June 15, 2026

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 Waunakee Favorite

In 2022, the Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG) opened the 50-unit Village on Main, an affordable apartment community in the Madison, WI suburb of Waunakee. Constructed at a cost of nearly $12 million, the property offers one-bedroom units of 634 to 730 square feet that rent from $623 to $1,365 per month; two-bedroom units of 853 square feet that rent from $745 to $1,665 per month; and three-bedroom units of 1,129 to 1,254 square feet that rent from $1,485 to $1,845 per month. The wide range of rents reflects the fact that there are set-asides for residents earning different percentages of the Area Median Income (AMI). Residents have access to a number of amenities in this pet-friendly property including a playground, dog wash station, and community room. Apartment interiors have large closets, ceiling fans, private balconies or patios, washer/dryer, and plank-style flooring. Several restaurants and retail establishments are in the immediate neighborhood.

Waunakee is a thriving village located just north of Madison in Dane County. Known as “The Only Waunakee in the World,” it has grown from a small railroad community into one of the fastest-growing and most desirable places to live in the state. With a population of more than 15,000 residents, Waunakee offers a blend of small-town charm and modern amenities.

The village is recognized for its highly rated public schools, strong sense of community, and family-friendly atmosphere. Residents enjoy numerous parks, walking trails, and recreational opportunities, including access to nearby lakes and natural areas. Downtown Waunakee features local shops, restaurants, and community gathering spaces that contribute to its welcoming character.

Waunakee’s economy benefits from its proximity to Madison, allowing many residents to commute while enjoying a quieter suburban lifestyle. The village hosts annual events such as WaunaFest, which brings together residents and visitors for entertainment, food, and community celebrations, reflecting the pride and spirit of Waunakee.

We are recruiting for a Property Manager, and Rebecca Grimm (2019), is the Regional Manager. Dominic Padilla (2024), is the Property Accountant, and David Garrett (2024), is the Property Accounting Assistant.

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

Shane Adams – Northwoods – Kansas City, MO – Maintenance Technician
Arlietha Jackson – Blue Valley Court – Kansas City, MO – Assistant Property Manager
Tarell Simpson – Falstaff Apartments – New Orleans, LA – Groundskeeper
Joshua Ernst – Panorama Heights, Colorado Springs, CO – Maintenance Technician
Kirstie Gaitan – Lofts at Ventura – San Antonio, TX – Assistant Property Manager
Brent Hastings – Nexus 5 Group – Project Manager (Rehire)
Fatima Zendejas – Lofts at Creekview – San Antonio, TX – Leasing Agent

We’re pleased to invite you to an upcoming EmployeeConnect℠ webinar to help foster personal growth. People naturally want to understand what’s happening around them so they can feel in control. When uncertainty shows up and potentially affects their well-being, it can lead to anxiety and fear. This webinar explores those reactions and offers practical ways to navigate them with greater confidence.

Coping During Uncertain Times

Date: Wednesday, June 17, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern

Location: Online webinar

Duration: 45 – 60 minutes

Note: Live participation requires a laptop or desktop computer.

Transformational Construction

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

Continuing to add stone to the exterior at The Overlook 157 in Asheville, NC.

Interior painting is in full swing at Overlook 157.

Meet the Alhaven Team

Meet the Alhaven team. Monty Clark (2025), Maintenance Technician, and Christina Mayo (2026), Property Manager.

Alhaven is a 50-unit affordable community in Kansas City, MO, that Cohen-Esrey manages for a third-party client..

Heartland Historic Fund Project Completed

Cohen-Esrey Capital Partners (CECP) is pleased to announce that the Trader Lofts in Laclede’s Landing in St. Louis, MO is now completed and placed-in-service. This historic building was originally constructed in 1851 and was known as the Trader Building. Several buildings in this neighborhood including the Trader Building were used for whiskey storage in the early days. A third-party developer created 20 market-rate loft-style apartments in this adaptive reuse project that cost $8,437,534 in Qualified Rehabilitation Expenses (QRE).

CECP facilitated an investment in the federal historic tax credits totaling $1,670,632 on behalf of the Heartland Historic Preservation Fund VI (HHPF-VI), a $15 million multi-investor historic tax credit fund. Mike Marsh (2021), Director of Federal Tax Credits, coordinated the investment for CECP.

HR Corner

By Jennifer Miller (2025), Director of Human Resources

The Value of Networking

Networking is often thought of as something that only happens at conferences or formal business events, but in reality, networking happens every day. It happens when we build relationships with coworkers, learn from other departments, collaborate with leaders, and stay connected with people across the organization.

Strong professional relationships help us communicate better, solve problems faster, and create more opportunities for growth. Whether you work on-site, in maintenance, leasing, accounting, operations, or corporate support, the connections you build can help you learn new skills, gain perspective, and feel more engaged in your work.

Networking is also one of the best ways to strengthen relationships with your teammates. Taking the time to get to know your coworkers, understand their responsibilities, and appreciate their challenges helps build trust and teamwork. When strong relationships exist, team members are often more willing to share ideas, offer support, collaborate on solutions, and help one another succeed. These connections create a more positive work environment and make it easier to work through challenges together.

Networking does not have to feel forced or uncomfortable. It can be as simple as introducing yourself to someone new, asking a teammate about their role, participating in company events, or following up after a meeting. Small, genuine interactions can make a big difference over time.

This month, challenge yourself to make one new professional connection. Reach out to someone you do not work with regularly, ask a thoughtful question, learn more about their role, or offer support to a teammate. Building strong relationships not only helps you grow professionally but also strengthens our teams and contributes to a more connected and collaborative Cohen-Esrey culture.

The Delinquency Champions!

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

Each month we recognize communities and teams that have excelled at rent collections. The Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is 2% or less Current Resident Rent Balances. For the month of May 2026, we have 29 properties that are Delinquency Champions or made Honorable Mention, down from 32 the prior month. Collecting rent takes a strong and consistent effort! Congratulations to each team!

Historic Buildings of Cohen-Esrey

Cohen-Esrey has a long history of developing and/or managing some really cool historic buildings. In this series, we feature one such building in each issue.

Washington Historic Residences

The Washington Historic Residences in Independence, KS, is a notable example of historic preservation and adaptive reuse. The property began as the Washington Elementary School, a two-story school building constructed in 1939 that served generations of Independence students. After operating continuously for nearly 80 years, the school closed, creating an opportunity to preserve one of the community’s historic landmarks. In 2019, the building was transformed into Washington Historic Residences, an affordable housing community through a major renovation led by the Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG). The project carefully maintained many of the school’s original architectural features, including historic chalkboards, built-in cabinets, and classroom layouts, while adding modern apartment amenities. The redevelopment created 23 apartment homes for seniors and provided new life for a cherished neighborhood institution. Today, Washington Historic Residences stands as a successful example of preserving local history while meeting community housing needs, allowing former students and longtime residents to continue enjoying an important piece of Independence’s heritage.

The Hard Times Can Be Happy Times

By R. Lee Harris (1975), President and CEO

Our life experience produces emotions of all sorts, often extending across the positive to negative spectrum and all in the same day! Most of us will attest to the fact that there have been hard times at different points in our careers. These hard times may be the result of personal challenges, professional challenges, or both. They run the gamut from aging parent issues, marital strife, divorce, rebellious children, lawsuits, financial pressures, unfair competition, loss of loved one, and a multitude of other mole hills and in some cases, mountains – really big mountains. Through it all, there’s a central question that we grapple with. How do we make hard times into happy times? Is it even possible?

Let’s start with the whole notion of happiness. Are you happy overall? Where do you land on the happiness scale? Are you happy some of the time but not always? Are you moderately happy or are you ecstatically happy? When you encounter hard times, are you able to maintain your level of happiness or does it slide down (or off) the scale? Obstacles are a part of life. They’ll always be there. When we sign on to be in the real estate world, we also understand that we’re signing up for a roller-coaster ride. Our gut check determines if we can be happy while we’re riding the roller-coaster, the bucking bull or whatever metaphor is chosen to represent the challenges we inevitably will face.

Over the course of my 72+ years, I’ve learned many things about happiness. Allow me to share them with you.

1. Happiness is a choice. First and foremost, I’ve come to understand that my happiness is 100% my choice. Where I land on the happiness scale is totally my choice. This concept may not be easy to grasp when we’re in the throes of a crisis. But I’ll be darned if I’m going to let what is happening around me determine whether or to what degree I’m going to be happy. Some may say that this sounds like a Pollyanna type of response – after all the world is crumbling around us and we’re going to choose to be happy? Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. It may not be as easy to dial up happiness when we’re getting punched in the gut . . . but it definitely is a choice that we make.

2. Go to bed with a clear conscience. My wife is constantly shaking her head. When my head hits the pillow at night, I’m fast asleep within 30 seconds or so. One of the reasons is the fact that I go to bed every night with a clear conscience. I know that my integrity is intact, and I haven’t intentionally stepped on anyone’s toes. A sure-fire way to unhappiness is breaching the trust of others. There may be other problems that crop up along life’s road, but this isn’t going to be one of them.

3. Be grateful. Gratitude is one of the keys to happiness. I find that when I am grateful to someone and express it, I feel an endorphin rush. And because it feels so good to express gratitude, I try to do it every single day. I have found that being grateful helps to create a balance in my life that pushes up the happiness meter.

4. Serve others. Years ago, I discovered that getting out of myself was a major factor in being a perpetually happy person. Rather than dwelling on my own inadequacies, mistakes, and failures, I found that serving others produced those same endorphins I felt when I was in gratitude. When I could make others happy it became infectious and made me happy as well. I volunteered at a children’s hospital; have served as a mentor to aspiring entrepreneurs; created a scholarship program for young people studying to be teachers, and many other examples.

5.Turn the tables. Look, I said it before. Hard times are inevitable. But we can use them to learn and grow. We can use them to stimulate creativity and innovation. I have come to thrive on complexity and challenges that some might find would push them over the edge. Instead, I say, “bring on the tough stuff!” I’m not about to be defeated by hard times because they present an opportunity to excel and move to even higher levels of performance. And that’s just as applicable in my personal life as it is in my business.

Hard times and happy times can coexist. We need to recognize that happiness is a choice, and it can be realized when we operate in integrity, express gratitude, serve others and use our challenges as opportunities for growth.

Waiting in the Wings

The Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG) always has a pipeline full of projects. This is a periodic feature in People & Properties where we will focus on a development deal that is pending.

In this issue, we are featuring Justin Place Apartments in Kansas City, MO.

Funding Sources: Equity from federal affordable, and federal and state historic tax credits. Tax-exempt bond debt.

Estimated Project Cost: $19.00 million

Number of Units: 96

Resident Profile: Workforce/Family

Construction Start: Early 2027

Development Director: Jack Brenton (2018)

Cities of Cohen-Esrey

Fremont, NE

Fremont, NE, is a vibrant city located about 35 miles northwest of Omaha along the Platte River. Founded in 1856 and named after explorer John C. Frémont, the city serves as the county seat of Dodge County and has grown into an important center for agriculture, manufacturing, education, and commerce. With a population of approximately 27,000 residents, Fremont combines the advantages of a thriving community with the welcoming atmosphere of a small town.

The city is home to Midland University, a private liberal arts institution that contributes to Fremont’s educational and cultural life. Fremont also boasts several parks, recreational facilities, and attractions, including Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area, a popular destination for fishing, boating, camping, and outdoor activities.

Agriculture remains a key part of the local economy, supported by food processing and manufacturing industries. Fremont's strategic location near major transportation routes has helped attract businesses and support economic growth. Residents enjoy a strong sense of community, excellent schools, and numerous community events throughout the year, making Fremont an attractive place to live, work, and visit.

Cohen-Esrey manages the 84-unit Yorkshire Manor in Fremont for a third-party client.

An Empowerment Story

By Terri Montes (2026), Assistant Property Manager – Big Chair Lofts

Although I have only been with Cohen-Esrey for three months (March 3, 2026), I have already gained valuable experience and developed a deep appreciation for the company's culture and support system.

From my first day, I have been impressed by the welcoming environment and the Commitment to helping team members succeed. In just a short amount of time, I have learned so much and have been given opportunities to grow both professionally and personally. The training, guidance, and resources available have helped me build confidence in my role and continue expanding my knowledge every day.

One of the things I value most about working at Cohen-Esrey is the incredible support network. Whenever I encounter a challenge or have a question, I know I can always count on the Home Office team for prompt assistance. Having access to knowledgeable and supportive colleagues makes a tremendous difference and creates an environment where employees can focus on learning, growing, and serving our residents effectively.

Cohen-Esrey has Empowered Me to Thrive by fostering a culture of teamwork, communication, and continuous learning. Even in my first three months, I have felt encouraged, supported, and valued. I am excited to continue my journey with the company and look forward to the opportunities for growth and success that lie ahead.

Accounting Team Presents at Annual Leadership Conference!

The Accounting Team was one of several departments that made stellar presentations at the Annual Leadership Conference. Here are some key slides from their presentation.

Fun Photo!

How is it that this guy never ages? Brian Hall (2007) is a Project Manager for Construction Technologies, LLC (CT), the construction management affiliate of the Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG). Look at the photos from 2007 and 2026. How does he do it?

2007

2026

This is How It’s Done . . .

From Prison Management to Property Management: Childress Property Manager Shows Diverse Leadership Skills

Tisha Meacham has a unique background when it comes to property management. Before Tisha became the Property Manager at Childress Manor in Childress, TX, she managed a prison, worked as a dispatcher, and worked as a secretary at the county jail. “This was a big change from what I did before,” she said. Childress Manor has 50 affordable housing units available to people with Section 8 vouchers.

Tisha said she has found some overlap between her previous professional experience and her role as a Property Manager. “You have to be firm, fair, and consistent,” she said. “That has carried over because you have to be firm, fair, and consistent with everyone here.”

Tisha started at Childress in 2023, the year before Cohen-Esrey assumed management of the property. She said she dealt with delinquency and deferred maintenance issues right out of the gate. “It was overwhelming,” she said. “We have had a lot of down units from where the property was not very well maintained over the years.”

Tisha said it took about six to seven months to get everything straightened out. When Cohen-Esrey arrived, she had a good grasp of her property management duties and gained two new mentors – Regional Manager Alisha Brooks (2017) and Regional Vice President Cassie Colston (2004).

Alisha said Tisha’s background serves her well in her role as Property Manager. “Tisha’s background in corrections and dispatch has likely strengthened her ability to stay calm under pressure, think quickly, and communicate clearly in high-stress situations,” Alisha said. “Those experiences translate well into property management, where she often has to balance urgency, problem-solving, and professionalism while working with a wide range of personalities and situations.”

Childress Manor currently ranks sixth on the Net Promoter Score Leaderboard with a score of +62.5. “I like helping people. I like being able to make a difference for somebody,” Tisha said. “Whenever you can be the difference between somebody’s day being sad and them saying, ‘Thank goodness,’ I always take that as a win.”

Tisha’s enthusiasm for her residents shows. “Her genuine passion for people helps her build trust and strong relationships with residents and team members,” Alisha said. “She approaches situations with empathy and understanding, which allows her to de-escalate issues effectively while still maintaining structure and accountability. This balance makes her both approachable and effective as a leader.”

When it comes to what other Property Managers can learn from Tisha, Alisha offers a suggestion. “Other Property Managers can learn the importance of staying people-focused while remaining calm and solution-oriented,” she said. “Tisha demonstrates that strong relationships, clear communication, and a willingness to help others can significantly improve team performance and resident satisfaction, even in challenging environments.”