Meet Keel
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?
16 years
What do you like best about your job?
The opportunity to serve employees, residents, and families. I really enjoy creating a “Dream Team” of employees that all work together to create an enthusiastic, positive, and compassionate environment for our residents, their families, and the employees, as well.
What do you like to do in your free time and why?
Fish, golf, visit the coast, hang out at the lake with the family, play guitar, sing, read inspiration leadership books, watch Longhorn and Cowboy football. These are my forms of therapy! I love the outdoors and love being near the water. Great for my soul!
If you could meet one person, past or present, who would it be and why? My grandfather Wheless.
He passed away prior to my birth. He raised a great son. I wish I could give him a hug.
What’s your favorite movie and why?
Outlaw Josey Wales. Eastwood’s the man! Love a good western!
What’s your favorite dish or dessert and why?
Never met a “dessert” I didn’t like!
In what ways do your residents inspire you?
I love it when they boast about their age! “Do you know I’m 95 years old!” They’re proud of it and should be! Also, they are so grateful for the help they receive. Though they may not be as independent as they once were, they remain so grateful. They “choose” happiness.
Do you have any memorable experiences with a particular resident you would like to share?
Bob, who is a Pearl Harbor survivor. What a great man he is! What a story! Bob let’s me know what we’re doing well and what we can do better. We, executive directors, need residents to help us create not only our vision of the community but their vision as well. I value his input.
How do you honor your residents at your community?
I owe them my time and being responsive to their needs.
Tell us about a resident with a remarkable life story?
Bob again. In addition to surviving Pearl Harbor, he was also involved in a key WWII battle, The Battle of The Aleutian Islands. “Whoever controls Alaska, would control the world.” (General Billy Mitchell) Thanks for your service Bob.
Tell us about a resident whose life changed for the better once they moved to your community.
Not just a resident but a family member. The daughter said to me, “Keel, since my mom moved here, my own quality of life improved.” We are here to meet our residents’ needs, and, in doing so, meet the needs of our family members as well.
In what ways do your employees inspire you?
They have hearts as big as Texas! I love their compassion.
How do you create a family-like atmosphere at your community?
It starts with the employees understanding that in order to best meet the needs of our residents we must meet the needs of one another. We must talk about this all the time. The vision is, “one heart beat.” When we live our company values – Teamwork, Integrity, Professionalism, Respect, & Responsibility – we can achieve the dream!
Tell us about an employee who embodies one of our core values – integrity, respect, responsibility, professionalism or teamwork.
Hmmm…One employee? Just with caretakers alone, we have many that have been here a long time. I couldn’t name just one. They are so dependable. They do the right thing when nobody is looking. They truly care. The residents appreciate them so much. Having said that, each department is loaded with compassionate staff. They live the value of respect every day.