We Are… Berger! Celebrating Our People at Summit 2026

Rent Berger • April 26, 2026

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This April, Berger Communities headed to The Penn Stater Hotel & Conference Center in State College, PA, for Summit 2026. With a theme of We Are… Berger, the event was all about celebrating our people, our partners, and everything that makes us who we are.

Our leadership team got things started a day early, meeting with our supplier partners and sharing dinner at the Nittany Lion Inn. On April 23, the whole company came together, starting Penn State style with a tailgate lunch and supplier partner trade show. And yes, everyone showed up in their white shoes!

 

Dan Berger and Anne-Marie Niklaus then opened the Summit Kickoff with a nod to our host city. State College has been part of the Berger story since we purchased Toftrees in 1989, followed by Vairo Village, Highwoods, Pennwood, and now South View.

 

From there, the Kickoff explored what it means to be Berger. A special video message from Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson set the tone on what it takes to build a championship team: discipline, consistency, and trust. Dan and Anne-Marie shared how we're growing with purpose, from new developments to 893 units added through acquisitions over the past 13 months, along with an EPIQ score that ranks us #3 in the nation. Jill Lesher, Ryan Massey, and Kristina Super then joined them on stage to talk about how their departments are evolving to set our teams up to win.

 

Above all, the Kickoff was a celebration of our people. We recognized new professional designations and work anniversaries, announced the launch of our Foundations of Leadership program, and handed the keys to our latest luxury vehicle winners. To close, former Penn State and NFL standout and Super Bowl champion Jordan Hill joined Dan and Anne-Marie for a Q&A on what it truly means to be One Team.

 

The night's main event was a surprise. Buses carried everyone to the historic State Theatre in downtown State College for The Jimmys, our annual awards ceremony recognizing the top-performing team members and communities whose results set the bar across our portfolio. Between the cheers, the walk-up music, and a few happy tears, it was a night to remember.

 

Thank you to the Summit planning team, our supplier partners, and every team member who made the trip. We Are… Berger, and we couldn't be prouder of this team. We can't wait to see what you do next!


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