HOMESTEAD HAPPENINGS
HA Q1 Medal of Excellence - Rafael Rodriguez
Please join us in congratulating our first ever HA Medal of Excellence winner, Rafael Rodriguez, maintenance technician at Worthington Commons!
Rafael received multiple nominations for demonstrating our core value of "Say It" and here's what his teammates had to say...
"Worthington Commons had 100+ work orders when Rafael started with us, and he completed all of them within 2 weeks by himself. Rafael always goes above and beyond for our residents by ensuring their work orders are completed promptly and correctly. He helps the leasing office when a language barrier arises and has helped us close new leases. Rafael takes pride in his community and the impeccable grounds at WC are proof of that. We are very grateful to have him on our team!" - Steve Turner, Community Manager at Worthington Commons
"Rafael volunteered to go on call for Dave Ridgeway at the last-minute during weekend hours. Not only did he volunteer, but he reached out and asked if he could help in any way. Dave was so impressed; he could not believe that a company could care so much. I told Dave this is how Homestead rolls." - Rae Mckenney, Community Manager at Old Towne Apartments
Thank you, Rafael, for demonstrating the Homestead Core Values through your actions, work ethic, and support. You have made a huge impact on our team and our property in a short amount of time, I can't wait to watch you grow with us. We appreciate you!!
HU February Champ Chain Winner: Mikayla Lewis
Please join us in congratulating our February Champ, the person who not only demonstrated our mission statement, but also our core value "Do the Right Thing": Mikayla Lewis, our Community Manager at The Valley in State College, PA!
"Mikayla has been such a huge helping hand to our team at The View with Dana out on maternity leave. She is always available to answer questions, no matter how small. She is constantly checking in and offering assistance wherever she can. She recently helped me navigate some issues as a first-time leasing manager, and I could not have done it without her. Mikayla is always so nice to the residents and staff, and displays a fantastic attitude every day in how she carries herself as a leader. With The Valley being short-staffed in CA's, Mikayla helps out with packages, prospective residents, and manning the front desk. She is an excellent leader who works hard and that work ethic is infectious; every day I try to mirror her charisma and untiring drive to do more. I show up to work every day happy, because of Mikayla!"
- Team nomination by Emily Wiltrout, Rylan Romesberg, Thomas Reitz, Michael Koch, Lindsey Scott
HU March Champ Chain Winner: Alicia Pae
Please join us in congratulating our March Champ, the team member who went above and beyond to deliver on our mission of providing best resident life experience possible, and drive RENEWALS...Alicia Pae, our Leasing & Marketing Director at Live South Green in Athens Ohio!
"Alicia is such an important asset to our team and is always willing to go above and beyond to help our residents. She had a resident who had to leave school early due to medical reasons, and Alicia worked closely with him and his family to help guide them through the process of finding someone to take over his lease. They were so grateful for her support and patience, they mailed her a thank you card. Alicia is extremely adept at dealing with residents who require more personal attention. She resolves roommate disputes daily, and most recently, she helped a resident who was not getting along with his roommates resolve their problem and captured a new lease and 3 renewals in the process! Alicia knows all the residents at River Gate; she knows their names, where they live, their pet's names, their activities, and studies. We have residents who have renewed for 4+ years because of how she makes them feel. Understanding and caring, Alicia is a person you can go to for anything." - Team nomination by Ashley Gall, Nicole Richards, Christina Johnson, Chad Hudnall, Madison Bowers
There were so many examples in this nomination about the way Alicia supports her residents - and her guarantors! And by genuinely caring for people, she leases apartments and drives performance for her properties. What a shining example of "doing the right thing," and cultivating an amazing resident experience that is personalized to each resident. Thank you for your kindness, your patience, and leading by example!
Employee Spotlight: Sarah Scott
Job Title: Property Manager
Community: Harlow On Main
How long have you been with Homestead? 9 months
What were you doing before Homestead? Student housing
Where are you originally from? Cincinnati, OH
What are your hobbies? I love cooking while listening to true crime podcasts
What would you most likely tell your 13 year old self? Life is short, surround yourself with positive people and always have the time to have fun!
If you could have coffee with three people, dead or alive, who would it be? My papaw, Princess Diana, and Marilyn Monroe
Who is the most famous person you have ever met? DJ Pauly D
What's your dream vacation? Bali
What is one THING you can't live without? Iced coffee
What is your proudest moment at Homestead? Leasing up the building
What is on your retirement bucket list? Travel the world
Promoting a Healthy Spring
Believe it or not, it's already the month of April! Now's the time to get moving as we transition seasons. Here are seven hints to help you "spring into wellness" and the activities of summer.
Wake early to exercise.
The mornings are warming up, and spring means the sun rises earlier each day. So take good advantage of this change. Get out and exercise before starting your day, whether it's going for a run or walking the dog. Exercising before work can begin your day on a high note with clarity and energy.
Update your workout attire.
Proper footwear can help support an active lifestyle by providing important support for your joints. In addition, new lightweight clothing can help you manage heat and perspiration to optimize comfort when exercising. And be sure you're properly equipped before starting a new workout routine.
Revitalize your daily fruits and vegetable.
Spring is a great season to add new fruits and vegetables to your diet. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends 4.5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. These are among those that are in season during the spring: cherries, raspberries, nectarines, plums, pluots and rhubarb; artichokes, cucumbers, peas, peppers, squash, and tomatoes.
Say "yes" to a healthy breakfast.
It's a solid foundation and a great start for any day. And make sure to partner a morning exercise routine with a healthy breakfast. You'll need energy to make the most of your fitness regimen. Instead of coffee and a quick breakfast sandwich, how about a glass of OJ and a grapefruit?
Water with a squeeze of lemon.
How often do you drink the recommended 64 ounces of water each day? For your body to perform at a high level, it's essential to stay hydrated. A glass of water can also be a good appetite suppressant and can help maintain a healthy weight. Try a squeeze of lemon in your water to add a bit of zest.
Proper sleeping habits help maintain a healthy weight.
Strive to sleep 6-8 hours each night. Also, staying up late has been shown to increase the likelihood of overeating. Achieving proper rest will help reduce the opportunity to make bad diet decisions while preparing you for the demands of the next day.
Schedule screenings and doctor's appointments.
Spring is a good time for a health tune-up. For example, before starting an exercise routine, it's always recommended to check with your primary care physician. And are there any allergy medications that need to be refilled before heading outside? When the weather turns warm and the blossoms start coming out, it's our signal to get ahead of the game for making each summer fun and rewarding. Many of the activities above can be done with friends, family, and coworkers for mutual reinforcement. They can be integrated into corporate wellness programs. And it's not too early to start acquainting kids with some of these habits for a lifetime of healthy living.
MARCH
Niya Mickens, Helix, 1 year
Floyd Castle, Royal Plaza, 3 years
Alicia Pae, River Park, 4 years
Sonia Galdamez, UV, 13 years
Chris Stevens, UV, 10 years
James Vest, Orchard Grove, 4 years
Sam Casarez, College Station, 6 years
Richard Arrington, Schrock Park, 4 years
Patrick Boland, College Station, 3 years
Jennifer Spaulding, Hoover – HSL, 2 years
Travis Robison, Clintonville Commons, 1 year
Michael Koch, The Valley, 1 year
Alexis Croce, The View, 1 year
Paul Zirkle, Orchard Grove, 2 years
APRIL
Eric Kinney, UV, 16 years
Samantha Burkholder, UV, 6 years
Laura Formica, Home Office, 3 years
Tammy Reed, Home Office, 3 years
Bob Goddard, UV, 8 years
Dustin Holskey, Home Office, 6 years
Victor Huerta, College Station, 3 years
Mikayla Lewis, The Valley, 4 years
Evan Mulcahy, Home Office, 2 years
Jake Deskins, Village West, 1 year
Valerie Baugess, Home Office, 1 year
Todd Westover, Home Office, 1 year
Joe Jurcak, SkyGarden, 1 year
Jami Mason, Hoover - HSL, 1 year
Homestead Companies Awarded $40 Million at Huber Heights
Homestead Companies was awarded the $40 million redevelopment project at Huber Heights. This development expands the Homestead footprint near the Dayton market. In August of 2021, Homestead Village broke ground in Miami township with the sister property in Beavercreek opening its doors to its first residents in October of last year.
Homestead Companies Promotes Within
EVE DETTER - Marketing Manager
Eve Detter has been promoted to Marketing Manager for Homestead Companies. Eve joined the Homestead team three years ago as a graphic designer, and during her tenure has taken on additional marketing responsibilities. She has played a significant role in all our company branding strategies, including the making of Homestead Companies. Her creativity, attention to detail, and ability to execute will continue to drive excellence from the marketing department.
When it comes to Homestead's core values, Eve's performance is influential. She was voted our June 2021 Champ by our Homestead U team for her unwavering support, and ability to develop and implement marketing strategies that drive property performance and help our teams meet their goals. Eve's talent and dedication to our properties will continue to set us apart from the competition as we grow.
SHANNON LATSKO - HU Regional
Our next congrats goes to Shannon Latsko, who's been with Homestead for 7 years. She has been promoted from National Leasing & Operations Manager to Regional Manager of Homestead U. She'll be overseeing our properties at Texas A&M, Mississippi State University, and the College of Charleston. Shannon is responsible for the day-to-day operations of just over 4,400 student housing beds.
Shannon's Homestead journey began as a leasing agent at University Village, and after one year she was promoted to leasing and marketing manager where she spent another two years at UV. She was then promoted to Community Manager over Helix in Starkville MS, and after exceeding occupancy and NOI goals, she was promoted to national leasing and operations manager, spending the last two years supporting all 8,500 beds across the country.
Shannon's story is a true testament of someone who lives by our core values. She is a great teammate, a wealth of knowledge, and a key part of our past, present, and future success.
DONNA STAGE - HU Regional
Donna Stage, who's been with us for 10 years and has 34 years of industry experience, has been promoted from General Manager over our Athens portfolio to Regional Manager of Homestead U. She will be overseeing our properties at The Ohio State University, Ohio University, and Penn State University. She, too, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of just over 4,400 student housing beds.
Donna's Homestead journey began when we acquired University Village in 2011, where Donna was serving as the Maintenance Supervisor. She was then promoted to General Manager over our Athens portfolio, overseeing 4 properties in that market. Donna has been an integral part of our due diligence and value-add projects across the portfolio, always willing to help other properties and teams across the country. Donna's knowledge and contribution to our team is invaluable!
These team members' stories are a true testament to those who lives by our core values. They are great teammates, a wealth of knowledge, and a key part of our past, present, and future success.
SkyGarden Joins the 100% Club
The team at SkyGarden has broken a Homestead U record! They have hit 100% occupancy for the 2022-2023 leasing season in record time. The Ranch in Lubbock, TX has held the record for 5 years but SkyGarden now claims the top spot with a 100% with an early May date for joining the 100% Club. A massive shout-out to Joseph Jurcak, Kaitlyn Griffin, and the rest of the SkyGarden team for their hard work and dedication.