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Q2 2023 AHA Newsletter

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AHA NEWSLETTER Quarter 1 2023

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TABLE OF CONTENTS IT S MY PLEASURE 2 CHATGPT 4 KINDNESS EFFECTS ON THE BODY 5 NEW PROPERTY 8 PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT 10 CONSTRUCTION UPDATES 11 DEPARTMENT UPDATES 13 ANNOUNCEMENTS 25 WHATS ON YOUR PHONE 29 EMPLOYEE SHOUTOUTS 30 1

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it s my pleasure While traveling recently I was struck by the hotel staff s trained gesture to put their hand to their hearts give a slight head bow and with a smile offer it s my pleasure in response to their guests It started as just a subconscious good feeling left from these exchanges Along the way I had more awareness of how kind and genuine this acknowledgment was It was a simple and small action that left a big impact on my overall experience It made me feel good These interactions gave me pause to consider how I felt as the receiver of such kindness and left me considering how good it feels to deliver kindness I decided it was worth looking into the effects of kindness on the body So I asked the ChatGPT if you haven t heard of this new technology give me a call it s going to change the world to produce an article on the effects kindness BEING kind has on the body The article ChatGPT crafted is attached on Pages 5 and 6 Worth the read Consider your own interactions with residents Do you acknowledge them when passing in the halls What type of exchange do you have when entering their home for a work order What an opportunity exists to formulate an impression of AHA simply by displaying genuine kindness Continued on the next page 2

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it s My pleasure At the core we can find each of our global goals for the year so closely interwoven and tied to this simple but grand gesture of kindness How you ask are retaining residents at 70 and reducing expenses so closely tied together Our single greatest controllable expense is turnover Let me say that again our single greatest controllable expense is turnover We ve talked about the statistics and the costs associated with turnover and we know the impact these expenses have on the bottom line Consider how the simplicity of kindness can impact the resident experience translating into resident satisfaction escalating into resident longevity Simply in the act of a joyful greeting Yes This year my passion project is to break down Hospitality for our industry While researching this important subject there exists very little training or data in relation to multi housing but hospitality training for the hotel industry goes on for miles Why is that Multi family is just an extended version of a hotel stay and should offer a similar experience Well let us let it start with us When you encounter a resident in the hallway or parking lot offer a greeting When you enter their home engage in a little conversation When you take their phone call ask how are you doing today I challenge each of us this year in our quest to meet our global initiatives of 70 resident retention and expense reduction of 3 5 to choose kindness as a tool to meet these goals Choose kindness because it s consistently our simplest and most powerful tool Choose kindness because it feels good If nothing else choose kindness because it s good for your health Tami Wegwerth President of Property Management 3

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ChatGPt I believe the secret to success in life and business is found in making good decisions Make one or two good ones and life gets a little easier put together a nice long string of good decisions and things can really come together As we have all recently been inundated with information about AI and ChatGPT I have thought Wow this is really interesting but how can I make it actionable to improve my personal and work life I recently listened to a podcast involving an elderly economist and was stunned to hear him say he dedicates 10 hours per week to AI Chat GPT I took note of the fact he said he got started by replacing Google search with ChatGPT This sounded like good free advice to me so for the past week I have been using ChatGPT instead of Google for most of my internet inquiries I installed ChatGPT on my phone in seconds with the ASK AI app What I have found is 1 It saves me time because it gives me a summary of a topic or question instead of a Google link which may or may not lead me to a good objective answer but definitely requires filtering and time 2 Although I expected to get answers from Ask AI what I usually get is a good summary of many factors pertaining to my question This brings me back to making good decisions We make good decisions by considering all data all options and all potential outcomes The ASK AI app on your phone or other app for ChatGPT will help us quickly gather data to better frame our decisions It won t do our jobs for us yet but harnessing this power at any early stage with this simple app will help us make better decisions faster Consider it an instant mentor or advisor on difficult questions It will also be a solid and easy introduction to future technology to ensure we don t get left behind We encourage everyone on our team to explore this technology Consider creating an account or installing the app and asking it a variety of questions in lieu of jumping on google or asking a colleague Be mindfully aware that this technology is still in the testing and gathering phase Questions and information is considered public so avoid using private information in your inquiries Larry DeVore is in the process of launching our very own At Home AI committee with representatives from every AHA department We look forward to learning more from them about how this fascinating technology can impact our organization and our lives In the meantime give it a try Alan Spaulding President 4

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Kindness Effects on the body according to chatgpt 5

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Being kind is a trait that is highly valued in society and for good reason Not only does kindness have positive effects on those around us but research has also shown that being kind has numerous benefits for our own physical and mental well being In this article we ll expose some of the ways in which kindness can benefit the body Lower Stress Levels Stress is a common problem in today s fast paced world and it can have serious negative effects on our health However research has shown that practice kindness can help to lower stress levels When we engage in acts of kindness our bodies release feel good hormones like oxytocin and endorphins which can help to counteract the negative effects of stress Boosts Immune System Studies have shown that being kind can have a positive effect on the immune system One study found that people who performed acts of kindness had an increase in the production of antibodies which are important for fighting off infections Another study found that people who volunteered regularly had a stronger immune response to the flu vaccine compared to those who didn t volunteer 6

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Increased happiness It s no secret that being kind can make us feel good When we perform acts of kindness our brains release dopamine a neurotransmitter that is associated with feelings of happiness and pleasure Studies have shown that people who regularly engage in acts of kindness report higher levels of subjective well being and happiness Reduces Inflammation Inflammation is a natural response to injury or infection but when it becomes chronic it can lead to a host of health problems However research has shown that being kind can help to reduce inflammation in the body One study found that people who practiced loving kindness meditation had lower levels of inflammation compared to those who didn t Improves Heart Health Kindness can also have a positive effect on heart health Research has shown that people who engage in acts of kindness have lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart disease This may be due in part to the fact that kindness can help to reduce stress levels which is a known risk factor for heart disease In conclusion being kind is not only good for those around us but it s also good for our own physical and mental well being By practicing kindness regularly we can lower stress levels boost our immune system increase happiness reduce inflammation and improve heart health So let s all strive to be a little kinder every day 7

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THE PRESERVE AT STONE GATE NEW PROPERTY A look inside the new brand Introducing The Preserve at Stone Gate an upscale townhome community in St Cloud Minnesota Surrounded by pristine natural beauty these two bedroom plus den townhomes provide a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life Stone Gate will provide four unique and gorgeous floor plans Community features include pickle ball courts an outdoor lounge with a grill and fire pit snow removal lawn care walking and biking trails and naturally landscaped surroundings 8

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THE PRESERVE AT STONE GATE NEW PROPERTY Site Map and Floor Plans Emerald 2 bedroom 2 bathroom Den The Emerald floor plan is the most common layout at 1 630 square feet This home has 2 options for the second floor Cobalt 2 bedroom 2 bathroom Den Bonus Room The Cobalt layout will be Stone Gates s largest floor plan at 2 300 square feet and offers main floor living 9

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CLEVELAND TERRACE PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT A hidden gem of Saint Paul All of the charm and convenience of living near St Catherine s University Inside you ll find many updated homes that boast stainless steel appliances hard surface flooring new cabinetry and new lighting 10

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PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT CONSTRUCTION UPDATES CONSTRUCTION UPDATES Rivers Bend Cottage Homes Saint Joseph Minnesota Rivers Bend Cottage Homes are just about completed Building construction is done and finishing touches are going on the exteriors and interiors Currently the Saint Cloud team has the property 46 leased 11

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PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT CONSTRUCTION UPDATES CONSTRUCTION UPDATES The Reserve at Mendota Village Phase II Mendota Heights Minnesota Construction of The Reserve at Mendota Village Phase II is coming along beautifully Units have walls amenities are in progress and siding is going up Currently the Reserve team has phase II 19 leased 12 here here,

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DEPARTMENT UPDATES HUMAN RESOURCES Sam s Club Membership We would like to extend to all AHA employees a 1year complimentary membership to Sam s Club As you may be aware Sam s offers discounts for gas as well as general savings on bulk food and household supplies This memebership lasts until October 2023 If you are interested in receiving this complimentary membership please email Sandy Honerbrink at shonerbrink aha mn com with your full name birthday phone number email and regional office location 13

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DEPARTMENT UPDATES HUMAN RESOURCES 14

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DEPARTMENT UPDATES HUMAN RESOURCES We hosted our first ever CPR training Thank you to Larry DeVore for setting this up with St Paul Emergency Services This was a great opportunity to learn important life saving techniques 15

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Maintenance Training ROom DEPARTMENT UPDATES Construction on this maintenance classroom is underway This will be a great resource for training new maintenance employees as well as fine tuning skills for existing employees 16

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DEPARTMENT UPDATES KNow Your Marketing Property Fact Sheets Resources Need quick access to questions about your portfolio property neighborhood and even sister properties Check out the portfolio fact sheets that house information that you can provide to prospects when chatting with them 17

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DEPARTMENT UPDATES KNow Your Marketing Property Fact Sheets Resources Don t forget about cross selling opportunities Each portfolio fact sheet has a few great sister properties you can cross sell to 18

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DEPARTMENT UPDATES LEasing Summit Our first ever Leasing Summit for Assistant Property Managers and Leasing Specialists There was a lot of great discussion and ideas brought forth on strengthening our leasing strategies Thank you to everyone who came and participated 15 19

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DEPARTMENT UPDATES Maintenance Operations Overview It goes without saying the past two years have presented unique challenges for our maintenance staff as a result of staffing shortages contractor delays and supply chain issues Under the careful and thoughtful leadership of Garth and Dave along with the strength of our maintenance team we were successful in mitigating these circumstances Having weathered these challenges we find ourselves in a position to make some minor department changes to best utilize our department heads for the most effective and efficient structural divide Garth Mann working closely with Jason Kemp will oversee all aspects of Building Operations The key change is a takeover in the management and execution of the capital improvement projects Additionally this team will work closely in managing vendor and contractor relationships Garth will continue working closely with each property team regarding budgeting finances and accounting insurance related work and resident relations outreach support The operations department will be focusing heavily on site level safety security internal policy procedure audits state local code compliance and new initiatives to help improve business practices efficiency in 2023 and beyond Dave Stefans working closely with Antonio Templos will oversee all aspects of the Maintenance Department The key adjustment is facilitating all aspects of recruiting hiring onboarding and training This team will have close oversight of all aspects of HR and personnel management Dave will continue working closely with each property team regarding budget adherence renovation work and product selections quality control The maintenance department will be focusing heavily on initial and ongoing maintenance training maintenance team building and team outreach team structure and work order turnover best practices in 2023 and beyond For clarity purposes it is important for everyone to be aware of this change Though more streamlined in their roles both department heads will continue to work closely together to assist in all aspects of operations to maintain the greatest maintence department in property management 20


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DEPARTMENT UPDATES MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS Maintenance has been hard at work with some recent renovations Lakewood Isles is undertaking a big renovation by filling their pool and creating a brand new fitness center Woodlane Place Townhomes is plugging away at unit renovations Check out the details 21

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LAKEWOOD ISLES DEPARTMENT UPDATES Out with the old in with the new Lakewood Isles is filling the pool and introducing a fresh and modern fitness center Complete with cardio strength and functional fitness equipment Check out the renderings 22

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RECENT RENOVATIONS Lakewood Isles Fitness Center DEPARTMENT UPDATES 23

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RECENT RENOVATIONS Woodlane Place Townhomes DEPARTMENT UPDATES 24

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PETS OF AHA ANNOUNCEMENTS Meet just a few of our furry residents Freyja Lynn Apartments Callie Lakewood Isles Misty CityVue CV2 Aspen Chasewood Gates PuppyCat Lake West on France Billie The Reserve at Sono Sophie The Park at 100 Tyson The Chase at Nine Mile Brewski Woodlane Place 25

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