Meet Paul
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:
In what ways do your residents inspire you?
They have accomplished so much in their lives and are still doing so; one has to admire their tenacity and spirit for life.
Do you have any memorable experiences with a particular resident you would like to share?
I was talking to a resident in the library during our first snowstorm for the year and asked her where she was from. She told me her mother owned a dress factory in New York and she worked there as a teenager. Her best friend worked there too – Lucille Ball. She said they were always getting into trouble with her mom because Lucy was always cracking jokes and making them laugh until they couldn’t work.
Tell us about a resident with a remarkable life story?
I was talking to a resident who also liked history and we started talking about World War II. I told him I just read the book about the Marines who had raised the flag on Iwo Jima. He told me he saw the flag raising as he was on the first wave of Marines that landed on the island. He was at the bottom of Mount Surbachi when the flag was raised.
Tell us about a resident whose life changed for the better once they moved to your community.
We had a resident whose family said she was not a joiner of groups or organizations but now she could not live alone. Only after a short period after moving in the resident was participating in our programs and volunteering for committees. Her family was astonished of how much her personality had changed for the better and that she was involved in our community. They were so grateful they had moved her to Waterford.
How long have you worked in the retirement industry?
One and a half years.
What do you like best about your job?
I enjoy the relationship with our residents (and their families) and being able to serve them and be a part of their lives. I receive a great deal of satisfaction as well as working with our tremendous team of managers and hourly associates who demonstrate daily their commitment to our residents.
What do you like to do in your free time and why?
I like to cycle because it allows me to get outside, exercise and enjoy the scenery.
If you could meet one person, past or present, who would it be and why?
Since I read a lot of history I would like to meet Abraham Lincoln and ask him how he was able to handle the pressures of being president during such a difficult time in our history.
What’s your favorite movie and why?
“It’s a Wonderful Life” because it portrays that with all of the difficulties in life having confidence in one’s self, love of family and friends and having spirituality is most important to having a quality life.
What’s your favorite dish or dessert and why?
I enjoy a good steak – medium rare – for the flavor.
In what ways do your employees inspire you?
It does not matter what position our associates have they are so committed to our serving our residents and establishing a relationship with our new residents. For example, our community suffered three and a half days of no power or telephone service from the winds of hurricane Ike. All of our associates helped prepare meals and delivered them to our residents. They checked on them on a regular basis to ensure they were okay and to see if they needed anything.
How do you create a family-like atmosphere at your community?
We strive as a management team to be professional with our associates and our residents at all times and being involved in their lives. We visit our residents when they are hospitalized so they know we care about them. We celebrate birthdays with them and their families as well. People can tell when people are sincere or not and I believe everyone, both residents and associates, appreciates everyone else who lives or works at Waterford.
Tell us about an employee who embodies one of our core values – integrity, respect, responsibility, professionalism or teamwork.
Marinda of our housekeeping department epitomizes the perfect Horizon Bay associate in respect to how she conducts herself toward our residents and her peers. Marinda has been employed at Waterford for three years and never misses work. She assists other housekeepers if they need help and will pitch in to assist another department if they need help as well. She has excellent relationships with the residents she provides service to, many times going beyond expectations to ensure their happiness.
At Waterford, 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.