Tailwind Group has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2025 honor by Minnesota Top Workplaces. This list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures the employee experience and its component themes, including employees feeling Respected & Supported, Enabled to Grow, and Empowered to Execute, to name a few.

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”

ABOUT ENERGAGE
Making the world a better place to work together.™

Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 18 years of culture research and the results from 27 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.

Tailwind Group is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Tailwind Group Scholarship Program, which was launched earlier this year to support and empower employees pursuing higher education. Designed to recognize exceptional team members who embody our organizational values, the program offers financial assistance to help ease the burden of educational costs.

“At Tailwind Group, we’re committed to fighting for the highest possible good of our team members,” said Lane Gravley, Chief People Officer. “This program is a meaningful way to invest in the future of our people while celebrating their hard work!”

In partnership with the Mankato Area Foundation, Tailwind Group conducted a thorough review process to identify individuals who excel in their roles and demonstrate leadership, innovation, and community impact. We are excited to announce this year’s inaugural recipients:

First Class Scholarship

The First-Class Scholarship is our premier scholarship, awarded annually to one employee who goes above and beyond for their community and peers while embodying our core values every day. We are excited to announce that the $5,000 scholarship recipient is Yeeshai Valdivia.

Yeeshai is a Security Officer at The Quarters Iowa City and attends the University of Iowa, where he studies Industrial Engineering. His goal is to work in automotive manufacturing and eventually become a Plant Manager.

When asked about Yeeshai and the impact he has made on the property, Katie Lippincott, Property Manager, said, “Yeeshai goes above and beyond his duties by volunteering to help with trash pickup, providing extra ‘manpower’ during evictions or turnovers, and always does it with a positive attitude. His balance of full-time school, military duties, and a full-time job impresses me as his manager, and I’m proud of his development and commitment this last year!”

Entrepreneurial Spirit Scholarship

The Entrepreneurial Spirit Scholarship is awarded annually to two employees who demonstrate excellence in their work and consistently bring new ideas. We are excited to announce that the following employees are recipients of these $2,500 scholarships:

• Naqib Ahmed is a corporate Graphic Design Specialist. He is pursuing a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing at the University of the Cumberlands.

• Emily Lorius is a Marketing Assistant at LivRed/The Quarters Lincoln and is pursuing a Master of Architecture and a Master of Business at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Innovator Scholarship 

The Innovator Scholarship is awarded yearly to five employees who refuse to be outhustled and consistently bring their best to their job. We are excited to announce that the following employees are recipients of these $1,000 scholarships:

• Olivia Cahoon is a Community Assistant at The Quarters Manhattan. She is pursuing a degree in Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology with a minor in Gerontology at Kansas State University.

• Brooke Gappa serves as a Community Assistant at The Quarters Vermillion. She is pursuing a Marketing and Business Management degree at the University of South Dakota.

• Colby Miller is a Maintenance Technician at College Town Mankato. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Professional Flight with a minor in Geography at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

• Neely Nordstrom serves as a Community Assistant at The Quarters Ames. She is pursuing a degree in Psychology and minoring in Philosophy, Human Development, and Family Studies.

• Brianna Pfeifer is a Community Assistant at Altitude Wichita. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Wichita State University.

The Senior Leadership Team congratulates all the scholarship recipients and is honored to support their growth and academic endeavors.

One of the focuses of Tailwind Group’s mission is to give back to the communities we serve. During the month of April, our corporate and on-site teams were challenged and encouraged to volunteer in meaningful ways within their respective communities. From organizing food drives and helping at animal shelters to cleaning up parks and partnering with various nonprofit organizations, our team members demonstrated compassion and dedication to their communities.

Highlights of Service Projects:

• Donations of bedding, towels, décor, and other essentials were given to a local homeless shelter in Iowa City, IA
• Volunteering at local animal shelters in Vermillion, SD, Columbus, OH, and Stillwater, OK
• Area Park clean-ups in Oxford, MS, College Station, TX, and Mankato, MN
• Essential hygiene items were donated to the SAFE House (helping victims of domestic violence and sexual assault) in Huntsville, TX
• Time was spent at area shelters, daycares, schools, and Boys & Girls Clubs in Fayetteville, AR, Oxford, MS, Starkville, MS, Lincoln, NE, East Lansing, MI, and Mankato, MN

These acts of kindness and generosity not only strengthened our relationships with each other but also had a profound impact on the lives of people in the communities we serve. Witnessing so many team members step out of their daily routines to make a positive difference was truly inspiring.

Thank you to all Tailwind Group team members who participated, organized, and supported these volunteer efforts. Your time, energy, and passion reflect who we are as an organization.

Together, we can make a difference!

(Mankato, MN) Tailwind Group is pleased to announce the hiring of Casey Petersen, who will serve as the organization’s Chief Operating Officer (COO).

With a proven track record in the student housing industry, Petersen brings extensive experience in all facets of leadership, operations, business development, strategic growth, and driving organizational efficiency. Prior to joining Tailwind Group, he most recently served as PeakMade Real Estate’s COO, where he was responsible for all aspects of the operating platform, including marketing, leasing, training, property management operations, and support functions.

Petersen will work as part of Tailwind Group’s Executive Leadership Team. He will lead and manage the core operational teams, utilizing his unique skillset and experience to drive operational performance and maximize value at each asset. Casey’s role will be critical as Tailwind continues to grow and scale its real estate portfolio and operational teams, specifically in student housing. “I’ve been admiring the organization from the sidelines for the past several years and am super impressed with everything that has been accomplished. In speaking with the leadership team, I know that we are closely aligned in our view that people – customers, partners, or team members – are the center point of any successful company in our business. I’m excited to join the team and be a part of leading the next chapter of the Tailwind story,” commented Petersen.

Tailwind Group’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Brandon Smith, commented, “I could not be more excited to bring Casey in as our COO. His track record of leadership and operational excellence is something that I have observed and been impressed with for the past several years, as we have competed in many similar markets.”

Smith continued, “As I have gotten to know Casey, I am confident that he will grow and enhance Tailwind Group’s workplace culture, which is our top priority. He is a “people first” leader but also brings a tenacity and vision that will be crucial to our ongoing growth and objectives.”

(Mankato, MN) Tailwind Group is pleased to announce its recent hire of Jacob Ouradnik, who will serve as the organization’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

Ouradnik is an experienced finance and accounting executive with various experiences in business and individual tax planning, 1031 exchanges, real estate and business structure formation, and financial review. He most recently served as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Partner at one of the top accounting firms in the Midwest, where he primarily serviced clients in the real estate industry. Tailwind Group had previously been one of Ouradnik’s key clients for several years.

Ouradnik will work as CFO alongside the Principals and the Executive Leadership Team. He will oversee the corporate finance, accounting, and data analytics teams, guide all financial operations for Tailwind Group, and play a pivotal role in shaping its financial strategy and supporting its long-term objectives. “I am thrilled to join an organization that heavily emphasizes their culture and lives by a very entrepreneurial mindset. Working as a service provider for Tailwind allowed me to meet many team members and see how the company functions from a distance. I cannot wait to be actively involved in the future of Tailwind and the great opportunities that lie ahead,” commented Ouradnik.

Tailwind Group’s CEO, Brandon Smith, commented, “We are ecstatic to welcome Jake to the team. He is an accomplished financial leader who is already familiar with Tailwind Group’s entities and real estate portfolio. He has a strong track record of developing and implementing strategic initiatives and is a great leader of people. We look forward to working together and know his contributions to Tailwind Group will be significant.”

Smith continued, “Jake will play a pivotal role as we continue to grow and scale our real estate portfolio and develop our team members.”