HOMESTEAD HAPPENINGS
Champ Chain Winner: Sam Casarez
Please join us in congratulating our December Champ, Sam Casarez, our Maintenance Supervisor in College Station, Texas!
December nominations were those who demonstrated our core value of "Grow It," and Sam is such a shining example of someone who leads with this mentality every day. He is a problem-solver, a hard worker, and always willing to help wherever is needed while embracing growth and change. Here's what his team had to say about Sam...
"Sam demonstrates "Grow It" daily. He takes on any task with pride and efficiency, with both Homestead and residents in mind. Sam is dedicating his time to further grow our portfolio's success by leading the teams and initiatives at 2818, Parkway, and Field House, all while keeping The Cottages the best in CSTAT. Sam also takes any opportunity to grow others around him and help in any way he can. Sam is a rockstar; there hasn't been a problem he hasn't solved the entire time we have worked together. I am honored to work with Sam, he has taught me and the team so much!" - Victoria Hicks, Community Manager
Health Tip – Stress Relief
When is the last time you did absolutely nothing for 10 whole minutes? Not texting, talking or even thinking? Mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe describes the transformative power of doing just that: Refreshing your mind for 10 minutes a day, simply by being mindful and experiencing the present moment. (No need for incense or sitting in uncomfortable positions.)
Tanya Brand, Home Office, 11 Years
Jason George Hollands, Home Office, 5 Years
Qiletha Caston, Home Office, 4 Years
Michelle Zeigler, River Park, 6 Years
Doug Falor, Home Office, 2 Years
Devin Wood, College Station, 2 Years
Sharron Giles, Atlas, 1 Year
Cole Kinker, River Park, 1 Year
Todd Jessup, UV, 1 Year
Homestead Companies Breaks Through
The Business First Journal awarded Homestead the top 15 largest property management companies and the top 25 largest in commercial real estate management. This was the first time Homestead was recognized, and with the slated growth in 2022, Homestead is expected to continue to climb the ranks. Thank you to everyone that made this possible.
Homestead America Announces the 2021 Winners
The 2021 Homestead America MVPs and Presidents awards have been announced. These individuals have put Homestead values into action and exceeded their goals throughout the year. We are proud to announce the 2021 winners.
Maggie Purdy - HOME OFFICE MVP
Maggie has been instrumental in turning around leasing challenges at The Atlas and Harlow. She is a cheerleader and a tremendous source of support for our onsite team members. Whether it's touring prospects, planning and hosting resident events, or assisting with resident issues, Maggie will do whatever it takes to help a community succeed. Maggie, thank you for your positive energy, you're such a source of light, and we are so lucky to have you supporting our team.
Del Baker - MAINTENANCE MVP
Del continues to prove himself and go above and beyond. Thank you, Del, for being so willing to support the team; you are a true definition of teamwork and a shining example of our core value "Support it”
Village West - THE PRESIDENTS AWARD
Historically, this award has been based on overall property performance, including NOI and occupancy. But this year, we also looked at the progress made, especially given the challenges of COVID and how specific sub-markets struggled.
The winner this year had to overcome so many obstacles. With a student demographic, they grappled with the impact of COVID, had to adjust their leasing strategy based on OSU's calendar, continue renovations, deal with some significant plumbing issues, and a flood or two…it was not an easy year!
In January, they were sitting at 77% occupied; flash forward to today, they are at 97
Sierra, Jimmy, and Jake have worked hard and have come together as a team to make this comeback. Incorporating more of a student housing strategy, they have taken ownership of their social media and programming strategy, and we see that pay off in their leasing numbers and positive reviews. Congratulations!
Homestead Villages Welcomes Seniors
In Beavercreek, Ohio, Homestead Village welcomed over 50 seniors from the Dayton area senior center. Attendees got a first-hand look at the village and were treated to craft hour in the Cute as a Button Craft Room, coffee, and treats at the Village Coffee Bean. They met with future neighbors in the green acres banquet room and enjoyed the local favorite eatery Cherries Diner.
Elenor Jackson attended the event and was impressed with the village experience. "When I first walked in, I was blown away. I have seen pictures, but you need to see it in person to get the true experience. The village ambassadors rolled out the red carpet for us, and I can't wait to move in," said Elenor.
Homestead Village has many more events planned with the senior center, and the first residents moved in the first week of November.
Let's Party!
Homestead America was finally back together for the 2021 Holiday Party. After a year of hiatus, the teams came together and celebrated another great year at Strongwater. The Construction team came out as the big winners in the raffle, and the food from Stronwater was a huge hit.
Shannon Latsko, National Leasing and Operations Manager, stated, "The venue and the decor were fantastic. You could tell everyone had a great time, and the change-up of the venue was well received." Thank you to our sponsors for making this happen, and everyone involved that helped throw another festive event. And a special thank you to all of our teams that make this such a great company. Because of your hard work and ideas, we continue to push our company to new heights. We hope you and your family have a safe and wonderful holiday.
Champ Chain Winner: Angie Slay
Please join us in congratulating our November Champ Chain Winner, the team member who went above and beyond to deliver on our mission statement of providing the best resident life experience possible AND has demonstrated our core value of "Support It"...Angie Slay, our Community Manager at River Annex in Athens Ohio!
"Angie always goes above and beyond to take care of her residents and property. She takes a lot of pride in her job and genuinely cares. A "jack of all trades," Angie is willing to do whatever it takes to take care of her community. From picking up dog poop to cleaning the hallway, she does it. We have been down a maintenance tech the last few weeks, and Angie has picked up all the slack she could in maintenance while continuing to lease apartments and manage her property. Angie is such an important part of this team; I am proud to have her in our group!" - Christopher Walter & Donna Stage
Thank you, Angie, for your willingness to roll up your sleeves and help in so many ways! Supporting our team sometimes looks like stepping outside of the job description to help fill gaps in other areas, and your work ethic and ability to adapt in challenging situations is what keeps River Annex steady for all these years. We are so lucky to have you on our team!
Employee Spotlight: Greg Burchwell
Job Title: Maintenance Supervisor
Community: Homestead Village Grove City
How long have you been with Homestead? 13 years
What were you doing before Homestead? Running distribution warehouses.
Where are you originally from? Commercial Point, Ohio
What are your hobbies? Grandkids and a little target shooting.
What would you most likely tell your 13 year old self? Life always gets better.
If you could have coffee with three people, dead or alive, who would it be?My Granny B. John Wayne and Sam Elliott.
What's your dream vacation? Camping in the Montana mountains
What is one THING you can't live without? Pizza
What is your proudest moment at Homestead? Just being able to help when I can.