Mr. Ward is responsible for property operations in the Mid-Atlantic, Mid-West and Northeast regions. There are currently 83 communities consisting of approximately 23,732 units and an additional 10,000 units in the development pipeline within these regions. He joined AvalonBay in 1997, and during this time was responsible for all West Coast Operations.

Before joining AvalonBay, Mr. Ward was Assistant Vice President of New Plan Realty Trust, a REIT based in New York with assets throughout the eastern part of the United States. There he helped grow the apartment portfolio from approximately 2,500 units to 12,000 and oversaw all day-to-day operations of the portfolio. Prior to his tenure with New Plan, he was a partner in Sure Investments; a San Diego based real estate company specializing in the management, acquisition and rehabilitation of apartment communities in Southern California.

Mr. Ward received a Liberal Arts degree from the University of California at San Diego.