September 8, 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.

Brand Spanking New in NOLA

The Arts Senior Apartments is a brand new 45-unit affordable apartment community located in New Orleans, LA. Completed in 2024 using affordable housing tax credits, apartments are available to residents who are 55 and older. They feature stainless and black appliances, plank-style flooring, window blinds, ceiling fans, with white and black cabinets. Studio apartments range from 450 – 630 square feet and rent for $424 to $947 per month. One-bedroom apartments range from 710 – 750 square feet and rent for $788 to $1,020 per month. In the immediate neighborhood there are restaurants and numerous retail establishments. The property is a few blocks from the famous French Quarter and the Mississippi River. It is also proximate to Musician’s Village, a residential neighborhood and affordable housing development in the Upper Ninth Ward of the city, designed specifically for local musicians and their families who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Arts Senior Apartments is managed by Cohen-Esrey Communities (CEC) along with several other New Orleans apartments for a third-party client.

New Orleans is a city where rhythm seeps from the sidewalks. Live brass echoes on Royal Street while streetcars rattle toward St. Charles Avenue. In the French Quarter, balconies drip with ironwork and beignets dust fingers with sugar. The Mississippi curls close, rolling past steamboats. Cuisine blends African, French, Spanish, and Vietnamese influences into gumbo, po’boys, and pho. Mardi Gras parades swirl, yet quieter traditions – second lines, neighborhood festivals, porch conversations – carry the year. Jazz was born here, but bounce and hip-hop scenes thrive too. Humidity hangs heavy, magnolias bloom, and storms give way to blazing sunsets. Visitors find hospitality; locals call it lagniappe: a little extra, freely given. Leave with sugar on your shirt, a tune in your head, and the river’s bend in your memory.

Robrelle Murray (2024) is the Senior Property Manager. Alisha Brooks (2017), is the Regional Manager. Jalen Havel-Stephens (2024), is the Property Accountant; David Garrett (2024), is the Accounting Assistant; and Nicole Foster Zoller (2024), is the Accounts Payable Specialist.

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

BreAnna Lane – The Park at Forest Hill, Memphis, TN – Leasing Agent
Debra Landreth – Cathedral Square, Mitchell, SD – Custodian
Tanisha David – Trails at Bartram Park, Jacksonville, FL – Assistant Property Manager
Jennifer Miller – Corporate Office – Director of Human Resources
Dawn Harris – Corporate Office – Accounts Payable Clerk
Megan O’Connell – Corporate Office – Property Accounting Assistant
Megan Ahrendt – Remote – Operations Support Specialist
Cherish Chesbro – Eastwood Apartments, Wellington, KS – Property Manager
Adrian Topete – Century II Apartments, Sioux City, IA – Maintenance Technician
Samuel Carpenter – Greenwood Estates, Peoria, IL – Groundskeeper
Shondel Sanborn – Holiday Apartments, Grand Island, NE – Property Manager

Meet the Property Accounting Assistants Team

Meet the Property Accounting Assistants team. (L to R) Nancy Lewis (2021), Emily Fletcher (2022), Property Accounting Assistants – Manager, Kylie Brunette (2025), Rhianna Jones (2025), Callie Vannier (2025), Megan O’Connell (2025), David Garrett (2024).

Property Accounting Assistants deposit and manage accounts receivable; manage checks and ACH payments; manage property petty cash; onboard and offboard utilities; prepare and complete bank reconciliations; print checks and process ACH payments; provide information to RealPage Utility Management and external parties; upload documents for auditor access and assist Property Accountants.

Transformational Construction

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

Building 2 corridor to the courtyard at the Lofts at Creekview in San Antonio, TX.

Swimming pool construction is underway at Heritage at Cottonwood Creek in San Marcos, TX.

The clubhouse at Village Park in Amarillo, TX will look stunning when finished.

We finally have a swimming pool at the Loma Vista Lofts in San Antonio, TX!

Concrete work is nearly finished at Overlook 157 in Asheville, NC. Vertical construction will begin soon.

Welcome, Jennifer!

Jeanette Jayne (1996), Executive Vice-President and Managing Director for Cohen-Esrey, LLC (CE), is pleased to announce the hiring of Jennifer Miller, as the new Director of Human Resources.

Jennifer’s career spans across non-profit, corporate, and global organizations, giving her a unique perspective on building strong teams and thriving cultures. She has held senior leadership roles as HR Vice President and Director at a large international company, and earlier in her career she served as HR Manager and Project Leader at Garmin International.

Her academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri and a Master of Human Resources Management, equipping her with both communication expertise and strategic HR knowledge.

Jennifer’s areas of expertise include strategic collaboration, executive management, employee relations, legal compliance, talent acquisition, and talent development. She is also a seasoned facilitator, a change management leader, and a champion for culture, with significant experience guiding organizations through mergers and acquisitions integration.

Beyond her professional achievements, Jennifer is deeply committed to community engagement. She has been actively involved with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club, the Olathe Public Schools Foundation, and many others – demonstrating her dedication to strengthening both workplaces and communities.

We are confident that Jennifer’s leadership, vision, and passion will help shape the future of our HR strategy and continue fostering an environment where people and teams can thrive. Please join us in giving her a warm welcome!

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 2025, here are the standouts with positive rent growth. Congratulations to each team for the progress made! Thirteen properties are on the list this month – one less than July.

Core Value of the Month

Hands to Hearts - Community Impact Fall 2025

By Ryan Rupert (2018), IT Infrastructure Manager

I’d like to introduce a Community Impact collection effort here at the Corporate Office that we launched on August 25. Cohen-Esrey is working with the organization Hands to Hearts supporting children and families in our community as we host a clothing and shoe drive!

This Community Impact event runs through September 15, and team members can use a collection box in the office to donate new or gently used clothing and shoes of all sizes! These items will go directly to local families in need, and we appreciate anything you may have for donation.

Below is an introduction for the Hands to Hearts organization.

Hands to Hearts, Inc. began in 2009 and has continued to expand beyond the original goal of providing food to children and the rest is history. An idea developed after a group of men went to South Africa to build a schoolhouse for children and their community. When they returned and looked in their own "Backyard " they thought “What can we do to help children in Kansas City?” Pen to paper, countless hours of discussions and making contacts, with a little bit of prayer, Hands to Hearts was born. We are especially in need of sweatpants and leggings as they are versatile and fit a wide range of body types – making them ideal for the children we serve.

For our team members in the many Cohen-Esrey cities we serve beyond Kansas City, we encourage you to look for a similar organization that can assist in a collection effort of this sort for your property.

Together, we can make a lasting difference – one donation at a time. ❤️

Hands to Heart KC

A Healthy Tip

By Jennifer Miller (2025), Director of Human Resources

As I reflected on a topic that I could share that would be impactful, I was reminded of the lessons I have carried with me for 20 years, based on the book, The 5 Choices: The Path to Extraordinary Productivity by Kory Korgon, Adam Merrill, and Leena Rinne. By following these five basic principles, I find I’m generally more productive, engaged, and experience a higher level of wellbeing. I hope that you find these tips as helpful as I have.

Act on the Important, Don't React to the Urgent®

Analyze your priorities – what is important and urgent? Focus your time on these “big ticket items.”
Leverage Covey’s matrix – it’s a box divided into four areas, or 'quadrants', with each one representing how your working time is divided based on urgency and importance.
Focus your time in Quadrant 2 – most important and most urgent.

Go For Extraordinary, Don't Settle for Ordinary®

Reflect on your most important roles and what success looks like for each.
Identify wins that fulfill you. Look for opportunities to go above and beyond.
Play to your strengths, lean in, give all you can while the opportunity exists.

Schedule the Big Rocks, Don't Sort Gravel®

Identify Big Rocks – your top priorities which have the biggest impact AND Gravel – email, daily tasks – all the things that get in the way of completing your most urgent, highest priority tasks.
Identify your top priorities each day, schedule them in your calendar. Move them to the next day if you don’t finish them.
Spend 10 minutes each day reviewing your accomplishments and planning for the next day. Spend 30 minutes performing a similar exercise each week.

Rule Your Technology, Don't Let it Rule You®

Understand the technology available to you and use it to stay focused on your most important and most urgent priorities.
Use email filters, templates, and links to redirect, organize and prioritize information.

Fuel Your Fire, Don't Burn Out®

Focus on your wellbeing and sources of energy.
Take 10-minute breaks every couple of hours – it helps to reboot your brain!
Spend time in your strengths and your passions – connect the work you do to your values and motivations.
Analyze and understand which activities and people drain you and which catalyze you. Focus your time on those which fulfill you.

Why We NEVER Say “Security”

In the “old days” apartment communities regularly advertised that they were safe and secure. They often used the term “security guards” and attracted residents who sought exactly that – safety and security. In today’s litigious society, the last thing we want to do is market in this manner – especially if we have taken extra steps to deliver that sense of well-being. Why should we NEVER use the term safety or security?

Courts have ruled that marketing and advertising safety and security construes an implied liability on the part of the landlord. What does this mean? If a resident rents an apartment based upon the belief that the property is safe and secure – because it is advertised to be just that – imagine what happens if an event occurs that is neither safe nor secure. This can happen much easier than you might think. Let’s say an apartment property has contracted with a third-party company that provides a patrol service and drives through the property three times a night. The Property Manager thinks it will be a competitive advantage to advertise that the property provides security. A group of car thieves scouts the property and discovers that the patrol service drives through the property every four hours like clockwork and spends just ten minutes at the site. After observing this routine for several nights, the thieves then make their move. Immediately after the patrol service departs, they break into four cars and deliver them to the chop shop that is paying them a pretty penny for their theft. The victimized residents then sue the apartment community for a “negligent undertaking.” In other words, they rented at the apartment community because they were specifically told that the property had security. Advertising security can be used as evidence of the duty and of the standard that the apartment community chose to meet. And the ante goes up – way up – if a person is physically harmed.

Courts look at the following:

Foreseeability and history of incidents in and around the property.
What we actually promised vs. delivered (staffing hours, patrol frequency, functioning access control/CCTV, response protocols).
Reliance by residents/visitors on our stated security measures.
Whether contractors were chosen and supervised reasonably (we may still be hit for negligent hiring; the guard company can face §324A exposure).

While one might think that saying instead, a property has “key-controlled entry” gets around the issue of uttering the word “secure,” it doesn’t work this way. All it takes is someone propping the door open to the building or allowing a stranger to follow them into the building, and we’re right back into the mess we’re trying to avoid.

The bottom line is simple. We NEVER advertise, state verbally or in writing, that we provide security or safety on any of our properties.

Cities of Cohen-Esrey

Des Moines, IA: the Insurance Capital of the U.S.

Des Moines, IA is the capital and most populous city of the state, serving as a vibrant hub for government, business, and culture in the Midwest. Founded in 1843 as a military outpost, the city has grown into a dynamic community of over 215,000 residents, with the larger metropolitan area exceeding 700,000 people. Its central location makes it a key crossroads for commerce and transportation, while its steady growth and economic resilience have earned it recognition as one of the fastest-growing cities in the region.

Economically, Des Moines has long been recognized as a leader in the insurance and financial services industries. Many major insurance companies, including the Principal Financial Group and Nationwide, have a strong presence in the city, giving it the nickname “the Insurance Capital of the U.S.” In addition, Des Moines has a growing technology and startup sector, alongside significant roles in agriculture and publishing. The city’s diverse economy contributes to its stability and makes it an attractive place for both businesses and workers.

Culturally, Des Moines offers a wide range of amenities and attractions. Its downtown is anchored by the gold-domed Iowa State Capitol, and it features a lively arts scene, including the Des Moines Art Center, the Civic Center, and a number of theaters and music venues. The city also boasts expansive parks and trails, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, and the popular Blank Park Zoo. Events such as the Iowa State Fair draw visitors from across the country, highlighting the city’s role as a cultural and agricultural showcase.

Des Moines consistently ranks high for its quality of life, affordability, and family-friendly environment. With a mix of urban amenities and Midwestern charm, it balances economic opportunity with a welcoming community spirit, making it an increasingly popular destination for newcomers.

Cohen-Esrey has managed or is managing 46 apartment properties in Iowa totaling 3,030 units including Des Moines and currently operates the 40-unit Libertad Des Moines Apartments for a third-party client.

An Empowerment Story

By Atleigh Woosley (2024), Property Manager – Andover Park

Atleigh Woosley (2024), is the Property Manager at the Andover Park in Kansas City, MO. Here is what she has to say about her Empowerment:

“From day one, I’ve experienced what it means to be part of a team that values people first. The culture here is one where questions are welcomed, new ideas are encouraged, and each person’s contributions matter. That has given me the confidence to stretch myself, take on new challenges, and continue developing my skills.

One of my biggest responsibilities has been managing the ongoing site renovations—125 units scheduled to be completed in 18 months. We are now eight months into the project and already projected to be 50% of the way complete by September's end. Leading this effort has been both challenging and rewarding, and I credit Cohen-Esrey for equipping me with the trust, tools, and support needed to make such progress possible.

At the same time, my leadership team and I saw an opportunity to strengthen the property’s financial performance. By focusing on renewals and aligning rents more closely with market value, we were able to drive significant growth. In some cases, residents renewed with increases of more than $400 month over month. These strategic adjustments have boosted our Gross Potential Rent (GPR) and moved us steadily closer to achieving our proforma budget. Watching the impact of these efforts unfold has been one of the most rewarding parts of my role.

What I appreciate most is the way Cohen-Esrey invests in its people—not just in training and resources, but in creating an environment where you can succeed. Whether it’s learning from experienced mentors, having the flexibility to balance work and life, or being trusted to make decisions, I’ve felt consistently supported in my role.

Because of this, I don’t just feel like I have a job; I feel like I have a place where I can thrive. Cohen-Esrey has helped me grow into a stronger professional, and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead. I’m grateful to be part of a company that lives out its mission by Empowering each of us to bring our best every day.”

A Fun Photo!

A photo from the 2005 company picnic. The kiddos went nuts over this attraction!

NPS Leaderboards

The three NPS Leaderboards have been updated as of September 5, 2025. In the 50-Units or Less category, Willow Point (Concordia, MO) remains in first place with an NPS of +95.45. In the Properties 51 to 120-Units category, Pam Apartments (Pampa, TX) continued to hold the lead and increased its NPS to +96.77. And in the Properties of More than 120-Units category, The Boulevard (Springfield, IL), stayed at the top of the list with an NPS of +88.89. There are 21 properties on Leaderboards. Our overall NPS has risen to +17!