In this issue of Matter , we explore the idea of finding exceptional moments in the everyday. We believe that every detail matters, and the stories that fill these pages highlight people and practices — large and small — that we hope make Livano unlike any place you’ve ever lived.
“Do Some Good” dives into our multistate movement to build bikes and camaraderie across Livano properties. “Off the Wall” shows the compelling work of muralist Megan Lingerfelt, whose art will soon grace the walls at Livano Knoxville. “Above & Beyond” speaks to the passion for hospitality and care that motivates Livano’s on-site teams. This only scratches the surface of this Winter/Spring issue. Read on for a history of baseball’s spring training leagues, local events, gardening how-to’s, recipes, and more.
As always, we hope Matter enriches your life in some way — we hope it brings you joy, or teaches you something new, or connects you to a new person or place.
Welcome to Matter.
Robb Crumpton CEO, LIV Development
LIV Development’s biannual publication, Matter, is exclusively published for the residents of Livano. Livano is a collection of dynamic multifamily communities created by LIV Development that are intentionally designed to help residents live richer, deeper, and fuller lives.
For more information about LIV Development, please visit livdev.com.
PHOTOGRAPHY
AN GELIKA KRUG, HALEY MARIA, KIMBERLY GREEN, NUEL B | Do Some Good
JIM DODSON, WHITNEY HERRINGTON | Off the Wall KIA & CO. | According to Brody, Container Gardens
KELLY J. RUSSO | Regal Remi
ROSALIND FOURNIER Do Some Good, Off the Wall, Spring Fever
KATHERINE GLENN | Editor
ANNA BOWEN | Art Director
LIFE AT LIVANO
Do Some Good
On a Saturday morning in late September, residents from LIV Development properties in four different states tried something most had never done before: building bicycles.
Building meaningful connections is a core pillar of the Livano lifestyle, and Livano Serve Day was designed to foster camaraderie among neighbors while serving Livano’s broader communities. “We wanted to do something to create additional value for Livano residents,” says Tiffaney Alsup, LIV Development’s Managing Director of Asset Management, “so we looked at it from the perspective of creating value in community. We realized this was a way to further enhance the sense of community while filling people’s cups in a different sense.”
For the inaugural Serve Day event, Livano partnered with The Leaders Institute’s Build-A-Bike initiative, which delivers unassembled bicycles to groups wanting to give back by holding a bike-building activity. A Build-A-Bike representative helped structure the event, perform quality checks, and encourage participants to have a good time as they worked. The assembled bikes were later donated to kids in need through local Boys & Girls Clubs.
Victoria, a resident of Livano Grand National in Orlando, liked the idea so much she postponed a weekend trip so she could be there. She says the project exceeded her expectations. “I thought we would get there, put the bikes together, and go home, but it was more than I thought it would be. It was really interactive.” She adds that the residents were grouped into teams and completed challenges that encouraged group-wide collaboration. “It got us all talking to one other, and that was fun. Everyone was enthusiastic and excited to be part of it like I was.”
The group was a mix of individuals and families; Victoria’s team even included a father and his toddler daughter. “We got
her involved, too,” Victoria laughs. “She was in charge of throwing away the trash.” Other people just happened to walk by and ask what they were doing; many of them decided to join in, too.
Doug Staneart, CEO of The Leaders Institute, says that through the efforts of volunteer groups like the Livano teams, the organization has donated more than $8 million worth of bicycles to kids all over the world.
Staneart says every project is customized for the volunteer group involved. Livano wanted participants to come away with two things: the gratification of knowing they’d made a difference, and a closer connection to their neighbors. “So it’s fun, it’s high-energy, it’s networking, and it’s team building,” he says. “Then there’s an emotional ending when the bikes are donated to kids in the local community.”
At Livano Grand National, the volunteers were able to see two children come to pick out their new bikes.
“It was so cute to see the joy in their faces,” Victoria says.
In total, 221 residents assembled 100 bikes for donation, and participated from communities across four states:
Livano Town Madison in Huntsville, Alabama
Livano Grand National in Orlando, Florida
Livano Pflugerville in Austin, Texas
Livano Canyon Falls in Northlake, Texas
Livano Trinity and Livano Nations in Nashville, Tennessee.
Staneart loves to share the impact of the work the volunteers are doing. “There are stories that really hit home,” he says. “I was at one event where we had the guy who ran the local Boys & Girls Clubs, and afterward he had a tear in his eye. He pointed to a boy and a girl who were riding their new bikes around, and he told me that the little boy had come to him worried his little sister didn’t have any presents under the Christmas tree. And now they both had brand new bicycles.”
Alsup participated in Serve Day at Livano at Town Madison. “It was cool to be a part of that and for the residents to have an impact within their city versus just donating to a cause and hoping you did some good,” she says. “They put some sweat equity into it.”
She continues: “One of our core pillars at Livano is meaningful connection, and this event plays into our goal to be more than just a place to live. It gives you a bigger purpose and way to live.”
Victoria echoes that. “I’m a fairly social person already,” she says, “but I feel a little bit more connected to my community now because of that experience.”
With the success of the inaugural Livano Serve Day, LIV Development is already exploring ideas for next year’s event. “There are so many opportunities out there to serve our communities,” Alsup says, “and whatever project we choose, we look forward to making the event and its impact even bigger next year.”
Off the Wall
WITH MEGAN LINGERFELT
Whenever Megan Lingerfelt appears in public with cans of paint and an extension ladder, it represents the birth of a new local icon in her adopted hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee. As a muralist, she brings new life to once-abandoned spaces, adds splashes of creativity to public buildings and businesses, and draws welcome attention from passersby. You can’t go far in this burgeoning cultural mecca without seeing her work.
“I've had the pleasure of working with Megan on a number of projects,” says Emily Curran, visual arts program manager for Dogwood Arts, a nonprofit that promotes and celebrates the region’s art, culture, and natural beauty. “With each one, she brings vibrancy and beauty to a place where that previously didn't exist.”
In downtown Knoxville, Lingerfelt’s 12 x 50-foot mural “Windows to the Smokies,” on the side of a loft building, features a wall of windows — depictions of favorite windows throughout the city with views of the Great Smoky Mountains. In Strong Alley, when a mural of Dolly Parton was vandalized, the original artist Colton Valentine tapped Lingerfelt to restore it. The result is more than a replication — she reimagined the portrait to capture the essence of Parton in all her glamor and inimitable style. It has become a must-see for visitors to Knoxville who regularly stop to take selfies with it.
Lingerfelt grew up in Asheville, North Carolina and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Asheville with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. Working originally with oil and watercolor on canvas and paper, she found her niche in painting murals when she later moved to Seattle.
“I fell in love with it,” she says, “getting to be outside and talking to strangers who would walk up and ask about what I was doing … it made me feel very involved in whatever location where I was working.”
When Lingerfelt and her husband relocated to Knoxville for his job, she hit the ground running.
“Knoxville had this really wonderful maker scene, but there weren’t a ton of people focusing on mural work,” she says. “I just came in and said, ‘Here, look at me, I want
to do it, where can I go?’ The opportunities followed, so I’m really thankful.”
When the pandemic hit, murals turned out to be therapeutic for Lingerfelt as well as the community. “A lot of people looked toward murals as a way to say, ‘Hey, this is outside, you can drive by in your car and be safe.’ At the same time, it’s something that’s permanent and beautifying, and being outside painting is a way to meet people and get more opportunities.”
Lingerfelt says she loves using organic, botanical designs in her work, but she’s also drawn to the high contrast of industrial components. “I’m attracted to shiny metal objects, which have a lot of definition, and that’s become a platform for me to play with color. I like to do these two different extremes of design.”
Lingerfelt has seen her footprint continue to grow, in Tennessee towns like Maynardville and Sweetwater, with a new mural coming soon to Athens.
Meanwhile, she’s also made a mark on the small town of Viola, Tennessee. Brian and Sara Covert, proprietors of Viola’s Pizza Company, own a 100-year-old guest house adjacent to the pizzeria that needed some local color. They reached out to Kristin Luna, president of the nonprofit Do More Art (DMA) for advice. “She said, ‘I have the perfect artist. We’re in love with what she is doing.’”
Lingerfelt came to Viola and painted a mural (“Magnolias”) that stops traffic in this little town. The Coverts’ son even proposed to his girlfriend in front of the mural; Lingerfelt added a little heart in the mural to commemorate the moment.
Brian adds that they raised money for the mural by crowdfunding from the restaurant’s patrons. “They loved what we were doing and trying to make Viola
Lingerfelt will bring her bright and compelling artwork to Livano Knoxville in Spring 2025. Inspired by the native flora and fauna along the Tennessee River, murals — large and small — will take shape around the community soon.
a destination and loved being part of it,” he says. “Magnolias” is now part of the Walls for Women Trail — a project that honors the women’s suffrage movement and Tennessee’s status as the final state needed to ratify the amendment that gave women the right to vote.
Though she looks forward to opportunities to travel more — she participated in her first mural festival this year in Macon, Georgia, and was recently commissioned to do a piece 500 miles away in Baltimore — Knoxville will always be a home base for Lingerfelt. She was recently selected to contribute to KnoxWalls at Emory Place, a project in North Knoxville featuring more than 7,000 square feet of large-scale murals by artists from around the country. Lingerfelt says it was an honor to be grouped with these artists, “some that I’ve just been gaga over for years. These artists have painted internationally. They’re a big deal.”
Dogwood Arts, which helped spearhead the KnoxWalls project, also commissioned Lingerfelt on behalf of the Downtown Knoxville Alliance to create a new mural in Strong Alley to mark the arrival of each new season. To date, she has painted 20 of these.
This fall, Dogwood Arts hosted Lingerfelt’s first Tennessee solo gallery exhibition, another milestone for the artist. “It was a great way to celebrate her and all she’s done for our city in such a short period of time,” says Dogwood’s Emily Curran. “So many people came to celebrate her. Her exhibit set the record for sales in our gallery.”
She adds: “Each place that she goes, she spreads positivity about public art and connects the community with whatever space she's beautifying. It improves accessibility to art for everyone.”
Megan's Guide to Knoxville
Living and working in Knoxville, Lingerfelt has learned the city inside and out and loves to share her favorite spots with others:
FOO D
Good Golly Tamale, or Potchke, which is a fantastic Jewish deli.
DRINK
Lilly Pad Hopyard, that’s a little slice of Tennessee paradise.
OUTDOORS
I love going to Ijams Nature Center, which has great trails to walk along the river.
BROWSING
I like to take visitors to RALA and The Maker Exchange to look at local art. I was a part of the Maker Exchange murals and I also host a workshop there, so it’s an opportunity to showcase how Knoxville brings murals in wherever they can.
QUIET TIME
I sometimes take a book or my tablet for some quiet work hours at Old Gray Cemetery or the Knoxville National Cemetery after picking up some caffeine at Remedy Coffee.
EXPERIENCE
Nature is such a great, accessible part of being around Knoxville. You have the mountains, the water — it’s everything.
COMMON GROUND
According to Brody
Though a self-proclaimed “bit of a bear” in the morning, Brody Wilhelm finds his early shifts at Trapeze Coffee energizing — a great way to start his day. Wilhelm has made the coffee shop at Livano at Town Madison a swirl of music, conversation, and all-around good vibes. He may not be a morning person, but he’s most certainly a people person.
“I really always had a deep connection with this type of Eastern folk music.”
If you stick around long enough, you might get a concert with your coffee. As a teenager, Brody Wilhelm honed his accordion skills by playing gigs around town. Now, at just 20 years old, he’s a collector and the only accordion dealer and repair person in the area. Wilhelm personally owns nine accordions, one of which immigrated to the United States from Germany along with his great grandfather.
Wilhelm’s eyes light up as he talks about his hobby, his family history, and his dreams for the future. “I really always had a deep connection with this type of Eastern folk music,” Wilhelm says over the whir of the espresso machine. An interest in his German and Ashkenazi Jew heritage instilled an early love for the musical genre. “It’s actually part of the reason why I took up accordion, this heritage.” It’s also why you might hear the occasional folky twang drifting from Trapeze. “I think it goes with the coffee shop aesthetic.”
In just the time it takes to make a cup of coffee, it becomes clear that Wilhelm has a deep interest in the past and appreciation for family tradition. It’s no surprise to learn that Wilhelm is studying to become a high school German teacher. His mother was a teacher in the local school system, so he comes by his passion for education naturally. After talking with Wilhelm, it’s easy to picture him in front of a class. His bright smile and obvious enthusiasm could win over the surliest teenager. And if that doesn’t work — maybe a quick song. Having lived in Alabama his whole life, he’s eager to travel, to see new things and old places. He dreams of teaching out west or even in Germany.
For now, Wilhelm is working, studying, and enjoying his time at Livano. He reflects on the beauty of living and working in the same community — he doesn’t mind the saved time and gas money. He likes connecting with his Trapeze morning regulars and serving the after school hot chocolate rush. In the coffee shop, he’s curated a small lending library, stacked with books for both kids and adults. Wilhelm’s future will certainly be bright but he’s enjoying the present, tending to his own little slice of community at Livano at Town Madison.
DARE TO BE BOLD
How you start your day matters. Trapeze is a vibrant coffee brand exclusive to Livano communities. Residents enjoy handcrafted coffee and espresso drinks served by our Trapeze baristas at no cost. Bags of Trapeze coffee are also available for purchase. Ask your Livano office team for more information.
DESIGN MATTERS
Introducing plants to your patio space can have a huge impact — but for many, a trip to the garden store is overwhelming. We’ve provided a step-by-step guide to creating beautiful, planted arrangements for your apartment patio. You don’t need a green thumb, just pick the right plants and don’t forget to water them!
Selecting Your Containers
• Assess your patio layout and determine how you will arrange your planters. You may want to create a grouping of differentsized planters in one corner, or you select a matching pair to flank your patio door.
• It’s OK to mix and match containers but pick a single color or texture — this will make your collection look intentional and sophisticated.
• Choose lightweight containers and smaller bags of potting soil to more easily transport and store your supplies.
Rosemary
Roasted
Cashews
PATIO-TO-TABLE
There is something incredibly satisfying about using herbs and vegetables from your own garden in your everyday cooking. This recipe for Rosemary Roasted Cashews is a simple, fragrant snack to serve when friends come over to sit on your beautified patio.
Spread cashews on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for ten minutes. While the cashews are in the oven, combine fresh rosemary, cayenne, sugar, salt, and melted butter.
Remove cashews from the oven and immediately toss with the rosemary mixture until they are completely coated. Serve warm.
Selecting Your Plants
• Before selecting plants, determine how much sun your patio receives. Check it at different times of day. Depending on the orientation of your patio, you will want plants that either like full sun (6+ hours of direct sun per day) or that are happy in a little shade (4-6 hours of direct sun per day). If you aren’t sure what you need, it is safest to pick something that can withstand full sun.
• When shopping for plants, each should have a tag showing information about sun preferences, watering needs, bloom time and color, etc.
TEXTURE
Select plants with a variety of textures — some light and airy, some with large glossy or fuzzy leaves — this gives the arrangement weight and adds interest.
• You can always take your container to the garden shop and ask for help. Pull plants over to the side to see how they look together — this will also help you figure out how many plants you need to fill your container.
• Sometimes — one large plant is all you need. Look for a plant with a mounded shape and an interesting flower or leaf.
SMELL/TASTE
Only b ring in one or two flowering elements and let the rest of your arrangement be varying shades of green.
Inco rporate fresh herbs for an arrangement that smells lovely and can also save you a trip to the grocery store.
COLOR
a plant with some height and drama
a plant with a rounded or mounded form
a plant with a trailing form that will hang over the edge of your container
Crazy Blue Russian Sage Perovskia atriplicifolia ‘Crazy Blue’
Golden Variegated Sweet Flag Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’
Dwarf Butterfly Bush Buddleia ‘Pugster Blue’
Everillo Carex Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’
Variegated Golden Globes Lysimachia congestiflora
Planting Your Containers
① Lay down a sheet or garbage bag on your patio while you plant — cleanup will be a breeze.
② Use broken up styrofoam, plastic water bottles, or pool noodles to take up space under your planting soil. These materials are lightweight and help with drainage. You can even repurpose the plastic containers your plants came in as a filler.
③ Add a layer of potting soil over your filler.
④ Remove each plant from its plastic container. You can squeeze the container or roll it on its side to loosen the rootball and soil.
⑤ If you have multiple plants of each variety, group them together in the pot. Fill each section of the container with one type of plant, rather than mixing them.
⑥ Start by placing your tall Thriller plants in the back of the container.
⑦ Next, add your Filler around the base of the Thriller.
⑧ Position your Spiller plants in the front of the container. They can be centered or off to one side. If you are planting two matching containers, push the spiller to one side and let the arrangements mirror one another.
⑨ Take a step back and look at your arrangement. Three plant types is plenty to make even the largest planter look great, but if you want to add more you can. Let your Thriller, Filler, Spiller be the stars and tuck another plant or two on the side or around the base of the Thriller as an accent.
⑩ When you’ve added all your plants, use your potting soil to fill in around the plants’ root balls.
⑪ Move the arrangement into place on your patio and water thoroughly.
⑫ Don’t forget about your garden! Plants on balconies may have greater wind exposure than plants on the ground and should be watered regularly.
NEED MORE PLANT IDEAS?
These websites include countless container garden combinations, conveniently organized into recipe cards with pictures and plant names. tedsgardens.com/garden-center/container-garden-recipes/ provenwinners.com/container-gardening/container-recipes/search statebystategardening.com/category/container-recipes/
Each spring, baseball fans flock to Arizona and Florida to take part in an American tradition
As a kid in the 1980s, Andrew Maraniss made sure he was prepared when his family headed to Florida to experience Major League Baseball (MLB) spring training. “I used to draw logos of the teams in Magic Marker in a notebook and take it with me for autographs,” he remembers. The players were more than happy to oblige. One year at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, he even scored an autograph from Tommy Walton, the famed “singing hot dog vendor.”
For Cristy Stewart, an early spring-training experience was 20 years ago on a date with her future husband. It later became a family tradition. When the couple’s daughter was eight, she carried a handmade sign to a Cardinals game at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter. It said, “Yadi, can I have a hug?”
“He (then-Cardinals player Yadier Molina) was in the middle of pitching, took his face mask off, came over and gave her a great big hug,” Stewart says. “Those fan moments are much harder to come by in the regular season.”
Special connections like these are the heart of baseball’s spring training, when teams and spectators alike flock south to enjoy the weather and the game in a more casual and intimate setting. From mid-February to late March or early April, every major league team holds spring training in either Florida (the Grapefruit League) or Arizona (the Cactus League). The games don’t count toward the regular season, but the memories last forever.
THE BEGINNING OF AN AMERICAN TRADITION
Though other teams had gone to practice in Florida even earlier, the Grapefruit League officially dates back to 1913, when the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians began using Tampa as their spring training grounds. After that, Al Lang, onetime mayor of St. Petersburg and a giant baseball fan, convinced the St. Louis Browns to come to Florida for spring training. The St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Athletics followed suit, and it became the start of the Grapefruit League — which boasts the appearance of some of the most famous names in baseball history, including Jackie Robinson, Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, and Babe Ruth, who allegedly hit his longest-ever home run at spring training in Tampa.
According to MLB lore, the Cactus League was born after a man named Bill Veeck bought the Cleveland Indians in 1946 and moved the team’s spring training away from Florida and close to his ranch in Tucson, Arizona. Notably, having signed Larry Doby, the American League’s first Black player, he was also strategically avoiding states in the Jim Crow South. The New York Giants followed suit, attracted in part by the local hot springs. When the Chicago Cubs moved their training site to Mesa, there were enough teams to give Arizona’s spring-training league a name: the Cactus League.
A MEMORABLE PRELUDE TO THE SEASON
Today, fans come to experience spring training from near and far — many traveling thousands of miles, while those who live in Florida or Arizona feel lucky to enjoy easy access every year.
Many of the teams are close together, making it easy to bounce from one game to another and still have time for a trip to the beach, a dip in the pool, or a round of golf. Fans might even get a chance to see players out in the community, giving back to the places they call home several weeks of the year. At the annual Celebrity Bartender Event in Arizona, you might see players like Vinnie Pasquantino, Billy Hamilton, or former All-Star Julio Teheran mixing drinks for charity. Players conduct clinics, donate uniforms for local charity events, even visit hospitals to read to children.
In some ways, spring training has become a lot bigger and a little glossier than it once was. Many ballparks have undergone major renovations over the years and feature fan amenities from upscale concessions to seating that ranges from picturesque lawns to luxury sky boxes. Kids get a chance to run the bases, and stadiums host family-friendly theme nights.
TIGERS
PHILLIES YANKEES
PIRATES ORIOLES
BRAVES RAYS RED SOX TWINS
LIVANO WILDWOOD
LIVANO GRAND NATIONAL
LIVANO NATURE COAST
LIVANO SUNLAKE BLUE JAYS
METS
CARDINALS & MARLINS
ASTROS & NATIONALS
LIVANO CHARLOTTE HARBOR
ROYALS & RANGERS
MARINERS & PADRES
DODGERS & WHITE SOX
LIVANO AVONDALE
BREWERS
ANGELS
CUBS
A'S
GIANTS
DIAMONDBACKS & ROCKIES
GUARDIANS & REDS
Matt Slatus is the president and general manager of Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona, the spring training home of the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. “The games are just one part of the experience,” he says. “You can come and watch players like Shohei Ohtani or Luis Robert train, and you don’t even need a ticket for that.” Camelback Ranch has 12 practice fields — two of them exact replicas of the Dodgers and White Sox home ballparks, respectively—and player facilities are state of the art.
“You can’t have a great season if you don’t start things off the right way, and that begins with spring training,” Slatus adds. “We hope we are day one of a path to a national championship.”
STORIES UNFOLDING IN THE SUN
Like Maraniss, Dennis Alpert made his first spring training trip with his family in the 1980s, traveling from Massachusetts to Florida. “You could literally bump into the players walking from the practice field or batting practice over to the stadium or back to the locker rooms,” he says. “It was exciting for a kid who played baseball, a sports fanatic, to be able to access my favorite players and get autographs.”
For many, spring training is synonymous with family togetherness. Elise Woodard’s family used to come from California every year to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers play in Phoenix. But her favorite memory was bringing her grandmother — an avid fan — in 2015. “She was getting older, and she wanted to go to one last game while her health was still good enough,” Woodard says. “We took her to see the Mariners play in Peoria, and she continued to talk about it until she passed four years later. We also saw Clayton Kershaw play that day, and our oldest son is named after him.”
Still other fans, the die-hards, come to see not only the big-name players but also the rookies, for whom this is a make-or-break opportunity. Meeting and watching them at spring training, fans hope they can later say, “I knew him when…”
Devon Davis, a former player for the Birmingham Barons (the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox), was once one of those rookies. He spent three trainings (2014 through 2016) in Glendale, Arizona as a member of the White Sox organization. “It’s a massive tryout,” he says. “We were all fighting for roster slots.”
Despite the pressure, there were perks. “You could get a taste of the bigleague games if they needed an emergency player,” he says. “You might end up being teammates with a guy you watched when you were growing up. You think they’re superheroes, and then you see they’re normal dudes, just insanely talented.”
A LIFETIME OF EXPERIENCES
Alpert returned about five years ago to see the Boston Red Sox play in a spring training game in Ft. Myers, Florida. He reports that while much has changed, much of it is familiar, too. “I ran into a few people I hadn’t seen in years from my childhood,” he says. “They go every day to the games and find one another, and it’s a continuation of their life from up north.”
Alpert says his memories of seeing the players, building traditions, and soaking in the atmosphere will last him a lifetime. “For a baseball fan, it’s heaven,” he says.
“Spring training is Americana.”
Regal Remi
LIVANO CATS & DOGS
FULL NAME
Remington
NICKNAMES
Remi, Rem, Rem-Rem, Bemi, Bemmers
Meet Remington Holmes, better known as Remi, a dapper cockapoo with a red apricot coat and a distinguished tuxedo-white chest. This not-too-big and not-too-small ball of fluff resides at Livano Kemah with his human, Kirsten.
For Kirsten, Remi truly is a dream come true. Growing up with family dogs, she always knew she wanted one of her own. As a teenager, she set aside earnings from her first job for this future pet, whose name she already knew would be Remington. In 2020, Kirsten’s college closed its dorms due to the COVID-19 pandemic and she found herself moving back home. Away from the dorm’s strict no-pet policy, she saw her opportunity and started searching for her perfect pup.
Kirsten found a reputable breeder with a litter of cockapoos, but all were spoken for. She readied herself to wait patiently for months or even years. Kirsten did not have to wait long. In the midst of pandemic uncertainty and chaos, one sweet puppy — the pick of the litter, in fact — found itself without a home, and Kirsten got the call that he could be hers. She had nothing ready for him except one dog toy, purchased years before and embroidered with the name “Remington.”
Kirsten and Remi have been inseparable ever since. Loyal, almost to a fault, this “Velcro dog” doesn’t like to leave Kirsten’s side, following her from room to room around her apartment. Remi is a bit of a performer, his repertoire ranging from the standard “sit” and “stay,” to crowd pleasers like “whisper” (a silent bark) and “talk trash” (a playful growl). Like any great talent, he does have his eccentricities — shunning kibble in favor of Kirsten’s homemade meals.
Remi’s days are filled with walks, playtime, and a healthy dose of snuggles. Bird- and turtle-gazing at the Livano Kemah pond is a favorite pastime, and you may have seen him chasing his ball at the pet park. Remi is also a beloved fixture at the Livano Pet Center dog daycare which he attends three days a week.
Remi is a lover of both people and dogs, so if you see him and Kirsten around Livano Kemah, say "hello" and give Remi a scratch.
SIGNATURE
BREED AGE
DISLIKES Cockapoo 4
years old
LIKES
d ouble-stuffed peanut butter bones, fetch, Kirsten when people tell him he’s cute but don’t stop to pet him, dogs barking on TV, storms
Above & Beyond
A CONVERSATION WITH TRACY BOWERS, MANAGING PARTNER FOR GALLERY RESIDENTIAL
At Livano, the on-site team is the heart and soul of our resident-centric approach to community. LIV Development partners with Gallery Residential to provide top-tier service and hospitality at each Livano community. Recently, LIV’s Managing Director of Asset Management, Tiffaney Alsup, sat down with Gallery Residential Managing Partner, Tracy Bowers to discuss why she’s passionate about property management and how she inspires her team to provide genuine care, a pillar of the Livano lifestyle.
Tracy, what attracted you to working with apartment communities, and what has kept you excited about this industry?
My story is probably pretty similar to a lot of people my age in the industry. When we graduated from college in the late '80s, the job market was rough, so most of us ended up moving back home. I had a few friends who started leasing apartments, and I thought, “Hey, that sounds fun! I could do that until I find a 'real' job."
So, I actually went to check out some apartments to move into — I didn’t want to live with my parents after four years of college. But I quickly realized that you need a job to qualify for an apartment. Right there on the leasing golf cart, I asked, “Do you have any jobs available?” Just like that, I was hired and got an apartment all at once.
It was a large lease-up community of nearly 600 units in Peachtree Corners, Georgia — a suburb of Atlanta. Around the same time, I was also majoring in MIS (Management Information Systems), and computers were just starting to enter the workplace in 1989. No one really knew how to use them yet, so I got promoted to Assistant Manager almost immediately just because I was the only one who could work the computer.
I ended up getting promoted pretty quickly and that motivated me to see where this all could go. I even went back to grad school, thinking I'd eventually land that “real” job, but honestly, I just fell in love with multifamily. The days went by so fast. I’d look up, and it’d be four o'clock, and I'd realize, "Oh wow, I haven’t even had lunch yet!" It was just nonstop, and I had so much fun.
I loved how these positions enabled me to use different parts of my brain. With each step up, there was something new to learn. After a year, I moved into the corporate office as an assistant to the regional managers. Using my computer background, I picked up on the technology the company was using quickly and was able to continue moving up the ladder, eventually into corporate housing, and then becoming a regional myself.
What kept me going was the endless variety — once I accomplished one thing, there was always something new around the corner. At one point, I even went back to school for interior design. I worked for a fantastic developer in Atlanta, and they paid for my degree because I wanted to sit with architects, help design buildings, and stage model homes. Contributing to the plans for all our new construction projects was incredibly rewarding.
If I ever had an itch, it got scratched. I always had a sense of “what’s next?” that kept things exciting. Even now, every day is different. There are constant curve balls — situations I’ve never seen before that make me think, “How do we handle this?” If you’re looking for variety, multifamily is definitely a great industry to find yourself in.
And it’s a career you don’t really think about when you’re in college, but once you’re in this industry, there are so many different layers and routes you can go.
You ultimately decided to launch a new endeavor, Gallery Residential. What was one thing that you wanted to accomplish or a key factor that you felt would set your business apart from other management companies?
It’s interesting, because in today’s world, I feel like a lot of companies have lost sight of why we do what we do — to serve our residents and provide an incredible living experience at our communities.
At Gallery Residential, we not only prioritize our residents, but all of our customers, to not only meet their needs but exceed them. This extends beyond who lives with us, but who partners and works with us, too.
Our clients often have complex business plans, and if they’re a developer, they’ve easily been enveloped in this property for two or three years. They’ve put so much thought into what it’s going to mean for the residents who live there. Our job is to bring those dreams to life.
“Our team members are the ultimate key to our success. Recruiting and retaining the right people and ensuring they genuinely enjoy what they do creates those exceptional experiences for both the client and resident.”
It’s definitely the secret sauce. It’s a people business versus an apartment business. This segues into my next question: how important is it to you to bring hospitality and customer service back to the apartment experience? I feel like a lot of times leasing an apartment today can feel more transactional than hospitable.
Exactly. There's been a huge push lately for companies to let technology take over the human element, and honestly, I think it’s taken a toll on the resident experience. We love using technology to make things smoother and enhance interactions, but we don’t want it to replace real human connections. We want to continue being innovative and streamlining what we can with AI and other PropTech, but not at the expense of the resident experience.
What I believe is missing is a focus on teaching true hospitality. It’s a skill that has to be learned — it's not something people automatically know how to do. Just think about the world’s top hotels. When you get the chance to stay at one, it makes your whole trip or event feel special because the service is exceptional. That’s the feeling we want to create.
At Gallery, we’re tackling this by actually holding in-person hospitality classes, which we call “Extreme Hospitality.” Everyone in the company attends twice a year. We keep reinforcing that message and recognizing people for great hospitality, and over time, it really builds our reputation for service.
I think that’s so important — to not only hold high standards but to also arm people with the tools to be successful. Having the skill set is vital, but just one piece of the puzzle. How do you inspire the Gallery team to continue providing exceptional service for Livano residents?
When we started Gallery, we knew we wanted it to be experience-focused, with hospitality as a big priority. The challenge is that while we’re based in a corporate office, we have multiple sites, so we don’t always work directly with all of our employees day-to-day.
Our team was doing amazing things all the time, but those stories didn’t always reach us — our people are humble so we may never hear about the amazing things they’re doing! That sparked an idea after reading Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara. He was behind the success of Eleven Madison Park in New York City, one of the world’s top restaurants. He created a role called the “Dreamweaver,” where team members would walk around, listening to guests and trying to make their dreams come true.
Our Director of Resident Relations, Melania Armenta, and I loved this concept. In fact, the book inspired us to set up a private Instagram page for our employees called Gallery Dreamweavers. When a team member does something special or goes above and beyond in hospitality, a coworker can post about it on Dreamweavers so we can all see it and celebrate together.
That seems like a great way to create a culture of celebration and inspiration that can directly translate into a better resident experience.
We just started this, and it’s been so exciting to see all the great things happening out there. It’s inspiring everyone to build on each other’s ideas, thinking, “What can I do?” or “How can I make someone’s day special?”
Last question, what is something that you want residents to take away from living at a Livano property? For instance, they’ve lived at Livano and maybe they bought a house and they moved. What is the one thing that you hope they felt after living with us?
I hope our residents make lifelong friends and take away amazing memories from their time living at Livano. In the past, people often lived in apartments out of necessity rather than choice — it wasn’t always the most popular option. But that’s really changed now, which is fantastic. We want residents to choose to live with us because of our stellar reputation and commitment to curating a true sense of belonging.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO NEAR YOU THIS SEASON
Local Happenings
ALABAMA
Birmingham
Broadway in Birmingham (January – June)
An annual series of Broadway performances in Birmingham. The 2025 season includes major productions such as Annie, Les Miserables, and Six. Tickets can be purchased for individual shows or the entire season.
americantheatreguild.com/birmingham
Birmingham Legion FC (March – October)
Birmingham Legion, Birmingham’s locally owned and operated professional soccer franchise, kicks off its seventh season in the United Soccer League in 2025. bhmlegion.com
Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix (May 2-4)
While the races are the main event, a family zone, a full itinerary of activities, and access to the Barber Motorsports Park make this a fun and unique event. indyalabama.com
Huntsville
Von Brewski Beer Festival (February 15)
Back for its ninth year, the festival features beers from Huntsville brewers and brewers across the world. Food, drink, and music make this a fun afternoon and a favorite local festival. Tickets go on sale at the end of November and sell out quickly.
A regional destination for art and music, featuring more than 100 visual artists, two performance stages, various food trucks, and kid-friendly activities. artshuntsville.org/event/panoply
ARIZONA
Phoenix
Waste Management Phoenix Open (February 3-9)
A golf tournament like no other, the Waste Management Open annually draws the largest crowds on the PGA Tour and is known for its lively fan experience.
wmphoenixopen.com
Innings/Extra Innings Festival (February 23-24, March 1-2)
A two-weekend event with a stacked lineup. Red Hot Chili Peppers and Hozier headline weekend one, while Chris Stapleton and Dave Matthews Band anchor weekend two. inningsfestival.com
Cactus League Spring Training (February 20-March 25)
An opportunity to see 15 major league baseball teams play more than 200 games across the Greater Phoenix area. cactusleague.com/schedule.php
FLORIDA
Orlando
Epcot International Festival of the Arts (January 17 – February 24)
A month-long event featuring special performances, food studios and delicious culinary treats throughout the park. Show off your own artistic side with interactive murals and more. disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/epcot-international-festival-of-the-arts
Orlando Wetlands Festival (February 22)
A biennial event for all ages. Visitors can explore exhibits, guided hikes and tours, presentations, games, live animals, native plant giveaways, and more. Bring the whole family for a day of outdoor fun and learning. orlando.gov/Events/Orlando-Wetlands-Festival-2025
Mardi Gras Universal Studios (February 1 – March 30)
An unforgettable springtime event featuring a spectacular parade, outrageous street performers, vibrant music, colorful costumes, and countless beads flying. universalorlando.com/web/en/gb/things-to-do/events/mardi-gras
Spring Hill/Adventure Coast
Weeki Wachee Swamp Fest (March 7-9)
An annual event that draws thousands from all over for arts and crafts, food, entertainment and more. Start working on your swamp monster costume! swampfestweekiwachee.com
Blues Bash at the Ranch (March 14-16)
A three-day event featuring incredible blues artists and workshops at Florida Sand Music Ranch. This family friendly event, referred to as “camping with the blues” has optional camping facilities and a full lineup of performances, activities, and learning opportunities for all blues lovers. bluesbashattheranch.com
Hernando County Fair (March 14-16)
A full fair grounds experience with rides, food, games, and more. Don’t miss this spring weekend at the Hernando County Fair. hernandofairgrounds.com/upcoming-events
FLORIDA
Tampa
Gasparilla Festival of the Arts (March 1-2)
A must-see event for art lovers for more than 50 years. The Gasparilla Festival of the Arts is one of the top outdoor, juried fine arts shows, featuring a variety of mediums and price points. gasparillaarts.com
Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festival (April 8-12)
A five-day event celebrating the culinary talent of Tampa, St. Petersburg, and surrounding areas, featuring national wine and spirits brands alongside local culinary highlights. tampabaywff.com
West Coast/East Coast
Grapefruit League Spring Training (February 21-March24)
An opportunity to see 15 major league baseball teams play more than 200 games across the state of Florida. floridagrapefruitleague.com/
GEORGIA
Gainesville
Mutts on Main (March 22)
Wildwood/The Villages
Lake Sumter Art & Craft Festival (January 11-12)
An annual craft festival at Lake Sumter Landing that continues to grow and highlight the talents of many unique crafters, providing the area with one of its most enjoyable traditions. Come meet and visit with some of the best crafters while enjoying the charming streets of this spectacular community artfestival.com/festivals/16th-annual-lake-sumter-art-craft-festival
Brownwood Strawberry Festival (February 22-23)
An annual event featuring food, performances, a lumber jack show, a kids zone, and of course — strawberries. Join us for two full days of fun and lots of strawberries. thevillagesentertainment.com/special-events/strawberry-festival-2024
A pet expo featuring dog contests like best dressed and best trick. Pet-related vendors/artisans, sidewalk sales at local stores, and Pet Adoptions with the Hall County Animal Shelter open throughout the day. exploregainesville.org/mutts-on-main
Skate the City (April, check website for date)
A rolling event along the Midland Greenway. Bring your skateboards, roller skates, roller blades, bikes, scooters, strollers… if it rolls without a motor, roll on down for some fun.
exploregainesville.org/skate-the-city
Art Walk Historic Gainesville (April 17)
A chance to discover local galleries, local artists, and pop-up art shows in various downtown business storefronts. Buy original art, dine in outstanding restaurants, and shop in unique boutiques!
exploregainesville.org/event/art-walk-event
KENTUCKY
Louisville
Bourbon Classic (February 19-22)
A premier Bourbon event and the holy trinity for experiencing the very best in the culinary, cocktail, and Bourbon arts through a collection of rare, interactive events. Infused with exceptional tastings, workshops and unrivaled sips, these events are sure to thrill any Bourbon connoisseur and enthusiast. bourbonclassic.com
A street festival spanning four blocks within the NuLu Neighborhood features the Jefferson County Farm Bureau adult and baby goat races, locally crafted bock beer, live music, kids activities, local vendors and more. nulu.org/BockFest
Kentucky Derby Festival (March-April)
Nearly two months of events starting with Thunder Over Louisville, one of the nation’s largest annual fireworks extravaganzas. The ensuing weeks of excitement and entertainment promise something for everyone — sporting events, concerts, hot-air balloon events, steamboat races, and parades. kdf.org
TENNESSEE
Knoxville
Big Ears Festival (March 27-30)
An annual presentation of nearly 200 concerts, talks, workshops, film screenings, residencies, and more in over a dozen venues across downtown Knoxville. One of the highest-profile arts events in the Southeastern U.S., The New York Times called the event “one of the world’s greatest music bashes.” bigearsfestival.org
Dogwood Arts Festival (April 25-27)
One of the most celebrated cultural events in Knoxville, the Dogwood Arts Festival is held on the beautifully redesigned Performance Lawn at World’s Fair Park and features over 100 fine art vendors, live music, entertainment, children's activities, food & beverage vendors, and more. dogwoodarts.com/dogwoodartsfestival
The Visit Knoxville Open (May 19-25)
A celebrated stop on the Korn Ferry Tour for over 30 years, the Visit Knoxville Open is a full week of fun for golf enthusiasts and newcomers, alike. visitknoxopen.com
Nashville
Antiques and Garden Show (January 31 - February 2)
An unequalled experience featuring 150 world-class antiques exhibitors, fine art, and innovative horticulture. Stroll through breathtaking gardens, mingle at cocktail gatherings, and get inspired by distinguished speakers. antiquesandgardenshow.com
Tennessee Flavors (March 11)
An annual tasting event that brings together Nashville’s top restaurants and food and beverage artisans for a delicious evening in support of the Nashville State Community College Foundation. tnflavors.org
Tin Pan South Songwriter’s Festival (March 25-29)
A five-day event featuring over 400 songwriters in venues across Nashville. In its 33rd year, this festival just keeps getting better. tinpansouth.com
TEXAS
Austin/Pflugerville
Pflugerville Coffee & Pfuel (first Saturday of each month)
A monthly car meet-up hosted by the Pecan Street Collective Market and the City of Pflugerville. Enjoy live music, stunning cars, and, of course, great coffee. This event is perfect for the whole family.
pflugervilletx.gov/693/Coffee-Pfuel-Meetup
SXSW (March 7-15)
An international event where noted filmmakers, musicians and thought leaders showcase music, film and interactive media. sxsw.com
ABC Kite Festival
A festival to celebrate the arrival of spring. Attendees can bring their own kites or purchase one at the festival. There are also food vendors, music, and other family-friendly activities. abckitefest.org
Dallas/Fort Worth
Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (January 17 – February 8)
An authentic western lifestyle experience, the stock show and rodeo includes 23 days of rodeo exhibitions, livestock and horse shows, kid-friendly activities, music, shopping, food, and more. fwssr.com
Dallas Blooms (February 24 – April 8)
An annual event at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden — named by Southern Living as one of ‘The Best Places to See Stunning Spring Blooms Across the South,’ and the largest annual floral festival in the Southwest. dallasarboretum.org/events-activities/dallas-blooms (February 28 – March 2)
Houston/Galveston
Mardi Gras! Galveston
A Mardi Gras celebration ranking right behind New Orleans and Mobile. Several parades, live entertainment, food vendors and more make Galveston a fun place to be in February. mardigrasgalveston.com
Bayou City Art Festival
An annual, juried, fine art event that boasts a stress-free out door gallery brimming with 300 artists working in 19 artistic media. Spring art festival takes place at Memorial Park. bayoucityartfestival.com
One of the only large Irish festivals in the country that places a huge significance on the traditional music of Ireland. Traditional music, food, and vendors make this a unique and family
NASCAR Xfinity Series at Texas Motor Speedway (May 2-4)
The NASCAR Cup Series action returns to the Lone Star State for a Texas-sized triple-header. The event includes pre-race concerts and entertainment, a fan zone, and plenty of food and fun.
(May 2-4, 9-11)
An opportunity to explore the beautiful nineteenth-century mansions and homes that have preserved Galveston’s galvestonhistory.org/events/galveston-historic-homes-tour
U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships (March 29 – April 6)
A tradition in Houston, and the second longest-running USTA National Championship in the U.S. mensclaycourt.com
VIRGINIA
Norfolk
Winter Wildlife Festival (January 25 – February 2)
A month-long celebration of coastal wildlife and nature featuring a flock of engaging programs to embrace the area’s natural beauty.
An annual event hosted in honor of our military that brings hundreds of performers to the area each year and blends tradition and entertainment in the form of bagpipers, military bands, fife and drum corps and drill teams. visitnorfolk.com/virginia-international-tattoo
Patriotic Festival (May 23-25)
An event designed to honor and celebrate all branches of our Armed Forces, Patriotic Festival is a weekend of high-profile musical performances, headlined this year by Old Dominion, Riley Green, and Jordan Davis. patrioticfestival.com
We’d love to hear from you!
Do you have a unique story or know of an interesting place or event in your town? Share your experiences with us and let the world discover the hidden gems and unforgettable moments from your community. Your story might just inspire someone else’s next adventure!
COLLECTION
Apparel and gifts designed with the same quality and care as each Livano community now open at select Livano communities
