September 11, 2023

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.

Preserving the Good Life in San Antonio

The Preserve at Westover Hills is a 276-unit market-rate community in west San Antonio, TX. The property was acquired by a Cohen-Esrey Apartment Investors (CEAI) partnership in 2021 and adjoins the I-410 Loop in the growing Westover Hills area of the city. A few blocks away are multiple hospitals, clinics, and medical practices. Directly across the street from the property is a new National Security Agency (NSA) facility known as the Texas Cryptology Center which employs 3,000 workers. This is a very secretive facility, so there’s not a lot of other information available. The Preserve is also in close proximity to SeaWorld, the Lackland Air Force Base, and many fine restaurants. The property has a wide range of amenities including an outdoor lounge, outdoor kitchen and BBQ areas, controlled gated access, an Amazon package receiving center, recently updated clubhouse, dog park and dog wash facility, swimming pool with games and hammock stations, a business center, and a fitness center. One bedroom units range from 546 to 784 square feet and rent from $868 to $1,318 per month. Two bedroom units range from 890 to 1,135 square feet and rent from $1,178 to $1,558 per month.

San Antonio is a metro of 2.6 million people and the third fastest growing city in the U.S. The U.S. Armed Forces have numerous facilities in and around San Antonio including Fort Sam Houston, which has Brooke Army Medical Center within it, is the only one within the city limits. Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, Kelly Air Force Base, Camp Bullis, and Camp Stanley are outside the city limits. San Antonio is home to four Fortune 500 companies and the South Texas Medical Center, the only medical research and care provider in the South Texas region. Nearly 32 million tourists visit San Antonio each year to enjoy the famed Riverwalk, the Alamo, Tower of the Americas, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, SeaWorld, and the San Antonio Spurs NBA team. Cohen-Esrey has focused heavily on the San Antonio market in recent years with the development of new affordable/workforce housing including the Lofts at Ventura, Loma Vista Lofts, and the Lofts at Creekview, as well as market-rate acquisitions besides the Preserve that include Loretto at Creekside, and Waterford Park (sold in 2021).

Kristy Rogers (2019), is the Property Manager and Alyssa Garza (2022), is the Area Manager. Paige Bohling (2022), is the Property Accountant, Garrett Cook (2022), is the Property Accounting Assistant, and Rodney Chmidling (2015), is the Accounts Payable Specialist. The team at the Preserve at Westover Hills is to be commended for delivering Customer Fulfillment at such a high level as to achieve a +41.87 NPS!

We welcome the following new team members to Cohen-Esrey and the Nexus 5 Group.

Alexandria Pappas – Perry 81, Overland Park, KS – Leasing Agent
Keagan Seagraves – Big Chair Lofts, Thomasville, NC – Lead Maintenance Technician
Perfecto Puente – Park Edge, Lenexa, KS – Lead Maintenance Technician (Rehire)
Anthony Flores – Loretto at Creekside, Live Oak, TX – Maintenance Technician
Justin Marshall – Nexus 5 Group – Field Technician-Level 2
Anthony White – Tall Oaks, Conyers, GA – Property Manager
Elizabeth Snyder – Brookshire Estates, Jerseyville, MO – Property Manager (Rehire)
Joe Ouellet – Lakes at North Port, North Port, FL – Lead Maintenance Technician
Ashley Rice – Life Skills, Kirkwood, MO – Property Manager

Meet the Tall Oaks Team

Meet our team at Tall Oaks in Conyers, GA. Left to right – Bianca Stewart (2023), Assistant Property Manager; Anthony White (2023), Property Manager, and Kadmiel Woodford (2022), Maintenance Technician. Tall Oaks is a 174-unit market-rate community owned by a Cohen-Esrey Apartment Investors (CEAI) partnership. Congratulations to this property team for delivering Customer Fulfillment at a high enough level to earn a spot on the NPS Leaderboard!

A Sweet Operation

In the last issue of People & Properties we featured our Corporate Office building. We mentioned that we operate a series of office suites that could someday accommodate expansion space for Cohen-Esrey. This is a rather unique operation that you might find interesting. The Corporate Suites totaling 2,588 square feet are located on the ground floor of our building at 8500 Shawnee Mission Parkway in Merriam, KS. There are 13 suite tenants ranging from 108 to 426 square feet with monthly rent ranging from $475 to $1,450. We also have one virtual office tenant using our address and services. Tenants include PreservingUS, Inc., another non-profit organization, a CPA, several therapists, an attorney, a retirement planning specialist, a floor covering firm, an insurance agent, and a life coach/counselor. Leases are month-to-month, but most tenants stay at least a year. When a tenant vacates the space is usually re-rented within 30 days. All offices are unfurnished and tenants have access to a small kitchen, a large conference room, free wireless Internet service, and 24/7 office access. Visitors simply press a button in the suites lobby under the tenant’s name notifying that business of the visitor’s arrival. At our previous Corporate Office, we also had a smaller suites operation.

Debbie Van Dyne (1987), Office Manager, is the Executive Suites Coordinator. She handles the leasing and delivers Customer Fulfillment to the various tenants. The fact that the suites remain fully occupied is a tribute to her Commitment to making this operation such a smashing success!

Transformational Construction!

Construction continues at several Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG) future communities.

Adding the finishing touches to Sinclair Flats in Mankato, MN.

Site work has begun at Lewis Lofts (second phase of Sinclair Flats) in Mankato, MN.

Framing should begin in the next few weeks at the Lofts at Creekview in San Antonio, TX.

The site is huge at Lofts at Creekview to accommodate 301 units.

Roof trusses are being installed on the second building at the Loma Vista Lofts in San Antonio, TX.

Massive amounts of concrete being poured at Panorama Heights in Colorado Springs, CO.

The architecture for the Trails at Lehow in Englewood, CO, is quite unique.

The Revenue Growth Champions!

By Michele Rollo-Burns (2018), Director of Revenue

Each month we recognize communities that have realized stellar year-over-year (YOY) revenue growth. For the month of August 2023, here are the standouts with growth of 5% or more. Congratulations to each team for the progress made! Ten properties are on the list this month!

Core Value of the Month

Community Impact in St. Louis!

On Tuesday, August 22, the following team members from the St. Louis area volunteered at the area's foodbank: Kristina Viera (2017), Deputy Managing Director; Latosha Devould (2023), Tower Village Property Manager; Brittney Herd (2022), Sullivan Place Property Manager; Jamina Beal (2023), Sullivan Place Assistant Property Manager, and Pam Weatherford (2016), Freedom Place Property Manager. The St. Louis Area Foodbank's mission is to build stronger communities by empowering people with food and hope. They gather and distribute over 43 million pounds of food each year to 500+ food pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens and community program partners throughout 14 counties in eastern Missouri and 12 counties in southwestern Illinois. Special thanks to Ryan Rupert (2018), Network Administrator, of the Community Impact Team for his assistance in organizing the event and Kristina Viera for bringing the team together to deliver our Core Value of Community Impact!

Latosha Devould hard at work packing boxes.

Congratulations to the St. Louis team for their efforts!

Community Impact

Jessica Bell (2014), Senior Project Engineer at Nexus 5, was recognized at the Cohen-Esrey Leadership Conference as a 2022 Community Impact Award winner. Here is what was said about her during the presentation ceremony:

This team member joined our team in 2015. She has been involved in and has planned many community impact events over the years. As a board member of AAKC she has completed many community impact initiatives and has been our liaison with Operation Break Through for 4 years. With Operation Breakthrough she coordinates all volunteers (from Nexus 5 and Cohen Esrey) at the holiday store along with coordinating the fund raising and shopping for the families we adopt. She is always ready to jump in and help wherever needed to impact our community in a positive way. This Community Impact Award goes to Jessica Bell

Nicholas Hense (2021), iim Principal at Corporate, was recognized at the Cohen-Esrey Leadership Conference as a 2022 Community Impact Award winner. Here is what was said about him during the presentation ceremony:

This Team Member helped raise nearly $50,000 for Boys Hope Girls Hope of Kansas City, a nonprofit that seeks to break the cycle of poverty by improving the lives of young people. As Treasurer for the Young Professionals Board of Directors he participates in monthly meetings, dinners with the scholars, tutoring the scholars, and plans fundraising events (Trivia Night, Serving Up Hope Volleyball Tournament, Fueling Futures Breakfast). He has been involved with this organization for several years.

He also volunteers as Treasurer for the University of Notre Dame’s local alumni group, the Notre Dame Club of Kansas City. Among other initiatives, the club seeks to help alumni and friends thrive in faith, service, learning, and work; and inspire all to act as forces for good in their communities and the world.

He Volunteers as judge for the Kansas DECA Career Development Conference in Overland Park, KS. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high school and colleges around the globe. Approximately 800 - 1,000 students from across the state of Kansas compete.

This Team Member was recently accepted into the highly competitive Centurions Leadership Program. In conjunction with the KC Chamber of Commerce, the two-year leadership development program’s mantra is “Learn-Serve-Lead,” and being selected will provide him with even more opportunities to serve the community. This Community Impact Award goes to Nicholas Hense.

Cohen-Esrey Welcomes Tim and Lorraine

Tim Alcott has joined the Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG) as a Development Director representing the San Antonio/Austin region. Previously, he worked at the San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) n/k/a Opportunity Home San Antonio. In his role at Opportunity Home he oversaw the real estate development, construction services, asset management, and legal departments in addition to working closely on legislative matters. Through his position with Opportunity Home, Tim oversaw over $1 billion of real estate development in San Antonio and the construction of over 9,000 units of housing. He also was responsible for a $29 million Federal Choice grant to revitalize the east side of San Antonio. Levering these funds, Opportunity Home and its partners invested over $100 million in the neighborhood.

Prior to working at Opportunity Home, Tim practiced construction law. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from St. Mary’s University and a Juris Doctorate from the Oklahoma City University School of Law. He has been recognized by the San Antonio Business Journal as one of top in-house counsels in San Antonio.

Lorraine Robles joins CEDG as a Senior Development Manager with over twenty-nine years of economic development and real estate development experience, and will be based in San Antonio. She was responsible for the construction and acquisition of multi-family and single-family housing for Opportunity Home San Antonio (formerly known as SAHA). She also oversaw the $30 million HUD Choice Neighborhood Implementation grant for Wheatley Courts and was directly responsible for both the “Housing” and “Neighborhood” components.

Lorraine was with Opportunity Home for 19 years beginning as a HOPE VI CSS Manager overseeing resident services for Opportunity Home’s three HOPE VI sites and has spent the last 17 years in real estate development helping to secure a development pipeline of $1 billion in new housing projects equating to 6,015 units. Prior to joining the agency, she worked for ACCION Texas, now known as LiftFund, for ten years as Senior Vice-President of Operations and Lending. Lorraine received a Bachelor of Business Administration from St. Mary’s University. She is also certified as a Senior Public Housing Manager (SPHM) and Housing Development Finance Professional (HDFP).

We’re excite to continue our growth in the Texas market where Tim and Lorraine will help cultivate new affordable and workforce housing opportunities. Welcome to Cohen-Esrey, Tim and Lorraine!

A Healthy Tip

By Jennifer Turner, SHRM-SCP (2018), Director of Human Resources

Tips to Help Prevent Eye Strain During Computer Use

How exactly does the screen affect your eyes? There are several signs to look out for, they can vary slightly depending on whether you use a computer or a smartphone. The most common symptoms of eye strain are:

Headaches
Blurred Vision
Dry Eyes
In extreme cases neck and shoulder pain.

When looking at a high-resolution screen, we subconsciously blink less, other pain responses can also decrease causing the body to not signal that something is wrong. This is particularly common with computer use and is called “computer vision syndrome.” Over long periods of time, this can be harmful to your overall eye health. When working on a computer all day, these symptoms can arise after using a screen for prolonged periods of time.

Ways to protect your eyes when using a computer:

Use the 20/20/20 Rule
- Your eyes aren’t designed to stare all day at something directly in front of you. If you look at the screen for 20 minutes, you must look at something at least 20 feet away from you for 20 seconds.
Ensure Your Room is Well Lit
- It may sound counterintuitive, but less light in your room is actually better for your eyes when you’re working on a computer. Offices shouldn’t be too bright, so when possible, close your curtains and reduce your use of fluorescent lighting.
Have Regular Eye Exams
- Regular eye exams help to keep your eye health in check and ensure any problems you might be having aren’t anything other than normal eye strain.
Reduce Glare
- Glare on your computer screen can cause eye strain as it stops your eyes adjusting as easily as they should to the content you’re trying to focus on. Use an anti-glare matte screen where possible. If you’re a glasses wearer, make sure your lenses have an anti-reflective coating.
Use High-Resolution Screens
- Today, screens typically offer refresh rates of 75Hz or more. The higher the better. Furthermore, screens with higher resolutions appear more lifelike. When you can’t see the pixels, your eyes don’t work as hard to make sense of the images in front of you.
Reduce Blue Light
- Blue light has a short wavelength and is known for causing damage to the eye. Reduce blue light by using specialist glasses or reduce the color temperature of your screen.

A Day in JA BizTown: Nexus 5 Group’s Inspiring Volunteering Journey

By Kevin Bartley (2018), Nexus 5 Group Mechanical and Service Division Manager, and By Clifton Printy (2019), Nexus 5 Group Superintendent

“What? I do not have enough money to pay the hospital,” explained an exasperated young middle schooler. He had just received a chit that said he had a broken arm. His CFO leaned in, “You should’a got insurance,” she said, matter-of-factly.

Using our skills and time to benefit others is one of the most satisfying experiences we can have. This is a value deeply embedded in us at the Nexus 5 Group. Thirty-nine volunteers, 13 from Nexus 5, embarked on a journey to help students make a connection between what they learn in a classroom and the “Real World” as Junior Achievement BizTown citizens.

“You have to pay, or we will have to shut you down,” said a curly haired young lady from City Hall. She was speaking to the frustrated CFO. “But my boss is at lunch,” she replied looking nervously at the spreadsheet on her tablet. She leaned into a Nexus 5 team member and said, “I do not know what to do. I have to pay back the business loan.” We watched her show one of the Nexus 5 Project Coordinators her financials who advised her that it was her job to make the decision. She was in control.

JA BizTown is a nonprofit organization providing hands-on programs that teach students about work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. It offers a unique, interactive environment where students, primarily from grades four through six, can understand the economics of life, inspiring them to dream big about their futures.

As builders and creators, the Nexus 5 Group team found this to be a cause closely tied to our hearts. We wanted to contribute to shaping these young minds, instilling in them the values of hard work, dedication, and financial independence.

What Happens at JA BizTown?

The day began with a brief orientation, and then the JA staff assigned us to our various storefronts – simulated real-world businesses, where the kids would be “working” for the day. The Nexus 5 Group team found themselves running banks, retail stores, utilities, and even a city hall.

Our role was not just to supervise but to mentor, guide, and inspire these young “employees.” We helped them understand their job roles, manage their salaries, expenses, and even pay taxes. We experienced the joy of seeing lightbulb moments on their faces as they successfully completed transactions, solved problems, and made decisions independently. Throughout the day, we answered their questions, listened to their innovative ideas, and even found ourselves learning from their fresh perspectives.

Seeing the town come alive with the hustle and bustle of a regular working day was immensely rewarding. We saw children transforming into confident business owners, thoughtful consumers, and responsible citizens.

Another Empowerment Story

By Rebecca Roddy (2019), Property Manager, Mills Crossing

Rebecca Roddy (2019), is the Property Manager for Mills Crossing in Salem, IL. Here is what she has to say about her Empowerment:

I worked for Cohen Esrey in March 2008, and it was different back then. I left for a while and then returned in 2019 and became a part of the Cohen-Esrey team with Kristina Viera (2017), Deputy Managing Director, as my Regional Manager.

I really enjoy working for Cohen-Esrey and appreciate all the tools and resources they provide for me to do my job well. My property was previously managed for a third-party owner and in 2020 he decided to manage it himself. It just so happened that Cohen-Esrey had a part time position at Mills Crossing in Salem IL, so I was able to stay with the company. Rebecca Grimm (2019), then became my Regional Manager. I accepted the position through a unique arrangement with Cohen-Esrey allowing me to continue working at Mills Crossing while still managing my original property for the third-party owner. Both properties are part time assignments which has afforded me full time employment.

Everyone at Cohen-Esrey has been so kind and helpful, I really love the culture at the company. It has been an honor to work for Cohen-Esrey and I have been blessed with great Regional Managers!

As I have traveled through my property management journey, I have also started a new one. In the last year I have gained another title “Grandma” when I was blessed with a grandson!

Calling All Tipsters!

In our Calling All Tipsters series we offer a subject and ask all team members to give their advice, tips, or experiences that may prove helpful to other team members. Here is the next question.

What specific ideas do you have about how we can deliver Community Impact?

Please send me your response by the close of business on Monday, September 18 – lharris@cohenesrey.com. Remember that we award $25 gift cards for those Tips that are particularly unique.

Backsliding...

September has seen a bit of backsliding on our overall CEC Net Promoter Score from +40 to +39. Nexus 5 picked up a point from +85 to +86! The reduction in the CEC NPS is a disappointment and reflects that fact that we need to work even harder to ensure the delivery of Customer Fulfillment 24/7. There are 39 of our communities on a Leaderboard and 33 have an NPS of +39 or greater – that’s good news. But we still have several larger properties that are struggling with Customer Fulfillment and it’s dragging down our overall score. We urge those property teams to redouble their efforts to put the warm blanket around our customers and move us closer to our Vision 2026 goal of +50.

We also want to recognize Mills Crossing at +91.09, Orchard View at +95.00, and The Boulevard at +91.34 for their status as Number One atop their respective Leaderboards! And we want to recognize other properties with an NPS of +90 or better including Summit at Osage at +90.63, and The Landing at 818 at +93.15. Keep up the great work!!