Living the Difference
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 2019 Volume 1, Issue 4
November 2019
DEPARTMENT UPDATE
PG 2 PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT
PG 3 FRED FAMILY UPDATE
PG 3 EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHTS
PG 4 FEATURED NEWS
PG 5 EVENTS CALENDAR
LETTER FROM KRISTI The continued growth of FRED means new people and new introductions. While it is not possible to meet everyone, there does seem to be a steady stream of people that pass by my office. A common theme for these introductions is my longevity at FRED. I tend to lose count, but I think it’s somewhere around the 22-23 year mark. What not everyone knows is that I left briefly in the late 90s (yes, before some of you were even born!). Working for another company for even a brief period of time taught me what I value in a company and that I had found those values with FRED. Respect to me is a very important characteristic and the main reason I left that role and came back to FRED – and I’ve been back for over 20 years! I think this says a lot about FRED and is a story that I tell often when I interview prospective candidates. Here at FRED we talk about how people are our most important asset. Whether it be our residents, our employees, or our investors. FRED truly cares for all those that have made FRED a success. For this reason I am proud to be a part of the FRED family and I hope you are too!
PG 6
Sincerely,
Kristi Peirce
EMPLOYEE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Kristi Peirce, Director of Corporate Finance
PG 6 FRED FUN
PG 7
COVER PHOTO: Stone Point Apartments
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November 2019
DEPARTMENT UPDATE What’s new in a department near you?
IT IS EVER-EVOLVING TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER EXCITING CHANGES COMING TO A COMPUTER NEAR YOU The IT Department (Steve Ciesielski, Jason Streit, Steve Nodine, and John Calderone) has several exciting new initiatives coming in the near future. After all is said and done we will have an IT infrastructure capable of supporting FRED well into the future. The systems we are implementing will be easier to train and use. We appreciate your flexibility as we make these changes and look forward to the journey with you!
SERVER UPGRADES
Q4-2019 to Q1-2020
Q1-2020 to Q2-2020
All users will be on a new e-mail server through Microsoft Exchange 365 by March 2020.
Our current servers are hitting the end of their useful life and are becoming less reliable.
Benefits For You
We’ll be upgrading FRED’s core servers to a blend of local servers with improved technology (hyperconverged) and moving to the cloud.
• More space – 50 GB instead of 4 GB. • Stability - our departing e-mail server is showing its age with performance issues. Cloud allows for greater stability. • New web mail – We think you’ll enjoy it quite a bit.
Benefits For You • Improved up-time, especially for important services such as 3CX. • Agility to handle FRED’s growth at any pace.
Q2-2020 to Q3-2020 It’s coming. More details will be shared as we get closer, but this update deserves your excitement! Office365 will increase productivity and sharing needs in our increasingly online working world.
Benefits For You
Have you tried Outlook.com?
• It will simplify our Citrix and VPN set-up. - Web-based MS Office and OneDrive streamlines access to FRED’s core resources.
Access your FRED e-mail from any browser by visiting outlook.office365.com
- Properties won’t need to login through Citrix.
• New tools (MS Teams, Planner, etc.) • Outstanding flexibility and cross-platform support.
Use https:// for a secure connection.
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OFFICE 365
• Collaboration abilities ensure everyone is referencing the most current document and eliminates “locked for editing” issues.
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November 2019
FRED FAMILY UPDATE A HISTORY OF SERVICE FOR BRETT WETTER US Army Veteran at FRED Shares His Story In honor of Veteran’s Day this month, we got to know more about Brett Wetter, a veteran to the military and to FRED. Brett is the Lead Maintenance Tech at 50Twenty.
to the USFS to fight the forest fires in Idaho,” he said. “I traveled to several Army Installations in Kansas, Missouri, California, New Jersey and Colorado.”
Brett explained the title of ‘Veteran’ is given to everyone who chooses to serve their country, but their reasons for serving can be very different.
Brett’s service included 2 years in the National Guard (’90 – ’92), 3 years in the Active Army (’92-’95) and 1 year in the Army Reserve (‘95-’96).
“Being a Veteran is a personal experience that each person feels individually about,” he said. “I chose to do it as I thought it would be a great experience and duty to my country.”
“Our training unit was activated for Operation Desert Shield but we did not actually deploy,” he said. “I was an E-4 (Specialist) when I left.”
A surprising element of Brett’s story was how service in the armed forces felt similar to other While in active service from 19901996, Brett served internationally in relatively ‘normal’ career paths. South Korea and in several states on “Most people wouldn’t know that the home front. outside of training exercises and deployment, the military is a 9-5 “There were several cool job,” he said. experiences, [such as] attachment
PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT FRED communities doing amazing things.
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STONE
“Being a Veteran is a personal experience that each person feels individually about.”
POINT
A P A R T M E N T S
WHAT MAKES THEM SHINE Stone Point boasts spacious grounds located next to the beautifully maintained Kiwanis Club park. Despite not having a clubroom or pool, Stone Point hosts many amazing resident events! The team recently collaborated with Property Manager Kathy Pettke to prepare all the food for their awesome resident cook out (above). The team works hard to keep Stone Point beautiful, maintain their 100% occupancy in 2019, and make sure resident maintenance needs are met - all of which earns them rave reviews!
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November 2019
BRYSON RICHEY
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
Assistant Property Manager, 22 Slate
Meet some of our fantastic team members!
Q: What is your favorite fall activity? Going to the really scary haunted houses is my favorite fall activity. Q: If you could have dinner with any famous person, who would you choose and why? If I could have dinner with any famous person it would be Tom Ellis from the TV show Lucifer. He is hilarious and a favorite actor of mine. Q: What is one of your greatest achievements? My greatest accomplishment recently would be graduating from the animation program I attended here in Madison.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT Meet some of our fantastic team members!
KEN POSTO Maintenance Tech II, Drexel Ridge Q: What is your favorite fall activity? Going out for a ride on my motorcycle or indoor go-karting. Q: If you could have dinner with any famous person, who would you choose and why? John Force. I would enjoy listening to stories of the struggles and successes coming up through the years in the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association). Q: What is one of your greatest achievements? Starting and running two businesses successfully, being a stay at home dad and raising my daughter to be a beautiful, independent young lady.
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November 2019
FEATURED FRED NEWS MEET FRED’S NEW
MEET FRED’S NEW
DIRECTOR OF PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES Last month, we were proud to welcome Jackie Forecki as the new Director of Human JACKIE FORECKI Resources at FRED. Jackie’s leadership in recruiting, management, procedures and her passion for people will be very beneficial for the future growth and success of our company. Her vision of believing people are the most important asset of a company fits well with the FRED Way. Welcome Jackie!
We are pleased to announce that Andy Kiener joined the ANDY KIENER FRED team as our new Director of Property Management. Andy will be responsible for overseeing our new “Seasons” brand (Drexel Ridge, Orchard Hills and West Dundee). Andy comes to us with 25+ years of real estate development and property management experience and we’re excited to have him on!
WHAT’S NEW WITH YOU? Want to contribute to the FRED Monthly Newsletter? Send announcements, news, etc. to
TO EVERYONE AT FRED We are grateful for all our team members that make FRED such an amazing place to work. We’d like to wish everyone and their families a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
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jlincoln@fred-inc.com to be featured in a future issue!
November 2019
EVENTS CALENDAR Check out what’s on the way for FRED Properties.
NOVEMBER 2019
EVENTS SUN
Veteran’s Day | Nov 11th FRED Closed | Nov 28th & 29th | Thanksgiving
LOOKING FORWARD FRED Holiday Events | Dec 6th,19th
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
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FRED Closed | Dec 24th & 25th | Christmas
BIRTHDAYS TYRAH CHRISTIAN
JAMES SCHUMACHER Arbor Lakes | Nov 7th
JAMIE GRAHAM
Ridge View | Nov 1st
BRUCE HICKLIN
MADDY CLAUSEN
Corporate | Nov 7th
Corporate | Nov 14th
JILL SHOTOLA
AYANNA ALLEN
JESSICA HOLM
JULIE LINCOLN
MICHAEL DILLARD
Corporate | Nov 21st
The Vue | Nov 27th
Manchester Oaks | Nov 9th
Corporate | Nov 14th
JOHN NEWER
THOMAS RAKESTRAW MARGARET JABERG
Riverwood | Nov 10th
ELISABETH ALINA MATTESON The Junction | Nov 15th SCHMIDLKOFER
1Glenn Place | Nov 23rd
Corporate | Nov 27th
TRISHA DUNTON
TERRY LEMKE
Corporate | Nov 6th
FALICIA FENN
Wells Street Station | Nov 11th Forté | Nov 16th
SEAN HYNEK
ADAM KENNEDY-KUNUGI
Manchester Oaks | Nov 4th
TONY DEROSA Corporate | Nov 5th
AMY KNOUS
MEGAN HOFF
Corporate | Nov 12th
Creekwood | Nov 7th
MITCHELL SWANSON
ERIC BERCOT Manchester Oaks | Nov 7th
Corporate | Nov 12th
GARRET SCHWARZENBERGER
CHRIS FERRALL Arbor Lakes | Nov 7th
Creekwood | Nov 14th
Woodlands | Nov 18th
Construction | Nov 18th
CARLOS FERREYRA Arbor Lakes | Nov 19th
VERONICA AGUILAR DUNE LUSSE
22 Slate | Nov 24th
TIM WITTKOPP Corporate | Nov 25th
Arbor Lakes | Nov 19th
LISA MILLARD Corporate | Nov 16th
TRINITY ESCUDEROCHRISTOPHER RUPEL MELLISSA RAKESTRAW GONZALEZ Landmark | Nov 29th
DEHMRY DYE
JESSE CURRY
22 Slate | Nov 17th
Ridge View | Nov 19th Creekwood | Nov 21st
JASON VAN STRATEN
Arbor Lakes | Nov 26th
ANDY KIENER
JAMES GARTMANN
Forté | Leasing
Corporate | Director of Property Management
50Twenty | Property Manager
COLIN WELCH
DEBORAH HARKNESS
GARRET SCHWARZENBERGER
GLENN STACHOWIAK
FALICIA FENN
The Junction | Leasing
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Sept/Oct 2019
COLT HAMILTON
GINA HERRO
TARA HOLM
Promotions State Street Station | Property Manager in Training
JACKIE FORECKI
Liberty Square | Utility
Valley View | Nov 30th
MADELYN JAEGER
Foxcroft | Property Manager
STEVEN FRONSEE
MAURA TIEDEMAN
PAUL MADDEN
THOMAS RAKESTRAW
Saddle Brook | Leasing
Manchester Oaks | Maintenance
The Vue | Nov 28th
The Vue | Nov 26th
September/October 2019
Drexel Ridge | Leasing
FABIANA ORDONEZ
Riverwood | Nov 16th
Welcome to the Team! SHAPRECE NABORS
Synergy | Nov 28th
Corporate | Director of Human Resources
Creekwood | Maintenance
BLAKE OCHSNER Domain | Maintenance
1Glenn Place | Utility
Ridge View | Leasing
The Enclave | Cleaning
SAM ELLIOT
Creekwood | Technician II
Corporate | Financial Analyst
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November 2019
FRED FUN FRED PAYS TRIBUTE TO VETERANS EMPLOYEES and FAMILIES OF THOSE THAT SERVE
Photos Submitted by FRED Employees
MICHAEL HAFEMAN, ARMY (Left) GARRET SCHWARZENBERGER, MARINES (Right) PAUL BALL, ARMY (Husband) MEGHAN MAJORS, ARMY (Sister) Maintenance Technicians | Creekwood
Erin Ball | Marketing & Training Manager
Erin Ball | Marketing & Training Manager
DONALD H. SCHMIDT, ARMY (Grandfather) COLT HAMILTON, BRANDON STENZ, MARINES ARMY (Brother) Leasing Professional | Ridge View
Katelyn Manthe | Property Manager, Creekwood
JOE BROWN, MARINES (Son-in-Law) Heidi Kivi | Director of Property Management Operations
JAMES MOE, MARINES (Grandfather) Rachel Wagabaza | Regional Supervisor
(Left) James Moe at Age 18 (1943), (Center) Elaine Moe (1946) (Right) James and Elaine on their 70th Anniversary (2017)
Julie Lincoln | Property Management Department Coordinator
(Left) Service in the Philippines (1946-1947) (Right) Stars & Stripes Honor Flight #16 (2012)
JOE RIEDEL, AIR FORCE (Great Uncle, Left) JIM RIEDEL, ARMY (Great Uncle, Center) WILLIAM RIEDEL, NAVY (Grandfather, Right) Shannon McInnis | Marketing Assistant
789 N WATER STREET STE 200 | MILWAUKEE, WI 53202 | PHONE: 414-226-4535 | FRED-INC.COM