Some people play it safe, but others know that big wins only come to those willing to take a risk. Property manager Alexa Bridges is one of those risk takers. In April 2023, she stepped into City Walk at Woodbury in Minneapolis with success all but guaranteed.
City Walk, the third largest property in our portfolio, was sitting at just 51% occupancy. But Alexa refused to fold under the pressure. With the help of our systems and processes, and support from partner and senior director Michelle Murphy and partner and sales lead Tanja Carter, the team completely rebuilt City Walk, which now sits at 97% occupancy.
With that challenge conquered, Alexa was ready for a fresh start. She’s in the same city but focused on a new goal: positioning Dock Street Flats for sale.
Loop recently caught up with Alexa to learn more about her journey.
Tell us about yourself.
I was born in Ukiah, California, but I’ve lived all over—Missouri, New York, Florida, Colorado, New Jersey, D.C., and now Minnesota. I live with my boyfriend, Kevin, and our two fur babies, Red and Boots.
When I’m not working, I love tackling projects around my house, watching Formula 1 racing and playing board games, card games or any game requiring strategy. I actually was a professional gambler while I was in college. I played craps, baccarat, black jack and poker. My biggest winnings in a single night were over $100,000!
Are there any skills from the professional gambling world that help you in your role now?
Absolutely! First, there’s long-term thinking. In poker, sometimes you know you’ve got the worst hand, but you have to stay in the game to see how the cards play out. You learn when to take a loss, because in the long run, that’s how you win.
Discipline is another skill that I think transfers. Knowing when to walk away and keeping your cool under pressure is everything.
But I would say the most important skill is reading people and situations. When you’re gambling, you only have a few seconds to get a read on someone. It’s the same when touring a unit or trying to get a renewal. You’re constantly picking up on cues and adjusting your approach.
What have been some of your favorite moments at The Connor Group?
Having the privilege of seeing Tanja make partner is definitely at the top of the list. She worked hard and seeing such well-deserved reward and recognition in person was a special moment.
Also, this might sound crazy, but the late-night cleaning “parties” at City Walk stick out to me as well. We had 63 move-ins in a single month, but found a way to turn it into a way to bond as a team. We were exhausted, but somehow, it was fun. And we still kept our customer service move-in experience score above 4.5.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced since you started?
Spending 18 months at one property, building out the right systems, developing a strong team, putting in late nights, and then starting all over again at a new property. It’s a big reset, and definitely the biggest challenge I’ve faced to date. I just had to remind myself that part of our model is to buy and sell properties, so this might be the first time I am restarting, but it is not going to be the last!
Who has helped you along the way?
When I have questions, I call Michelle and she will walk me through it. When I need save strategy ideas to bounce off someone, Tanja is my girl. Whenever I need advice, help with QUACKs, or reassurance Danielle Labatte, Kim Frelich and Paige Thomson are there for me.
We might not be at the same property anymore but it doesn’t matter where any of us are. We are going to help each other be successful. When you build the right team around you, overcoming obstacles becomes that much easier.
The people are my favorite part of what I get to do everyday; watching my team come together to achieve a goal, and needing every person to make it happen. There can be blood, sweat and tears (some cry more than others, you know who you are) but everyone has a must-do attitude and refuses to let anyone down.