NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2024
PROJECT UPDATE SEASONS AT GRAFTON
BY TIM WITTKOPP
Seasons at Grafton is currently under construction! This typical 'Seasons' property will consist of 14 20unit buildings for a total of 280 units and a clubhouse. The layout of the property has a fair amount of green space along with five ponds and wooded acreage Some of the additional amenities include separate grilling stations, a dog park, and a walking path through the wooded area.
The construction for Seasons at Grafton, which started in the spring of this year, has been progressing well While there were many weather challenges working through the unusually wet spring and summer seasons, the team has done a great job staying on schedule. There are currently four buildings and the clubhouse that are dried in with the roof and all 14 buildings are under construction Over half of the project has asphalt placed and we are on track to have all asphalt down before winter, which is a big milestone to hit.
It’s hard to believe that we are already talking about winter but that is a big part of the planning process for construction. Many factors come into play that the teams need to account for in advance. Asphalt plants typically start to shut down for the season by early November. Concrete costs begin to increase around the same time of year and the process of placing concrete in cold temperatures becomes more difficult On the interiors of the buildings, temporary heat becomes important as well because finish items like drywall, flooring, glues, etc all need to be tempered to cure properly. All this plays into the quality of the project. The team has set up the Grafton project nicely rolling into winter so that work can progress efficiently through the cold temperatures and stay on schedule for the first building turnover in January.
DEVELOPMENT TEAM: CRAIG R, PAUL S, SAM E
CONSTRUCTION TEAM:
EARL V, GEORGE V, MANNY O, KEITH K, TIFFANY W
LEASING TEAM: ANDY K.
DESIGN TEAM: AG ARCHITECTURE
CIVIL ENGINEERING: PINNACLE ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT UPDATE IT
BY JASON STREIT
Did you know?
FRED’s Corporate support team is always happy to help and loves to hear your ideas and feedback!
In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, organizations must adopt robust strategies to protect their networks from increasingly sophisticated threats. One highly effective, yet often underutilized tool, is the honeypot - a decoy system designed to attract and trap malicious actors. Honeypots are crafted to resemble easy-to-exploit systems, such as unpatched servers, exposed databases, or insecure applications and lure cybercriminals into what they perceive as vulnerable targets When a hacker stumbles upon the honeypot, they may attempt to breach it, assuming they’ve discovered a weak spot However, since the honeypot is isolated from critical systems, the attack poses no real harm and instead triggers alerts, flagging suspicious activity on the network. This approach allows IT teams to detect potential threats before they can cause damage.
Recently, our IT department decided to deploy a honeypot at corporate, aiming to enhance network security After reviewing options, we opted for an open-source project called OpenCanary This particular solution was easy to implement in our environment, making it an ideal choice for our initial testing phase. Once we had OpenCanary up and running, we were in for a surprise - an influx of alerts. While we had expected minimal activity, the honeypot instead
revealed several misconfigured devices within our network. Over the course of two days and numerous email alerts, we identified and fixed these devices, disabling unnecessary features that had been mistakenly left on Since then, the honeypot has been quiet - just the way we like it in IT.
While the honeypot won’t stop cybercriminals in their tracks, it helps us recognize their presence The IT department will keep exploring new ways to protect FRED, ensuring we stay one step ahead of potential attacks.
THE TEAM
JASON STREIT Director of Technology
VONG LEE Senior Technology Specialist
HUNT IT Support Coordinator
FREDDY
MADISON
JONH CALDERONE
WHAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE SAYING
JEROLD BLISS MAINTENANCE TECH
DEREK STRUCK MAINTENANCE TECH
JORDAN RIDER LEASING PROFESSIONAL
SEASONS AT MOUNT PLEASANT
Want to read more? Check out the sites listed to read full reviews from residents at each of our properties!
“Great place to live and super helpful maintenance staff Whenever I have had an issue with something in my apartment, they have been quick to send someone over! Usually Jerry has been the one to come over and help with issues in my apartment and he is very professional and extremely helpful. He goes above and beyond!”
- Heather W., Google Review from July 2024
RIDGE VIEW
“We have lived at Ridge View Apartments for a few years now and have been so lucky to find such a great place to call home. The staff are all friendly and know all of their residents by name. The maintenance team always responds quickly when needed and upkeeps a safe/clean environment for their residents. Lisa, the property manager, has always been so easy to work with and works hard to make this complex feel like a true community. They put on pool parties for their residents, among other events, to really make it feel like home We have loved our experience here the past few years and are excited for a few more to come Thank you Ridge View!”
- Mya R., Google Review from August 2024
SEASONS AT ORCHARD HILLS
“I have resigned my lease and have not been let down! They manage the grounds beautifully, the maintenance is great, I have never had any major issues with any of my appliances while living here for almost 2 years now They just redid the asphalt and repainted my door frame, which is very nice now! Also would like to say thanks to the maintenance tech, Derek, for going above and beyond - I had an issue with my car and he was so helpful and took time out of his day to get it fixed for me”
- Trinity S., Google Review from August 2024
DOMAIN
“Domain is a beautiful place to live Jordan was incredibly helpful with the process and did not pressure us to sign at all which felt great All of the staff were great as well Overall a really great experience! The capital market is so convenient as well as the bus stop so close We love that there is a gym and pool we have been daily! Super nice to have both of those amenities I would recommend Domain to anyone in the area that needs housing, whether you are a student or not, it is a great location!”
- Jada L., Google Review from August 2024
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT
JOSHUA CARLOS
MAINTENANCE TECH I AT THE JUNCTION
Hello FRED community! I am about to hit my 1-year anniversary as a Maintenance Tech 1 with FRED this coming November! Before being hired into this role, I had little to no experience in the maintenance field.
HOWEVER, WITH THE GUIDANCE OF MY AMAZING SUPERVISOR, PEDRO ABAD, AND THE INSIGHTFUL TRAINING HOSTED BY FRED’S BEST INSTRUCTOR, CHRIS COUILLARD, I HAVE GAINED AN ABUNDANCE OF KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT MAKE ME FEEL CONFIDENT IN MY WORK!
Over the past year, I’ve not only developed technical abilities but also learned the importance of teamwork and communication in ensuring our residents have a positive living experience. Every day brings new challenges and I thrive on finding solutions that make a difference. I’m excited to continue growing in my role and contributing to the success of our community Thank you, FRED family, for all your support!
G I V E A W A Y
Hey everyone! It’s October which means it’s time for our semi-annual FRED Spirit Store Giveaway!
We are so excited to offer you a wide, curated selection of items on the Spirit Store With great brands like Brooks Brothers, Carhartt, Eddie Bauer, and more, there’s sure to be something for everyone at a variety of price points.
We will be giving away two Fall/Winter 2024 items, seen here, on November 1st! All you have to do is place an order now until October 31st to be entered into the drawing. Good luck and happy shopping!
OUR GROWING COMPANY
AUGUST 16, 2024 - SEPTEMBER 13, 2024
MARY BETH JUREWICZ PROPERTY MANAGER THE LANDMARK
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! INTERNAL PROMOTION
ALEXANDRA CIMBALNIK LEASING PROFESSIONAL SADDLE BROOK
JULIE DOEPKE LEASING PROFESSIONAL DREXEL RIDGE
JOSEPH MCCREARY MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR SADDLE BROOK
MELLY ROLSTAD MAINTENANCE TECH II ELAN / THE 85
EVELYN BYRNES MAINTENANCE TECH I THE 85
KELVIN GUZMAN MAINTENANCE TECH I ARBOR LAKES
JOSEPH KRETLOW MAINTENANCE TECH I SADDLE BROOK
CYRUS SCHEID MAINTENANCE TECH I FORTÉ AT 84 SOUTH
EVELYN GALEANO ASSISTANT PROPERTY MANAGER SEASONS AT NORTH AURORA
NICOLE RISCH ASSISTANT PROPERTY MANAGER 50TWENTY
WELLNESS TIP LEVEL UP YOUR MENTAL WELLNESS
BY JACKIE FORECKI
Mental wellness is not about feeling “good” or feeling “bad.” It can also be about wanting to “level up.” We’ve all received training to do a job, or some have sought additional education, or maybe you’ve learned a new skill or hobby. Those situations likely brought more satisfaction or success.
WHAT IF THERE WAS A WAY TO HACK THE SYSTEM WHERE YOU BECOME BETTER IN EVERY ASPECT OF
LIFE?
We know our brain controls every thought, action, and all information processing we do throughout the day If we learn how to use it better, we can improve every aspect of our lives Maybe it’s listening to a podcast that inspires more adventure. Maybe it’s meeting with a therapist to understand how to communicate better with family. Maybe it’s scheduling dinners with friends or it’s reading a book about creativity and joy There are many ways to level up your mental wellness Try something out You never know, it might be the shift you wanted.
