Sequoia Wellness Series

May 20, 2020 | by Sequoia
Sequoia Wellness Series

Disappointment, loneliness, and uncertainty are three of the most common feelings people have had surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. After conducting a company-wide survey about how our employees were feeling and coping, we took their feedback to create our Wellness Series, a collection of tools, resources, and conversations with reputable guest speakers. The purpose of this series is to help offer solutions and resources for our teams to access and learn from, as well as to create an open dialogue around topics that many employees would find benefit and comfort talking through. During the course of the series, our team members will learn new coping techniques, how to navigate through this new world, build new skill sets, and overcome challenges they may face throughout the pandemic and beyond.

5/15 Wellness Series - Controlling Our Thoughts and Emotions With Erika Westhoff

Our first Wellness Series speaker, Erika Westhoff, a sports psychologist, discussed the techniques athletes use to strengthen their mental toughness and how this can help overcome feelings of stress and anxiety during the pandemic. Throughout the webinar, Erika helped our employees identify their “why.” This interactive exercise had our employees write down and walk through why they want to do their best at work, at home, and in their personal relationships. The point of this exercise was to help our team members identify specific goals they wanted to achieve and find what helps get them through the day.

Another exercise Erika walked our teams through was focused on our thought awareness, specifically surrounding the pandemic. Our employees wrote down three common thoughts that have been most prominent when they are under stress, trying to solve a problem, following a mistake, or while experiencing uncertainty. From there, they were able to recognize what thoughts are affecting them and how to go about relieving these uncertainties. By making ourselves aware of our thoughts and the reasoning behind them, we can more easily identify them moving forward and decide what we want to do to be more in control of them in the future.

Overall, our goal at Sequoia is to help our employees get through these uncertain and new challenging times by providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed. We want our employees to feel confident and supported in building healthy and productive approaches to work and life.

6/5 Wellness Series - Taking Care of Yourself and Teammates

We kicked off our second Wellness Series with speaker Dr. Dennis Davis, Ph.D. Dr. Davis brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the webinar as a Clinical Psychologist. Our goal in this session was to provide team members with pointers to help them deal with the current crisis in a healthy manner, both personally and professionally.

We first discussed the concept of "emotional contagion," which is the idea that our moods and emotions are contagious and can be caught by others. This highlighted the importance of being purposeful about the emotions that we put off so that we can be a positive influence on those around us through our behavior and attitudes. From there, Dr. Davis provided several practical tips to help our team members practice emotionally healthy thinking and habits, to equip us to foster a positive environment for ourselves and those around us.

Our second major topic was post-traumatic growth. Many people are familiar with the idea of post-traumatic stress, but fewer are aware that there is also the potential for growth following a traumatic event. Dr. Davis shared that by focusing on the positive aspects of our experiences and the opportunities for growth, we can emerge from challenging times stronger and more resilient.

At Sequoia, we are committed to supporting our employees' well-being and providing them with the resources they need to navigate these unprecedented times. Our Wellness Series is just one of the many ways we are working to ensure our team members feel supported, valued, and equipped to face the challenges ahead.

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Walnut Creek, CA - Sequoia has been recognized as a 2026 Best Workplace in the Bay Area ranking 24th overall in the small/medium category. This is the 5th consecutive year that Sequoia has made this prestigious list establishing itself as one of the best workplaces in the San Francisco Bay region. Sequoia continues to earn recognition as a standout workplace by creating an environment where team members feel valued, and have opportunities to grow both personally and professionally. At the heart of Sequoia’s culture is a focus on people, creating strong team connections, a sense of community with residents, and an environment where team members truly feel a sense of belonging. Additional insights from the survey also highlight the culture Sequoia has built, including 92% of team members saying they felt welcomed on day one. Across the organization, people consistently share support of the team around them, opportunities for growth, employer benefits, and connections they build within their communities as reasons Sequoia feels like more than a workplace, but a community. “Thank you to Fortune and Great Place to Work for recognizing Sequoia as a Best Workplace in the Bay Area for 2026,” says Enrica Suson, Vice President of Human Resources at Sequoia. “This recognition reflects the culture our team members create every day through collaboration, care, and a shared commitment to one another. Being named among the Bay Area’s top workplaces is an honor that inspires us to continue investing in our people and creating meaningful experiences where team members feel supported, valued, and empowered to grow. To our incredible team, thank you for bringing our culture to life and making Sequoia such a special place to work.” The Best Workplaces in the Bay Area list is determined by over 70,000 confidential survey responses from team members at eligible companies and ranking based on the ability to offer consistently positive experiences, building trust with leaders, colleagues, and the overall organization as a whole. To qualify for the Best Workplaces in Bay Area list, companies must be Great Place to Work Certified, have at least ten team members, and be headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. View the full list here . About Sequoia At Sequoia, the philosophy is simple: make the ordinary extraordinary. By embracing small gestures that create meaningful moments, Sequoia elevates apartment living into something truly special for both residents and team members. Rooted in innovation and a strong sense of community, Sequoia attracts top talent and empowers its team to deliver exceptional service every day. Since its founding in 1986, Sequoia has grown to manage over 13,000 apartment homes across California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The company’s vibrant culture fosters creativity, collaboration, and growth, cementing its reputation as a leader in the multifamily industry. Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit Sequoia’s careers page at: www.sequoiacareers.com Looking to have Sequoia manage your community? Visit the client services page at: www.elevatetosequoia.com/client-services About the Fortune Best Workplaces in the Bay Area Great Place To Work selected the Fortune Best Workplaces in the Bay Area List by surveying 1.3 million employees in the U.S., representing companies that collectively employ more than 7.3 million U.S. workers. Of those responses, more than 70,000 were received from employees at companies that were eligible for the 2026 Fortune Best Workplaces in the Bay Area List, and these rankings are based on their feedback. Companies earn eligibility by being Great Place To Work Certified , having at least 10 U.S. employees, and having headquarters in the Bay Area. Read the full methodology . About Great Place To Work As the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work, a UKG company, brings 30 years of groundbreaking research and data to help every place become a great place to work for all. Its proprietary platform and Great Place To Work Model help companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary workplaces becoming Great Place To Work Certified and receiving recognition on a coveted Best Workplaces list.
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Walnut Creek, CA - Venu at Galleria and Harrison Tower have once again secured a place among the nation’s top-performing apartment communities for online reputation on the ORA Power Ranking Elite 1% list, recognized by J Turner Research. These communities continue to set the standard earning multi-year recognition for their exceptional resident experiences and strong online reputations. The ORA Power Ranking model analyzes over 150,000 properties using lifetime sentiment data from multiple review platforms. In 2025, just 1,312 properties achieved the bragging rights of making the Elite 1% list. Venu at Galleria, located in Roseville, CA, led the Sequoia portfolio once again, closing out 2025 with an ORA score of 97. This is their fifth consecutive year on the Elite 1% list, confirming their dedication to resident satisfaction year after year. Venu also ranked in the top 10 in the state of California. Representing Portland, OR, Harrison Tower added another Elite 1% ranking to their list of accomplishments, celebrating their 9th consecutive year. The community finished 2025 with an ORA score of 95, ranking sixth overall in the state of Oregon. “We are absolutely thrilled to be recognized as a J Turner Elite 1% property for the ninth consecutive year,” says Rebecca Fields, Community Manager. “This achievement is a true testament to the incredible tenure, heart, and consistency of the Harrison Tower team. Their ongoing commitment to exceptional service, genuine resident connections, and pride in our community is what makes this recognition possible year after year. We are so grateful to our residents for their trust and feedback, and we remain dedicated to delivering an elevated living experience every single day!” Across its portfolio of 56 communities, Sequoia maintains an average ORA score of 79 compared to the national average of 62.43. About Sequoia Sequoia is not just another apartment complex. Sequoia strives to make the ordinary a little more special by inspiring its team members and creating communities where people can expect more out of everyday life. The company believes it's the little things done for both residents and team members that go a long way. Sequoia attracts and retains the top talent in the multifamily housing industry. Its greatest competitive advantage is not found within the brick and mortar of its communities, or even the company, but within the values that each individual brings to the collective team. Sequoia's creative environment and unique culture foster opportunities for growth and success. The team works hard and plays hard, but they do these things together. Founded in 1986, Sequoia has grown to become one of the largest, privately held organizations of its kind on the West Coast, with more than 13,000 apartment homes throughout California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit Sequoia’s careers page at: www.sequoiacareers.com  Looking to have Sequoia manage your community? Visit the client services page at: https://www.elevatetosequoia.com/client-services
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