Meet Our Toftrees Leadership Team

Michele Torsell is the Director of Property Management for Turtle Creek and Cooper’s Pond. Since 1991 she has led the overall rental and management activities. She enjoys working with residents and prospective residents to insure that the apartments and townhomes are ready for new residents. It’s obvious that she always strives for Toftrees-Turtle Creek and Coopers Pond to be a wonderful place for all to live.

She currently lives with her husband, son, and two dogs in a quiet neighborhood. She enjoys spending time with her family.

Michele is looking forward to her well-earned retirement in 2025.  While she will sadly miss the residents, ownership will miss her and her enthusiasm.

Erin Tressler is the Assistant Rental Manager for Toftrees Associates and has primary responsibility for assisting in maintaining the Rental Office, Turtle Creek Apartments and Cooper’s Pond Townhomes.  She enjoys helping new residents transition to the area and making them feel right at home here in our community. Helping families, including their pets, thrive in a new setting is a top priority for Erin. Prior to her affiliation with Toftrees Associates, Erin was a Real Estate Agent and Property Manager for several local Real Estate Companies. She has worked in both commercial and residential since 2002.

Erin received a BA from Penn State University in Labor & Industrial Relations and was previously a Licensed Real Estate Agent with the PA Real Estate Commission. She was also the Co-Director of Publicity for Centre County PAWS.

Outside of the office, Erin lives in a cabin in the woods with her husband, son, dogs and small flock of chickens. Besides her career, she is a Business Owner, a Professional Organizer and a Certified Yoga Instructor

Larry Whitehead is the Director/Supervisor of Physical Plant for Toftrees Associates. He leads the crew that maintains the rentals units, the grounds and the overall wellbeing of our community.  Larry really enjoys working with and getting to know all our residents. He loves the challenge of fixing things and really cares about making sure everything is well maintained for our residents. 

Larry has been making sure our properties are in great shape since 1995. He is dedicated to all projects regardless of the size or scope the size. His dedication as an employee and to the projects he manages resulted in our Bark Park being named in his honor. It’s another example of a beautifully executed project managed, enabled and completed by Larry. Our exit interview results often commend Larry and his team for the attentive and efficient way in which resident concerns are completed. Currently, they are engaged in upgrading the lighting to enhance our resident experience.

Larry is married to his lovely wife and has children, grandchildren and dogs. Outside of work, he loves camping, boating, hunting, spending time with his family and his mini dachshunds.

We are Community Leaders

Charlene Friedman-Community Leader

The impact that Charlene Friedman has had on the State College community is clear, for more than 40 years she has helped to define the landscape of the region as a real estate professional and, through volunteer service and philanthropy, has made the area a better place to live. 

Charlene admits that her career in commercial real estate, which earned her recognition as one of Pennsylvania’s “Best 50 Women in Business,” was not her original plan when she graduated from Seton Hall University in 1969.  Upon moving to State College in 1978 she decided on a different path from the Special Education training she received. Real Estate was suggested, she decided to obtain a license, and as they say, “the rest is history”. 

With roots now firmly established in State College, Charlene found herself becoming more immersed in the community. “Volunteering has always been important to me,” Charlene says. “Juggling a career and caring for a family is challenging, but I believe we all have a responsibility to make a difference if we can.” Charlene has served in leadership positions for over thirty community organizations, including as a board member for the Center for Performing Arts, the State College Area Food Bank, and the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS®, and as chairman or president of the Centre County United Way, the Downtown State College Improvement District, Smart Start-Centre County, Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission, the Regional Advisory Boards of both M&T Bank , and Centre 1st Bank  and the Centre County Association of REALTORS®, among many others. She is currently serving on the Board of Old Dominion National Bank, Happy Valley Sports and Entertainment Bureau and is Chairperson of the Child Advocacy Center.

It’s been said that “Charlene is one of those people who has unlimited energy and passion,”. “Her enthusiasm for helping others is never satisfied.” 

Charlene, whose support of Penn State has been recognized with membership in the Laurel Circle of the Mount Nittany Society, has served on various development and advisory councils for the College of Health and Human Development, and assisted with all the University’s fundraising campaigns. 

As an entrepreneur, Charlene owns and operates Industrial-Commercial Realty LLC and actively manages commercial and multi-family enterprises in Centre County. In 1995 she branched into agriculture by co-founding Mountain Edge Alpacas LLC and becoming a certified USA and International Alpaca judge. 

Charlene is the mother of two children, daughter Salem Bartlett who lives with husband John, in North Carolina and son, Ty Stewart who resides in Nevada with his SCAHS sweetheart Sarah. She is the proud grandmother of two 16-year-old grands, Chase and Kyla.

Charlene is an avid yoga practitioner who is a 500-hour certified instructor through the Yoga Alliance and trains with Princeton Power Yoga.

Maya Angelou was inspirational to Charlene. A favorite quote that she likes to remember daily is: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”