Wednesday November 01, 2023
November is a time for Being thankful
by Steven Parker, PresidentThe changing leaves, cooler weather, and the anticipation of spending time with family during the holiday season reminds us of the importance of being thankful. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to reflect on some of the reasons why we have so much to be thankful for.
First and foremost, I want to thank you for your tireless commitment to service excellence and continuous improvement. You are what sets FirstService Residential ahead of our competition. We are also thankful for the friendships we've built in the office and in our communities, the opportunities we've seized, and the challenges we've overcome together.
As we approach the holiday season, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the things that make you thankful. Share your gratitude with those around you, whether it's through simple acts of kindness, a warm smile, or a heartfelt thank-you note. Remember that gratitude has the power to uplift, inspire, and strengthen our bonds.
I'm thankful for all of you and for everything you do. I wish you a warm, joyful, and thankful November. May the spirit of gratitude continue to shine brightly, bringing us together and inspiring us to make a difference in the lives of others.
Deliver Exceptional Service
by Michael Quagrello, VP, Community & LifestyleAs this year comes to an end we will look at ways to DELIVER exceptional customer service. After making a great impression, showing empathy, and delighting our customers now it is time to live up to our commitments. Think about a time when you were expecting a package or food order to be delivered and it never showed up. How did that make you feel?

When companies fail to meet their customer’s expectations, they make us want to look elsewhere for our goods and services. When companies deliver on their promises it makes us want to come back and stay loyal. Here at FirstService Residential, we strive to DELIVER on our promises daily. When doing so our residents, board members and fellow associates will enjoy doing business with us.
Here are some helpful tips on how you can deliver every day.
- Respond Quickly
- Listen
- Be Creative
- Keep your Word
First, Service….Then Everything Else!
Benefits Open Enrollment Ends 11/10/23

Benefits Open Enrollment is LIVE!
Benefits Open Enrollment for 2024 is LIVE! You have until November 10th to make benefits elections for next year.
Which Group do you belong to?
- If you are not enrolled in our benefits plan, please review the Benefits Open Enrollment attachments and make the selections that best fit you and your family's needs.
- If you are enrolled in our benefits plan and do not have an FSA/HSA, your current elections will automatically roll over to next year unless you need to make changes.
- If you are enrolled in our benefits plan, have an FSA/HSA, and want to continue participating in these plans, you will need to actively elect your HSA or FSA contributions for 2024.
- 3% cost reduction across all dependent tiers.
- CVS Virtual Care will replace Teledoc. CVS Virtual Care provides a more integrated experience through the CVS Virtual Care mobile app. CVS Virtual Care offers greater access to providers for various types of care, including mental health.
- Aetna Enhanced Maternity Program supports expecting mothers throughout the entire pregnancy journey at no additional cost.
- New $10,000 lifetime infertility benefits through Aetna.
- The Enhanced Vision plan through VSP has been added and provides additional enhancements for eyewear for you and your family.
- The Long-Term Disability (LTD) monthly benefit maximum is increasing to $12,000, up from $10,000.
- 4% increase in Associate-Only tiers (that’s half of the 8% national average)
- The IRS has increased the minimum deductible requirements from $1500 to $1600 – CDHP 1500 and PPO 1500 are now CDHP 1600 and PPO 1600.
Consider your options. Review the Benefits Guide and premium information below. Then, think about your coverage needs and the options available to you. Determine which benefits make the most sense for you and your dependents.
How to Enroll OR Make Updates?
- Online: Visit www.myfsrbenefits.com. If you are logging in for the first time, you will need to click REGISTER and follow the prompts to set up a User ID, password and security questions. After logging in, click “CONTINUE” on the enrollment pop-up screen.
- Phone: Call the FirstService Residential Benefits Service Center at 833.347.7870 Monday through Friday, 5 am to 5 pm.
- Mobile app: Download the EmpyreanGO app. Search for FirstService Residential. Log in using the credentials you established on the desktop portal.
- Confirm your elections: After you complete your enrollment, view/print your confirmation statement, review it for accuracy and save it for your files.
Questions?
Contact the FirstService Residential Benefits Service Center at 833.347.7870 from Monday-Friday 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. or email your Nevada HR team at [email protected].
Associate Kudos Spotlight: Nichole Chapman
This month, we aim the spotlight on Community Associate Nichole Chapman in the Arville office. Check out Regional Director Samantha Katzakian's kudos to Nichole after receiving incredible feedback from a Stetson Ranch owner.
Thank you, Nichole for continuously delighting our customers each and every day! You continue to set the bar specifically with Global Service Standard 5. We respond to all communication with a sense of immediacy. When a resolution cannot be provided right away, we communicate a clear set of expectations and a timeline.
If you would like to give kudos to another associate who you feel goes above and beyond, please send your Associate Kudos to our Communications & Engagement Manager Chris Chavez at [email protected].
Laura Potter earns Certified Pool and Spa Maintenance Specialist Certification
Congratulations to Laura Potter, Maintenance Supervisor at Presidio in Northern Nevada for completing her CMS (Certified Pool and Spa Maintenance Specialist) certification.
Laura decided to pursue her CMS (Certified Pool and Spa Maintenance Specialist) certification because she loves to learn and expand her knowledge and capabilities, specifically in the realm of pool and spa maintenance. This certification offered a structured training program that allowed her to dive deep into her field allowing her to further gain maintenance expertise. Obtaining this certification allows her to take on tasks previously managed by third-party vendors, giving her greater control and competence in managing pool and spa maintenance.
The CMS Course involved 20-24 hours of coursework/training in safety, pool circulation and filtration, electrical systems, pool structures and finishes, heaters and controls, pool maintenance, water quality, and customer service. After her training, Laura had to pass a 75-question test to earn her Certification. In addition to earning her CMS certification, Laura also completed a Building Maintenance and Management course learning about building electrical maintenance, management principles, utilities, boilers, and general inspection and repair.
Congratulations Laura on these incredible accomplishments and thank you for your commitment to continuously improving your skills and your proactive approach to effectively maintaining and managing facilities.
Team FirstService Residential participates in the 5th Annual Dragon Boat Festival | October 17, 2023
On October 14th, Team FirstService Residential participated in the 5th Annual Dragon Boat Festival at Lake Las Vegas. Teams from around the world gathered to take part in the festivities and support local cancer patients. Team FirstService Residential faced off against some of the top corporate Dragon Boat teams in Las Vegas including the Wynn who brought three teams and Raising Canes Chicken Fingers. More than 900 people participated and more than $3000 was raised to benefit local cancer patients and survivors.
The All-Star Roster included a few of your FirstService favorites.
Team FirstService Residential Roster
Daniel Massella, North Las Vegas Community Manager
Brian Sarno, CAS Director of Operations
Rosella Mikolajzyk, Las Vegas Regional Accounting Manager
Leslie Hall, Las Vegas Community Associate
Justin Fertick, Nevada Regional Controller
Lisa Moore, CAS Administrative Assistant
Rafael Siguenza, Nevada Director of Human Resources
Susy Vasquez, Las Vegas Regional Director
Gina Masterson, Las Vegas Regional Director
Tom Reed, Vice President Client Accounting
Debra Caballero, Las Vegas Community Manager
Jackie Medrano, Las Vegas Senior Accountant
Trinity Medrano, Jackie Medrano's Daughter
Chris Chavez, Communications & Engagement Manager
At FirstService Residential, our Social Purpose is our commitment to creating a great workplace for all our associates and positively impacting the communities we serve. We encourage our associates to embody our core values outside the workplace by being genuinely helpful and doing what’s right while receiving the support they need to make a difference. Proceeds from the festival will benefit local cancer patients and survivors.