Our Team
V. W. (Bill) Barge III, Chairman
Tyler Bradford, President, CPM
Mr. Barge is a Licensed Texas Real Estate Broker and founder of Barge Properties Management Co., Ltd. His responsibilities include property acquisition, management oversight and financing for income properties and land development. Mr. Barge’s experience includes co-founding Charter Management Co., Texas’ largest property management firm. He has developed 15 subdivisions and the company currently manages over 3,000 multifamily units and 125,000 square feet of storage space. He holds a B.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.
Tyler is a Licensed Texas Real Estate Agent and Certified Property Manager through the Institute of Real Estate Management. His current responsibilities include multifamily portfolio management, land development, financial analysis, and insurance/risk management. He holds a Business Foundations Certificate and a B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin.
Lee-Ann Burdette, Operations Manager
Lee-Ann has been with Barge Properties since 2003. She has more than 29 years in property management experience and is currently serving as Operations Manager. Lee-Ann is skilled in supervising apartment communities, implementing training programs, and monitoring all office and maintenance team members. Her certifications include National Apartment Leasing Professional (NALP) and Certified Apartment Manager (CAM). Lee-Ann regularly attends Texas Apartment Association legal and training seminars to stay informed and help lead her team.
Petra Heitman serves as the Executive Assistant to Tyler Bradford, President, and Bill Barge, Chairman of Barge Properties. With over 30 years of administrative experience, including 20 years in property management, Petra brings a wealth of knowledge to the office.
Petra Heitman was born and raised in Bremerhaven, Germany, and holds a degree in Business Management with a focus on Wholesale and Export. After graduating in 1993, she relocated to the United States and has since worked as an Executive Assistant for a NATO-exclusive Insurance Company, a Property Manager for a real estate company that owned and managed around 100 single-family homes, duplexes, and 4-plexes, and as a Compliance Specialist for a Supply Chain Company. Petra joined Barge Properties in 2022.
Lu Ann Popelka, Controller
Lu Ann Popelka is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a BBA in Management. She has over 30 years in the accounting field. Her background includes residential, commercial and specialty construction as well as other industries. She joined Barge Properties in 2006. Her duties include cash management; financial reporting and due diligence for acquisitions, disposals and refinancing; property tax appeals; audits; and tax returns.
Tracy Archondous, Assistant Controller
Laura is a Licensed Texas Real Estate Broker. She holds a Ph.D. in physics from Baylor University.
Laura B. Barge, Ph.D., Vice Chairman
Petra Heitman, Executive Assistant
Kathy Barker, Regional Manager
Kathy Barker has six years of property management experience, all with Barge Properties, starting as a Property Manager in 2016 before becoming a Regional Manager. She leads a team of property managers and technicians overseeing a portfolio of East Texas apartment communities. Kathy is responsible for team management, budgeting, financial reporting, capital projects, revenue maximization, and cost control. With over 30 years of leadership experience, including in retail management, Kathy excels at team building, expense reduction, and coaching teams to reach common goals. Her commitment to excellence and ability to energize her team drives success at Barge Properties.
Linda Vig, Regional Manager
Tracy Archondous is a seasoned Assistant Controller with a strong financial acumen and an extensive background in managing complex accounting and financial operations. She has consistently demonstrated expertise in financial analysis, budgeting, and financial reporting. She possesses a deep understanding of accounting principles and regulatory compliance, ensuring accurate and transparent financial records. Tracy is known for her meticulous attention to detail and the ability to streamline financial processes, contributing to the organization's financial success.
Linda Vig has been with Barge Properties for over 21 years, during which she has gained extensive knowledge and experience in managing large self-storage facilities. Recently, Linda has taken on the challenge of managing a newly constructed, Class-A RV park in Temple, TX.
Celina Vasquez, Regional Manager
Celina started working at Barge in 2006. She manages daily operations on-site and also serves as a Regional Manager, helping to achieve property performance goals throughout Central Texas. With 30 years of experience in the multi-family industry, she holds a degree in Business Management and is a Certified Apartment Manager (CAM).
Andra Kling, Regional Manager
Andra Kling is a seasoned Regional Property Manager based in Tyler, TX, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the local market. With a career spanning several years, Andra has successfully managed and improved the performance of various multifamily properties in the Tyler area. Her hands-on approach, coupled with a strong focus on resident satisfaction, has consistently led to increased occupancy rates and profitability.
Shaun Prather, Marketing Director
Shaun has been with Barge Properties since 2011 and is currently serving as Marketing Director.
Shaun is very creative and has developed various ways to effectively market apartments through websites, Facebook, Google, etc. He performs several roles within the company including training, managing, customer service and sales. He is a proven leader and brings knowledge and enthusiasm to the team.
Stephanie Dietz, HR/Payroll
With 15 years of proven expertise in HR and Payroll management, Stephanie is a seasoned professional known for her adept handling of complex payroll processes, meticulous attention to detail, and commitment to compliance.
Karen Halleck, Payables
Karen spent 16 years living off the grid in Alaska while remotely working for Summit Telephone Company. Karen took on several roles such as A/R, A/P, and Office Manager during her time in Alaska. Upon moving to Texas, Karen spent 3 years working for Lowe's in the Customer Service department. Karen hold Certificates of Completion in Accounting from the National Education Center in California.