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September 12, 2022
Welcome to People and Properties, the Cohen-Esrey newsletter where we celebrate the successes of our team members and keep you informed about what is happening in the Cohen-Esrey world. If you have something you would like to share or an achievement that you would like to celebrate, please send it to Lee Harris at lharris@cohenesrey.com. If you are on a property, please print and distribute this newsletter to each member of your property team. You can also find People and Properties on KnowledgeNet. Click here to view previous editions.
Affordable Urban Living in Downtown St. Louis
Sullivan Place is a 187-unit affordable community located just north of downtown St. Louis inside the I-70 loop. Cohen-Esrey Communities (CEC) has managed the property for a third-party client since 2006. Built in two phases in 2005, Sullivan Place East and Sullivan Place West offer a wide array of community amenities includes a fitness center, computer center, central laundry facility, multi-purpose room, beauty salon, and barbeque grills. The three-story buildings offer two one-bedroom layouts at 512 square feet and 634 square feet. Apartments rent for $520 and $640 per month, but Section 8 rental assistance is provided based upon a resident’s income. Small pets are accepted, and a resident services program is coordinated by a Cohen-Esrey team member dedicated to this function.
Located about three miles north of Downtown St. Louis, the Saint Louis Place neighborhood boasts gorgeous Victorian and Gothic Revival structures along with affordable rentals including brick-layered townhomes and apartments. Featuring several landmarks and buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Saint Louis Place is known for housing the George B. Vashon Museum, the Griot Museum of Black History, and Saint Liborius Church, the oldest German Catholic church west of the Mississippi that has transformed into an indoor skate park and community center. Nicknamed Sk8 Liborious, the interior of the church merges old and new with stain-glassed windows, arched ceilings, graffiti-style murals, and roller ramps. Led by its close-knit community, there also many non-profit organizations and community gardens located in Saint Louis Place.
Michael Carlisle (2022), is the Property Manager and Nicole Collins-Watson (2022), is the Regional Manager. Michael Gioia (2020) is the Senior Property Accountant, Emily Fletcher (2022), is the Accounting Assistant, and Rodney Chmidling (2015), is the Accounts Payable Specialist.
We welcome the following new team members to Cohen-Esrey and the Nexus 5 Group.
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Tandelyn Hodge-Carter – Tall Oaks, Conyers, GA – Property Manager.
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Andrew Bauer – Park Edge, Lenexa, KS – Maintenance Technician.
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Steven Robinson – Forest Glen, Kansas City, KS – Make-Ready Maintenance Technician.
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Heidi Hess – Jefferson on the Lake, Olathe, KS – Property Manager – welcome back, Heidi!
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Lisa Alfano – Park Edge, Lenexa, KS – Leasing Agent.
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Perfecto Puente – Jefferson on the Lake, Olathe, KS – Lead Maintenance Technician – welcome back, Perfecto!
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Amanda Tuominen – Old Orchard Estates, Carbon Cliff, IL – Assistant Property Manager.
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Robert Cyrus – Tall Oaks, Conyers, GA – Lead Maintenance Technician.
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Steven Plunkett – Owensboro Historic Residences, Owensboro, KY – Maintenance Technician.
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Sarah Glover – Astoria Park, Amarillo, TX – Leasing Agent.
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Christopher Riemens – Washington Historic Residences, Independence, KS – Maintenance Technician.
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Walker Stull – Nexus 5 Group – Field Technician-Level 2.
Meet the Perry 81 Team
Meet the Perry 81 team in Overland Park, KS. Alternating from L-R – Mary Muriel (2022), Property Manager; Michael Campos (2022), Make-Ready Technician; Bob Scott (2021), Lead Maintenance Technician; Frederick Tucker (2022), Maintenance Technician; James Scott (2021), Groundskeeper, and LeeAnn Cole (2022), Assistant Property Manager.
Perry 81 is a 350-unit market-rate community acquired by a Cohen-Esrey Apartment Investors (CEAI) partnership in 2019.
Core Value of the Month
A Short Story About Integrity
Recently, we hired an individual for a position in the Cohen-Esrey family of companies. Shortly after this person started, we began wondering about a professional certification that was listed on the resume. We asked this person to produce evidence that the certification was in fact earned. After much hemming and hawing, it became evident that this person had never earned the certification. The team member’s employment was immediately terminated. It’s clear that this person would not have been a fit for our Culture where Integrity is one of our five bedrock Core Values. And it’s unfortunate that we now must verify certifications before a new team member begins, but that is our new practice. We share this so that you can be assured that we take our Core Value of Integrity seriously.
Another Empowerment Story
By Connie Riley, CPM (2012), Senior Deputy Managing Director
Connie Riley, CPM (2012), is the Senior Deputy Managing Director for the Cohen-Esrey Communities (CEC) Market-Rate Division. Here is what she has to say about her Empowerment:
I started my property management career in my early 20’s as a part time leasing agent. I had a lot to learn and am still learning every day. My journey with Cohen-Esrey began much differently than most may know.
My introduction to Cohen-Esrey was on the client side of the business. I was working for an owner, with a sizeable portfolio under Cohen-Esrey’s management. I was a Vice-President for the developer/owner while working with him. While I got to know Cohen-Esrey, and their management services for a short couple of years, the owner decided he was ready to start moving more into full retirement with an exit strategy. Needless to say, I was part of the exit strategy as well. Cohen-Esrey was presented with purchasing and managing several of the assets from this owner, and I was part of the sale package, as I was told later by the owner. What that meant was the owner requested Cohen-Esrey “find a spot for me,” which is exactly what happened. The owner is still a client with the company, and I love telling this story and laugh with him about it to this day.
Once I started with Cohen-Esrey officially, I began to attend several different types of meetings, such as the Regional Manager meetings, owner/client meetings, operations meetings, etc. Initially, I sat back to take it all in while observing to learn the culture and how things worked at Cohen-Esrey. Shortly after, I remember meeting with Ryan Huffman (2002), Chief Operating Officer, and he asked me a question I have never forgotten. He asked why I wasn’t participating more in the meetings, engaging in the conversations with feedback, and thoughts. I recall telling him, I wasn’t sure that is what the company was looking for from me in my role. I remember thinking to myself, most companies really don’t want to hear feedback, from their team members, and here I am being asked for more participation. His response to me was, “we hired you to do a job, so go do it and we depend on your feedback.” I have never forgotten that. I reflect on that saying every day to myself and use those exact words to other team members, as it was very Empowering to me, and I hope it is to others. Those words, and mindset from him and the company made me feel Empowered and valued like no other company or supervisor ever has.
Cohen-Esrey has Empowered me to become a better leader and collaborator than I ever have been in my career. Cohen-Esrey will always be my home, as I truly love working here.
iiM Invests in Resilient Biotics
iiM, LLC (Innovation in Motion), has invested $112,000 to continue to support Resilient Biotics, an early-stage company that has developed a next-generation discovery platform through high resolution genomics and big data analytics, to identify and validate microbiome-derived, live biotherapeutics for prevention of respiratory infections disease (such as Bovine Respiratory Disease) in animal health. Resilient Biotics’ lead product is a proprietary live strain mix developed as an intranasal treatment to prevent bovine respiratory disease. iiM originally invested $163,000 in Resilient Biotics’ Series A Preferred Stock in 2020.
iiM is a funding platform for early-stage companies in the agriculture, animal health, and human health verticals, and is affiliated with Cohen-Esrey. Lydia Kinkade (2013), iiM’s Managing Director, and Nicholas Hense (2021), Venture Associate, coordinated the due diligence process for the Resilient Biotics investment. iiM has invested over $6,000,000 across 30 investments in 20 portfolio companies.
To learn more about iiM’s investment strategy, tips for founders, and more, check out our podcast here: https://www.iimkc.com/podcast.
Cohen-Esrey Welcomes Gina Oberg
Gina Oberg has joined the Cohen-Esrey Communities (CEC) team as the Property Accounting Manager. Gina was born in Olathe, KS, and has lived most of her life in the Kansas City area. She received her Accounting Degree from Wichita State University and her Master’s in Business Administration from Friends University. Much of Gina’s career has been spent in the manufacturing industry. She was most recently the Director of Finance with ECKAN – the East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation, a non-profit organization serving 16 east-central Kansas counties with housing, Head Start, food, and weatherization. In her new role at CEC, Gina will be supporting the Property Accounting Team including the review of bank reconciliations, forecasting and analyzing financial data, managing property assignments among team members, overseeing the peer review process for property level financial statements, coordinating the annual audit process with CPA firms, and a host of other functions.
Gina is married to Jonathan, and they have a 12-year-old daughter, Kayleigh. In her spare time, she enjoys crafting, quilting, and attending Jeep events.
Welcome to the Cohen-Esrey team, Gina!
Five Lifestyle Tips for a Healthy Fall
By Jennifer Turner, SHRM-SCP – Director of Human Resources
Reclaim habits that benefit body and mind, with tips from The American Heart Association
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Unplug to connect. September is a great reminder to eat regular meals at home with family. Family meals reduce stress, boost self-esteem, and make the whole family feel connected.
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Savor seasonal flavors. Fall brings new seasonal produce and recipe inspiration for family meals.
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Spend time outside. Take advantage of cooler temperatures by spending time outdoors for better physical and mental well-being. Spending time outdoors has been shown to reduce stress and improve mood. If you have a pet, get moving together! It’s a win-win for the health of you and your pet.
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Shop smart. Grocery shopping can be overwhelming, no matter the season. To find foods that can be part of a heart-healthy eating pattern, keep an eye out for the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark.
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Give thanks. Chronic, or constant, stress can have a negative impact on health, so, it’s important to build in habits to reduce stress. One great place to start is by practicing gratitude. Write down three things you are grateful for each day or reach out to a friend or family member and tell them how much you appreciate them.
A Groundbreaking in Englewood, CO
On August 25, 2022, a team from the Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG) turned the first shovels of dirt at a site in the southern Denver suburb of Englewood, CO, for construction of the Trails at Lehow, an 82-unit affordable housing community. Team members in the photo below include (left to right) Lauren Cano (2021), Development Manager; Jon Atlas (2015), CEDG Managing Director; Jack Brenton (2018), Development Manager; Nick Emenhiser (2022), Development Manager; Lisa Sorensen (2019), Development Director; Becky Trost (2015), CEDG Accountant, and Kyle Ervin (2021), Project Manager for Construction Technologies (CT).
Construction is a Constant for Cohen-Esrey!
Construction has become a never-ending process for the Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG). The first two photos are of The Landing at 818, a 100-unit affordable senior development in the Madison, WI, suburb of Sun Prairie. As you can see, the project is nearing completion with Q4 occupancy expected. The third photo shows the massive amount of earthwork that has been underway for the 212-unit Loma Vista Lofts, an affordable community in San Antonio, TX. You can see the downtown skyline in the distance.
A Conversation with Mark
This is another installment in conversations with members of the Executive Leadership Team. Today we’re talking with Mark Fletcher, (2008), Chief Technology Officer for Cohen-Esrey.
P&P: How long have you been in Information Technology?
Mark: 28 years. I worked my way through college as a graphic artist. At the end of my sophomore year, my company asked me if I knew what the “interweb” was and if I would be willing to become the company’s new “webmaster.” I accepted and that was my first exposure to programming. I absolutely loved it. I quickly changed my major from Marketing to Information Systems. I spent the next 28 years engaged in all things IT.
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P&P: How did you come to Cohen-Esrey?
Mark: In 2008, I received a call from a colleague who was recruiting for a Chief Information Officer position at Cohen-Esrey. Later that week, I was interviewed by Jeanette Jayne (1996), Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of Cohen-Esrey, and subsequently, by Lee Harris (1975) President and CEO. I was struck by how genuine and authentic they both were.
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P&P: Tell us about your family.
Mark: As the sixth born out of eight kids, I come from a long line of artists and engineers. My wife and I have five children. Our youngest just graduated from high school. We have three grandchildren and one on the way. I love them all very much.
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P&P: What do you do outside of work?
Mark: My wife and I love ballroom dancing and for a brief period, we both competed. Our newest passion is running a small hobby farm. We raise cows, pigs, goats, and chickens. We make our own cheese, butter, and my favorite, smoked bacon. It’s hard work and leaves us with little free time, but we love it.
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P&P: What is the most dangerous thing you’ve ever done?
Mark: Caving. I know it doesn’t sound that dangerous, but hear me out. For about 10 years, my wife loved caving. I believe that a successful marriage involves sharing each others’ interests. so, I strove to come along on her caving trips. For many years I endured it. Then, on one trip, I got stuck. Completely and totally stuck. I couldn’t break free and I had a full-blown melt down. It was dark and cramped and I’m pretty sure lava was involved. My frontal lobe disconnected and my brainstem took over, resulting in a freakout that would have landed me an Emmy award. Thankfully, it was not filmed. It took a while to calm down and get free. Since then, I have not been able to enter another cave. Heck, some days, I have a hard time getting in an elevator.
P&P: Tell us about your education and credentials.
Mark: As mentioned earlier, I started out in marketing but grew into a programmer. After several years, I was promoted to a project manager, at which point I achieved my Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Further experience led me into more senior management positions.
P&P: What do you do outside the company to help the community?
Mark: Scouting has been a big part of my life, first as a young man and later on as a scout leader. For over 10 years, a lot my annual PTO was dedicated to scout camps. These days, my wife and I spend time volunteering in a variety of youth development programs.
P&P: How has Cohen-Esrey Empowered You to Thrive?
Mark: For me, life is too short to spend working at just a gig. Cohen-Esrey offers so much more. CE has a vision that I share – to Empower People to Thrive. That is a vision I can get behind. The company has Core Values that I strive to embody. When I look around, I see so much passion and energy focused on leadership, culture, and customer fulfillment. I leave work each day feeling that we have made a difference. This could not be possible without Cohen-Esrey providing us with all of the runway we could ever want to grow, stretch, and expand.
Let’s Talk About Educational Assistance
Recently it came to our attention that some team members were unsure about Cohen-Esrey’s position on educational assistance including professional certifications. We thought it would be a good idea to reiterate the company policy in this regard which can be found in K-Net in the Team Member Handbook.
As part of Team Member Fulfillment, Cohen-Esrey recognizes the value of your continuing education and you are encouraged to seek self-improvement through formal and informal education. In certain circumstances, the Company may pay the fees and other costs associated with course work or reimburse you for course work completed during the time of your employment. All the following situations must be approved in writing, in advance, by your Manager and Human Resources.
For courses and training the Company requires you to take as a function of your position with the Company, the Company will pay 100% of the cost of the course or training including any travel, lodging and meals associated with it. There is no tenure requirement for participation when the Company requires the training.
The Company may also reimburse you, up to a maximum of $3,000 annually, for other kinds of education expenses such as continuing education, tuition for coursework, seminars, conferences and dues for approved organizations. In order to qualify for these kinds of educational reimbursements, the following will apply:
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You must have at least six months of tenure with the Company and be in good standing to request educational assistance.
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Prior approval of your manager and HR is required, which will be conditioned upon the applicability of the class/classes or program to your current or possible future role or roles at the Company.
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You may be reimbursed for the cost of the class tuition upon the completion of the course and providing (a) proof of receiving a grade of C or better (when an A, B, C grading system is used) or a Passing grade (in a Pass/Fail grading system), and (b) copies of your paid receipts for the course. You will not be reimbursed for any amounts for which you have received other forms of reimbursement such as student loans or grants.
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Reimbursement for books and other education expenses, as approved by your manager.
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You must be actively employed with the Company to be eligible for reimbursement payments.
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Should you voluntarily leave the Company, you will be required to repay any amounts paid by the Company during the prior 24 months for expenses in this category.
Backsliding
The overall NPS for Cohen-Esrey stands at +34. This is two points less than when we reported in August. There are now 11 properties totaling 1,644-units with a negative NPS of which five properties comprise 1,438-units. Why are we backsliding? For the most part, it’s the same large properties that are dragging down the overall score. Regional Managers responsible for these five properties are intensifying their efforts to review individual surveys with property teams and figure out where our processes are broken. We absolutely must take corrective action to deliver the level of Customer Fulfillment that our residents deserve.
Congratulations to the Nexus 5 Group for it’s Commitment to Customer Fulfillment as evidenced by its NPS of +90!
