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October 20, 2025
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.
Apartment Living Where It’s Always a Holiday!
Holiday Garden is an affordable apartment community in Grand Island, NE. The 55-unit property was built in 1981 and offers two and three bedroom townhomes. Two-bedroom units range from 707 to 756 square feet and rent from $814 per month. Three-bedroom units range from 920 to 943 square feet and rent from $921 per month. Residents enjoy a quiet suburban-like environment with an on-site laundry facility, community playground, and ample yard and green space. The property is only a few miles from Grand Island’s “main strip,” so there are many restaurants and shopping nearby. The property offers Section 8 rental assistance to residents who qualify.
Grand Island, NE, is a thriving city of 53,000, located in the heart of the state along the Platte River. As the county seat of Hall County, it serves as a regional hub for commerce, education, and transportation in central Nebraska. The city is home to the Nebraska State Fair, drawing visitors from across the state each year. Grand Island’s economy is diverse, featuring agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare as key sectors. Residents enjoy a strong sense of community, excellent schools, and recreational opportunities, including nearby parks and trails. With a blend of Midwestern charm and modern amenities, Grand Island offers a high quality of life and continues to grow as a welcoming, family-friendly city with a rich heritage and promising future.
Shondel Sanborn (2025), is the Property Manager. Erin Hamel (2023), is the Regional Manager. Jennifer Fields (2024), is the Property Accountant, Rhianna Jones (2025), is the Accounting Assistant, and America Hernandez (2024), is the Accounts Payable Specialist.
We welcome the following new team members to Cohen-Esrey and the Nexus 5 Group.
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Andrea Olsen – Hawthorne Hills, Cedar Rapids, IA – Property Manager
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Adam Attar – Walnut Street Flats, Reedsburg, WI – Property Manager
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Dana Colson – Remote – Affordable Housing Compliance Specialist
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David Gallegos – Residences at Franklin Park, Denver, CO – Assistant Property Manager
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Olivia Shoemake – Park Edge, Lenexa, KS – Property Manager
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Timothy Wright – Park Edge, Lenexa, KS – Maintenance Supervisor
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Shacora Davis – The Landing at 818, Sun Prairie, WI –Assistant Property Manager
Meet the Woolworth Estates Team
Meet the Woolworth Estates team. (L to R) Brittany Abbott (2025), Assistant Property Manager; Veronica Hawkins (2025), Property Manager; and Kevin Osborne (2025), Lead Maintenance Technician.
Woolworth Estates is a 50-unit affordable community located in Omaha, NE, and managed by Cohen-Esrey Communities (CEC) for a third-party client.
Transformational Construction
Construction continues at Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG) future communities.
Bathroom installations are progressing at the Lofts at Creekview in San Antonio, TX.
Carports are being installed at Heritage at Cottonwood Creek in San Marcos, TX.
The clubhouse at Village Park in Amarillo, TX has been renovated and is beautiful.
Vertical construction has begun at Overlook 157 in Asheville, NC.
Crushing the Delinquency KPI Goal
By Aisha Robinson (2023), Property Manager – Oneida Mill Lofts
At the conclusion of our 2025 Annual Leadership Conference in April, Cassie Colston (2004), Regional Vice-President, asked me what my biggest takeaway was. Without hesitation, I said how inspired I felt by the Regional Managers’ presentations on conquering rent delinquency. At that time, Oneida Mill Lofts (133-units in Graham, NC) was averaging nearly $10,000 – 17% at end-of-month delinquency from January through April and I knew our team had work to do. But I also knew we could rise to the challenge!
We hit the ground running:
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We passed out bold pink Balance Due Notices, delivering them daily once rent was late, along with matching email reminders until balances were paid in full. Residents could not miss the message!
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Our team made proactive phone calls and held in-person meetings with those who were habitually late, ensuring that excuses were replaced with action.
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In June, we distributed a letter from Cassie Colston reinforcing that we would be adhering to the Cohen-Esrey Collection Policy, under her direction as our Regional Vice-President. This set a clear tone for accountability and consistency.
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We actively promoted the Flex program and guided residents through enrollment, helping them find solutions that worked.
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Each month, any resident with a balance over $100 who did not have a written payment agreement in place was sent to the attorney, showing that we were serious about upholding policy and protecting our community.
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We also took proactive measures with habitual late payers by issuing non-renewal notices well in advance; sometimes four to six months before renewal. Residents were placed on probationary periods with clear expectations. In most cases, this yielded positive turnarounds, but where corrective action wasn’t taken, non-renewals and evictions moved forward. We quickly rented those apartments again.
One of the most exciting tools in this journey was the launch of EliseAI, which Oneida Mill Lofts was proud to pilot starting in May 2025. Residents got to “meet” Otto, who we introduced as part of our team as a remote staff member available by phone and text to reach out about balances, payment options, and deadlines. Many residents still believe Otto is a real person! Otto quickly became an extension of our office, providing daily reminders and personalized outreach that went far beyond what our onsite team could manage while balancing other duties. This extra layer of support was a true game-changer.
The results have been nothing short of incredible:
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At the end of August 2025 delinquency was only $175.
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At the end of September 2025 delinquency was just $105.
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From $10,000 down to just over $100 – what a turnaround!
We are thrilled to share that Oneida Mill Lofts not only met but crushed the KPI of keeping delinquency under 2%. This accomplishment reflects the determination of our team, the consistency of applying Cohen-Esrey’s policies, and the innovative power of tools like EliseAI.
We were able to implement all these narratives while maintaining a 98-100% occupancy. The energy, teamwork, and relentless drive behind this achievement prove that when we commit fully to a goal, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish. Oneida Mill Lofts is proud to set the bar high – and we’re just getting started!
Welcome Dana!
David Catlett (2024), Director of Compliance, is pleased to announce the hiring of Dana Colson as an Affordable Housing Compliance Specialist. Dana brings with her 18 years of affordable housing experience, having served in both onsite roles and as a Regional Manager. Her deep knowledge of compliance and operations will be a tremendous asset as we continue strengthening our policies, procedures, and overall compliance practices.
Outside of work, Dana enjoys camping and fishing, and we’re sure she’ll bring that same energy and enthusiasm into her new role at Cohen-Esrey.
Historic Buildings of Cohen-Esrey
This is a new series for People & Properties. Cohen-Esrey has a long history of developing and/or managing some really cool historic buildings. In this series, we’ll feature one such building in each issue.
Gold Dust Historic Residences
The Gold Dust Hotel was built in a little spit of a town called Fredonia, KS. Fredonia is located in the southeast part of the state. When the hotel opened in 1885, its owner Samuel Baughman and others touted it as a “first-class” hotel with “modern appointments … in a most elegant and comfortable manner.” Interestingly, the name “Gold Dust” does not appear to have any literal connection to gold but was likely a marketing strategy for a fashionable, prestige-sounding moniker in the 1880s, and many businesses used it to signal luxury.
The Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG) acquired and renovated the property in 2011 converting it into nine affordable apartments. The building is located on the courthouse square with a large porch and rocking chairs. The interior lobby offers a grand look with a polished wood floor, tin ceiling, and artifacts from years gone by. The property is now known as the Gold Dust Historic Residences.
Congratulations, Heather!
Jayme Dannen-Deal (2024) Regional Vice-President is pleased to announce the promotion of Heather Sauerwein (2010), to the position of Regional Manager – Affordable. Heather was previously the Property Manager for Brookshire Estates and Lexington Farms in Jerseyville, IL from 2010 - 2023. In 2025, she became a Mobile Leasing Consultant for Cohen-Esrey Communities (CEC) handling Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG) lease-ups. In her new role as a Regional Manager, Heather is overseeing third-party affordable communities in South Dakota and Iowa.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Heather has been married for 26+ years, is a proud mother to four amazing children, and a devoted Gigi to three beautiful grandchildren.
Congratulations on your promotion, Heather!
Development Deals Galore!
The Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG) is actively pursuing several new affordable and workforce housing developments. Here is a sample of the current pipeline.
Paragon Place – Denver, CO
Heritage at Waco – Waco, TX
Victoria Commons – San Antonio, TX
Lofts at Creston Hills – Oklahoma City, OK
Eastwood – Wellington, KS
Justin Place – Kansas City, MO
Lofts at the Triangle – Mobile, AL
Eban Village – Dallas, TX
Tyler Run I & II – Edenton, NC
The Henley – Dallas, TX
Hands to Hearts - Community Impact Fall 2025 – A Final Word
By Ryan Rupert (2018), IT Infrastructure Manager
On behalf of Hands to Hearts, I would like to sincerely thank you for your generous support of our recent clothing drive. Thanks to your efforts, we were able to collect 25 shirts and about 20 pairs of pants – all in wonderful condition. The children will be so excited to receive them, and we look forward to delivering these items.
In addition, we are deeply grateful for the multiple contributions we received through the Walmart QR code wish list (five packs of underwear, 17 pairs of sweats, one shirt, 10 sock sets).
These items will make a meaningful difference and are greatly appreciated by the children and families we serve.
Heads up, we are looking to have another drive March 2026!
HR Corner
By Marilee Scheid (2019), Director of Learning and Development
The Importance of Lifelong Learning
In today’s workplace, learning doesn’t stop once we land the job – it’s something that should continue throughout our entire career. Lifelong learning helps us stay adaptable, engaged, and ready for what’s next. It’s not just about formal training or classes; it’s about being curious and taking advantage of the many resources available to us every day.
Learning can come from a variety of places – mentors, your Director of Learning & Development (that’s me!), podcasts, books, and articles that spark new ideas. You can also learn a great deal from your peers by asking questions or spending time with team members in other departments. Sometimes those informal conversations lead to the best insights and connections.​
As you think about your own career development, consider what you’d like to learn next. Maybe it’s improving a skill, exploring a new area of the business, or simply finding new ways to grow in your current role. The important part is to keep learning – because when you invest in your own growth, you strengthen not only your career but our entire organization.
Your next great career insight could come from anywhere – a podcast, a colleague, or a conversation over coffee. Stay curious, keep learning, and reach out to Learning & Development if you’d like help building your personal learning plan.
To help you take that next step, I’ll be hosting a Quick Connect every Tuesday at 2:00 PM CST for anyone who’d like to discuss career development, explore learning goals, or talk through ideas for growth. The first Career Development Quick Connect will be held on Tuesday, October 21. I’d love to connect and help you chart your next learning journey!
Congratulations, Ashley!
Congratulations to Ashley Giblin (former Ashley Harper) (2023), Executive Assistant, on her marriage to Ryan Giblin on October 3, 2025! We wish them many years of wedded bliss!
Cities of Cohen-Esrey
Sioux Falls, SD: “Little Chicago”
Sioux City, IA is a vibrant regional hub located at the confluence of the Missouri, Big Sioux, and Floyd rivers, in the tri-state area where Iowa meets Nebraska and South Dakota. With a population of around 150,000, it is the fourth-largest city in Iowa and serves as the economic and cultural center of the Siouxland region. Known for its strong Midwestern character, Sioux City combines small-town friendliness with the amenities of a larger urban area. The city earned its most well-known nickname, Little Chicago, during the Prohibition era due to its strategic Midwest location and its association with a lawless reputation for distributing alcohol.
The city has a rich and diverse history. It was first explored by Lewis and Clark in 1804 and later became a key center for trade, agriculture, and meatpacking. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Sioux City thrived as a transportation and industrial hub, thanks to its strategic location along the Missouri River and major railroad lines. The city’s historic Fourth Street, with its well-preserved late 19th-century architecture, offers a glimpse into this prosperous past.
Today, Sioux City boasts a diversified economy that includes manufacturing, healthcare, education, and logistics. Tyson Foods, Seaboard Triumph Foods, and several major hospitals anchor the local job market. The city is also home to educational institutions such as Morningside University and Briar Cliff University, contributing to a lively student community and supporting research and cultural development.
Sioux City’s cultural life is equally dynamic. The Sioux City Art Center, Orpheum Theatre, and Tyson Events Center host performances and exhibitions year-round. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy Stone State Park, the scenic riverfront trails, and nearby Loess Hills. With a blend of cultural heritage, modern amenities, and a strong sense of community, Sioux City stands as one of the Midwest’s most livable and forward-looking cities.
Cohen-Esrey currently manages six apartment communities in Sioux City, IA and one property in South Sioux City, NE, totaling 532 units, all for a third-party client.
An Empowerment Story
By Garrett Cook (2022), Corporate Accountant
Garrett Cook (2022), is a Corporate Accountant in the Corporate Office. Here is what he has to say about his Empowerment:
“What does ‘Empowered to Thrive’ mean? It is our mission statement here at Cohen-Esrey, We Empower People to Thrive, but do we really know what it means? How is something like that integrated into a company? What would that look like? These are all valid questions – and through my experiences, I believe I have come to know the answers for myself. Please indulge me as I share my story:
I started at Cohen-Esrey in October 2022. At the time, my wife, Kira, and I were earning our respective degrees at BYU-Idaho. Courtesy of the pandemic, we had been able to take our classes online while living in the Kansas City area. I began working as an Accounting Assistant, helping with the property side of accounting. I learned the ropes of RealPage and how to make simple journal entries, set up vendors, reconcile bank accounts, research and adjust resident ledgers, and much more. I reveled in the many learning opportunities that came my way and was very grateful to work with a team that supported me. They fostered my learning by taking time between completing their own tasks to teach me when I did not know how to do something.
In late 2023, I learned that as part of BYU-Idaho’s reintegration back to “normalcy” after the pandemic, a few classes required for my degree could no longer be taken online. This news was, in some ways, world-shattering. Kira and I had built a life in Kansas City – we both had jobs, friends, family, and a place we called home. When I learned of this, I was afraid this change might prevent me from continuing to work at Cohen-Esrey. College is not cheap, and I did not know what that would mean for us. I approached my manager at the time, Kurt Parrett (2008), Property Accounting Manager, to share my situation. To my great relief, he was open to the idea of allowing me to temporarily work remotely as I finished my degree. I did the groundwork of figuring out all the classes I had remaining, how many I could feasibly take at once, and how many hours I thought I could work at the same time. I presented my plan to him, we made some ground rules, and off I went. The next seven months were hectic but rewarding, and I am so grateful I was able to remain at Cohen-Esrey while completing my degree.
In April 2024, my wife and I both graduated from BYU-Idaho, and we moved back to Kansas City. I was warmly welcomed back here at work. A few months later, a position opened for an accountant role, and I applied, hoping to continue learning in my professional life now that my schooling was complete. I transitioned from the property side of accounting into a role where I managed the books for both corporate entities and some properties, working under the guidance of Eric Kirk (2011), Corporate Accounting Manager. Over six months, I learned how to use Acumatica, complete financial reports, and understand many of the intricacies of accounting. Most recently, I have moved fully onto the corporate side of accounting. There are many nuances to master, but I feel fortunate to be doing it here at Cohen-Esrey.
To me, being ‘Empowered to Thrive’ means opportunities come when I put in the work to continue learning and growing. It means that my team members support me, and I support them. It means that we want to see each other succeed. It means that I work in an environment where not knowing something simply presents an opportunity to learn. Most importantly, it means that I have a lot of people to thank for who I am and where I am today.
A Fun Photo!
Halloween 2015 was a fun time in the old Cloverleaf Corporate Office. Becky Trost (2006), CEDG Accountant, fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a firefighter! That should get tongues wagging, Becky!
This is How It's Done
By Arley Hoskin (2022), Leasing Performance Strategist
Woodcrest Works Its Way Up the Leaderboard
From resident birthday cards to calls to check-in, Ladasia Milton (2024), has mastered the art of connecting to the residents in her community. Ladasia serves as the Property Manager at the 88-unit Woodcrest Apartments in Oklahoma City, OK. She has worked in property management for seven years. Ladasia joined the Cohen-Esrey team when the company assumed management of the property about a year and a half ago.
“We were able to buy more things when Cohen-Esrey took over,” Ladasia said. “Being able to buy things that maintenance needs has made a huge difference.”
Woodcrest is an affordable property with a project-based Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments contract. It’s currently 98.88% occupied but will be back to 100% shortly. “I have a long waiting list,” Ladasia explained.
Placing new residents is Ladasia’s favorite part of the job. “I like helping applicants find a new home for themselves to better them,” she said.
Ladasia said she experienced a learning curve when it came to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and the Net Promoter Score (NPS) when Cohen-Esrey became the managing agent. But it didn’t take her long to figure out how to master the metrics she needed to get her property on the leader board. For KPIs, Ladasia said she implemented habits to ensure KPI items got done, such as doing the curb appeal checklist every day and starting recertifications early. She also created strategies to encourage residents to take the NPS survey. Woodcrest currently sits at fourth on the NPS Leaderboard for properties between 51 to 120 units with a score of +50. “I call the resident and ask them to see if they got a survey from Cohen-Esrey,” Ladasia said.
Ladasia’s Regional Manager Alisha Brooks (2017) said it’s been inspirational to see Ladasia grow during her time with Cohen-Esrey. “Ladasia has truly shined with her outstanding leadership and unwavering dedication, driving Woodcrest to impressive new heights. Her efforts have not only transformed the resident experience but have also positioned the property fourth in NPS scores across the entire 51–120-unit portfolio,” Alisha said. “Even more impressive, Woodcrest’s NPS score has climbed to +50, reflecting a significant boost in resident satisfaction and overall community engagement.”
Making a personal request to her residents has helped increase those scores. “They say what’s on their mind,” Ladasia said. “Sometimes it’s negative and sometimes it’s positive. It just depends on how the resident is feeling.” She uses that information to make her property better.
“What stands out most about Ladasia is her exceptional leadership and strategic focus on enhancing the resident experience, resulting in measurable, high-impact outcomes,” Alisha said. “Other Property Managers can learn from Ladasia that strong leadership, a resident-first mindset, and acting on feedback are key drivers of property success.”
