From Our CEO: On the Road Again for the Gratitude Tour
To celebrate our achievements from 2021, our CEO Dan Guill and our leadership team are hitting the road on a Gratitude Tour, visiting communities and thanking them for everything they do to serve our seniors!
Over the past year, we’ve achieved so much: more than 95% of our employees and residents are vaccinated against COVID-19, recognized as a Great Place to Work for three years in a row, and made inclusion a core value to ensure all our employees and residents feel like they belong.
Dan is sharing highlights from the road and a look behind the scenes at each of the communities he visits. Hear more about his recent visits to Worthington Place, Athens Place, Brook Gardens Place below, and see the highlights from his first Gratitude Tour visits right here.
Worthington Place: Camby, Indiana
At Worthington Place, they’ve definitely got something special: a community pet! Their house pup Cupcake was a boatload of fun and set a great tone for our visit.
I met with Executive Director Cheryl, who’s been at Worthington Place for more than 8 years – even longer than I’ve been with Enlivant! She has such fantastic insight and experience, and it was great to reminisce about the history and growth of our company.
After so many years at Worthington Place, Cheryl’s impact on the team is clear; she really cares for her employees, and she’s thoughtful when it comes to building and motivating her team and making sure they’re taken care of.
Throughout my conversations with the team, that caring and thoughtfulness showed – especially when facing the challenges of COVID-19. I’m grateful the team came together and helped the residents (and each other) thrive.
Worthington Place is such a great reminder that working together is so important when facing obstacles…and having a K-9 mascot helps.
Athens Place: Athens, Tennessee
On my trip to Athens Place, one thing stood out: the leadership and excellence of the team
Executive Director Ashley and community leaders Michelle and Sarahbeth really banded together during the pandemic and formed a strong team to keep workers and residents safe while still encouraging vibrancy through creative COVID-compliant programming. Their approach in taking care of this community was steeped in compassion without sacrificing fun – a phenomenal feat during the last 18 months.
Among all their strengths, consistency and familiarity are at the top. Their staff is tenured and dedicated, and it’s energizing to see a team come together for the long term.
While I was in Tennessee, I met Mary, who has been a caregiver in the memory care unit for 15 years. She’s a local celebrity as her kindness was profiled on the local news in a segment called “Pay it Forward.” At 78 years old, Mary brightens the days of others and is committed to helping those with memory loss feel heard and supported.
After meeting with Mary and the Athens Place team, I couldn’t feel more proud to have this fantastic group take care of our residents and represent Enlivant.
Brook Gardens Place: Lake Mills, Wisconsin
There’s no place like home…and on my visit to Brook Gardens Place, that’s exactly what it felt like: home. This team prioritizes developing supportive relationships and taking the time to slow down and have conversations – and even the residents do too.
As far as teams go, the Brook Gardens team has so much loyalty. Executive Director Sadi and the community leadership team have weathered the pandemic together, supporting each other and making sure everyone was aligned every step of the way.
While the staff is built on character, I found the community was packed with characters! During my visit, I sat and talked with Harold who told joke after joke. I was laughing like I was watching stand-up comedy, but even with all the laughing, he still made sure to mention his love of living at Brook Gardens.
That’s what I’ll remember most about my visit to Brook Gardens: the people and the conversations that made it instantly feel like home.
Want more Gratitude Tour? See the highlights from the first Gratitude Tour visits right here.