Associate Spotlight: Megan Blaschka - General Manager

There is a definite parallel between multifamily and hospitality – it is about people and creating exceptional experiences. So, when Megan Blaschka, Quarterra General Manager, was approached to move into the multifamily industry, her transition was simple, smooth and significant. Today, she thrives in delivering top-notch experiences and helping her teams grow in their roles.

Let’s learn more about Megan and her love of working with Quarterra:

What is your official title and job description?

I am the General Manager of our Minneapolis region. In my role, I am the Community Manager at IndiGO BCS, but I also have the opportunity to assist and work closely with our other Minneapolis communities. I LOVE my job because I get to regularly connect with associates at our sister communities. Every day is different, but I get the opportunity to assist with hiring and training, resident relations, pricing strategies, associate relations and much more!

What is your Quarterra story (how did you land at Quarterra)?

I met Tracy Peacock through a family member while on a family Christmas trip in Chicago almost six years ago. I was working in the hospitality industry at the time as an Assistant General Manager. We got to chatting about property management versus hotel management. I’m not going to lie… it took some heavy convincing from my aunt (who also works in the industry) because I felt established and comfortable in my role and was nervous to take a risk and potentially make a change. After some research and upwards of probably 20 phone calls with my aunt, I set up a meeting with the Community Manager at Onyx and the rest is history! I started as the Assistant Manager at Onyx before being promoted to Community Manager. In March of 2020, I had the amazing opportunity to move to Charlotte and help finish the lease-up at Bradham. After a couple of years in North Carolina, the pull of my family and friends (and the post-COVID need to be around my people) brought me back to Minneapolis, where I am now a General Manager.

Tell us your favorite thing about working at Quarterra?

100% the people!! Over the last five and a half years, I have had the opportunity to work at three different communities in two different states. Moving around has allowed me to meet and connect with so many amazing people. I am lucky to call some of those people close friends and mentors now – I cannot imagine my life without them. The connections and friendships I have made in my time here are irreplaceable. None of this could have happened without the amazing culture that has been created and cultivated by our leaders – I am so incredibly grateful to be a part of it!

What's your favorite Quarterra Core Value?

Know Your Neighbors! I love that at Quarterra, we are encouraged to make a difference in our communities. Get to know your peers, get to know your residents, get to know your neighborhood. We as individuals can make an impact in our community simply by showing up, listening and being kind. Our residents rely on us to cultivate a community that feels like home and getting to know them is part of that. I love that our teams are challenged to get out and volunteer, sponsor food and toy drives during the holidays, or even host a school supply drive for students in the area – we continue to make a difference every day by getting to know our neighbors!

What are you most looking forward to in Quarterra’s future?

Our continued growth! I believe that our most important job as leaders is growing our people – something that I am trying to improve on every day. I love that when we open a new community, it creates opportunity for our teams. Our associates have the option to move and work with new people, take on new challenges and push outside of their comfort zone. It is so fun to see our teams SHINE. I am definitely more comfortable with the financial side of our business and feel that is where I thrive. But my favorite part of the job is the people. My favorite part of managing a team is working with each associate and getting to see that “light bulb” moment when things start to click into place, and they begin to see the bigger picture of our business. Individually, we are great but together we are exceptional! Quarterra will continue to set the standard in every market, and I am excited to watch that growth continue.

Bio/Quarterra Accolades:

Born and raised in a small town in Michigan, but from a very early age, I knew I would move to the city. I graduated from Aquinas College in 2014 with a double major in Business and Accounting. During my time at Aquinas, I started working the front desk at a Marriott down the street and loved it! I was sitting in my Capstone class in my final semester of senior year when I realized I was not cut out for the CPA life, so I decided to continue to pursue hospitality. A few years after graduation, the company I was working for transferred me to Minneapolis and I fell in love with the city. My background in hospitality made the transition to property management extremely smooth when that time came. I joined the Quarterra family in January 2018 and have been with the company for almost six years now! I couldn’t feel more thankful for the people I have met and the opportunities I have received in that time. I was lucky enough to be chosen as an inaugural member of the Quarterra Women in Leadership group. I was also selected as the 2021 winner of the “Walk the Talk” Award at our annual award ceremony. Again… grateful is such an understatement!!

In my free time, I love to golf (when the weather in Minneapolis permits), travel (my favorite cities are London and Nice), read (The Nightingale is my favorite book of ALL TIME and I carry my Kindle with me everywhere) and play bingo (unexpected, I know). In the fall, my Sundays are consumed by Vikings football and the hope that I don’t earn last place in my fantasy football league. In 2021, I brought home my dog, Banks, and from that first day, she became my ENTIRE personality. Looking ahead, I hope to continue to grow in my professional and personal life, explore new places and maybe bring home a puppy friend for Banks!