Little did Irene Barrager know when she interviewed at KHRC in 2016 that she would be meeting with an ex-army drill sergeant. She can’t forget her first impression of Craig Salminen, KHRC’s then-Director of Asset Management.

“He was a very memorable person,” she recalls. “He was intimidating until you got to know him. When I walked out of the interview I thought, ‘there is no way I got this; the guy hates me.’” But Irene passed the test and landed the position of Tenant Relations Specialist at KHRC.

Over time, Irene realized that Salminen, her new supervisor, wasn’t as stern as he looked. She says she finally realized it “by the way Laurie (Fritz) joked around with him. They had a special relationship, and she would always tease him,” she recalls. Unfortunately, Irene didn’t get a chance to know Salminen well personally. He sadly passed away from cancer soon after she began her job.

But he must have recognized that Irene—a former construction safety director, pipefitter, and phone operator at Lansing Correctional Facility with a degree in Public Administration—was more than qualified to serve Kansans tenants in vulnerable situations with the utmost professionalism. In her role with KHRC’s Contract Administration team, Irene has helped countless tenants pursue rent adjustments, and other health and safety concerns, sometimes potentially life-threatening.

As KHRC’s Tenant Relations Specialist, Irene takes calls from tenants with health and safety concerns and reports them to property managers to ensure tenant safety and compliance standards. As she approaches her retirement after nine years of service, Irene is proud of sticking it out in a role that can be challenging at times.

“Sometimes we hear about maintenance concerns that come up for tenants when management is unavailable, such as hot water issues, basic necessities they don’t have,” she says. Irene then follows up with property managers to confirm the issues are resolved in a timely manner. She recalls one potentially life-threatening call distinctly: “Once when I was on the phone with a tenant, she started yelling, and I heard a gunshot going off in the background. I kept telling her to get herself and her kids away from the window and call 911.” Thankfully, the tenant called Irene back later after the police arrived to let her know she and her kids were safe.

Irene gets the most satisfaction from helping senior citizens recalculate their rent adjustments. Because many seniors struggle to afford living expenses on a fixed income, they often worry about getting evicted when they are unable to pay rent amounts that are set too high. “Due to no fault of their own—not because they’re lazy or they don’t want to work—they truly can’t make it on Social Security and are terrified to say anything. But we can get that taken care of,” Irene says reassuringly. Surely the tenants she assists are equally grateful for Irene’s assistance.

Irene has created cherished bonds with her KHRC co-workers and Contract Administration team members who share fond memories of their time together at training events and conferences.

She enjoyed serving on KHRC’s Merriment Committee, which planned events and activities for staff. Her favorite activity was the office Olympics in which her team, the Fiercesome Foursome, competed. Most recently, she embarked on a cruise with a fellow co-worker, Christy Carter. Irene also appreciated the ability to work from home with KHRC’s hybrid environment: “I can sleep in a few minutes longer, and I can focus more because it’s quieter. And I can get more done, except when my puppies are trying to bug me.”

Soon, Irene’s dogs, Lucy and Cammy, will have her full attention when she retires. She also looks forward to traveling, especially back to her homeland of Germany. She hopes to eventually pick up a part-time job, and continue pursuing her love of quilting, a hobby she shares with team member Joyce Marsh. In 2023, the pair attended a mystery quilt lock-in together, where they were given quilting instructions and fabric with no idea how the quilt would look until the end. Of course, Irene nailed it.

Irene’s fellow co-workers wish her safe and happy travels in her retirement. And we thank her from the bottom of our hearts for her nine years of service and friendship. Bon Voyage, Irene! We wish you well on your next journey!