her to really get to know the residents. And although the large and diverse Bentley Vil- lage community faced a long and complex recovery, 55 new residents moved in—and Smith got a stack of thank-you notes from residents and families. “I feel so gratified that my husband (who


sort of twisted my arm because I felt I was not quite ready) and I finally made the de- cision to come to live out our senior years at Vi,” one read. “Thank you to everyone who made sure that we were safe.” With more than 20 years’ experience in


the industry, Smith is adept at managing the big picture as well as the critical details. Residents, co-workers, and C-levels alike praise her honesty, transparency, and smiling presence. It’s proven out with an employee satisfaction rate that increased by 19 percent in her tenure and low attrition. Her encour- agement of continuing education and train- ing may account for some of that, too. She started the program “A Penny for


Your Thoughts,” where residents could freely tell her what was on their minds, “and she really wants to know what you’re thinking,” says one. “Her love for her job shines through.”


Hero Award Clifford “Skip” Collins, Community Outreach and Resident Advocate Hearth Management Clifford “Skip” Collins has an evening routine: He calls certain residents to say goodnight. “At night, it’s so nice to have someone to


say good night to,” says one resident. That’s the kind of thoughtful compassion that earned him an Argentum 2019 Hero Award. Skip, as he’s known to all, pays attention. He notices when a resident has gone to the hairdresser, when they have something to celebrate, when they need a hug, and when they need someone to listen. And he enjoys it: “It’s amazing to listen to


their stories,” he says. “If it weren’t for them, we wouldn’t have what we have today.” He has a unique role in the Hearth organi- zation, multitasking and using skills ranging


He’s there when residents have something to celebrate, when they need a hug, and when they need someone to listen.


from nursing assistance to advocacy in the larger community to encouraging careers in senior living. Through more than 20 years at Hearth,


he’s kept his smile and his ability to solve problems quickly. He’s seen residents make friends and become couples. “You never know,” he says. “Love is always there.”


Hero Award Lindsay Vayda, Business Office Manager Brookdale Bonita Springs Lindsay Vayda joined Brookdale as a computer whiz, but she warmed to the senior living field immediately. As quick with a new idea as she is with a smile, her actions have helped residents and co- workers alike. For instance, to celebrate Brookdale’s “red


carpet welcome” for new employees, she got an Oscars red carpet style backdrop and presents each newcomer with a bouquet and plays paparazzi by snapping a photo. When a resident passes away, she sends a card from associates thanking the family for “sharing your loved one’s life with us,” which helps associates find closure and manage grief. She has moved up from entry level, to


Human Resources, to the Business Office Manager position. She juggles dozens of


“Every day is different,” Lindsay Vayda says. “But that’s what I love about this job.”


details daily, and residents report with satis- faction that she “always follows up.” “She’s always joyful,” a resident attests.


“She always has time to say hello.” “I really can’t say what a normal day is,


because every day is different,” Vayda says. “But that’s what I love about this job.”


Hero Award: Leadership in the Face of a Natural Disaster Zachary "D.J." Buff, Supplier Relations Coordinator Affinity Living Group Hurricane Florence, a Category 4, swamped coastal areas of North Carolina. D.J. Buff was one of Affinity’s youngest employees—"not even old enough to buy beer,” as a co-worker puts it. But he had


He declared: “I will not sleep in my bed until the residents are sleeping in their beds.”


the heart to travel through floods to seven different Affinity communities. “For nearly three weeks, he logged 1,000


rain-drenched miles, crisscrossing eastern North Carolina,” a co-worker wrote. At one evacuated community, he gathered res- idents’ clothes as the water rose, then took things to the laundromat before delivering them to the displaced residents. He secured medical records and personal effects, pack- ing, labeling, and transporting. He declared: “I will not sleep in my bed until the residents are sleeping in their beds.” On each site, he was prepared to help


Executive Directors carry out the emergen- cy plans. And after the storm, he helped clean rooms for days. But he himself de- flected praise to the front-line staff who stayed with residents. Buff started with Affinity at age 16, as a


part-time Treasury Assistant; his goal is to become an Assisted Living Administrator.


MAY/JUNE 2019 ARGENTUM.ORG 51


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