MADACS 2021
Thies & Talle Management (http://www.thiestalle.com) is pleased to announce that we had four MADACS nominations this year! The purpose of the MADACS awards is to recognize property management professionals who have made significant contributions to multi-housing marketing and management through exemplary achievements. The annual MADACS awards gala, held Friday, September 24, is the most prestigious event on the Minnesota Multi Housing Association’s (https://www.mmha.com/) calendar and celebrates positive, innovative, community and industry-enhancing accomplishments. We would like to congratulate all of our nominees and thank them for their hard work! A very special Congratulations goes out to Eric Hinkel for his MADACS win! The nominees below were hand selected by their individual supervisors to be nominated for a MADACS award. Each supervisor submitted a letter of recommendation to the Minnesota Multi-Housing Association detailing their integrity, excellence and accomplishments and why they should win the prestigious MADACS award. Allison Bakken Hillside Terrace Townhomes (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/hillside-terrace-i-monticello.html) (Monticello, MN), Hillside Terrace I Apartments (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/hillside-terrace-ii-monticello.html) (Monticello, MN) and Barrington Senior Apartments (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/barrington-buffalo.html) (Buffalo, MN) Community Manager: Affordable – Multiple Sites Shannon Hamilton Thies & Talle Management (http://www.thiestalle.com) (Chanhassen, MN) Support Staff: Corporate Office Eric Hinkel Riva Ridge Apartments (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/riva-ridge-shakopee.html) (Shakopee, MN) Maintenance: Individual Kyle Wicklund Woodcrest Manor Senior Apartments (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/woodcrest-manor-mora.html) (Mora, MN), North Mora Estates (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/north-mora-estates-mora.html) (Mora, MN), Northern Oaks Apartments…
2021 Sioux Falls Wreath Donation
For the last 18 years, Helen Ganske, Property Manager in Sioux Falls, SD, has been visiting the local VA hospital to give away holiday wreaths. On December 9, 2021, Helen and the rest of the staff at our Sioux Falls properties joined her in handing out the wreaths. They received donations from their vendors to give away 147 wreaths to the local veterans. The wreaths were decorated by the residents at Canterbury Apartments (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/canterbury-sioux-falls.html) and Beadle Plaza Apartments (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/beadle-plaza-sioux-falls.html) in Sioux Falls, SD with some help from the staff members. Our staff and residents spent approximately 80 hours decorating the wreaths. Thank you to our residents and staff who took the time to help! Lisa Simoneau of the VA in Sioux Falls says, “It is through the efforts of community partners like you that allow us to continue the quality care and services that we seek to provide for our deserving Veterans. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you again for future events.” We would like to thank our Sioux Falls team for their hard work, dedication and giving hearts to their community. Also, thank you to our amazing residents and vendors who made this event possible. Thank you to: S&B Painting, Thornton Flooring (https://www.thorntoncarpets.com/) , Servicemaster (https://www.servicemastersf.com/) , Advanced Pest Solutions (http://www.pestsolutionssd.com/) , Karl’s TV (https://www.karlsonline.com/) , Kut and Kill (https://www.kutandkill.com/) , Mops to Brooms Cleaning
2020 Turn & Learn Awards Banquet
Every year, Thies & Talle Management (http://www.thiestalle.com) hosts a Turn & Learn Event where team members from all of our properties can get together to expand their knowledge, network and celebrate their achievements. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we were unable to do that this year. Instead, we held our Turn & Learn Awards Banquet virtually. During this banquet our Property of the Year nominees and winners were announced. This year, our Affordable nominees were: Abbey Field Townhomes (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/abbey-st-francis.html) – St. Francis, MN, Circle Pines Apartments (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/circle-pines-apts--brainerd.html) – Brainerd, MN and The Meadows Senior Apartments (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/meadows.html) – Lewistown, MT. Congratulations to The Meadows team led by Property Manager Micki Phillips, for being awarded Affordable Property of the Year! The Market Rate Property of the Year Nominees were: The Bungalows Townhomes (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/bungalows-st-peter.html) – St. Peter, MN, Park Villa Apartments (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/park-villa-mountain-iron.html) – Mountain Iron, MN and West Hillside Group (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/westhillside-duluth.html) – Duluth, MN. Congratulations to the Park Villa team, led by Property Manager Karen Kniefel, for being awarded Market Rate Property of the Year! We would like to thank all team members company-wide for contributing to a very successful year!
MADACS 2020
Thies & Talle Management is pleased to announce that we had four MADACS nominations this year! The purpose of the MADACS awards is to recognize property management professionals who have made significant contributions to multi-housing, marketing and management through exemplary achievements. The annual MADACS awards gala, held Friday, October 23, is the most popular, prestigious event on the Minnesota Multi Housing Association’s (https://www.mmha.com/) calendar and celebrates positive, innovative, community and industry-enhancing accomplishments. This year has changed the way we do most things. The MADACS awards were no different. This year’s ceremony was held virtually, which allowed everyone to watch from the comfort of their own home. We would like to thank the Minnesota Multi Housing Association for all of their efforts in making this year’s virtual event possible! If you missed the event, you can watch it here: https://youtu.be/JmQ-6xKqEwI (https://youtu.be/JmQ-6xKqEwI) We would like to congratulate all of our nominees and thank them for their hard work! A very special Congratulations goes out to Amy Berger for her MADACS win! Nominees: Amy Berger Afton View Apartments (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/afton-view-st-paul.html) (St. Paul, MN) Community Manager – Affordable Ramona Beam Plymouth Ponds Apartments (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/plymouthponds-plymouth.html) (Plymouth, MN) Caretaker Stefani Dobbelaire Thies & Talle Management (https://www.thiestalle.com/index.html) Support Staff – Corporate office Woodcrest Manor Senior Apartments (https://www.thiestalle.com/properties/woodcrest-manor-mora.html) (Mora, MN) Partial/Project Remodel: Unit
Marja Nelson – Regional Property Manager
We believe in promoting from within at Thies & Talle Management (index.html) . Many of our team members have worked with us for years. Our Regional Manager, Marja Nelson, is a great example of a long-term team member that has worked her way up in this industry. Marja has worked for Thies & Talle for 11 years. She started as a Leasing Specialist and was eventually promoted to Property Manager at our Fargo, ND properties, Prairiewood Estates (properties/prairiewood-fargo.html) & South Meadows (properties/southmeadows-fargo.html) . During her Property Manager role, Marja began helping at other properties within her Regional Manager’s portfolio. This gave her additional experience working with Rural Development and Section 8 programs. When a Regional Manager position became available, there was no question that Marja would be a great fit. She now oversees 21 total properties with 580 total units. Her portfolio is a mix of Market-Rate, Rural Development and Section 8 properties. Her home office is now based out of Prairiewood Estates (properties/prairiewood-fargo.html) in Fargo, ND. When asked what a typical work week looks like for Marja, she says there is never a typical week. With as many properties as she oversees, things come up and plans change. There is never a dull moment. That being said, Marja says that organization and prioritization are the keys to success. When asked what Marja loves the most about working at Thies & Talle, she says “I think what I appreciate most is how Thies & Talle does a great job of training and providing for their employees. I also love all the people I work with!” We are very lucky to have such a dedicated individual on our team. Thanks for all you do, Marja!
Stefani Dobbelaire – Compliance Manager
At Thies & Talle Management, we have a philosophy of hiring strong candidates and allowing them to grow within our company. Stefani Dobbelaire is a great example of this philosophy. In July of 2013, Stefani started at Thies & Talle Management as a Property Manager. Prior to this, Stefani held management positions at a local theater, restaurant, & big box retail store. During her tenure as Property Manager at Abbey Field Apartments, Stefani learned and understood the importance of organization, communication, and good business etiquette. Stefani used those skills to complete tasks quickly, efficiently, and proactively. Stefani revealed that she had the ability to prioritize and schedule herself additional time to stay ahead of whatever was thrown her way. Stefani also continually worked to grow her property management education level by attending COS Training Classes where she passed with over a 90% score on her COS Certification test & also obtained her STAR Certification with Rural Development. As Stefani continued to exhibit her ability and understanding of affordable property management, she was asked to assist with file inspections at Afton View, Elk Ridge Manor, Woodview Apartments, Cedar Terrace, North Mora Estates and Woodcrest Manor. Stefani also helped during file audits at the Thies & Talle Corporate Office in Chanhassen, MN. Stefani has helped with Document Management training and compliance training at past events and classes. Additionally, Stefani was asked to help train new Property Managers with the hope that she would instill in them not only her vast knowledge of company policies & procedures, but also to give them the head start of having a great skill base of organization, communication, & efficiency. She enjoyed what she was doing, but yearned for more of a challenge and ultimately, more responsibility. In March of 2018, a compliance position became available at Thies & Talle Management. Because of the…
Resident Support Specialist
Thies & Talle Management takes pride in providing the highest quality of housing. The pride we take includes outstanding service to all residents. We believe that offering residents opportunities in all aspects of their lives will improve our communities and resident lifestyles as a whole. This is our mission and to ensure this mission we created the Resident Support Program (residents/resident-support-program.html) and the position of Resident Support Specialist (residents/resident-support-program/meet-your-specialist.html) . We sat down with our Resident Support Specialist, Emily Cheesebrow to discuss her role and how it has made an impact on our resident’s lives and the communities they call home. What is your background in property management? I have always had a connection with housing, and wanted to work in the field in some fashion ever since I started thinking about my career path. I worked for Ramsey County HouseCalls as an On-Call Child Advocate from 2005–2013 until the program was cut from the county budget. In 2006, I was in the Social Services field working at the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery and saw an ad in the paper for the Leasing Specialist position at Afton View Apartments and thought I would go for it. I began working there as soon as I could and loved it! I was later promoted to Property Manager at Shamrock Court Apartments and stayed there for two years during the transition from the 236 affordable program to market rate. I regretfully left Thies & Talle Management for two years and was the property manager at Oakdale Village Apartments. I did stay in contact with some of my prior Thies & Talle coworkers who referred me to this position when it opened. I was very excited for an opportunity to mix both of my passions for housing and services into one place. When did the Resident Services position start? I started in December 2015 before the Turn & Learn. What is your goal as Resident Support Specialist? My goal is to…
Shannon Hamilton – Property Manager
For Shannon, a career in property management began as a suggestion from her Aunt to help her get out of “her shy phase.” At this suggestion, Shannon applied for a caretaker position in 2003. She learned the ropes of managing a property between cleaning hallways and leasing apartments. In December 2011, Shannon joined Thies & Talle Management as a full time Leasing Specialist at Plymouth Ponds Apartments. Shannon was so successful in leasing available apartments at Plymouth ponds that she was promoted to the position she holds now, Property Manager of Sterling Ponds Apartments in Eden Prairie, MN. At this point, it’s hard to believe Shannon ever had a shy phase. Shannon has been so successful at leasing apartments that the average occupancy for Sterling Ponds since she started has been 99%. Net operating income has tripled because of Shannon and the property has been able to increase net collected rent by 5% year over year by keeping the community at peak occupancy. As a result of this success, Shannon is a mentor for new Property Managers. Shannon has been so successful in mentoring new managers, she was even asked to travel to Montana to assist in the training of new staff during a time when the Montana properties had several long term staff members retire at the same time. In addition to Shannon’s leasing success at Sterling Ponds, she is also well liked and respected by her residents. The success of a community is reflective of the happiness of the residents who call Sterling Ponds home. This is evident for many reasons, but none more staggering than her lease renewal rate of 87%. Shannon goes out of her way to make sure each and every resident of Sterling Ponds feels that they are a part of the community. It is very common to see residents gathered together to chat and, of course, stop by the office, or stop Shannon in the hallway just to say hello. Thies & Talle Management is truly grateful to have Shannon on our team.
Angela Budke - Property Manager
When Angela originally interviewed for the Property Manager position she stated that one of her goals was to learn all that she possibly could about property management, because she did not just want a job, she wanted a career. Angela has proven her interview statement true several times over. Since being hired Angela has shown a true passion in ensuring her properties, Colonial Village, Broadway and Pleasant View Apartments are financially successful and wonderful places to live. At the time Angela was hired in the fall of 2013, Colonial Village was in need of a leasing all-star. Colonial Village was only 90% occupied and heading into the slow winter months. Within just two months, Angela was able to generate enough interest to successfully lease Colonial Village to 100% occupancy. In 2014 Angela’s Market Rate properties, Colonial Village & Broadway Apartments were selected as Thies & Talle Management’s Market Rate Properties of the Year! The Property of the Year Award is based upon the following factors; the manager must have been working on-site for all 12 months of the calendar year, the property must have achieved its gross potential rent, net rental income and NOI budget goals for each individual quarter. Angela also has the unique distinction of managing a group of properties that include market rate and affordable communities. Both property types present their own set of challenges and business strategies. To be successful a manager must be detail oriented, organized and forward thinking to manage both. Angela excels in time management and is able to seamlessly transition between the two property types. In addition to Angela’s amazing effort in putting her properties in great financial and leasing condition, her primary focus is ensuring the residents are happy. Angela sets the bar high when it comes to customer service and is straightforward and honest with all residents. When visiting the properties you can clearly see her residents appreciate…