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August 12, 2024
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.
A Haven for Seniors in Arkansas City
Where is Arkansas City, you might ask? It’s in south central Kansas, just north of the Oklahoma border. That’s where you’ll find Windsor Court, a 79-unit seven-story mid-rise building managed for a third-party client by Cohen-Esrey Communities (CEC). Built in 1973, the property is available for citizens 55 years of age and older, and offers Section 8 rental assistance. One-bedroom apartments are efficiently-planned at 500 square feet and rent for $940 per month which includes utilities. Residents enjoy an outdoor patio and grill space, media center/movie theater room, business center, community room, a video library, community laundry, key fob entries, a trash chute, and Windsor is a smoke-free community. Apartments have nine-foot ceilings, plank style flooring, large closets, large windows, and wheelchair accessible rooms.
Arkansas City – pronounced Ar-KANSAS (not like the state of Arkansas) is situated at the confluence of the Arkansas River and the Walnut River approximately 45 miles southeast of Wichita. The population in 2020 was 12,000. At the turn of the 20th century, Arkansas City was a rival to Wichita in size and enterprise, boasting several busy rail lines, an elegant opera house, numerous fine hotels, a manufacturing base and a bustling agricultural economy. A popular swimming hole called Paris Lake was located west of downtown; the lake – and the hot springs at Geuda as well – was mired with silt in a flood about 1919. Arkansas City is now home to state-of-the-art meat processor Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC which employs over 1,100 workers. Several smaller manufacturing companies are expanding their operations while new start ups are finding a home in Cowley County due in part to the workforce supplied by the two local colleges in the county. Robert Docking, governor of Kansas from 1967 – 1975, hailed from Arkansas City, as did Sara Sothern, an actress and mother of Elizabeth Taylor.
Latasha Berry (2024) is the Property Manager and Angie Bocquin (2024), is the Regional Manager. Paige Bohling (2022), is the Property Accountant and Paige Wright (2024), is the Accounting Assistant.
We welcome the following new team members to Cohen-Esrey and the Nexus 5 Group.
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Jared Fleming – Colony Woods, Kansas City, KS – Property Manager
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Stevie Payne – Clay Hall Senior Residences, Enid, OK – Property Manager
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Kenny Weston – Robison Terrace, Texarkana, TX – Maintenance Technician
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Dave Hudson – Shire Apartments, Sioux City, IA – Maintenance Technician
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Joshua Van Heck – Bastion Phase I, New Orleans, LA – Maintenance Technician
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Nicole Foster Zoller – Corporate Office – Accounts Payable Specialist
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Lora Holliday – Century II, Sioux City, IA – Property Manager
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Kipp Keffel – Corporate Office – Director of Training and Customer Fulfillment
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Jennifer Jefferies – Morning Hills, Sioux City, IA – Property Manager
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Ethan Page – Lakes at North Port, North Port, FL – Leasing Agent
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Richard Bruno – Woolworth Estates, Omaha, NE – Property Manager
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Christy Dilks – Corporate Office (Remote) – Operations Support Manager
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Kristina Skelton – Summit at Osage, Osage Beach, MO – Property Manager
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Mary Drainer – Brookshire Estates, Jerseyville, IL – Property Manager
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David Davis – Corporate Office – Director of Architectural Services
Meet the Rosehill Ridge Team
Meet the Rosehill Ridge team. (L to R) Derrick Henderson (2024), Make Ready Technician; Sharran Spratt (2024), Property Manager; ToShema Daniels (2024), Leasing Agent; and Tae Howard (2024), Maintenance Technician. Rosehill Ridge is a 122-unit affordable community in Texarkana, TX, and is managed by Cohen-Esrey Communities (CEC) for a third-party client.
Transformational Construction
Construction continues at Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG) future communities.
Tyvek and window installation is in progress at The Launchpad in Colorado Springs, CO.
Panorama Heights is on pace for an October 2024 opening in Colorado Springs, CO.
Kitchen cabinets are being installed at the Loma Vista Lofts in San Antonio, TX.
Getting much closer to starting vertical construction at the Lofts at Creekview in San Antonio, TX.
Lewis Lofts has topped out at four stories in Mankato, MN.
Concrete curb and sidewalk construction continues at Village Park in Amarillo, TX – formerly called Astoria Park.
Major trenching effort is underway to install water lines at the Heritage at Cottonwood Creek in San Marcos, TX.
The hillside certainly looks different than when we started moving dirt at Overlook 157 in Asheville, NC.
Congratulations, Mark!
Congratulations to Mark Fletcher (2008), formerly the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), on his promotion to Chief Operating Officer that was effective on August 1. Mark joined Cohen-Esrey in 2008 as the Chief Information Officer (CIO). Starting in 2011, he led the first of several business process improvement initiatives resulting in the creation of Cohen-Esrey’s custom software platform to track and enhance business operations. In addition to IT Infrastructure, Mark’s role was expanded to include software development and technology-integrated marketing functions.
In 2014, Mark began to play an increasing role in the organization’s culture-building initiatives, including the development of the company’s Core Values and mission. In 2017, he was promoted to Chief Technology Officer (CTO). With expanded reach into enterprise operations, Mark has spent the last seven years working with business leadership to deploy robust organizational change management systems, expanded marketing systems, new operational training platforms, and enhanced organizational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and associated incentive systems.
Mark has 27 years of experience leading teams as CTO, CIO, IT manager, program manager, and project manager. He spent nine years in the IT consulting industry, 21 years working and directing corporate IT operations, and 13 years overseeing marketing and branding. He graduated from Weber State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Information Systems.
This promotion underscores Cohen-Esrey’s commitment to fostering talent and recognizing the hard work and dedication of its team members. Way to go, Mark!
A Healthy Tip
By Jennifer Turner (2018), Director of Human Resources
Tips to Truly Savor the Rest of the Summer
Summer is flying by but there’s still time left to enjoy the longer days and warmer weather. Try these tips to help you slow down and truly enjoy what’s left of this summer.
Wake up early. The morning hours can be the most peaceful time of a summer day. Wake up a little earlier to enjoy a quiet cup of coffee outdoors or go for an early morning walk before the heat of the day.
Stay off your phone and social media as much as possible. It’s easy to waste time mindlessly scrolling. Put your phone down and focus on what’s happening around you.
Unplug from technology. Besides limiting social media, take a break from TV, video games and other screens. This allows you to be more engaged with the people and activities around you.
Get outside. Go for a hike, bike ride, picnic in the park, or just spend an afternoon reading in the shade under a tree. Being in nature can help you feel more relaxed and present.
Try to live in the moment. Notice the little things that make summertime magical, like the smell of freshly cut grass, the sound of crickets chirping at night, or the warmth of the sun.
Savor the flavors of summer. Take advantage of all the fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season. Visit local farmers markets and try some new recipes using your finds.
Be spontaneous and try new things. Summer is a great time to say yes to last-minute plans or activities you’ve never done before. Review your local events calendar for things like concerts in the park or an outdoor movie night. If you don’t already have a library card, get one, and then set a reading goal.
Enjoy the simple joys that summer brings. Whether it is a good book to read, stroll through the park, summer is full of small pleasures if you take the time to appreciate them.
Use your vacation time to unwind. When you have time off, don’t pack it with too many activities. Instead, plan a few days just for doing things that help you relax and feel refreshed.
With the end of summer drawing near, make the most of it! Relax, soak up the sunshine, and make happy memories to reflect on until next summer!
Core Value of the Month
Why We Do What We Do . . .
This is a new feature for People & Properties focusing on stories about why members of our team do what they do. In this issue, Jayme Deal (2024), Regional Manager, shares another inspirational story.
“My story starts three years ago. I was doing multiple jobs at this point, but one main duty was as a Property Manager for a small affordable community in Iowa. A young couple, probably 18 or 19 years old, came to inquire about an apartment. She was about four months pregnant, and they were looking for somewhere to live. He had a decent job, but they were not making enough to live on their own without assistance.
They moved in during the summer of 2021, paid rent on time, were decent residents, and decided to love their community. The company I worked for did sell the community, but in February of 2024, I received a message on LinkedIn from this couple letting me know that they had just given notice to vacate to that community because they were approved to purchase a home and wanted to thank me for giving them a chance three years ago. It is truly amazing how big of an impact one person can have. The day I did a tour with this couple, I was working as a leasing agent just doing my job, and they thought of me almost three years later when they were going to buy their first home.
Every moment and conversation matter and the roles we all play in the world of property management matters.”
Your Executive Leadership Team
Empowerment Story
By Terrance Vetaw (2023), Commercial Maintenance Technician
Terrance Vetaw (TJ), (2023), is the Maintenance Technician for 8500 Shawnee Mission Parkway in Merriam, KS – our corporate headquarters. Here is what he has to say about his Empowerment:
"Cohen-Esrey has Empowered Me to Thrive both in and outside of my position. The primary way they have done this is through the encouragement and support I’ve received from everyone around me to further my knowledge and education in my field. Working in maintenance can be daunting and overwhelming, especially when faced with tasks I’ve never done before, which can happen sometimes. However, having patient managers who do not micromanage has encouraged me to become a better problem solver.
With the education reimbursement and support from Cohen-Esrey, I am enrolling in the Building Engineering & Maintenance Technology program at Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC). I also plan to further my education in HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems.
Cohen-Esrey, along with my manager Karen Crouch (2019), Managing Director, has significantly Empowered me to pursue my education. From my very first week, Karen has exemplified what it means to truly thrive and excel. If I was unable to complete a task due to computer training or not being on-site, she would step up and assist, whether it meant unclogging toilets, chasing down contractors, or even removing snow in dress shoes. Her level of care and leadership has inspired me to work even harder to ensure she and any other manager can continue to count on me."
Cohen-Esrey Welcomes David Davis
The Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG) welcomes David Davis as Director of Architectural Services. This is a new position for CEDG with the intent that David will coordinate the development of architectural plans for CEDG properties with a variety of architectural firms across the country. David will prepare initial site plans, color renderings, and floorplans, before working with third-party architects to create full plans and specifications. Bringing this aspect of architectural services in-house will help control costs and provide a quicker turnaround of basic plans that are needed for presentations to city governments and neighborhood groups.
David is a registered architect in the state of Missouri and is an accredited architect with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. He brings over 30 years of experience in design and construction to Cohen-Esrey. Prior to joining Cohen-Esrey David was a partner at ICON Architecture + Fabrication in Kansas City for over
17 years. While at ICON he was involved in and responsible for the design and construction of many project types, including movie theaters, hotels, office buildings, single and multi-family housing, and retail environments. David was also responsible for the oversight and daily management of ICON’s custom woodworking and fabrication department.
David graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Architecture. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing and playing the guitar.
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 July 2024, here are the standouts with growth of 5% or more. Congratulations to each team for the progress made! Nine properties are on the list this month.
Time Well Spent
A dozen team members from Cohen-Esrey and Nexus 5 participated in CPR and AED training at the Nexus 5 warehouse, recently. Learning how to administer Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) are things everyone should know. Many years ago I (Lee Harris) attended a father-daughter dance with our youngest daughter. We picked up my daughter’s best friend and her dad and drove to the hotel where the event was being held. We had dinner and then the dance started. A couple of hours later my daughter’s friend came running over to my table screaming, “my dad’s down!” I looked over and saw people crowded around someone lying on the floor. Sure enough, Katie’s father was in full cardiac arrest . . . which meant he was clinically dead. Another dad who was a fireman, had started CPR and 911 had been called. In less than 10 minutes, the EMTs arrived and used an AED. Amazingly, Katie’s dad was brought back to life – this doesn’t happen often. He was taken to the hospital where the doctors installed a pacemaker/defibrillator in case his heart stopped again. This whole episode was extremely sobering and I immediately purchased a portable AED which I still carry in my car more than 20 years later. An AED is being purchased for the Corporate Office and we will continue to hold CPR training on a regular basis.
Please, please, please – seek out CPR training in your community. The more people who are trained the greater the chances to save someone’s life.
Fun Photo
Who says we’re all work and no play? The Cohen-Esrey Dancers were practicing their moves at the 2024 Annual Leadership Conference back in April.
NPS Leaderboards
The three NPS Leaderboards have been updated as of August 9, 2024, and the leaders remain the same from June. In the 50-Units or Less category Rankin Mills (Boonville, MO) increased its score to remain in the lead at +87.50. In the Properties 51 to 120-Units category, Justin Place (Kansas City, MO) has a solid hold on first place with an NPS of +85.19. And in the Properties of More than 120-Units category, The Boulevard (Springfield, IL), continues to have a stranglehold on the lead with an NPS of +98.44. There are 21 properties on Leaderboards – that’s approximately 17% of the total number of properties in our portfolio. Congratulations to those property teams who are delivering Customer Fulfillment at such a high level.
