“TREEmendous” Organizations In Our Region
This past weekend, we celebrated Earth Day, an annual day dedicated to encouraging conversation and engagement around environmental sustainability.
Stirling Properties is a proud supporter of numerous environmental programs right here in the Gulf South region. Their work is critical to our success and makes our communities—where we live and work—stronger. In addition to corporate support, many of Stirling Properties’ employees and agents give their time and resources to charitable organizations that improve our environment.
So even though Earth Day has come and gone, we would like to spotlight a few organizations that make our region a little greener every day.
SOUL Nola (Sustaining Our Urban Landscape)
SOUL, a project of The Trust For Conservation Innovation, is dedicated to driving a resilient and equitable New Orleans through improving its water systems.
According to SOUL, New Orleans is the most deforested city in the United States. The group believes that a healthy and substantial urban forest is critical to New Orleans’ ability to live harmoniously with stormwater. Like gray infrastructure, such as canals and roads, the urban forest and other forms of green infrastructure must be built at a meaningful scale and properly integrated into the city. SOUL is dedicated to strategically reforesting New Orleans, one neighborhood at a time. This year, volunteers have planted 190 large native trees in the Mid-City and Algiers Point/Old Algiers neighborhoods of New Orleans, and are in a planning phase for additional areas.
Nola Tree Project
The mission of Nola Tree Project is to grow stronger, healthier communities through tree planting, community service, and disaster relief programs. Through initiatives such as Greaux Healthy Kids & Community Orchards, Urban Forestry Program, and Big TREEsy Giveaways, Nola Tree Project aims to improve the quality of life for our neighbors and communities. With the help of numerous volunteers, the organization has planted nearly 40,000 trees throughout the greater New Orleans area.
Friends of Lafitte Greenway
The Lafitte Greenway is a 2.6-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail and green corridor that connects neighborhoods from Armstrong Park to City Park in New Orleans, significantly transforming one of the most historic areas of New Orleans into a multi-use transportation corridor and linear park.
The Greenway includes a 12-foot asphalt path for cyclists and pedestrians, new recreation fields, green space, and landscaping improvements including approximately 500 shade trees, native plant meadows, bioswales and stormwater retention features. The path is fully lit with LED energy-efficient trail lighting and includes curb extensions, signalized high visibility crosswalks, ADA-compliant curb ramps at sidewalk corners, environmental remediation, a crushed stone walking path, and a bicycle and pedestrian roundabout. Friends of Lafitte Greenway plans to launch several new initiatives and projects throughout the Greenway that will include art installations, healthy living events, guided tours, community gardens, and much more. The organization and its members are working diligently to build, program, and promote the linear park as a great public space.
We salute these “TREEmendous” organizations for their contributions to our region. And we look forward to supporting and “growing” with them for many years to come.
#StirlingProud
Marty
Stirling Properties Lets the Good Times Roll!
Celebrates Team Members At Annual Stirling Honors Event
Stirling Properties commercial real estate company recently celebrated its 18th Annual Stirling Honors to recognize the successes and accomplishments of Team Stirling over the past year. The Stirling Honors luncheon was held at Fulton Alley in New Orleans. A Commercial Celebration Dinner was also organized to honor Commercial Agents and to grant Commercial Production Awards at The Chicory in New Orleans.
Tim Williamson, President of NOLA Media Group
Stirling Properties employees were treated to a reinvigorating day of motivational messages, great food, team-building interaction, and, of course, bowling! Tim Williamson, President of NOLA Media Group, delivered the keynote address. REINVENTION was the overall theme of the day, inspiring the activities throughout. Marty Mayer, Stirling Properties President & CEO, served as the event host and emcee and discussed the need for a company to continually reinvent itself to grow and stay relevant in an ever-changing industry. Playing off the adage, “When nothing is sure, anything is possible,” he stressed that amidst the backdrop of such uncertainty in the business climate, we must be innovative and transform our strategic process to create new opportunities for progress. 
Robin Hayles and Ellen McCain were acknowledged as recipients of Stirling Properties’ most prestigious honor, the Exceeding Excellence Award, for extraordinary employee actions and innovations that better the company. Exceeding Excellence Award recipients are nominated and selected by their co-workers. Commercial Award recipients received recognition for Bronze, Silver, Platinum, Diamond and Ruby production levels based on individual Adjusted Gross Commission figures for 2016. Special acknowledgment was given to Rhonda Sharkawy, Senior Retail Leasing and Development Executive in New Orleans, for being the Top Commercial Agent in 2016!
COMMERCIAL DIVISION AWARDS
Ruby Award:
Emerald Award:
Diamond Award:
Platinum Award:
Gold Award:
Silver Award:
Bronze Award:
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Also recognized were employees and agents who achieved special anniversaries with the company. Service Awards were given for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40-year milestones. A special presentation was prepared for Judy McKee, Vice-President of Human Resources, who celebrated 40 years of service with the company!
SERVICE AWARDS
5 Years of Service Jason Babin – Southpark Storage Roger Bajon – Covington, LA Office John Berges – New Orleans, LA Office Carolyn Ciarrocchi – Lafayette, LA Office Scott Macdonald – Baton Rouge, LA Office 10 Years of Service Carri Creel – Covington, LA Office Lindsey Palmer – Covington, LA Office Dawn Plaisance – Covington, LA Office Debra Sebastian – Metairie, LA Office Tara Slater – Covington, LA Office 15 Years of Service Rhonda Creel – Covington, LA Office Patrick Malik – Covington, LA Office Ellen McCain – Covington, LA Office Ryan Pecot – Lafayette, LA Office Jeanne Taravella – Covington, LA Office 20 Years of Service Charles Cornay – Lafayette, LA Office Bonnie Hoover – Metairie, LA Office 25 Years of Service John Arthurs – New Orleans, LA Office 30 Years of Service Marty Mayer – Covington, LA Office 35 Years of Service Donna Derokey – Covington, LA Office Michele Wallace – Covington, LA Office 40 Years of Service Judy McKee – Covington, LA Office
Forbes: New Orleans #1 for “Brainpower” in the USA
Another ranking was recently announced that reinforces the growing trend of New Orleans being one of the leading places for young people to locate. It is one of the most exciting transformations I have ever seen and one of the most encouraging signs for our future.
Forbes has ranked Greater New Orleans tied for first in America for growth in college grads from 2007 – 2012, earning the title #1 “Brainpower City” in the USA. The New Orleans metro gained 44,000 grads from 2007 to 2012, a 20.3% increase, nearly double the national average of 10.9%. The author of the article, Joel Kotkin, explains that Greater New Orleans is the leader of a broader national trend: “Unable to afford to settle long-term in traditional “brain centers,” educated people are increasingly looking for places that have strong economies but also many of the cultural and natural amenities associated with the traditional meccas for the educated.”
The Top 10 “Brainpower Cities” in the USA are:
1. New Orleans metro
1. San Antonio (tie)
3. Austin
4. Nashville
5. Louisville
6. Houston
7. Denver
8. Salt Lake City
9. Jacksonville
10. Raleigh
You can read the entire article here.
