Mae Blount, assistant property manager for Investors Management and Marketing Inc. (IMM) at North Highland Apartments, earned an Eagle Award in February for demonstrating excellent customer service skills.

A tenant nominated Blount for assisting with a stressful, last-minute move after the client’s house sold faster than expected. The tenant said Blount was eager to assist and went above and beyond to help with a stressful moving experience.

Blount came to Minot when her husband, Tech. Sgt. Kurt Blount, was stationed at Minot Air Force Base in January 2023. Blount started her position shortly after moving to Minot from Wisconsin and has been with IMM for nearly a year, which she said has been her work “love story.”

Blount initially had her sights set on becoming a transportation security officer at Minot AFB. However, after befriending her property manager, Katrina Hamalainen, she was offered her current position.

“We love Minot a lot, everyone is super amazing here. I work for an amazing company. I have a great boss. She is also my best friend and I’m so lucky everyday,” Blount said.

Blount is family-oriented and takes pride in her 11-year-old daughter, Emma.

Blount and Emma are happy to help the community whenever they’re needed. Recently, they helped Project BEE relocate diapers from its diaper pantry in December after the shelter unexpectedly closed temporarily.

While moving boxes of diapers, Blount stepped aside to speak with a homeless woman who was displaced due to the shelter closure. The woman expressed her frustrations to Blount, which included not having nice clothes or makeup to wear to job interviews. In response, Blount and her daughter are currently putting together high-quality makeup bags to donate to a local women’s shelter. Blount said in the past she and her family had donated clothing and hygiene products to shelters, but she never thought about donating beauty items until that encounter.

Blount has lived in Arkansas, Indiana, New Mexico and Guam but said she has enjoyed living in North Dakota the most. She welcomes the snow and said she’s a “seasons girl” and appreciates that Minot experiences all four seasons.

“Minot has been my favorite place that we’ve lived – seeing people and having that small-town charm feels really good. It feels like home,” Blout said.

February Eagle Awards announced

The Minot Area Chamber EDC has announced the recipients of its Eagle Awards for February 2024. The recipients are: Brenda Fry, Conlin’s Furniture; Sean Doerr, Ralph’s Plumbing & Heating; Mae Blount, IMM: North Highland Apartments; Esteban Mejia, Ryan Nissan; Nick Hulberg, PSP Network; Zachary Knudson, BeMobile Verizon; Dylan Ellis, Enterprise Rent-A-Car.