the onboarding process, answers questions about property management services, and ensures expectations are clear from the start.
Her role helps owners feel informed and confident as they transition their properties into professional management. By providing clear explanations and hands-on support, Sarah plays a key role in building strong owner relationships from day one.
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Bella leads marketing strategy and execution for Ascend Real Estate & Property Management. She supports owners, buyers, and sellers by creating marketing materials designed to help properties lease faster or sell more effectively.
Her work includes advertising rental properties, developing branded materials, and ensuring listings are presented clearly and professionally across platforms. By aligning marketing with leasing and sales goals, Bella helps maximize visibility while supporting owners’ overall investment objectives.
The accounting department manages rent collection, owner disbursements, and property-related payments. This team ensures accurate financial reporting, timely payouts, and compliance with accounting standards.
Accounting
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Jocelynn Vergara manages owner financial distributions and vendor payments. She assists owners by ensuring rental income is processed accurately and that bills related to their properties are paid on time.
Her role supports financial transparency and consistency for owners across Ascend’s Bakersfield portfolio.
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Sonja Ayala assists with rent collections, late payments, and eviction processing. She works closely with owners to address delinquent accounts and ensure legal and procedural compliance when further action is required.
Her role helps protect owner investments while maintaining clear documentation and communication.
The Leasing Department manages tenant screening, application approvals, and move-ins. This team works to place qualified tenants efficiently while protecting owner investments and maintaining consistent leasing standards.
Leasing
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Janesse Bojorquez leads Ascend’s leasing department and oversees the leasing process from application to approval. She supports owners by ensuring qualified tenants move through the approval process efficiently and accurately.
Her role helps maintain leasing standards and ensure tenant placement aligns with owner requirements and company policies.
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Stephannie Gomez assists with tenant approvals and leasing operations. She supports owners by verifying applicant qualifications through rental history checks, background screenings, and employment verification.
Stephannie also assists tenants during move-ins, helping ensure a smooth transition into managed properties. Her work supports both owner protection and tenant experience.
The Administrative department supports daily operations, owner and tenant inquiries, and compliance-related tasks. This team helps ensure communication flows efficiently and that owners and tenants are directed to the appropriate resources.
Admin
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Samara Gomez serves as the primary point of contact for property owners. She assists owners by answering questions, addressing concerns, and coordinating solutions across departments.
With detailed knowledge of Ascend’s managed properties, Samara helps owners stay informed and confident, providing a single, reliable contact for day-to-day communication and support.
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Charli Orr supports operational organization across multiple areas. She assists with utility coordination following tenant move-outs and helps manage security deposit disputes.
Her work supports smooth transitions between tenants and helps ensure accurate documentation and compliance.
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Olivia Petersen assists owners by advertising rental properties across multiple platforms to attract qualified tenants. She also manages rental increases, lease renewals, and 30-day notices.
Her role supports leasing continuity, compliance, and consistent communication with both owners and tenants.
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Maria Robison supports owners through property inspections and compliance-related tasks. She completes pre-move-out inspections, owner inspections, and posts notices when required.
Her work helps ensure properties are documented accurately and managed proactively.
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Kristin Hinkle works at Ascend’s front desk and assists tenants and prospective renters with inquiries and access to vacant properties. She facilitates key check-outs for showings and supports holding deposit processing.
Kristin also gathers tenant feedback through surveys, providing owners with insights into property condition and showing experience to help inform future improvements.
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Melody Mendoza serves as the first point of contact for tenants, owners, and vendors. She answers incoming calls, directs inquiries to the appropriate departments, and helps ensure issues are addressed efficiently.
Melody also assists with owner updates, keeping owners informed about vacant properties, inquiries, applications, approvals, deposits, and projected move-in dates.
The Maintenance and Repairs department handles routine and emergency maintenance requests. This team works to resolve issues efficiently, protect property condition, and ensure homes remain safe, functional, and move-in ready.
Maintenance
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Meagan Dreese coordinates maintenance requests and emergency repairs for managed properties. She works to ensure maintenance issues are addressed promptly, helping protect property condition and tenant safety.
By managing repair workflows and communication, Meagan supports efficient resolution of both routine and urgent maintenance needs.
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Luis handles routine and emergency maintenance requests during a tenancy. This team responds to repair issues, coordinates fixes, and works to ensure homes remain safe, functional, and comfortable for residents while protecting the condition of the property for owners.
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Dustin handles routine and emergency maintenance requests during a tenancy. This team responds to repair issues, coordinates fixes, and works to ensure homes remain safe, functional, and comfortable for residents while protecting the condition of the property for owners.
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Ken handles routine and emergency maintenance requests during a tenancy. This team responds to repair issues, coordinates fixes, and works to ensure homes remain safe, functional, and comfortable for residents while protecting the condition of the property for owners.
The Construction department manages property improvements, remodels, and renovation projects. This team coordinates construction efforts to help owners enhance property condition, value, and readiness for leasing or resale.
Construction
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Jacki Barreraz oversees renovation and construction projects for property owners. She coordinates improvements, repairs, and larger renovation efforts to ensure projects stay organized, on schedule, and aligned with owner goals.
By managing construction workflows and communication, Jacki helps owners improve property condition, value, and readiness for leasing or resale.
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Ali Saldana assists owners during tenant move-outs and new property onboarding by coordinating quotes, proposals, and technician scheduling. She helps prepare properties to be move-in ready by overseeing field operations and repair timelines.
Her role ensures properties meet readiness standards while minimizing downtime between tenants.
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Mike focuses on renovations, improvements, and turn-over work outside of active tenancies. This team supports owners by completing repairs, upgrades, and make-ready work to prepare homes for leasing or resale and help maintain long-term property value.
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Justin focuses on renovations, improvements, and turn-over work outside of active tenancies. This team supports owners by completing repairs, upgrades, and make-ready work to prepare homes for leasing or resale and help maintain long-term property value.
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Oscar focuses on renovations, improvements, and turn-over work outside of active tenancies. This team supports owners by completing repairs, upgrades, and make-ready work to prepare homes for leasing or resale and help maintain long-term property value.
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Ron focuses on renovations, improvements, and turn-over work outside of active tenancies. This team supports owners by completing repairs, upgrades, and make-ready work to prepare homes for leasing or resale and help maintain long-term property value.