Last year, we were able to collect over 100 cereal boxes to help this organization, which provides foster children a safe and loving home, along with resources to enjoy their childhood as well as to grow and be successful. As they accurately stated: “We can all imagine, in fast-paced households with lots of kids, cereal is the preferred (at least by the kids) breakfast food seven days a week. Collecting cereal will be a huge cost savings for the families of this organization.”

As members of SLAA, we’re excited to be given the opportunity to join in these efforts throughout the year to benefit great organizations such as this one. This year, for the entire month of June, you can help by dropping off unopened boxes of any cereal at our Mills communities to help support this cause.

Thanks for your support and for giving this organization the opportunity to help give foster children a chance to just be children.

Here are some fun photos of a few of our 2013 cereal stations:

Check out photos from last year’s drive.

This year, Mills joined the cause to stomp out a cure for breast cancer. We joined the thousands of other people in pink on June 15th, 2013 in downtown St. Louis to walk in honor and support of those brave souls who have lost their lives to this disease, those currently fighting the battle, and those who have fought it and won.

This year our team, Mills Crew, joined the cause and raised $2,050. In addition, we had a crew of over 20 Mills associates, friends and family join us in the 5K Fun Run/Walk.

In addition to the walking crew, CityView Apartments had a booth on 15th St. (between Chestnut and Pine) with bottles of water for the runners and other fun giveaways before the race. Millsy made an appearance for pictures. It was a great day!

Photos:

Thanks to everyone who donated and came out to walk and support! Donations can still be made if you’d like to support the fight against breast cancer. Here’s the link to the Mills Apartments Team Page: Mills Apartments.

Rising Star of the Year:

Melissa Flieg, West End Terrace

Jeff Peterson, Southpointe 

Employee of the Year corporate:

Jessica Herzog

Multi-Site Supervisor of the Year

Mike Brewer

Property Manager of the Year (1-200):

Steve Krajczar, West End Terrace

Tobi Colls, Pear Tree

Property Manager of the Year (201-400):

Nicole Strand, The Laurel

Sara Hasser, Village Green

Property Manager of the Year (401+):

Jamie Bryan, West Pointe

Assistant Manager of the Year (1-200)

Ashley Wilson, Boulder Springs

Assistant Manager of the Year (201-400):

Jessica Ferguson, The Laurel

Laurie Rahmberg, Waterford Manors

Assistant Manager of the Year (401+):

Cheryl Drew, Pavilion

Teneisha Caceres, CityView

Leasing Specialist of the Year (201-400):

Meaghan Weaver, Waterford Manors

Adrienne Moore, Heatherton

Leasing Specialist of the Year (401+):

Yavonne Mack, Oak Park

Ben Merlati, Pavilion

Maintenance Supervisor of the Year (1-200):

Roy Branscum, Waterford Square

Bryan Hennen, New Town

Maintenance Supervisor of the Year (201-400):

Cedric Young, Heatherton

Tim Dulaney, Stanford Place

Maintenance Supervisor of the Year (401+):

Gerald Keppel, Kirkwood Bluffs

Maintenance Technician of the Year (1-200):

Timothy Higgins, Stanford Place

Maintenance Technician of the Year (201-400):

Ray Harris, Heatherton

Maintenance Technician of the Year (401+):

Jimmy Cunningham, Kirkwood Bluffs

Grounds Person of the Year (1-200)

Geoffrey Wright, Oaks on Bonhomme

Tom Thurman, Stanford Place

Grounds Person of the Year (201-400)

John Martin, Village Green

Marlin Keeton, Courtyards at Cityside

Grounds Person of the Year (401+)

David Kuncio, Kirkwood Bluffs

John Morice, Pavilion

Property of the Year Pre 2000 (1-200): West End Terrace & Windsor Townhomes

Property of the Year Post 2000 (201-400): The Laurel

Property of the Year Pre 2000 (201-400): Heatherton

Property of the Year Pre 2000 (400+): Pavilion

Marketing Campaign of the Year: RealLifeSTL

Management Company: Mills Properties

Check out all our photos:

We can’t wait until it finally feels like Spring and we can enjoy outdoor barbecues and pool parties!

Check out our Facebook page for more photos of Mills having fun around the community!

We have reached our 7th Mills Associate Spotlight introduction. So far this journey to extend our praise and thanks, and ultimately learn more about our awesomely talented and passionate Mills team members has led us from downtown St. Louis to Columbia, MO. Our most recent associate, part of the team of 27 from one of our newest Mills Properties, Bennington Heights, is Melissa Hall. Melissa is a leasing specialist at Bennington Heights, a 1,047 unit community in West County St. Louis.

It is clear upon meeting Melissa that she is a unique and passionate person. She is a hard worker and a dedicated Mills team member, with a passion and dedication that extends far beyond her career at Mills Properties. With that being said, meet Melissa Hall, designer and owner of Northern Lights Jewelry:

1.   When did you start making jewelry and how did you get started?

“When I started my junior year of undergraduate, we had a culture fair on campus and there was a booth featuring a new bead store that had opened in town. It had never occurred to me to make jewelry until then, but gradually I started visiting the store more and more often and taught myself to make earrings, bracelets, and necklaces for myself and friends—I still have some of my first pieces—and they will never see the light of day now LOL!

It was a hobby for several years before I started to make more of a business out of it about 10 years ago, when I was in graduate school and needed some extra money. When I met my husband, he encouraged me to continue to develop my line, expanding into new markets, doing shows with me, and developing my website. As it gained popularity, I began to network with photographers and clothing designers, developing items for photo shoots and runway shows.”

2.   Why did you name your business Northern Lights?

“The first generation of Northern Lights was actually my mom’s business—she’s a ceramic artist and this was the name that she used—so I just piggy-backed off of her and expanded the company.”

3.   How would you describe your jewelry?

“I utilize large beads and components—encompassing both natural stones, crystals and glass. Most of my pieces are wire wrapped by hand in silver, but I do expand out into brass, copper, and gold. I have an emphasis on the bold—both in size and color—my jewelry is designed for the person that wants something different—something in the flair of high fashion runway and editorial styling. At the encouragement of a boutique my items are in, I’m also working on a line of chain link belts as well. In addition, I’m also expanding into men’s jewelry as this seems to be a largely ignored market.”

4.   What inspires your jewelry designs?

“I have several friends that are clothing designers, and they provide the most inspiration for new pieces. Working with them forces me out of my comfort zone, encouraging me to explore new concepts. It also created deadlines for me as we often do runway shows and photo shoots that require new pieces—there’s nothing like a deadline to keep me up half the night twisting wire! I watch fashion editorial spreads very closely and keep my eyes glued to websites like Women’s Wear Daily, Vogue Italia, and Elle.”

5.   Can people find your jewelry locally at any stores or boutiques?

“Yes, my jewelry is sold at Blue Bird Boutique, located at 1300 Washington Avenue in downtown St. Louis.”

6.   You recently participated in the RAW: Discovery event here in St. Louis. Tell us about your experience with that.

“It was crazy!! RAW provides an exhibit platform for independent artists to showcase their work in an event setting alongside multiple other artists. The focus is a celebration of creativity–while increasing sales and exposure for those artists!  There were close to 1,000 attendees the night of Discovery, so it was very busy! One of my friends, who is also a jewelry designer from St. Louis, won the accessories category for the entire country last year during the RAW Awards competition. I hope STL can bring it home again this year!”

7.   What types of accessories should people be on the look-out for in Spring 2013?

“Cuffs and bangle bracelets are still very hot for this Spring, as are statement necklaces—long necklaces are still very popular—and the longer the better!  Making a revival in jewelry this year is the 80’s inspired earrings. I’m seeing tons of huge geometric earrings on the runway and in fashion magazines.  Hot colors for this spring are: Emerald Green, Dusk Blue, Lemon Zest, Poppy Red, Tender Shoots (which is a bright lemon-lime) and Nectarine. Monaco Blue is also very popular this year. Mixed metals are also trendy in jewelry, handbags, and footwear.”

8.   What is your favorite accessory?

“I’m a necklace fiend!  I’m not dressed unless I have one on. I’m also a shoe and handbag fanatic.”

9.   You mentioned some of your other projects. You are also a make-up artist and a model scout for The Network. Where can people find your information should they be interested in one of those?

“I stay very busy LOL! When I’m not at Mills, I’m usually in the studio for Toni Models/The Network—usually doing makeup and assisting with scouting. The Network is an association of 40 top modeling agencies, under the direction of Paul Fisher, one of the premiere agents in the world. Check out The Network Community and toni.modasphere.com.

I also have a tab on my website, northernlightsjewelry.com, for my makeup artistry. You can also find it on Facebook under All Hail The Queen Makeup Artistry. I do everything from bridal and special event to editorial.”

10.   Your plug: Tell us every place people can find your jewelry?

11.   Keeping with the last question tradition, a shout out for Mills Properties: What interests you most about the work that you do here?

“I like being able to assist people through a huge transition in their lives. Most people do not enjoy moving to a new home and I find that I like being able to make it a bit easier. I also love how supportive Mills and my management team are in helping me reach my goals and my team’s goals.”

Northern Lights Jewelry Gallery:

Last Friday was Mills-A-Palooza at Dave & Buster’s and what a blast! Great food, delicious cake, tons of prizes including a digital camera, laptop, iPad mini, Kindle Fire, tons of gift cards, and a 32″ flat screen tv. More importantly, a huge group of amazing people getting together and having a fantastic time!

Congratulations to the Orange Otter Enforcers for winning the Scavenger Hunt and being crowned the newest Rockin’ Regional Team of the Year!

A huge thank you to all of our Mills associates for their hard work in making 2012 a spectacular year. Can’t wait for next year! Who will win the Rockin’ Regional Trophy next??

Check out photos of the event:

Peachtree Apartments, featuring both 1 and 2 bedroom garden apartments and town homes is a pet friendly community boasting amenities such as: full size washer & dryer connections, vaulted ceilings, fireplaces, walk-in closets plus additional storage spaces, free covered parking, sauna and Jacuzzi, tennis and basketball courts, swimming pool and 24-hour fitness center. The community currently offers both traditional 1 and 2 bedroom apartments and recently updated apartments with features including: stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops, wood-look flooring and new wood cabinets.

We’re very excited to welcome Peachtree Apartments to the Mills Properties family, which has been a recognized leader in the multifamily industry for over 30 years, currently managing approximately 11,000 units. For additional information about Mills Properties, visit www.millsapartments.net.

The store will be approximately 38,000 square feet and will reflect the company’s mission of supporting sustainable agriculture and the environment. With a focus on fresh, organic fruits and vegetables, specialty items, high-quality meats and poultry, everyday pantry staples and sustainable seafood, the store will appeal to a variety of customers ranging from the health conscious to serious food enthusiasts.

Whole Foods Market estimates that the new store will add approximately 150 additional jobs in the St. Louis market.  The company has been named by Fortune magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in the U.S. for 16 consecutive years.

“We’re overjoyed about the opportunity to further serve the St. Louis market,” comments Michael Bashaw, Whole Foods Market Midwest Regional President. “We’re incredibly excited to be expanding our brand and offering our wide selection of high quality natural and organic products to the Central West End community.”

Community support is one of the company’s core values and Whole Foods Market has a history of establishing a commitment to each of the communities it serves. Quarterly Community Support Days, where 5 percent of one-day’s sales are donated to a local nonprofit organization, are one of the most successful company programs. Other community support programs include One Dime at a Time, where customers can opt to have their 10¢ bag refund donated to a nonprofit organization, as well as daily donations to local food banks.

“This new location will allow us to deepen our connections within the St. Louis community,” Bashaw comments. “We look forward to building strong relationships with our neighborhood partners in the Central West End.”

Thank you for making 2012 a fantastic year!!  Go Mills!

Rising Star of the Year:

Melissa Flieg, West End Terrace

Jeff Peterson, Southpointe 

Employee of the Year corporate:

Jessica Herzog

Multi-Site Supervisor of the Year

Mike Brewer

Property Manager of the Year (1-200):

Steve Krajczar, West End Terrace

Tobi Colls, Pear Tree

Property Manager of the Year (201-400):

Nicole Strand, The Laurel

Sara Hasser, Village Green

Property Manager of the Year (401+):

Jamie Bryan, West Pointe

Assistant Manager of the Year (1-200)

Ashley Wilson, Boulder Springs

Assistant Manager of the Year (201-400):

Jessica Ferguson, The Laurel

Laurie Rahmberg, Waterford Manors

Assistant Manager of the Year (401+):

Cheryl Drew, Pavilion

Teneisha Caceres, CityView

Leasing Specialist of the Year (201-400):

Meaghan Weaver, Waterford Manors

Adrienne Moore, Heatherton

Leasing Specialist of the Year (401+):

Yavonne Mack, Oak Park

Ben Merlati, Pavilion

Maintenance Supervisor of the Year (1-200):

Roy Branscum, Waterford Square

Bryan Hennen, New Town

Maintenance Supervisor of the Year (201-400):

Cedric Young, Heatherton

Tim Dulaney, Stanford Place

Maintenance Supervisor of the Year (401+):

Gerald Keppel, Kirkwood Bluffs

Maintenance Technician of the Year (1-200):

Timothy Higgins, Stanford Place

Maintenance Technician of the Year (201-400):

Ray Harris, Heatherton

Maintenance Technician of the Year (401+):

Jimmy Cunningham, Kirkwood Bluffs

Grounds Person of the Year (1-200)

Geoffrey Wright, Oaks on Bonhomme

Tom Thurman, Stanford Place

Grounds Person of the Year (201-400)

John Martin, Village Green

Marlin Keeton, Courtyards at Cityside

Grounds Person of the Year (401+)

David Kuncio, Kirkwood Bluffs

John Morice, Pavilion

Property of the Year Pre 2000 (1-200): West End Terrace & Windsor Townhomes

Property of the Year Post 2000 (201-400): The Laurel

Property of the Year Pre 2000 (201-400): Heatherton

Property of the Year Pre 2000 (400+): Pavilion

Marketing Campaign of the Year: RealLifeSTL

Management Company: Mills Properties

Ryan has a passion for people, honesty and St. Louis, and it shows. It shows every day in his role at The Laurel, in his eagerness to help residents, prospects and his fellow team members. But it doesn’t end after he clocks out, it extends into every piece of his life. And because of his knowledge and passion for the community, he has been recognized and rewarded as a valuable resource in the world of internet and social media in St. Louis.

Here’s what Ryan had to say about his projects, passion, awards…and a little bit about his pet peeves:

1. When did you create iLoveSoulard.com and why?

Aug 16, 2010. I thought I could fill a valuable niche. I wanted a singular place that people could go to find unique information and stuff about Soulard. I always read a key to getting people to read what you write is to focus on a niche you know. This is my niche.

2. What are the Top 3 Soulard events everyone should attend and why?

Mardi Gras is just an awesome series of great events and I recommend all of them. There’s also the Crawfish Boil, which is a great neighborhood event in the Summer.

3. Where do you get inspiration for your blog posts?

For iLoveSoulard I just get my ideas from the neighborhood. I try to think what I would want to see if someone else were running the show.

4. You’ve won a couple of awards. I know you’re not the bragging type, but I’d love to hear more about those.

I won the 2012 RFT Web Award for Best Neighborhood Blog for iLoveSoulard.com, which was pretty sweet. Then iLoveSoulard won Reader’s Pick for St. Louis Magazine’s A-List, which was also pretty cool. Most recently, I was asked to be one of the judges for the 2013 RFT Web Awards. That was a fun experience.

5. If you could spend the day interviewing and hanging out with one person, who would it be and why?

Anna Kendrick or Mindy Kaling. I have this goal in life to date a celebrity and I’m pretty confident that I could sweep either one off her feet given some time.

6. In terms of the internet/social media world-what do you consider your greatest achievement to date?

I once overheard someone in Soulard say that they moved to Soulard after reading iLoveSoulard and seeing how awesome the neighborhood is. Hearing her say that was really cool. I’ve also run into other people who read the blog or have read my column in the Soulard Renaissance. That column would never have happened without the blog. 

7. You have a lot of social media pet peeves. Why is that?

Someone once told me that social media is a lot like riding a bicycle: “anyone can do it but only a few can do it well.” She actually used something different than bicycle which I had to change, but the idea is the same. There are a lot of little things that people screw up because they either don’t know better or don’t care.

8. You recently started a new project: Welcome2STL. What is this project all about and what made you start it?

Originally I started that project to give people an outlet to share their love for St. Louis. I got a few really good essays and I want to get back into getting more. I have recently started another project as well though: STLHistory. I got an idea for this after going to the Missouri History Museum. I found the exhibits on St. Louis really cool but lacking. Lots of great things have happened in St. Louis and you could easily fill a museum with important and historic people, places and events. Plenty of quirky things have also been a part of St. Louis history that should be immortalized if you will.

9. What is the most important piece of advice you have for someone who is interested in starting their own blog?

Use proper English and don’t use exclamation marks. Besides that, I’ll refer to my answer to your first question regarding why I started iLoveSoulard.

10. You have to choose one: Footloose or Step Up?

Are we talking Kevin Bacon Footloose or the remake? And are we talking Step Up the original or Step Up 2: The Streets? Then again, Step Up: Revolution was pretty cool. I would have to go with the original Footloose with Kevin Bacon overall.

In keeping with the last question tradition: A shout out for Mills Properties – What interests you most about the work that you do?

Working with the residents of the building has been really awesome. I love talking to people and finding out more about what people do in their daily lives and their interests. I like the challenge of figuring out how to market the property too.

*Ryan is the creator and sole writer for iLoveSoulard.com. He is one of 12 bloggers for RealLifeSTL.com. He started Welcome2StL.com and has let it trail off a bit, but says he has plans for it.  He handles social media for The Laurel Apartments and does some social media consulting work on the side. His newest project is STLHistory.com.