THE STONERIVER SCOOP
MONTHLY HIGHLIGHT
The Terrace's Clubhouse Gets an Upgrade
We are excited to share some great news with you! The Clubhouse renovation project at Terraces at Town Center has been successfully completed! After acquiring the property in October of 2022, the renovation of the Clubhouse was identified as a priority project by everyone involved. The project involved several upgrades and changes to the space to create a more modern, inviting, and functional environment for residents and prospects.
The scope of the project included the removal of the wall that previously separated the business center, which has now created space for a new coffee bar. Additionally, the color of the Clubhouse was changed throughout, replacing the previously warm color palette with a more modern and neutral-tone palette. The stone columns have been whitewashed, and a wooden feature has been added above the low bar in the kitchenette area. A tile transition has been installed leading from the kitchenette into the main area in the Clubhouse.
The soft seating area across from the leasing desks has also been upgraded with built-in shelving, modern lighting fixtures, and furniture. The addition of modern art has further enhanced the overall ambiance of the space. The renovation project has transformed the Clubhouse into a more inviting and comfortable environment for residents and prospects alike.
We are thrilled with the renovation project’s outcome and hope that the residents will enjoy the new and improved Clubhouse facilities at Terraces at Town Center!
Employee Spotlight
Sebastian Nord
At StoneRiver Company, we highly value our team and recognize the significant contribution they make towards our success. Our team’s accomplishments are celebrated on a daily basis, and we take pride in them. We’re thrilled to share their stories with the world, and we’ll be highlighting one employee every month.
What is your role at StoneRiver, and how long have you been a part of the team?
In 2019, I began working as a Maintenance Technician for StoneRiver, which was an incredible experience. My role initially began at Westland Cove, where I was responsible for ensuring that the property was well-maintained and provided residents with a high-quality living experience. I am currently working at Vital at Springbrook in Alcoa, TN, where I have continued to carry out my duties as a Maintenance Technician with the same level of dedication and commitment. My responsibilities include maintaining the grounds, ensuring that the pool remains clean and well-maintained, addressing work orders promptly, and troubleshooting any property issues that may arise. My primary goal is to ensure that residents have the best possible experience living in their community, and I am proud to say that I work hard every day to achieve this objective.
Do you have any hobbies?
During my free time, I have two hobbies that I’m passionate about. Firstly, I love fishing. There’s something about being out on the water and trying to hook the biggest catch that gets me all pumped up. Secondly, I’m a drummer and play for two different cover bands. I absolutely love playing with my bandmates, and the feeling of playing live for an audience is amazing.
What are you passionate about?
My coworker Kris Wilson and I share a passion for the fascinating world of aquariums and fishkeeping. We love watching these magnificent underwater creatures and maintaining their delicate ecosystems.
What’s your ideal way to spend your weekends?
My ideal weekends are those when I get to spend quality time with my lovely wife and two adorable daughters. We like to grill some delicious food and just chill out together. Nothing beats having a relaxing day with my family, soaking up the sun, and enjoying some yummy grilled food. It’s a great way to unwind, recharge, and make some awesome memories that we’ll always cherish.
If you could snap your fingers and become an expert in something, what would it be?
If I could become an expert in anything, I’d choose Biblical studies. I’ve always been fascinated by it, and I’d love to explore it and really understand its meaning.
What do you do to turn things around when you’re having a bad day?
If I’m having a rough day, I find that listening to upbeat and inspiring music or an engaging and thought-provoking podcast can really turn things around for me. There’s something about music or insightful conversation that helps me shift my focus and find a more positive outlook on things.
What energizes you at work?
I stay energized at work, knowing that my team and I are dedicated to providing exceptional service to our residents. It gives me a sense of pride to know that we are contributing to their well-being and making a positive impact in their lives. Knowing that our efforts are valued and appreciated by those we serve is what keeps me going every day.
What are you currently excited about in your job?
I am excited to see the awesome community at Vital at Springbrook grow! It’s super cool to see things changing, and I’m stoked to see what the community will look like in the future.
We Need Your Help!
Help us find our next employee spotlight. Know someone who went above and beyond? Submit your nominee’s name, property, and accomplishment here.
2024 Q1 Property Awards
Hoover over each award to reveal who won!
Engagement Award
Magnolia Grove
Leadership Award
Sebastian Nord
Impact Award
WildForest
Best Month Ever
Magnolia Grove & Pecan Springs
Employee News
New Hires and Promotions
New Hire – Angel Cockrell:
Join us in welcoming Angel Cockrell to the StoneRiver team! Angel is the Assistant Property Manager at Inverness Cliffs. She was nominated for Leasing Consultant of the Year through the GBAA in 2022. She is actively studying to obtain the CALP designation. Angel joined the industry back in 2018 when she was searching for an apartment. She got lured in by a leasing consultant and has been hooked ever since. Angel genuinely loves working with residents and cares deeply about their experience. She always goes above and beyond to make sure they are happy.
New Hire – Belinda Hudson:
Welcome, Belinda Hudson! Belinda recently joined the StoneRiver team as the Property Manager at Pecan Springs in San Antonio. She has an extensive background in the multifamily industry, spanning over 20 years, which has provided her with valuable experience in managing various types of communities that vary in age and quality. This experience has enhanced her overall ability to problem solve, resulting in a high level of customer satisfaction and exceeding owner expectations. In her free time, Belinda enjoys camping, reading, and spending time by the lake.
New Hire – Karina Garza:
Karina Garza recently joined the StoneRiver team as the Assistant Manager at Magnolia Grove Apartments. Karina is a Texas native and has great experience in real estate and property management! In her free time, she enjoys cooking and traveling. Karina also has four dogs and a rabbit at home, with whom she loves spending time!
New Hire – Leomar Arellano Chacon:
Please join us in welcoming Leomar Arellano Chacon to the Vital team! Leomar is new to the multifamily industry but has previous maintenance experience from working in the hotel industry in Venezuela. During his free time, he enjoys exercising and swimming at the local pool. Currently, he is training to participate in a Spartan Race later this summer in Ashville, NC. Leomar has been doing an excellent job of keeping Vital’s amenities and hallways clean for residents, and everyone is thrilled to have him on the team!
New Hire – Melissa Phillips:
Welcome, Melissa Phillips! Melissa has recently joined the StoneRiver team as a part-time Leasing Consultant at WildForest. After more than a decade, Melissa decided to return to the Property Management industry. With her amazing customer service skills, Melissa is a valuable asset to our team as she helps each prospect find their new home. She is a loving pet owner of an 8-year-old Biewer Terrier and enjoys spending time with her family and granddaughter. We are thrilled to have you on our team and look forward to working with you!
HR Corner
BlueCross & Blue Shield Online Tools
Register for myBlueCross at AlabamaBlue.com to help you manage your health information and coverage—anywhere, anytime. You will have 24-hour access to your account and personalized health information.
Under “Manage My Contract,” you can:
- View claim statements
- Order ID cards and view virtual ID card
- View your contract & dependent info
Under “Manage My Prescription,” you can:
- View your claim history
- Find drug definitions & pricing
- Find a participating pharmacy near you
Under “Research Quality Care,” you can:
- Find a healthcare provider or facility
- Rate your doctor
Under “Management My Health,” you can:
- Take the Health Quotient (HQ)
- Compare treatment costs
- Check your symptoms with WebMD’s Symptom Checker
- Enroll in Baby Yourself
- Learn about behavioral health services
Under “Research & Tools,” you can:
- View benefit booklets and Summary of Benefits & Coverage
- View covered immunizations
- View a list of preventive services
BCBS Mobile Apps
With easy-to-use mobile apps (for your smartphone or tablet), it’s like having a personal healthcare representative at your fingertips! Whether you’re seeing a new specialist and forgot your ID card, driving to a new pharmacy and needing directions, or trying to determine if it’s the flu or just a bad cold, help is just a click away!
- Alabama Blue App – Check your benefits, view your ID card, find a doctor, and get your contract information.
- Health Handbook App – Handy reference for your common health questions
- myRX Planner App – Medication reminders, possible drug interactions, common dosages
- Baby Yourself App – Track your baby’s growth and your personal journey to motherhood
This Month’s Celebrations
Cinco de Mayo
In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is a regional holiday, but in the United States, it has become a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations. It is often marked with parades, music, dancing, and eating lots of delicious Mexican cuisine. And to help you celebrate, I’ve rounded up some favorite Cinco de Mayo party recipes for you!
Mother's Day
Mother’s Day is not a federal holiday but a day to celebrate motherhood and show appreciation for mothers, including (great-)grandmothers, stepmothers, foster mothers, and other mother figures.
While you can always depend on the classic bouquet of flowers or gourmet dinner out on the town for a Mother’s Day gift, they lack originality. The best way to show love for the mother in your life is to find something a bit more thoughtful. Here is a list of Mother’s Day gifts to help you find the perfect gift for any type of mom!
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is not only the “unofficial” start of the summer season, but it’s also a patriotic holiday that marks a thoughtful day of observance centered on remembering and thanking the millions of Americans in uniform who gave their lives for this country. Memorial Day’s meaning is truly about those heroic women and men and the remarkable sacrifices they made.
To help honor those who’ve served in the most creative ways, I’ve rounded up some of the best ways to celebrate your Memorial Day!
- Write Letters to Those Serving in the Military – There are many national organizations that facilitate letters being sent from civilians to individuals serving in the military, such as A Million Thanks, Operation Gratitude, and Soldiers’ Angels.
- Give a Donation – To go to the source, plan to give a donation to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on Memorial Day. The website makes it easy to donate online, which is especially handy since there isn’t a mail service on Memorial Day.
- Visit Veteran-Owned Businesses – A Veteran always appreciates it from the bottom of their heart when someone in the community supports them after they’ve returned home. One way to do just that is by patronizing veteran-owned businesses, either on Memorial Day if they’re open or on any other day of the year. You can go to the Veteran Owned Business Directory to find businesses in your state.
- Volunteer with a Veteran-Focused Organization – From helping to build homes to putting together care packages (which can be done in-person or virtually with Soldiers’ Angels), there are so many organizations you can volunteer with to observe Memorial Day.
- Take a Veteran Out to Dinner – Sometimes, the greatest way to observe Memorial Day is by keeping it down-to-earth and simple. It can be as straightforward as inviting a veteran friend or family member out for dinner and treating them as a thank-you for their service.
- Have a Moment of Silence – Called the “National Moment of Remembrance,” at 3:00 p.m. (no matter what your time zone is), all Americans can stop and have a moment of silence for fallen soldiers.
National Pet Month
It’s time to show your pet some extra love and appreciation for National Pet Month! Did you know that about 80 million homes in America have an animal family member? And about half of those households have more than one. We wanted to celebrate how important our pets are by showcasing them in our newsletter!
Property Operational Tips
Pool season and HVAC tips
Pool Season
Pool season is quickly approaching, which means it is time to double-check and make sure your facilities are ready for your residents to enjoy. It is important to follow proper cleaning and safety protocols for every pool around your community and that you are following any local or State ordinances that govern the opening and operation of your pools. Below are a few key tips that can be found in the SRPM Policy #2085 Pool and Spa Maintenance
- All pools must operate in accordance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, which requires the following:
- All pools and spas must be equipped with anti-entrapment drain covers.
- Each pool and spa with a single main drain (other than an unblockable drain) must also be equipped with a device or system designed to prevent entrapment, such as a safety vacuum release system.
- The chemicals in the pool and spa must be maintained and recorded in a Swimming Pool Service Log.
- SRPM communities will adhere to all local pool codes.
- Any person taking care of the pool must be certified to handle pool chemicals.
- Associates will complete regular inspections of the pool area, gates, fences, furniture, and surrounding areas.
- Check chlorine 2-3 times per day during peak season and the rest of the chemicals at least once per week.
- Follow state and city ordinances for maintaining and storing chemicals.
- Review the posted pool rules and other signage to ensure they are legible and follow local and state ordinances. If new signage needs to be ordered, work with your regional team.
- Ensure all the required safety equipment is available and in good working condition.
- Check all gates and safety equipment daily.
- Arrange pool furniture daily.
- Be sure to vacuum the pool regularly but at least once per week at a minimum.
HVAC Preventative Maintenance
As the temperatures increase, we know our residents will be turning the Air Conditioning systems on, and the demands on those systems will increase. While it is important for our teams to conduct preventative maintenance per SRPM Policy #2060, preventative maintenance for all areas of the community, HVAC preventative maintenance requires the residents’ cooperation as well. Preventative maintenance can include regular filter changes, refrigerant, and vent/duct checks while inside an apartment during other maintenance requests. It is equally important to arm our residents with the knowledge that can keep their systems running smoothly. You can send an email blast or text blast out via CRM reminding your residents of the following tips:
- Be sure to change the filter once every 90 days (we should be conducting this service at no charge during the preventative maintenance visits, but if they like, they can call the office and request a filter be dropped off at their door so they may change it themselves).
- Do not store anything in the closet that houses the Air Handler or other HVAC equipment.
- Vacuum and dust regularly to help keep the filter clean for longer.
- Use window coverings to reduce the amount of heat let in during the hottest parts of the day.
- Check window and door seals to ensure they are closing properly and not leaving gaps that can let out cool air.
- Do not turn off your unit if you leave for the day. Instead, set the thermostat to a few degrees higher so the system can catch up quicker and more efficiently when you return home.
Birthdays
Wishing a very Happy Birthday to all of the May birthdays:
- 05/03 – Joel Enright (Terraces)
- 05/08 – Adrian Sandoval (Inverness)
- 05/16 – Sheyla Robles (Terraces)
- 05/24 – Luis Mayo (Pecan)
Anniversaries
- 1 Year – Courtney Hutchinson (WildForest)
- 1 Year – Connor Kelley (Highlands)
- 1 Year – Jackson Avant (Magnolia)
- 2 Year – Chelsea McCollum (Birmingham)
- 5 Year – Blake Sellers (Birmingham)
- 20 Year – Joseph Welden (Birmingham)
A Look Ahead
- 05/01 9:00 A.M. PA to submit prelim P2P report to PMs
- 05/01 PMs send reclass & accruals to RMs by EOD
- 05/03 Renewal rates due for July 2024
- 05/03 Leasing commissions due for the prior month by 5:00 P.M.
- 05/03 PMs complete lease trade-out report & send to RM by EOD
- 05/03 RM load final accruals & reclasses to PM drive by EOD
- 05/03 PMs begin initial BV review
- 05/06 PAs send BV & BS reports to the Controller
- 05/07 PAs send BV reports to PMs by 12:00 P.M.
- 05/08 PMs send BV reports with notes to RMs for review by 5:00 P.M.
- 05/08 Market survey due
- 05/09 RMs & PAs to review BV together to finalize changes
- 05/10 PA sends internal reports to the Controller by 5:00 P.M.
- 05/13 RM’s load BV reports with notes to PAs, Controller, VP Accounting & VP PM to PM drive
- 05/13 RMs to upload rent growth reports to PM drive for VP PM & AM
- 05/15 RMs to review for any needed market rent increases
- 05/15 Controller distributes financial packages to investors
- 05/22 Market survey due
- 05/24 PMs send write-offs to RM for review
- 05/27 PMs complete month-end pre-close checklist
- 05/28 RM sends approved write-offs to PA by 9:00 A.M.
- 05/28 PAs to complete write-offs by 5:00 P.M.
- Every Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a holiday) – Occupancy updates are due
- 5:00 P.M. Every Thursday – PM weekly checklists are due
- 12:00 P.M. Every Friday – RM weekly checklist due
- 5:00 P.M. Every Friday – clear out your P2P Queue
- 5:00 P.M. Every Friday – be sure to code any credit card receipts
Have an Idea?
Would you like to share your stories, ideas, or comments to feature in our upcoming publications? Kindly send your request and a member of the newsletter committee will get in touch if chosen.
