Red Willow Estates
To create happy, healthy circles that grow a vibrant community. That is the mission that guides the vital MLCV subsidiary of the Mille Lacs Tribal Economy Investments business lane, Circle Sage Property Management. Their achievements in workforce housing gleam with particular importance in the current economy — the intention is to cultivate affordable housing properties purposefully located where residents can efficiently work and prosper. Their residences are designed to enhance and sustain well-being while closing the area’s housing shortage gap, removing the crutch of lengthy commutes, and thus supporting the community to stick together, build relationships, and grow.
Circle Sage Property Management Assets
Lady Luck Estates is a 28-unit townhome in Hinckley that began leasing in 2018. Red Willow Estates is a 30-unit townhome property currently under construction in Onamia, with leasing underway and an anticipated completion date of June 2023. At the same time, plans to construct an apartment complex named Sugar Maple Crossing in Hinckley are in motion. Circle Sage manages and operates several other real estate property assets, including the MLCV HQ building, Hinckley Medical Office building, Hinckley Mill Place, and Hinckley Lodge. Each function with the common attribute of creating opportunities.
Red Willow Estates, mid-construction
Red Willow Estates
Marked as Circle Sage’s second affordable housing property, upcoming Red Willow Estates residents can expect numerous quality-of-life-boosting attributes that lead the way in rural Minnesota housing. Amenities include ADA-compliant units, a community picnic and fireplace space, tenant gardens, a basketball court, a playground, and more. Aside from tangible qualities, the neighborhood was thoughtfully placed near the Soo Line Trail and many work connections, including Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Eddy’s Resort — to name a few. With leasing now underway, those with interest can apply.
Lady Luck Estates
More Than a Home
The community workforce housing ventures of MLCV and Circle Sage began in 2018 to fight against the local housing challenges for Tribal and non-Tribal citizens. The pursuits taken have furthered thinking beyond a place to call home.
Building safe and affordable housing in the Mille Lacs Tribal Economy enriches the prosperity of others, allowing for better job possibilities, increased mental wellness, and job performance, which turns into successful profit-building transpiring back into the economy to power Mille Lacs Band Government Services, which work to support Mille Lacs Band Community Members. It is a full-circle mission — and wouldn’t be possible without the Circle Sage Team.
The Circle Sage Team
We connected with the Circle Sage team to learn more about their roles in the company, what inspires their efforts, and their goals for the future. A repeated theme in our conversation was the interconnectedness of the unit. Each role depends on the other; without one, the team wouldn’t be whole. This wholesomeness echoes the organization’s mission.
Patricia Bittner, Portfolio Manager
Patricia Bittner, Portfolio Manager
Patricia lives the Circle Sage mission through and through. Her placement as Portfolio Manager puts her in an opportunistic position to develop those around her — and does she ever. Patricia identifies her role as a leader first and demonstrates servant leadership to all she encounters. Her open-door policy and meet you where you are strategy helps her to build and maintain honest relationships with her Associates. Patricia’s natural-born leadership shines over into her managerial and operational duties, such as constructing leasing documents, expense control, and beyond. She believes her people-centered skills will guide her future with the company — but we think her stop-at-nothing work ethic will, too, play a role.
Julius Aubid, Property Manager
Julius Aubid, Property Manager
He’s a no-brainer asset to the organization. Titled Property Manager, Julius handles the ins and outs of Circle Sage’s property needs, including compliance reporting, inspections, financials, enforcing policies and procedures, and so much more. Currently, his priorities lie in the qualification process for Red Willow Estates — though he explains how he has total involvement in Lady Luck Estates and assists in the commercial properties, too. Julius has an evident passion for his role’s tasks, but even more so for the families, he helps house. He carries this passion into his Business Management schooling and hopes to continue it within an upper management position or with the MLBO Housing Department.
Corey Wind, Senior Maintenance Engineer
The road under the MLCV umbrella has been long, though with it, a couple of winding curves. Having started with Grand Casino Mille Lacs as a groundskeeper and loading dock personnel 25 years ago, Corey has held successful facilities management positions leading up under Circle Sage arms as Senior Maintenance Engineer. The mantra “research, repair, repeat” drives his day. From plumbing to flooring to appliance troubleshooting — Corey can and does do it all, and diversity is one of his many loves of the job.
Sonny Vizenor, Maintenance Engineer 2
Sonny Vizenor, Maintenance Engineer 2
As a Mille Lacs Band Member, Sonny describes his role as a purpose to give back, helping all those who have helped him along the way. His position begins with overseeing various maintenance repairs at Circle Sage Management properties but ends with forming and maintaining relationships with each tenant and person he meets. Sonny shares abundant gratitude and joy at having an opportunity to be a reliable individual who solves problems for others daily. He expresses the loyalty Circle Sage and MLCV bestow on him and mimics the same, with dreams of growing with the organization indefinitely.
Brandon Rybak, Janitorial Maintenance Specialist
As a Janitorial Maintenance Specialist, Brandon is responsible for ensuring the many touch points of the MLCV HQ Building are clean and organized. In a role that provides detailed services that many office-goers take for granted day-to-day, Brandon’s pure enthusiasm for his work is activated by those very people. His goals of attending college with forecasted career paths of property management or maintenance are told with excitement, motivated by this exact position.
Rachel Wind, Janitorial Maintenance Specialist
Rachel Wind, Janitorial Maintenance Specialist
Rachel’s role focuses on providing janitorial services to the MLCV HQ Building while learning about additional facilities maintenance needs. She explains this position as a boost of support and character building along her journey of attending college for Psychology. Rachel finds as much value in her work as she brings to the team — with a special emphasis on MLCV’s seven values and behaviors.
This article was written by Hannah Torkelson, MLCV’s Brand Communication Specialist. Hannah is a storyteller and is responsible for capturing great moments within MLCV’s portfolio.