Celebrating Our 2019 Award Winners

Earlier this year, Commonwealth Senior Living leadership teams met for our annual winter conference for continuing education, sharing best practices, and celebrating those individuals and communities who went above and beyond to listen, love, care, and serve our residents in 2019. We are incredibly proud of these associates who improve the lives of seniors, their families and each of us every day.

Patty Hinson was named Commonwealth Senior Living’s highest honor of Associate of the Year and was selected out of 2000+ caring associates. She has served the residents of Commonwealth Senior Living at Front Royal in the dining room and as a volunteer for the last 5 years. She truly loves our residents, comes in on her own time, and arrived to serve on Christmas morning “with bells on”. Thank you, Patty, for all that you do!

Jennifer Mayhew of Commonwealth Senior Living at Charlottesville was named Business Office Manager of the Year for her “eagerness to help others”. Amber Turner, our Regional Director of HR noted, “Jennifer managed a special payroll project, executed a huge amount of data entry from adding 10 new communities to the CSL Family, became a successful mentor, and was crucial in the development and implementation of developing the Business Office Manager training at the Center of Excellence. Also, in addition to all this she welcomed a baby girl in May.”

Frank Carlon of Commonwealth Senior Living at Chesterfield was named Maintenance Director of the Year. His passion for enhancing the look and feel of the building and his commitment to doing everything possible to help residents feel at home is evident to all. Thank you, Frank, for your work ethic and love of our residents.

Dining Service Director of the Year was awarded to Chef Andre Smith of Commonwealth Senior Living at Gloucester House. His commitment to creating delicious and healthy meals for our residents as well as his 26 appearances on Virginia This Morning have made him a culinary leader who we all look up to.

Program Professional of the Year was awarded to Linda Gill-Smith of Commonwealth Senior Living at South Boston who was described as perhaps “the most compassionate and engaging associate we have”. She was recognized for her passion and commitment to living our Core Values every day.

Three Resident Care Directors were recognized for the excellence in care. Sara Helsley of Front Royal who “gives her all at work while being a wonderful, single mother of three. She is strong, determined, and dedicated.” Her Executive Director, Amber Foster is quoted as saying “She continues to make me proud each and every day and I know the community is in good hands if she has anything at all to do with it. Having her by my side as the nurse in charge for the past 3 years has been challenging at times for us both, but we have learned and supported each other along the way.”

Carlette Dickerson of Farnham who “cares about people enough to be accessible and ready to go at all times. She does the right thing by always treating our associates and her peers with respect and dignity, even in the most trying of circumstances.”

Lila Hall of Abingdon “is a calm, caring force in the community who comes early and stays late despite a 1.5 commute to work each way”. Giovanni Montague-Sneed, SVP of Resident Care was quoted in saying, “Lila works tirelessly to do her best to treat all residents, their families, and their associates with respect, absorbing their worries and fears, and making sure they are happy to call her community home!”

Our CSL Sales Presidents Club inductees were chosen for their work as peer mentors who have in many times covered multiple communities and cumulatively welcomed 288 new families in our communities throughout 2019. Six Sales & Marketing Directors were honored as President’s Club inductees: Earnie Taylor, Robin Shrader, Kristi Massey, Stephanie Johnston, Stephanie Horrell, and Christy Puckett. SVP of Sales and Marketing, Kristy Ruppe Craddock was quoted as saying, “They are leaders, innovators, and mentors with humbling drive and unlike any other sales professionals I have worked with before. We are so fortunate to get to learn from these amazingly dedicated professionals each day ”

Sharon Jones, Executive Director of Commonwealth Senior Living at Chesterfield received our Evolution Award for persevering through diversity and spending “countless hours with families, community partners, and associates with the goal of improving the lives of seniors”. A member of Senior Leadership is quoted as saying, “While she is firm, she is also incredibly loving and sentimental.  She is bold and fearless and leans into almost any challenge.”

Stephanie Horrell, Sales and Marketing Director at Commonwealth Senior Living at Chesterfield was recognized with our Rising Star Award for welcoming more seniors into our community than we have ever served before, and for lending help to sister communities. SVP of Sales and Marketing, Kristy Ruppe Craddock was quoted as saying, “We called upon her and she was willing accepted the charge to be a peer mentor and offered to support neighboring West End and Monument Avenue through transition and growth when absent an SMD.  She fervently looks for ways to improve her craft, all the while holding steadfast to our Core Values and Noble Selling Purpose.  She is studious and passionate.  She doesn’t need or require the spotlight or the attention, but boy does she deserve it!”

A “natural and servant leader, unrelenting in his pursuit of excellence”, Reuben Canty, Executive Director of Commonwealth Senior Living at The West End was named Executive Director of the Year. A member of Senior Leadership is quoted as saying, “He is that leader that inspires me to stand a little taller, love a little harder and give more of myself to those I support.”

Commonwealth Senior Living at Chesterfield was named Community of the Year for always “feeling good and enjoying excellent management in all departments”.

Erika Gennari was recognized as Home Office Support Associate of the Year for her efforts in welcoming our 10 new communities while supporting the existing 22 in marketing strategy (advertising, PR, social media, and collateral). Kristy Ruppe Craddock, SVP was quoted as saying, “She does all of this with a passion for success and rock-solid commitment to our Core Values and Noble Selling Purpose. Erika is never the person to complain or demand authorship or recognition.  What’s even more impressive, her positivity and eager spirit never falters. To best sum it up, she truly is the Oz of Sales & Marketing .”

Regional Support Associate of the Year was given to Ronda Duckworth, Regional Vice President of the Central region who is “always present, calm, and caring” in her guidance and coaching of community leaders. A member of Senior Leadership is quoted in saying, “Ronda is present and engaged with her team, with her counter parts and with any associate she encounters, she is present and in the moment.  In fact, she is so astute and an expert level listener, any interaction with Ronda leaves you feeling as though your conversation and time with her is the singular most important thing in her orbit at the moment.”