The Brief

In this episode of The Brief, Aubrey Albrecht talks with Erin Fransen, Chief Operating Officer and Principal at Timberland Partners and current Board Chair of MHA. Their conversation covers Erin’s path into multifamily, what it’s like to lead in a family-founded business, how EOS shapes Timberland’s operations, and what she sees ahead for the future of housing. After the break, Denise and Logan as...

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan dig into the September/October 2024 issue of The Advocate; The Other Value Add. They explore why professional education may be one of the smartest investments a housing provider can make. From Learning & Development as a business strategy to fair housing, onboarding, maintenance training, and lifelong learning, the conversation connects staff deve...

In this episode of The Brief, Aubrey Albrecht, the show’s managing producer, talks with Lisa Marvin, CEO and Partner at Essence Property Management, Mayor of St. Stephen, Minnesota, past Board Chair of MHA, and a respected industry leader who teaches across the state and across the country. The conversation offers a candid look at the realities of work in multi-housing right now, with insight on l...

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan examine research from the Minnesota Housing Stability Coalition on distress in affordable housing. Drawing from quantitative analysis, qualitative interviews, and resident perspectives, they explore what happens when affordable properties face rising costs, staffing strain, safety concerns, and growing service needs. The conversation looks at why this...

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan dig into the latest issue of The Advocate, Minnesota Solutions. They explore how Minnesota’s biggest challenges, housing supply, workforce shortages, education outcomes, demographic shifts, and long-term economic competitiveness, are no longer separate conversations. The episode highlights the key takeaways listeners should know, including why housing...

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan revisit the November/December 2024 issue of Multi Housing Advocate, The State of Taxes, and explore what’s changed in 2026. With federal tax cuts extended but Minnesota ranking near the bottom nationally in tax competitiveness according to the 2026 Minnesota Chamber Business Benchmarks Report, the conversation connects state income and corporate tax r...

In this interview-style episode of The Brief, longtime Minnesota housing provider Bill Cullen shares his experience during Minnesota’s COVID-era eviction moratorium and why he ultimately became the sole plaintiff in a federal lawsuit challenging the policy. Bill reflects on the realities housing providers faced during the pandemic, including a disruptive situation at one of his apartment buildings...

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan break down the March/April issue of Multi Housing Advocate, Smarter Centralization, highlighting how operators are redesigning roles, leveraging AI and automation, and building more intentional operating models. Featuring insights from leaders at EliseAI, Centerspace, Hornig Companies, SmartRent, Weidner Apartment Homes, and Saturday Properties, the e...

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan revisit a 2023 Advocate article by housing provider Laura Russ and researcher Jenny Schuetz that outlined three foundational goals for Minnesota’s housing future: increase supply, preserve existing housing, and directly support residents with the greatest barriers. Now in 2026, they reflect on how those recommendations have aged in light of recent Fed...

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan spotlight two key opportunities for Minnesota’s multi-housing professionals: the 2026 MADACS Call for Entries and the 2026 Working Together Conference. They break down major MADACS updates — including the new VideoAsk interview format, removal of the one-year time-in-role requirement, and the step-by-step entry guide — and share how members can use mi...

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan revisit the January/February 2024 issue of The Advocate—Our Other Residents—to explore why the trend of treating pets as family in rental housing isn’t going anywhere. From loneliness and emotional support animals to pet-forward design, policy enforcement, and fair housing compliance, the conversation highlights how animals increasingly shape leasing...

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan unpack the concept of housing filtering—how new market-rate housing sets off a chain of moves that can ease pressure across the entire housing market. Grounded in real research and Minnesota-specific examples, the conversation breaks down why supply matters, how filtering actually works in practice, and what it means for affordability in the Twin Citi...

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan explore the March/April 2025 Advocate issue, " Safe at Home "—what safety really looks like in multifamily right now. From de-escalation and staff-first safety culture to resident partnerships, cost-smart security tech, and civic engagement, they break down what’s changing and what it means for your work today. 📅 Education Calendar: mmha.com/Educatio...

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan revisit the March/April 2023 Housing Solutions issue of The Advocate—the one MHA hand-delivered to every Minnesota lawmaker. They unpack modular construction’s speed and cost advantages, Rochester’s Unified Development Code, research-backed policy goals from Aeon/Brookings, strategies to narrow racial homeownership gaps, and more! 📅 Upcoming Events:...

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan dive into the January/February 2026 issue of Multi Housing Advocate, titled Building EQ, focusing on emotional intelligence as a practical, operational skill in multifamily housing. The conversation explores how EQ shows up under pressure—from de-escalation and maintenance interactions to leasing and trauma-informed management—and why these skills mat...

In this episode of The Brief, Aubrey interviews MHA Board Chair Jennifer Gordon on leading with clarity: EOS Traction in practice, decision-making under pressure, and turning new tools—like mihra—into lasting habits. Denise and Logan also spotlight ACRM (Advanced Certified Residential Manager), MHA’s cohort program for experienced pros, including the next cohort launch on January 20, 2026. 👥MHA’s...

In this episode of The Brief, MHA President & CEO Cecil Smith and Vice President of Government Affairs & COO Todd Liljenquist unpack the Minneapolis and Saint Paul 2021 rent control ballot fights—how the questions showed up on the ballots, MHA’s “Think Twice” coalition and $5M campaign, election-night results, and what’s happened since (from construction slowdowns to policy reassessments)....

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan unpack the 2025 Survey of Minnesota Business Services Firms—what it signals for 2026 planning: steady demand, tighter margins, and ways to keep teams productive without squeezing residents. They translate the data into practical moves—clearer scopes, smarter sequencing, and a few durable ops metrics—then spotlight MHA’s online, on-demand training in W...

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan dig into the “Maintenance Matters” issue of The Advocate—how to use AI on the maintenance front lines, decide when to refresh vs. renovate, control expenses without cutting corners, and “think like an inspector” to prevent low-cost citations before they happen. They also ask mihra about finding a window-repair vendor and highlight upcoming year-end ma...

We’re rewinding to " Diving into Debt ", the May/June 2025 issue of The Advocate for a closer look at debt in the multi-housing industry. From rising interest rates to shifting market forces, Denise and Logan unpack what’s fueling financial pressure, where the biggest risks are, and what housing providers can do to stay ahead. It’s a fast, focused breakdown of the numbers—and the stories—they tell...

In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan unpack MetroSight's study Behind the High Cost of Rent, translating the findings into clear takeaways for housing professionals: how source-of-income rules, eviction measures, and screening limits can raise operating costs and risk, and why consistent statewide policy can stabilize investment and affordability. 📊 MetroSight's Behind the High Cost of...

The " Rocks and Sludge in Multifamily " issue of The Advocate takes a hard look at the “rocks” that drive our industry forward—and the “sludge” that slows us down. In this episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan break down the key takeaways, from strategic priorities to the everyday obstacles that impact multi-housing professionals. Get the highlights, insights, and a clear picture of what’s shapin...

In the debut episode of The Brief, Denise and Logan tour the AI-themed issue of The Advocate, distilling the biggest ideas—from agentic AI to real-world workflows—into clear takeaways for multi-housing professionals right now. 📜 MHA Certification Programs: mmha.com/Certifications 🏗 Rochester Area Building Communities Conference: mmha.com/Education/Building-Communities 🤖 Ask mihra: mmha.com/mihra...

Your new go-to podcast for insights, updates, and conversations shaping Minnesota’s multi-housing industry is almost here! The Brief brings you the key takeaways from The Advocate, upcoming event highlights, and quick answers from mihra—your industry’s AI assistant. Stay tuned for our first full episode launching September 5th! 🏢 Join MHA: mmha.com/Membership 🤖 Meet mihra: mmha.com/mihra   🏦 Th...