August 14, 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.

Affordable Housing in Mid-Missouri

Rankin Mills is a 48-unit affordable community in the historic central Missouri town of Boonville. Built in 2001, the property offers families two bedroom apartments of 764 square feet renting for $392 per month, and three bedroom apartments of 1,103 square feet renting for $489 per month. Residents enjoy a beautiful clubhouse, well-equipped playground, walkout decks and patios, and huge closets. Situated just off Main Street, Rankin Mills is midway between the Missouri River and Interstate 70. Cohen-Esrey Communities (CEC) manages the property for a third-party client and the management team is extremely proud of its +81.48 NPS placing it fifth on its Leaderboard.

Boonville is the the county seat of Cooper County with a population of nearly 8,000. The community derives its name from Nathan and Daniel Morgan Boone, who were the sons of Daniel Boone and established their salt business near the community in the early 1800s, delivering their product from salt licks to St. Louis. The area has been called "Boone's Lick" and the route from the lick to St. Charles/St. Louis, Missouri is called the Boone's Lick Trail. The eastern terminus near Boonville at Franklin, Missouri is considered the original start of the Santa Fe Trail. The city was the site of a skirmish early in the Civil War, on July 17, 1861. Union forces defeated the Missouri State Guard in the first Battle of Boonville. It is part of the Columbia, Missouri metropolitan area. Country singer Sara Evans hails from Boonville.

Alanna Johnson (2020) is the Property Manager and Cassie Colston (2004), Assistant Vice-President is the Regional 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.

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

Katlyn Lofgren-Jones – Old Orchard Estates, Carbon Cliff, IL – Assistant Property Manager
Kendrix Jackson – Park at Forest Hill, Memphis, TN – Make Ready Technician
Alarice Echols – Tower Village, St. Louis, MO – Resident Services Assistant
Michael Keena – Idlewild Estates, Poplar Bluff, MO – Maintenance Technician
Daniel Layton – House Springs, House Springs, MO – Maintenance Technician
Charity Trotter – Corporate HQ, Merriam, KS – Fund Administrator
Debreona Johnson – Andover Park, Kansas City, MO – Assistant Property Manager

Meet the Owensboro Historic Team

Meet our team at Owensboro Historic Residences in Owensboro, KY. Rosey Drury (2022), Property Manager, and Charles Hardesty (2023), Maintenance Technician. Owensboro Historic is a historic buggy factory that was repurposed and developed into affordable housing by the Cohen-Esrey Development Group (CEDG).

Welcome Hayley!

Hayley Fisher has joined the Cohen-Esrey team as a Fund Accountant. She is a recent graduate of the University of Central Missouri (UCM) where she majored in Business Administration Accountancy. Hayley worked for the UCM providing accounting services, and more recently worked for FORVIS as an audit intern testing fixed assets and accounts payable. Most recently Hayley was an Audit Associate for Keller and Owens where she audited mostly non-profit organizations and compiled audit reports including balance sheets and profit and loss statements. She is currently a student member of the Missouri Society of CPA’s and a student member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

In her new role, Hayley will handle the accounting responsibilities for the co-investment equity funds associated with Cohen-Esrey Apartment Investors (CEAI) as well as federal historic tax credit funds sponsored by Cohen-Esrey Capital Partners (CECP). She will maintain investor data on the portal used by CEAI and will also serve as an Acumatica Support Specialist.

Hayley grew up in a small town of less than 500 people southeast of Kansas City, has five siblings, and participated in cheerleading and the National Honors Society in high school. She recently moved to Overland Park and enjoys weightlifting at the gym, going to movies, and shopping. She also loves to bake treats and spend time with her family as much as she can. Hayley is eager to learn and grow and is very excited to be a part of Cohen Esrey.

Transformational Construction

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

The finish line is in sight at Sinclair Flats in Mankato, MN!

Appliances are being installed at Sinclair Flats.

Concrete is finally being poured at the Lofts at Creekview in San Antonio, TX.

Third floor framing on the first building continues at Loma Vista Lofts in San Antonio, TX.

Rough-in plumbing and some concrete pad pours are continuing at Panorama Heights in Colorado Springs, CO.

The Trails at Lehow in Englewood, CO, will be closed-in before the snow flies.

A Healthy Tip

By Jennifer Turner (2018), Director of Human Resources

Tips on Increasing Your Energy to Live a Happier, Healthier, More Productive Life

Do you wake up feeling sluggish most mornings? Have caffeinated beverages become a necessity to help power you through the day? If this sounds familiar, it's time to ditch the quick fixes you rely on, and develop an energy management plan.

What is energy management? Think of your energy as a limited resource, like money in an account. You begin the day with a certain amount to spend. The amount varies from person to person based on factors, such as age, sleep, stress levels, medical conditions, and lifestyle. Activities and interactions withdraw energy from or deposit energy into your account. While you may not always have control over activities that deplete your energy, you can take steps to deposit more energy into your account.

Below are a few tips to try to live a happier, healthier, more productive life.

Eat nourishing food. A well-balanced, healthy diet is at the core of well-being. You really are what you eat. Consume a variety of foods from all the food groups to get a range of nutrients to provide energy throughout the day.
Sleep seven to eight hours per night. Prioritizing sleep is one of the best things you can do to set yourself up for a successful, energized day. Sleep deprivation can perpetuate serious health conditions, as well as negatively affect your mood, motivation, and energy levels.
Keep company with good people. Maximize the amount of time that you spend with people you enjoy being around. Connecting with others who radiate positivity and have similar interests will excite and energize you.
Avoid news overdose. Consuming news is an important way to stay connected to what's happening in the world. It can be educational, entertaining, and even uplifting. Unfortunately, the news too frequently is filled with stories of suffering. These stories can skew your view of the world and cause you to focus on your worst fears instead of recognizing the good that surrounds you, causing stress.

Get regular exercise. Do you find yourself feeling lethargic halfway through the day? The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults complete at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity each week. Contrary to what you might believe, this will add to your energy account and not subtract from it.
Do something meaningful each day. What do you feel passionate about? Do you have a special talent that you'd like to practice more often or share with others? Do something you enjoy every day, even if it's a simple act like cooking a healthy meal or listening to your favorite song. Putting effort into the things that matter most to you will help you use and reserve your energy in ways that will bring out the best in you.

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 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 – one more than in June! Pushing rents higher is critical to make up for the significantly higher property insurance costs we are experiencing.

CEDG Welcomes Its Newest Team Member!

On August 2, 2023, Lauren Cano (2021), CEDG Development Manager, and her husband, Wes, welcomed Luke Wesley Cano into the family at 2:24 AM. Everyone is healthy and big sister Claire is very excited! The Cano family has three birthdays in a row now—Luke is August 3, Lauren is August 4, and Claire is August 5. Congratulations to the Cano clan!

Another Empowerment Story

By Megan Lierz (2022), Corporate Accountant

Megan Lierz (2022), is a Business Units Accountant for Cohen-Esrey. Here is what she has to say about her Empowerment:

When I started my professional career, it was with a degree in Elementary Education, and I taught kindergarten for two years. My mom is a math teacher, so I have always had endless respect for educators, but it didn’t take me long to realize that teaching was not the career for me. As my husband and I moved states for his work opportunities, I transitioned to a role in a couple construction companies and began leaning into my interests in numbers and data while building my experience and understanding of the financial world. We also began to build our beautiful family.

After taking some time at home with my kids, I came to Cohen-Esrey unsure of what I wanted to do but knowing it would allow me to embrace my financial knowledge and build on it. I began my role here as a Corporate Accounting Assistant and loved it. Within six months Eric Kirk (2011), Corporate Accounting Manager, approached me about becoming the Business Units Accountant. I was hesitant as I knew I had a lot to learn to be successful – he was very patient and assured me we would start small and learn as we went. He Empowered me to succeed with his guidance, training, and support through the transition as well as encouraging me to continue my education with accounting classes.

Since I have taken on the new role and classes, I have assumed more accounts and learned more than I ever imagined. I am also excited to begin my Master of Business Administration in just a couple of weeks and continue to improve my knowledge and understanding.

Core Value of the Month

Team Member Fulfillment

Emily Fletcher (2022), Property Accounting Assistant from Corporate, was recognized at the Cohen-Esrey Leadership Conference as a 2022 Team Member Fulfillment Award winner. Here is what was said about her during the presentation ceremony:

This individual’s commitment to helping others succeed and passion for teaching have made a significant impact on our team's overall success. Her willingness to go above and beyond to assist fellow team members in understanding processes and identifying new ways of doing things has not gone unnoticed. Her patience and clear explanations have helped others to grow and succeed in their roles, and her dedication to using training opportunities and resources to their fullest has set a great example for others to follow. This has been evident as she worked with Real Page to gain an understanding of their Utility Management module and create processes to be followed going forward. Her persistence, tenacity and problem-solving mind-set have proven to be very valuable assets. Her efforts to make processes smoother and clearer have resulted in a more efficient and effective team, and her kindness and approachability have made it easy for others to seek your assistance. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Emily!

Laureen Woods (2022), Property Manager from Brighton Creek, was recognized at the Cohen-Esrey Leadership Conference as a 2022 Team Member Fulfillment Award winner. Here is what was said about her during the presentation ceremony:

This Team Member truly is the definition of Team Member Fulfillment! She genuinely cares about the well being of not only her own team but all team members within the Cohen-Esrey family. She shows this in so many ways from simple gestures of grabbing team members beverage on her way into the office to dropping everything at her own property to go and assist wherever needed and whenever needed. She goes above and beyond to find the good in every person and will help them be as successful as possible by sharing her knowledge and experience with everyone. She always wants to see those around her succeed and she is always sharing her passion with everyone she meets. We thank her for EVERYTHING that she does, and she truly is one of our most valuable assets at Cohen-Esrey. This award goes to Laureen Woods.

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

This team member joined our team in 2014. She does an exceptional job creating and contributing to our culture. She always goes above and beyond what is normally expected from a team member. She genuinely cares about people. For example, since her promotion to Senior Project Engineer, she has taken ownership of the direct training and development of the project engineer team by creating direct accountability, promoting the use of processes and organization, and spending one-on-one time as needed. Whether it be breakroom snacks, organizing internal or external events, or internal training opportunities, she shows a high level of care in all she does. She is the glue of the office. This Team Member Fulfillment award goes to Jessica Bell from Nexus 5.

Offering a Helping Hand

On Tuesday July 25, 2023, Corporate Office team members from the Kansas City metro area volunteered at the Harvester's warehouse in Kansas City. Harvester's is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and certified member of Feeding America, a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks. They provide food and related household products to more than 760 nonprofit agencies in 26 counties, including emergency food pantries, community kitchens, homeless shelters, children’s homes and others. Volunteers at the Kansas City warehouse sort and repack food, which assists Harvesters in feeding more than 226,000 neighbors each month. Our team was tasked with sorting and boxing bread for delivery to local food pantries. Great job delivering Community Impact!

L to R: Cassie Colston, Sarah Cranford, Kurt Parrett, Lizzy Darby, Emily Robinson, Ashley Harper, Michael Gioia, Lana Frank. Not pictured: Emily Fletcher.

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 our current question:

How do you deliver our Core Value of Integrity?

Please send your answers to me, Lee Harris, at lharris@cohenesrey.com by August 22. You might win a $25 gift card if you provide a unique and highly actionable idea.

The Cities of Cohen-Esrey

To date we have featured St. Louis, Topeka, KS, Wichita, KS, Springfield and Joplin, MO, San Antonio, TX, the Dallas Metroplex, Atlanta/Macon, GA, Colorado Springs, and Houston in our series on the Cities of Cohen-Esrey. Since our inception, we have managed properties in 251 cities and towns in 22 states across the country. We conclude this series by listing one city/town from each of these 22 states. Can anyone guess the city represented by the photo below (it’s obviously not North Port, FL)?!

Atlanta, GA

Boonville, MO

Colorado Springs, CO

Columbus, OH

Cornwall, NY

Dallas, TX

Des Moines, IA

Detroit, MI

Dodge City, KS

Enid, OK

Erie, PA

Fayetteville, AR

Hastings, NE

Indianapolis, IN

Lexington, KY

Memphis, TN

North Port, FL

Pelican Rapids, MN

Sioux Falls, SD

Springfield, IL

Sun Prairie, WI

Thomasville, NC

Continuing the Climb

The Net Promoter Scores for Cohen-Esrey Communities (CEC) and Nexus 5 remained at high levels over the past month. Delivering Customer Fulfillment is like climbing a mountain. There are no sprints up the incline. It’s step-by-step moving forward – sometimes slowly – every single day. The NPS is simply a measurement of how well we’re doing our job to deliver this critically important Core Value. So far, so good. But there’s still much work to be done. As we’ve said over and over, Cohen-Esrey’s Vision 2026 objective of achieving a +50 NPS by December 31, 2026, will tell us that we’ve reached the pinnacle in terms of wowing our customers. The next 10 points represent an even steeper climb up the mountain.

Nexus 5 has reached the mountaintop and the challenge for that team is to stay there. It’s easy to get complacent which can result in a dangerous fall off the cliff. We know that won’t happen with the Nexus 5 team that embraces Customer Fulfillment the way they do.

So, gather your gear, get creative, take a deep breath, and continue marching up the path toward the final objective. In the process, our customers will thrive and so will we.