Innovation with Heart: IRIS Technologies and D.O.N.N.A. visit Capital City Rotary
- Jessica Lee
- Sep 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 2
At our August 26th meeting, the Rotary Club of the Capital City had the opportunity to step into the future of community living. We welcomed Whitney Kidd, Founder of IRIS Technologies and Senior Vice President of Innovation & Technology at The Preiss Company, who introduced us to D.O.N.N.A., one of the first humanoid robots in the multifamily housing industry.
Whitney began by sharing her team’s bold vision:
“We are thrilled today to introduce you to Donna 2.0, one of the first humanoid robots ever in the multifamily industry. We are kicking off a 24-month R&D cycle for humanoid robots in the multifamily industry, trying to find optimizations for community side teams as well as leasing progress and how humanoids can interact within our industry.”
Meet D.O.N.N.A. 2.0
Dynamic Operating Neural Network Assistant is one of the first humanoid robots to enter the multifamily housing industry. Developed by IRIS Technologies and named after Donna Preiss, founder of The Preiss Company, D.O.N.N.A. 2.0 represents a new era of service-driven community technology.
Whitney Kidd and her team describe D.O.N.N.A. 2.0 not as a replacement for people, but as a partner in community living, designed to support staff, improve resident experiences, and foster inclusion in diverse housing environments.
A Leader Rooted in Service
Donna Preiss has transformed student housing through a deep sense of purpose and community commitment. Starting in 1987 with little capital, she founded The Preiss Company and grew it into one of the largest privately held off‑campus student housing providers in the nation. Under her leadership, the company now manages nearly 37,000 beds worth over $4.5 billion across dozens of universities, changing how students live and thrive. Her focus on elevating the student experience,ensuring that residents “do a better job at that [planning their life’s work]” when their home-life is comfortable, safe, and supportive reflects the Rotary ideal of serving others with empathy and excellence.
Empowering and Inclusive Leadership
As a woman leading a powerhouse in real estate, Donna has broken through industry norms and inspired many others in a male-dominated field. She was recognized by Triangle Business Journal as CEO of the Year and by GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum among the Women of Influence, not for self‑promotion, but as affirmations of her thoughtful, ethical leadership. She gives back quietly, serving on boards like Ravenscroft School and the UNC Wood Center for Real Estate Studies, always centered on uplifting youth and education without fanfare. This mirrors Rotary’s commitment to leadership, empowerment, and elevating diverse voices.
Whitney Kidd is the Founder of IRIS Technologies and serves as Senior Vice President of Innovation & Technology at The Preiss Company, one of the nation’s largest private student housing operators. With more than 15 years of experience in property management and technology integration, she has led over 250 high-impact projects ranging from smart-home automation to managed Wi-Fi and artificial intelligence. Under her leadership, IRIS has become a proptech “innovation lab,” testing and scaling forward-looking solutions like humanoid robotics in real-world housing communities. In 2025, GlobeSt. Real Estate Forum honored Whitney as a Woman of Influence in the PropTech Executive/Innovator category, recognizing her for reshaping multifamily innovation and pioneering the use of humanoid robots in housing.
What sets Whitney apart is her philosophy that technology should be human-centered and service-oriented. She emphasizes that projects like the humanoid robot D.O.N.N.A. 2.0 are not about replacing people, but about empowering teams and improving the daily lives of residents. Beyond her corporate achievements, Whitney co-founded The W. Collective, a women-in-business network advocating for mentorship, childcare support, and family-friendly policies to help women thrive in leadership. By pairing innovation with compassion, she reflects Rotary values of service, integrity, and community development, reminding us that progress in technology has the greatest impact when it uplifts people and strengthens communities.
Why We Serve
At the Rotary Club of the Capital City, we believe that service is more than a word, it’s a way of life. We serve because we’ve seen what happens when people come together with purpose, students find better housing, families feel safer, communities become more connected. Hearing leaders like Whitney Kidd and Donna Preiss reminds us that when vision and compassion meet, innovation can truly change lives. We serve because every project, every handshake, every act of kindness leaves a ripple that carries farther than we can imagine.
Want to Join Us
If you’ve ever wanted to do more than just talk about change; if you’ve wanted to roll up your sleeves and help make it happen; we’d love to have you at our table. Here, you’ll find people who believe in action, laughter, and friendship as much as they believe in building stronger communities. Whether it’s mentoring a student, welcoming an innovator, or lending a hand at a local project, there’s a place for you here. Come for the fellowship, stay for the purpose, and discover just how much good we can do, together.
Rotary Club of the Capital City – People of Action in Raleigh
What a fascinating program!
So, so cool. IRIS rocks! Anne the Robot is going to be cleaning up the grounds of your apartment complex soon. Thank you Josh Davis for arranging!