Meet Michele
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?
I have worked in the retirement industry for 21 years.
What do you like best about your job?
I enjoy being able to make a positive difference each day for our residents and having the ability to empower staff to do the same.
What do you like to do in your free time and why?
I enjoy scrapbooking, knitting, golfing, and spending time with family and friends.
What’s your favorite movie and why?
My favorite movie is “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” It is a family story honoring heritage, family traditions, and depicts the humor that all families share and experience.
What’s your favorite dish or dessert and why?
My favorite dessert is warm, strawberry rhubarb pie ala mode. My father used to grow rhubarb and my mother would bake pies with it. It combines both a tart and sweet taste – the best of both worlds!
In what ways do your residents inspire you?
Many of our residents have experienced such hardships or health issues, yet they face each day and appreciate it as a new opportunity.
How do you honor your residents at your community?
By recognizing that our community is their home, and by listening and respecting their thoughts, opinions, and suggestions each day.
Tell us about a resident with a remarkable life story.
Sy was a Holocaust survivor. His wife had passed away several years earlier. She was an accomplished pianist and music teacher. He always spoke of her and told stories of their life together with much pride and joy in his eyes. I had the honor of listening to her music which he had taped. He cried while we listened to her play. His undying love, respect, and devotion to her touched me very deeply.
Tell us about a resident whose life changed for the better once they moved to your community.
We had a resident move into our community who had vision and hearing challenges. His wife had passed away a few years ago and he had remained in their home. He was having difficulty keeping up with the everyday chores, wasn’t eating properly, and had become very lonely. When he first moved in, he was sad and talked of wanting to move back home. He said that although he used to enjoy many of the programs that we offered, he felt that he could not participate in them due to his vision and hearing limitations. Our programs staff intervened and today he attends bingo, Sit & Be Fit, our musical events, and plays pool with a group of residents every evening. I see and talk with him often. He is enjoying meals and the social interaction with the other men that he dines with. And he is smiling!
In what ways do your employees inspire you?
Their dedication to our residents. As I watch them interact with our residents with smiles, hugs, patience and kindness, I know they are here for the right reason. They truly care about the people they serve.
How do you create a family-like atmosphere at your community?
Teamwork. We all come together and pitch in whenever, wherever necessary. We promote a philosophy that all jobs are equally as important. We treat each other with respect.
Tell us about an employee who embodies one of our core values – integrity, respect, responsibility, professionalism or teamwork.
Linda is our Business Office Manager, but she is much more than a bean counter. Each and every day I watch and hear her interact with residents, family and staff in a very professional and respectful manner. She exemplifies teamwork by assisting whenever, wherever there is a need – so much so, that she frequently will come in early, stay late, and work weekends catching up on her own work. She practices outstanding customer service and strives each day to do the right thing for and by our residents.
At The Terrace, we understand that deciding where to live is a big decision that deserves careful thought. We invite you to visit us, stop by for lunch or be a guest at one of our special events or classes. We look forward to meeting you.