#InThisTogether: 29 JUN 2020
With everything that’s going on during the COVID-19 crisis, we want to share stories about what Cook people are doing during this difficult time. All around the Cook world, we are #InThisTogether, and we would love to hear stories about how you and your coworkers are stepping up to make a difference. If you have a story to share, please email us at BlogEditor@CookMedical.com.
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Work goes on at CFC Properties
Employees find creative ways to help tenants during the pandemic
Written by Terrie Nicodemus, a Written Content specialist in Corporate Marketing and Communications
Property management company CFC Properties in Bloomington owns 73 residential apartments and approximately 27 commercial buildings, including retail and office space. For CFC, the key to running efficiently during the COVID-19 crisis has been the ingenuity of a handful of dedicated employees. The CFC team has found unique ways to reach out to their tenants and maintain buildings.
Tackling tasks creatively
For one member of the commercial CFC team, Shane Salzmann, HVAC specialist, who’s been with CFC Properties for 22 years, being confronted with uncommon and difficult problems has always been a favorite aspect of his job.
“I like to view a problem with an analytical perspective and formulate an unconventional, simple, and cost-effective solution,” said Shane.
He likes to think “outside the box” and fabricate a mechanical fix on site if he can.
“Being good at what I do requires the ability to deconstruct something in my head and see how to put it back together,” he added.
Being shorthanded as a result of the pandemic, Shane has had to take his unconventional work style to new levels, taking on additional duties like reviewing contracts, scheduling maintenance work, and meeting with tenants and contractors. Shane is now overseeing the installation of a temporary chiller at the Showers Building among his many other duties. The complex project requires coordinating with Cook engineers and multiple contractors, which is more challenging with the extra considerations due to the pandemic.
“When I’m scheduling contractors that enter a tenant space now, I make sure they meet all prescribed safety guidelines, including distancing, good cleaning practices, self-monitoring for symptoms, and wearing gloves and masks as needed,” explained Shane. “We try to stay as safe as possible, and the tenants are appreciative.”
Reaching customers in new ways
On the residential side of CFC, it’s business as usual with a few new twists. In her 15-year career as a senior leasing consultant for CFC, Tania Johnson has experienced her work day changing from in-person interactions with tenants to working from home. She now visits the office and properties on an as-needed basis.
“Serving our tenants safely is our top priority, and we have implemented changes to keep everyone safe,” said Tania.
Some of the ways CFC continues to help tenants while keeping employees and others safe include limiting maintenance calls to any apartments unless there is an emergency, not showing occupied apartments to prospective tenants, and only offering virtual apartment tours for vacant apartments.
“Our tenants are now making payments online or leaving payments under the door of our office, where before many of them would stop by and drop off their payments to us,” added Tania. “I believe this is temporary and not the new norm. We like to meet our residents and interact with them.”
With the busy season for leasing apartments approaching in the months of June through August, safety precautions are in place, such as instituting a 14-day waiting period to complete a move-out inspection and requesting the resident not to be present due to COVID-19 safety protocols. Intensifying cleaning procedures for the apartments and buildings will continue.
“The dynamics of the work day may have changed from our traditional work day, but what’s been constant is our obligation to our properties and tenants. The pandemic has given CFC an opportunity to adapt to different ways of doing business. This could be viewed negatively by some, but because of this pandemic, we are discovering new and safer business practices that we haven’t explored before,” said Shane.
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Sounds like Cook everywhere operates on treating their customers and (in your case) their tenants right. Thanks for the great stories both Tania and Shane.