About Us

Kate Simer
Founding CEO

 Licensed Property Manager, Oregon — PM #201231922

Kate has worked in property management since 2005, bringing two decades of hands-on, international experience to her role as Founding CEO of Descansa. She leads the company with a values-based, people-first approach, backed by deep expertise across residential and hospitality properties in both the U.S. and Barcelona.

Kate's foundation in hospitality began early, working at her family's international youth hostel, Hostel Obispo, where she later served as General Manager overseeing day-to-day operations and guest relations. She went on to manage more than 100 properties across Barcelona and the Costa Brava, working across both short- and long-term rentals — experience that sharpened her ability to operate at scale across different markets, regulatory environments, and property types.

Kate's background in Montessori education further shapes her leadership style, grounding Descansa's people-first culture in a deep respect for individual growth, clear communication, and community. That same dependability and attention to detail now guide how she leads Descansa: with consistency, integrity, and a steady focus on delivering exceptional service to homeowners and guests alike.

Outside of work, Kate loves to travel, read, and spend time with her family, splitting her time between Portland and Portugal.

Kate Werremeyer
Fractional CFO

As Descansa's Fractional CFO, Katie works closely with our CEO to provide strategic financial guidance that supports our long-term growth. With nearly two decades of experience helping businesses scale and thrive, she brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to every decision — one that keeps us financially sound while staying focused on delivering exceptional service to our homeowners and guests.

Katie has spent nearly 20 years helping technology companies scale, and later co-founded Heartware and Empathy in Tech, organizations dedicated to making empathy a practical, measurable part of how businesses operate. That same philosophy — that sound financial strategy and people-centered leadership reinforce each other — shapes how she leads at Descansa: listening first, building strong relationships across teams, and keeping owners, guests, and team members front and center in every decision. Her expertise helps Descansa grow with purpose, integrity, and excellence.

Travis Brown
Operations Manager

Travis is Descansa's Operations Manager and a leader in operational workflow and process management. He believes in staying close to the work, so he also serves as our primary hands-on presence for maintenance, keeping eyes and hands on the properties he oversees. He brings a strong background in operations and facilities that shapes how he leads — practical, grounded, and deeply committed to doing right by our homeowners and guests.

Travis is passionate about keeping people at the center of industries that are increasingly turning to automation, a value that's core to how he approaches his work and part of what keeps Descansa's culture strong. Outside of work, he and his family are deeply involved in their school and community, and are well known among neighbors and friends for their disability advocacy work. When they're not spending time with chosen family and friends, you'll likely find them cruising around in their '88 Vanagon, "Becky."

Andrea Williams
Assistant Manager

Andrea joins Descansa as a seasoned Assistant Property Manager, starting back in 1997. She brings a wealth of energy along with several years of experience in both short term and long-term rental management. She took a break to pursue an interest in sales and marketing. Although she loved working in sales, her true passion lead her back to Property Management, where she could lend a hand in helping others secure stable housing.

When not at work, Andrea is often out fulfilling her passion in animal rescue. She wants what every fur animal wants: a safe and comfortable place to call home! Andrea has rescued, rehabbed and rehoused dozens of cats, dogs, squirrels, possums, raccoons, and even her most recent rescue “A Canadian Goose” that made Portlands headlines. Andrea’s favorite motto in life has always been “Be the voice for the voiceless.”

Keith Kurczewski
Operations & Compliance Coordinator

Keith brings precision and a keen eye for strategy to Descansa's pricing. As Operations & Compliance Coordinator, he monitors and adjusts pricing across our portfolio, keeping properties competitively positioned as market conditions shift. He also collaborates closely with our CEO on select operational initiatives, bringing a grounded, detail-oriented perspective to the decisions that keep Descansa running smoothly.

Keith's affection for old houses runs deep, and it shows in the craft he brings to caring for them. A trained luthier, he spent 20 years building and restoring guitars, first at National Resophonic Guitars in San Luis Obispo, CA, and later as owner of his own shop, 3 Tracks Music, in Portland, OR. That work developed a precision and patience that carries directly into his woodworking and home restoration today, where he's spent an equal number of years caring for early 1900s houses. He was formerly involved with the Alameda Architectural Preservation Society, reflecting a longstanding commitment to preserving the character of older homes.

Keith is a former member of the St. Johns Boosters and remains an avid supporter of small, local businesses — a value that runs through both his own entrepreneurial history and his work at Descansa. Outside of the business, he finds joy in nature, hiking, swimming, playing guitar, tackling renovation projects, and exploring the world with his family.

Keith and Kate, Descansa's founder, share a life together, splitting their time between Portland and Portugal with their family.

Marisa Ligawan
Guest Services & Office Assistant

Marisa brings highly experienced, expert-level skill to her role managing guest communications for Descansa. She's fast to respond and consistently delivers excellent customer service that reflects the same high standard of care Descansa brings to every property. Highly organized and detail-oriented, she provides the administrative support and schedule coordination that keep daily operations running smoothly, and her steady presence helps support the broader team every step of the way.

Beyond her skill and professionalism, Marisa brings a warmth and kindness that make her a true joy to work with.

Outside of work, Marisa channels that same focus and discipline into tennis and badminton, staying active and sharp both on and off the court.