Meet Cheryl
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?
I am inspired by their willingness to do something fun, learn something new or to help one another despite multiple medical issues and physical limitations.
Do you have any memorable experiences with a particular resident you would like to share?
I have met so many interesting people that it is difficult to narrow my memory to just one person. I once cared for a gentleman who was close personal friends with Pierre August Renoir. I loved to hear his stories about their escapades throughout Paris in the adventurous days of the Impressionist movement. I was in awe of his close friendship with such a famous person. I met a woman who was one of the first females to graduate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and enjoyed hearing her describe that it didn’t seem like such a big deal to her! I’ve enjoyed swapping stories with retired nurses who worked in the field years and years ago, before development of current technologies.
How do you honor your residents at your community?
I try my best to get to know each of them and to share what I have learned about them with staff so that we can connect with them on a personal level.
Tell us about a resident with a remarkable life story?
So many of our residents have had remarkable lives – they are veterans, teachers, nurses, parents, businessmen and women – they’ve survived depressions and concentration camps. They have built this state, owned and sold businesses, traveled the world, raised families and continue to pursue life to the fullest! It is truly difficult to single out just one – although each of them has a story worth listening to and learning from.
Tell us about a resident whose life changed for the better once they moved to your community.
Again, it is hard to single out just one. Many of our residents and their family members describe to us the improvement they have seen since their loved one moved-in. They say that the resident looks better, is more relaxed, is happier and the move has changed their relationship.
Recently, one daughter told me that when she would visit her mom in her apartment, there were so many tasks to take care of and so many worries she had about mom eating properly, taking her medicines, etc., that their relationship became strained. She felt like their roles were reversed and it caused problems. Now that she lives here at West Bay Manor, the visits are much more fun, relaxed and their relationship has improved. They do fun things together like looking at family photos, reliving previous family functions and history.
How long have you worked in the retirement industry?
I have worked with seniors in one form or another for most of my adult life. I have been employed by Horizon Bay in various capacities for the past 35 years.
What do you like best about your job?
There are many aspects of my role that I enjoy. Mostly, it is the opportunity to lead my team consisting of honest, caring, dedicated people who share in the vision of improving our residents’ lives. I enjoy the opportunity to meet and get to know so many diverse people and to be a part of making residents smile.
What do you like to do in your free time and why?
There are many things I like to do in my off-duty time. One of the ways I like to spend my time is to gather friends and family together for a meal. It is the one of the ways I share my life with the people I care about. My home has always been the place where everyone hangs out – so one never knows how many there will be for dinner.
If you could meet one person, past or present, who would it be and why?
I have always admired Dr. Martin Luther King. As a young woman I was inspired by his determination, convictions and drive to bring equality to our country. He was part of a group of people who were instrumental in motivating people to take action and to be involved– something we have sorely lacked for years. I wish I could have a conversation with him today to hear what he thinks about the state of our country as it is today.
What’s your favorite movie and why?
My favorite movie is “To Kill a Mockingbird.” This is a film I saw as a relatively young person. I admired the lead character, Atticus Finch, in his devotion to his children and his determination to do the right thing even though it was not perceived as such by those around him.
What’s your favorite dish or dessert and why?
Nime chow.
In what ways do your employees inspire you?
Each and every day, I see the staff go out of their way to do those little extra things that make the residents happy. They connect with them on a personal level. They make sure that the resident gets the beverages of their choice without asking, making sure that the resident is aware of the time and place of a program that they might have interest in, they’ll change a hearing aid battery or run back to their apartment for a sweater to save them a trip. The staff here will do whatever it takes to get things done for the residents – I rarely see anyone exhibit that “It’s not my job” attitude – we all do whatever it takes.
How do you create a family-like atmosphere at your community?
It has been said a number of times that there is a warm and welcoming feeling about this building. We act like a family in many way – we share our strengths and weaknesses, our successes and losses. We help each other cope with the day-to-day struggles. We encourage the natural rhythms of life and allow the residents’ input into the pace of their lives.
On a regular basis we share information with the residents about milestones in the lives of the staff – on birthday night we announce resident and staff birthdays alike. When staff graduate, get married, have children, etc., the residents are aware – they help to celebrate with the staff. There is a great deal of longevity among the staff in this community – so our staff becomes the second family for the resident.
Tell us about an employee who embodies one of our core values – integrity, respect, responsibility, professionalism or teamwork.
The first person that comes to mind is our administrative assistant, Carol. She is a long-term staff member who really walks the talk. She mans the front desk with courtesy and respect. She owns every request and is never fearful of taking on any task. From fixing someone’s remote control to arranging bus transportation, Carol manages her tasks with professionalism and a smile. Many residents have brought to my attention how thankful they are that Carol is here and able to help them all the time.
At West Bay Manor, 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.