Meet Tonya
Executive Director
The executive director, along with our friendly and professional staff, strives to create positive, stimulating ways for residents to continue living life with meaning and purpose. We are a friendly family where we treat residents like real people with real life stories.
Our community is a great story that includes heartwarming chapters and incredibly unique characters all in a wonderful setting. Here is the executive director’s story:
How long have you worked in the retirement industry?
13 years
What do you like best about your job?
I derive an incredible sense of purpose from knowing that on a daily basis, I help change peoples lives – assisting them as they transition into a new lifestyle that will improve their quality of life.
What do you like to do in your free time and why?
Having come from Pismo Beach, I get back to the beach as often as possible. I read, crochet, play a terrific game of billiards and enjoy anything social – from sporting events to festivals to concerts.
If you could meet one person, past or present, who would it be and why?
Rosa Parks. I respect people who stand up for what they believe to be right – even in the face of extreme criticism or opposition.
What’s your favorite movie and why?
The Notebook. Having run communities with residents who have dementia, this disease, and its sufferers (both the afflicted and their loved ones) will always hold a very special place in my heart.
What’s your favorite dish or dessert and why?
Cheesecake! It’s what my mother always made. Also, a good filet mignon – no explanation necessary!
In what ways do your residents inspire you?
They are a wealth of knowledge. They are so wise and willing to share their experience. They can be, unfortunately, an overlooked generation, and I cherish their stories, kind words and successes.
How do you honor your residents at your community?
By listening, acknowledging and, for me, the most powerful thing is by giving a hug or a kiss on the cheek. I get as much out of that as they do. I also think it is vital to always give resident choices in a given situation. No one likes to feel forced into anything and choices are vital – at any age.
Tell us about a resident with a remarkable life story?
My favorite resident life story was a gentleman in a Memory Care community that was the designer of all the wooden roller coasters in California. He would always brighten up and could tell you all the dynamics of design and construction. I always loved hearing about his stories. He truly has brought so many smiles, thrills and excitement to so many people.
Tell us about a resident whose life changed for the better once they moved to your community.
I had a resident who was isolated when I visited her. All she had was a rotten orange and some salami in her refrigerator. She wouldn’t let me leave as she had not had a visitor in such a long time. I stayed for 2.5 hours. She moved into my community and flourished! She was the life of every party – gained 20 pounds and loved every single moment she spent there.
In what ways do your employees inspire you?
So many employees have so much going on in their personal lives…I have had homeless employees, people who could not feed their children, did not have a car, or lived in a domestic violence situation. They came to work, never showed their heartache, and were kind, caring, attentive and loving to the residents. They used work as an escape from daily life and gave everything they had to bettering the lives of their residents.
How do you create a family-like atmosphere at your community?
Personal acknowledgment, getting to know each person, by name, something special about them and being present with them. I let them see me care, on a personal level, for the residents, so they can learn the same values from me and duplicate it.
Tell us about an employee who embodies one of our core values – integrity, respect, responsibility, professionalism or teamwork.
I would have to say Mia. She is a dining room supervisor. She is always so kind – as to both her co-workers and the residents. She is attentive and has a servants heart. It is truly a joy to watch her work with the residents.