On Friday evening, May 15^th, the Saint Louis Apartment Association (SLAA) hosted its premier event of the year — the 2026 Rising Star Awards Banquet — at The Factory in Chesterfield, Missouri. This year’s celebration was especially meaningful as SLAA continues its year-long commemoration of its 50th Anniversary. Chartered in 1976, the Saint Louis Apartment Association was established to advance the general welfare of the multifamily housing industry throughout the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area.

Now in its second year at The Factory, the Rising Star Awards Banquet once again reached record-breaking attendance numbers. Nearly 800 multifamily housing professionals gathered for the event, including property managers, maintenance teams, supplier partners, owners, investors, corporate support staff, and guests from across the region. The emcee for the evening, Todd Thomas (aka “That One Guy” from the Cardinals games), brought humor, wit, and great energy to the evening’s festivities.

As a special treat to continue SLAA’s 50th anniversary celebration, guests stayed for an after-party at The Factory complete with the Count of Monte Carlo live 8-piece band, late night snacks featuring Imo’s Pizza and White Castle, and plenty of dancing!

The annual Rising Star Awards provide SLAA members with the opportunity to recognize outstanding team members and celebrate excellence within the multifamily housing industry. This year, SLAA received an impressive 173 nominations across 39 award categories, highlighting the remarkable talent, dedication, and leadership found throughout the association’s membership.

YourSLAA #SLAARisingStar2026

CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF AWARD WINNERS AND SPONSORS