Where to go from here???

Is it time for a change after 15 years in the same industry?

Senior Living, Home Healthcare, Skilled Nursing... oh my...

Working in Senior Care for more than 15 years, I have had the great opportunity to work in a range of areas related to the care of seniors. I have always said it has been my passion to allow seniors the opportunity to tell their story and leave their legacy. My grandfather has always been my inspiration, he never met a stranger. He was always friendly and kind to those he encountered (broken English and all) and he had this innate way of connecting with others. When he passed, they honored him during the Columbus Day parade, a parade he led for the town proudly every year. It was humbling, at such a young age, to witness how many lives he had touched when he was honored as the "unofficial Mayor" of the town. I thought to myself it was such an admirable way to leave his legacy and all seniors should have the same opportunity. After all, we were all brought here for our own mission and purpose.

So as for me, my career in healthcare started shortly before I was married. I received a call from a friend about an Assisted Living Community looking for a sales director. It was a newer community and I did not know anything about senior living, but I applied, I got the job and two months later... I was the Executive Director. I was 21 years old, recently married and in a job I probably should not have been in but... the VP, the Regional Director, the company and the staff believed in me, so I did it. I learned so much in those two years from State Regulations, to managing a team, the what not to do's, what not to wear, how to hire and fire but above all, the residents taught me how to connect. They were so loving and grateful and took every opportunity to speak with me and be a part of my life. There was one gentleman in particular, his wife lived in Memory Care. His family was there every. single. day. without fail. He took a trip to Italy and upon his return came into my office with rosary beads that he had blessed for me while at the Vatican. He gave them to me with the upmost gratitude for the love I have shown for his wife and said he was meant to give these to me as a sign that this is where I was supposed to be. Years later, his family moved him to my Memory Care community as he now had dementia as well. When I visited him, he remembered me.

I left there just after Christmas of my second year when a home care company I had been working with asked me to join their team. I loved every minute of that team, that job, that environment. My boss was an incredible mentor in my life and I am still connected with that amazing group of people. It was about the care, it was about the company, it was about the team and how we took care of each other but worked so incredibly hard. We hosted a Casino Night for physicians (when that was still an allowable activity) and I was recruited, in front of my boss, to work for a pharmaceutical company. My boss told them no, they couldn't have me but they pursued me and when I confided in her about what to do she said those opportunities do not happen often and I need to take advantage of the offer that was given. She said I would always be welcomed back to the company.

So off I went into pharmaceutical sales. It was incredible. I received so much incredible education from this company. They provided me with knowledge I would have never had if I had not joined the company. I also learned even more about the importance of a good CRM, tracking tools, presentation skills, communications, building relationships and how to put it all together. About two and a half years in, there was a round of layoffs. It was my first time in pharma and it scared me, so much that I accepted a job as an Executive Director with an assisted living. Everything happens for a reason, and although they were going to retain me, I continued to move forward with the assisted living.

The world of assisted living is different depending on the company you work for and those you surround yourself. I was fortunate to have two incredible regional members in operations and sales. I worked with a phenomenal HR team and the executive leadership team was amazing. I was able to bring the census up in my community and rebuild the morale of the staff and families. It was running so well, I was asked to assist with other Florida communities to do the same. Then there was a change, in executive leadership branching off to start their own company. It was time for a change and I joined an organization that allowed me to work out my non-compete while traveling in home healthcare as an executive director over offices in eastern central Florida. It was an experience but this company was really not a good fit for me. Not every company is a match for every person. I joined another Assisted Living, as a Community Director. This was a very large property that added a piece I had not worked with before, Independent Living. It was a wonderful company and I was able to travel and conduct Virtual Dementia Tours for them, offer recommendations for Memory Care opportunities, all while running my own building.

I received a call from a company that was impressed with the work I had done and was opening a new assisted living and asked for me to join them to work on the project. I jumped at this opportunity. I have worked on fixing properties but to open one, well, that is a new level. I was able to work with the owners and management company from the ground up. It was phenomenal! After a few years, another company with leadership I had previously worked with invited me to open their Jacksonville based community. This was it, the call I was waiting for with the company I thought I would be with long term. The pre-open went great! The community accepted us with open arms and we were rapidly filling census. Sometimes owner/management co presents challenges, as did this one.

I decided it was time for a break from senior living and moved to the SNF environment. It was such a unique transition and opportunity to learn a world that I referred to but did not truly understand. I worked in the hospitals, helped support other team members, administrators in the SNFs and the admission teams in the buildings. It was a fast paced, fully loaded, driven and incredible environment with a rock solid outside team.

During that time I was recruited by another assisted living, for another open by which I was hesitant to make the move. I talked to my supervisor about it and he said it is a golden opportunity that should not be missed. So I accepted, opened a temporary office, branded the community in the area, hired the team and started moving residents in. I received a call that they made a business decision to move in a different direction and would be bringing in a consultant. That leaves me ending 2019 as a free agent, waiting for the opportunity that I am meant to be in next and hopefully long term.

I have to add the fundraising and event planning portion has been the most rewarding and fulfilling part of my career. From multiple casino nights, Iron Chef Competitions, Christmas Tree competitions, golf tournaments, toy drives, comedy shows and more and more and more. I have been the philanthropic chair for various organizations and enjoyed every moment of it. There is so much value in giving back and helping others share in that with you.

So Hello 2020 and all who are reading this post! I am officially open to new opportunities.

I am open to traveling, working from home or in an office. I am ready to find a place to be for a long time that will utilize my talents and skills and in the meantime, I will continue my search while enjoying each day to its fullest with Gracie.