FRED Newsletter - September 2023 - Volume 5, Issue 9

SITE VISITS, REVAMPED

Why More Team Members are Touring Our Communities

Each year, annual site visits are done in the spring and summer months. These site visits give those who do not work at the sites the opportunity to tour our beautiful and diverse portfolio of communities. It gives everyone a chance to visit with the hardworking teams that maintain them daily. These visits can seem daunting with the CEO and other members of the executive team present. However, FRED holds a high standard for the condition, maintenance, upkeep, and aesthetics of our communities. The site teams embrace these expectations and are well prepared for the site visits.

We revamped our site visits this year to include members from the executive, accounting, operations, HR, asset management, and maintenance teams. They went from five or so executives to 15-20 people in attendance. All departments are connected to the sites to provide support in one way or another. It was a lot of fun to have people from different departments all together as we toured the common areas, grounds, and apartments. Each team had the opportunity to display their communities in the best light; we discussed property performance, capital projects, and identified potential needs along the way.

Every community we toured, no matter what the age or style, was clean, well-maintained, and aesthetically pleasing with a strong team behind it. This speaks volumes for FRED and specifically the dedication of each of our site teams.

Rachel Wagabaza

Director of Property Management

DIVERSITY FEATURE

FRED HONORS HISPANIC/LATINX HERITAGE MONTH A Brief History and Ideas for a Fresh Perspective

By Brian Browder, Maintenance Supervisor, Seasons at North Aurora

We commemorate Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month by celebrating and acknowledging the rich histories, traditions, and cultures shared by American citizens of Spanish, Mexican, Caribbean, Central, and South American descent We express gratitude for their remarkable contributions to our society, which have greatly impacted and shaped America. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded "Hispanic Heritage Week," initially established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968, to encompass a full month. This monthlong period, from September 15th to October 15th, holds significance as it includes the independence days of various Latin American nations, including Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15th, Mexico's Independence Day on September 16th, and Chile's on September 18th.

Furthermore, Día de la Raza, or "Race Day," is observed on October 12th as a festive occasion across all Spanish-speaking countries. The day is marked by fireworks, colorful parades, dancing, and delicious food.

Above all, Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month offers an opportunity to reflect on the pivotal role played by their community in shaping both America and the global landscape. Their contributions as employers, employees, consumers, and community leaders have been indispensable

Understanding the terms Hispanic, Latino, and Latinx is also important. While Hispanic refers to those with a Spanish-speaking background, Latino or Latinx encompasses individuals with ancestry from Latin American nations, including the Caribbean. The term Latinx was introduced to address gendered language concerns; Latino denoted males and Latina denoted females. Latinx emerged to foster inclusivity and recognize the contributions of women in this community

Even if your heritage does not trace back to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central, or South America, you can still participate in Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month. Enjoying traditional Hispanic and Latinx dishes at your dinner table, delving into Hispanic and Latinx traditions and history, and exploring artistic masterpieces by notable figures like Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dali, Diego Velazquez, and Francisco Goya can all contribute to a deeper appreciation.

Reading books like A Judge Grows Up In The Bronx by Latina

Supreme Court Justice Sonja Sotomayor or Don't Ask Me Where I'm

From by Jennifer De Leon and attending various Latinx festivals throughout the month provide opportunities to gain fresh perspectives and insights into the significance of Latinx culture within our national identity.

SEAN STARK, Seasons at River View

My wife and I love to travel and this summer we celebrated my birthday in St. Louis with our dogs. We went to the zoo (highly recommend and free), visited the Arch, and most importantly, ate our way through STL trying toasted raviolis from IMO’S Pizza, a hot salami from Gioias Deli, and frozen custard at Ted Drewes to name a few of our new discovered favorites!

HEIDI KIVI, Corporate

My second granddaughter made her appearance a little early this June. She had a bit of a rough start but is now thriving. Her big sister has been taking good care of her "baby Emmie".

AMANDA VOGEL, Seasons at River View

I'm expecting! My baby GIRL is due November 7th! This is our first child and my husband, Matthew, and I are excited to grow our family right before the holidays. This will be the first greatgrandbaby for both sides of our family!

JULIE LINCOLN, Corporate

This summer has been a whirlwind for the Muskego Water Bugs Show Ski Team, where my husband, Sean, skis and I run sound. The team took 1st Place at the D2 State Tournament in July and 2nd Place at the D2 Nationals Tournament (by just 4 points) in August. Additionally, we took home more act and individual awards than ever before. Sean and his "Doubles" partner, Caitlyn, took home two 1st Place awards, a Best Performance Award, and, with their fellow doubles couples, the Highest Scoring Doubles Act at Nationals. Sean was just voted President for the 2024 season! Watch out, D1!

What Makes Them Shine

By Alexis Luedtke, Regional Property Manager

Everyone can feel the difference when stepping into FRED’s 1505 Apartments + Townhomes community, located in downtown Grafton. Whether it’s the warmth felt by Property Manager, Lisa Millard, or the kind smile received by Housekeeping superstar, Patrice Klos, Team 1505 shines. This past July, the team celebrated multisite Leasing Agent Te’Laha Wilson’s 90-day anniversary with FRED! Though Te’Laha represents High Bluff Townhomes in addition to 1505, she manages her time and attention at 1505 as if it is her only site. While this community rarely experiences much vacancy, Te’Laha has managed to covert leads to traffic, traffic to completed applications, and applications to happy residents, at great speed. Additionally, Maintenance Supervisor extraordinaire, Jim Pettke, celebrated a birthday this past July! While the team was sure to shower him on his special day, we are told he was met with quite the surprise bash, courtesy of his Pettke family Max, our Groundskeeping VIP, continues to hustle and shine, always ensuring our amenities and curb appeal shine as well This is beautifully illustrated on their website, thanks to FRED's talented Marketing Department and fresh photos courtesy of Operations Specialist, Eric Isidoro. The entire 1505 Team makes the difference for their residents and is busy planning an August ice cream social plus exciting fall events, including a Grab N’ Go and Packer party! Watch their social media for all the fun!

PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

MARY

BETH JUREWICZ

Assistant Property Manager

Fitchburg Square & Valley View

I started my Fred journey one year ago in August of 2022, wanting to explore new career options. I entered FRED as the Assistant Property Manager of Fitchburg Square Apartments, and in March of 2023, was promoted to the Assistant Property Manager of Valley View and Fitchburg Square Apartments. The best part of working here has been my fantastic team. We have been fortunate to enjoy team bonding on many occasions, including a bowling party for my birthday in January. I learned my bowling skills fail in comparison to my filing skills.