We’re thrilled to officially welcome Rikki Freedle as the new Property Manager at our Marvel Way sober living apartments! Along with this change, we’ve also switched to working with Eugene Burger Management Corporation, our new partner in running the day-to-day operations of our soon-to-be 88-unit apartment complex.
As our Property Manager, Rikki Freedle and EBMC manage lease applications, rent payments, maintenance, and repairs – allowing The Empowerment Center to focus on providing supportive services for our residents in recovery, including psychiatric support, parental services, 12-step meetings, community events, and assistance navigating resources from outside organizations.
“Rikki’s already shown incredible adaptability and enthusiasm and is a great fit within our small community,” shares Executive Director Roxanne DeCarlo. “We’re excited to see all she will accomplish in the year ahead!”
Introducing: Rikki Freedle
Rikki Freedle began working with The Empowerment Center and Marvel Way in October 2024 as a temp for our former property management company – and we’re excited she’ll be joining our team long-term through her new role with Eugene Burger! Rikki’s in recovery herself (2 years sober!) which is helping her quickly connect with our residents and better understand the unique living environment we provide.
Freedle grew up mostly in Las Vegas and, more recently, moved to Reno by way of the Bay Area. Before coming to TEC, she was a Service Advisor for a highly regarded auto shop, where she enjoyed building relationships with their clients. Prior to this, she worked in home remodeling and restaurant service.
Rikki’s Journey
Throughout Rikki’s childhood, methamphetamine had a regular presence in her house. She was raised mostly by her dad and her family moved for work a lot, leading Rikki to attend 5elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 5 high schools. When she was 13, her best friend’s mom and brother were murdered by the mom’s boyfriend. Rikki was close with the whole family (they’re best friends to this day) and the tragedy absolutely crushed her. She stopped going to school.
She also started looking more closely at what was happening in her own home. Freedle’s older cousin, practically her hero, had recently started using meth with her dad. If it was good enough for him, she wanted to try it too. As the murder trial was wrapping up, she told her cousin that she knew what he was on and wanted to see what it was like. When her cousin said no, she spent hours insisting that she was going to try it, whether it came from him or someone else.
Rikki tried meth that night and liked how it numbed her. She used for 8 months straight, hardly telling anyone. “I didn’t want people knowing, because I didn’t want to be like that,” she explained. “I was just drowning out these emotions.” At 14, she told her friends she was using and they helped her get clean. She stayed sober through the rest of her youth.
Years later, Freedle was living in the Bay Area. Her parents had followed her there. She was living with a boyfriend and, needing a place to live when she broke up with him, moved in with her parents. She started using again, both with her parents and with her next boyfriend, who she’d spend 5 years with. They tried to get clean together, several times, but it never lasted. Eventually, Rikki realized she needed to find herself and learn how to live independently. She separated from him and moved out, living in her car for the first three months. She continued going to work, showered at her gym, and started going to meetings and church.
Moving to Reno & Working at Marvel Way
Rikki Freedle knew she was ready for a change. Her brother, also sober, was living in Reno and suggested she move in with him. While Rikki enjoyed her work at the auto shop, the move felt right- and she left it. Her brother connected her to a temp agency, who helped her find her first job at Marvel Way.
At Marvel Way, Rikki tells us, “Everything happens for a reason. I feel at home here, because everybody’s in recovery like me. I don’t feel like an outsider. I’ve always wanted to know what my purpose in life was, and here I am, making a career out of it!” Every morning, her day begins with all the building’s kids gathering in front of her office, waiting for their school buses. She loved how they greet her with hugs, and how she gets to help the younger, more nervous kids get out to their buses. Then, she begins her core work, appreciating how much she’s learning in her new role with the new property management company. She’s enjoying getting to know Marvel Way’s residents and being a part of its supportive, motivational environment.
When the second Marvel Way apartment building opens this spring, increasing our capacity from 42 to 88 units, Rikki will move into her own 2-bedroom unit on site. The second bedroom will be for when her daughter visits, one of the things Freedle’s most excited about! Her daughter primarily lives with her dad in Las Vegas, where she’s surrounded by a big family and has a school she’s thriving at. From Reno, it’s just a short flight to spend time together. Outside of work, Freedle is also enjoying getting involved in her new church, taking long walks with her dog, going to the gym, tanning, and getting to know her new community.
“I am so incredibly happy to begin this new chapter of my life here in Reno, at Marvel Way. This move has been more than just a change of location-it has completely transformed my way of thinking and living. Being here has given me the clarity, strength, and inspiration to become the women I’ve always admired. Every day, I feel myself growing, evolving, and
embracing the life I’ve always envisioned. This journey is just the beginning, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to create the best version of myself here at Marvel Way.”