NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2025
EVENT RECAP FRED GIVING WEEK
BY THE MARKETING TEAM
This year’s FRED Giving Week was an inspiring reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together with generosity and purpose Across all of our territories, team members stepped up to make a difference in their communities - showing that our commitment to caring goes far beyond the workplace Thanks to everyone’s incredible participation, we collectively pledged over $40,000 and packed 300 teen mental wellness kits for United Way, supporting youth mental health programs across our regions In Green Bay, FRED gave $1,000 and more than 400 winter gear items to Golden House, helping families stay warm and safe this season Our teams raised $500 during Walk with a Purpose and FRED donated $3,000 to Active Youth Wisconsin in Madison, supporting physical activity and wellness initiatives for local youth. FRED also contributed $2,000 to SWIM (Scaling Wellness in MKE) and $2,000 to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), reinforcing our shared focus on mental health
We also had teams roll up their sleeves to help distribute laptops with United Way’s Techquity initiative and install drywall with Habitat for Humanity at the FRED-sponsored home in Milwaukee
We’re so grateful for everyone who participated, donated, and volunteered during our first FRED Giving Week. Your compassion continues to strengthen our communities and make FRED a company we can all be proud to be part of, inspiring us to keep finding new ways to give back and make a lasting difference together.
DEPARTMENT UPDATE MARKETING & ENABLEMENT
BY ERIN BALL
The Marketing + Enablement team connects dots between people, platforms, and processes Our goal is to make information flow more clearly, systems run more smoothly, and communication feel more connected across FRED.
Erika has been key in strengthening those connections this year She created the Monthly WrapUp, launched Funnel training for new hires, and supported the rollout of the Knowledge Hub With improved Zendesk ticket tracking, we now have clearer visibility into where questions come from and where additional training or tools may be needed.
Shannon continued to raise the bar for FRED’s brand, supporting five new construction projects while maintaining consistent, high-quality visuals across our portfolio She also helped launch the print store, giving teams quick access to branded materials, and was instrumental in making Ally’s transition into her new role seamless
Ally joined the team this year and quickly made an impact. She’s connected Funnel, GA4, and our websites for a clearer view of marketing performance, built more thoughtful 2026 budgets, and began migrating properties to new websites that better showcase our communities Next year, she’ll continue strengthening SEO efforts to support paid advertising and overall visibility
Julie has been at the heart of FRED’s culture-building efforts, leading the Spirit Store and FRED Reds Program From new events introduced this year to longstanding traditions we all look forward to, she puts thought and care into every detail. In addition, she helped roll out new move-in gifts for residents and is preparing to launch new hire welcome gifts in the coming months both great additions to FRED’s culture and sense of connection.
Together, we’ve worked to create systems, tools, and communication that not only make things easier but also make FRED feel more connected to each other, our residents, and the communities we serve. It has been a great year, and we’re proud of what we accomplished together.
FRED OUT OF OFFICE
BY SARAH DRILIAS & TIM WITTKOPP
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Sarah has been a recreational cyclist for most of her life, with a few years of competitive cycling thrown in for fun! A few years ago, she decided to turn her passion for and knowledge of mountain biking into coaching youth in the sport. She got involved with one of the local teams, MKE MTB, as a level 1 coach five years ago, and now is the head coach of the team!
Tim has also been biking for a long time and more passionately mountain biking over the last six years He joined LCC (Lake Country Composite MTB) two years ago starting as a Level 1 and is now a Level 2 coach. It is one of the most enjoyable sports he coaches and looks forward to every practice and race event. Plus, some added exercise never hurts.
Both of us coach in the same league and we are two teams of approximately 40 teams throughout the state of Wisconsin Many don’t realize it, but Wisconsin has quite a few off-road single-track mountain bike trail systems The Wisconsin League falls under the guidelines of NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association), which is a national organization with a mission to get more kids on bikes for life through the sport of mountain biking. All skill levels are welcome in this league! We coach kids that are just trying mountain biking for the first time all the way up to kids that are competitive racers
But it’s not ALL about competition. NICA’s principles are “Fun, Equity, Inclusion, Respect, and Community”. Race weekends include camping, on the bike games, and seminars. Kids are taught to respect one another on the trails and encourage everyone to have their best race.
While we teach mountain bike skills, we also coach kids to reach their best potential both on and off the bike At the end of the day, we know we’ve been a great coach when an athlete says they have ‘found their people’ and had an awesome time on the trails! It is great to see the progression and growth of these athletes throughout a season along with their enjoyment of the sport.
Do you have a youth (6th-12th grade) mountain bike enthusiast in your life looking for a team? Reach out to either of us and we’d be happy to point them in the right direction!
KARLA’S
Corner
PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT APEX AT VERONA
BY RACHEL WAGABAZA
We are excited to share that Apex at Verona in Verona, Wisconsin, has reached full operational status and is well on its way to stabilization This vibrant community features 13 uniquely styled buildings: five stacked flats, four three‐story apartment buildings, and four townhome buildings, totaling 292 units Amenities include a clubhouse, 24‐hour fitness center, resort-style pool, playground, dog park, two grilling areas, car care station, pet spa, and EV charging stations Located near Epic Systems, approximately 32% of residents are employed there, contributing to a strong leasing demand Since the final building was delivered on September 20th, Apex has achieved 90% occupancy and is 915% leased (as of October 29, 2025)
Leadership, leasing, and construction teams worked togethercoordinating communication, aligning benchmarks, and ensuring everyone stayed connected Lease‐Up Manager Laura Christianson and her team have been instrumental in this success The FRED construction team provided outstanding support, ensuring timely delivery and prompt resolution of maintenance concerns Weekly leasing calls helped keep the team aligned on market trends and pricing strategies
DECORATING FOR THE HOLIDAYS
SEASONAL SUGGESTIONS
This holiday season, let’s keep our communities looking festive, while staying polished and professional. Here are a few simple tips to guide your decorating:
Keep décor minimal and tasteful: Think refined accents that add warmth, without overwhelming the space
Select a color palette to keep your décor unified Combinations to work with include neutrals, shades of blue, white & silver, or ivory, red, and gold. Remember to avoid overtly religious décor.
Incorporate natural elements like pine, fir, or pinecones Small, wintertime plants such as fir, pine and holly make for attractive decorative accents Mini potted pine trees or poinsettias can be placed on desks or common areas
Avoid using window clings. While festive, they disrupt the professional, clean aesthetic we’ve established and can leave residue on the glass.
Timely removal is key Decorations should be taken down shortly after the holiday season (2 weeks max) to ensure our spaces always feel on-brand Adding a touch of holiday decor in your model apartment is fine,but keep it very minimal. Décor should never distract from the main focus the apartment itself!
As always, I am here to help with selecting/ordering appropriate holiday decorations and proper installation Please don’t hesitate to reach out if needed! Happy holidays!
OUR GROWING COMPANY
OCTOBER 2 - NOVEMBER 3, 2025
ERIK MURAS REGIONAL MAINT SUPERVISOR
INTERNAL
Whether promoting from within or bringing new team members on board, we are always excited to see the ways FRED is growing. Help us in congratulating the individuals below on their new roles!
JACKSON HAPKE
MAINTENANCE & GROUNDS SEASONS AT PLAINFIELD
BB PEREZ LEASING PROFESSIONAL SEASONS AT HOFFMAN ESTATES
BRIAN FELTON MAINTENANCE TECH SEASONS AT MOUNT PLEASANT
RECOMMENDATION SEASONAL DECOR
BY JULIE LINCOLN
Last fall, I started my small business, The Prettiest Porch, born from a simple idea - that every home or business should have a warm, welcoming entrance that reflects the beauty of the season Serving the greater Muskego area, my small business specializes in curated décor installations that make it easy for home and business owners to enjoy a stunning front porch or entrance without lifting a finger From inviting pumpkin displays to festive live greenery and perfectly-placed Christmas lights, I do my best to locally source as many materials as I can to support my community and fellow small business owners This year, I even had the chance to donate a pumpkin package for Special Spaces of Wisconsin’s silent auction!
My recommendation for your home or property is to thoughtfully style each exterior installation to complement the space’s unique character, color palette, and/or branding, bringing a touch of seasonal magic to your neighborhood or for your residents and prospects to enjoy
Follow my business on Facebook & Instagram for holiday inspiration to brighten your front porch this season!
ALEX WILKINSON GROUNDSKEEPER
SEASONS AT FRANKLIN
ANDREW DAKE MAINTENANCE TECH WELLS STREET STATION
