Glenmeadow’s mission, “to provide premier senior services; nurturing mind, body, and spirit of those we serve and employ,” is the reason we exist and has been the driving force for this organization since it was first established in 1884. Our success at fulfilling this mission is due to the commitment and longevity of Glenmeadow employees, and I know that will never change.

The quality of the service we provide and are known for is directly related to the quality of people we employ. They will be here long after I leave in October as we enjoy very low team members turnover, and that has allowed us to develop meaningful relationships with the people we serve.

By announcing my plans now, I am giving our board the opportunity to seek my successor in a thoughtful, planned way that will provide for the smoothest possible transition.

Paul Nicholson, Chair of Glenmeadow’s Board of Directors, summarized the following transition plan at an open meeting in the Great Hall yesterday:

• Glenmeadow board officers have been planning for this transition since I shared my retirement plans with them. They are working with an executive search firm and will seek input from all the organization’s constituencies—residents and clients, families, donors, volunteers, and team members. This will help them determine the qualities they should be seeking in an ideal candidate.
• The board expects to have an active search and interview process underway this summer and to name the new president and CEO by fall. This will allow us to have a very seamless transition with no disruptions in leadership or quality of services.
• The board will make sure the search process is as transparent as possible and will share updates as it proceeds.
• While I will assist in transition activities, my primary role will continue to be leading Glenmeadow in the day-to-day work of fulfilling its mission.

When I started working at Chestnut Knoll, as the organization was known back then, I was one of 35 team members members, serving about 40 people, mostly women, in a building in Springfield. Today, Glenmeadow employs 200 team members members who serve about 175 individuals and couples living at our campus in Longmeadow. Through Glenmeadow at Home, we serve another 300 or so people annually who live in homes, assisted living communities, and nursing homes throughout greater Springfield. Our newest offerings—Glenmeadow Learning and Glenmeadow Getaways—offer education and travel programs and have allowed us to serve an even greater number of older adults and their families.

While the number and diversity of the people we serve continues to grow, the mission of service has remained the same. I am very grateful for having had the opportunity to lead this organization, and I am very proud of what we have accomplished as a team.

I am reminded over and over of the dedication and caring nature of Glenmeadow employees as I interact with people throughout the day. Our team members members work long hours, sometimes in very challenging situations, and always treat everyone with respect and kindness. They are truly some of the finest people I know.

October is more than six months away, so we’ll have plenty of time to interact and spend time together. It has been a privilege to support you and the wider Glenmeadow community, and I look forward to continuing to do that for the remainder of my tenure.