Little-known (or maybe well-known) facts about me

Little-known (or maybe well-known) facts about me

Working collaboratively with others to enrich the lives of older adults is what makes working at Rose Villa so rewarding. I enjoy the opportunity of connecting with people to help them learn about community living, understanding exactly what a Life Plan Community is, and to experience Rose Villa's culture. 

My teams are focused on the guest and resident experience, bringing Rose Villa's inclusive culture and spirit forward into everything we do. We work in partnership with residents and cross-departmentally to break outside traditional senior living paradigms, expand partnerships and uphold Rose Villa’s mission of supporting older adults to live the life of their own choosing.

Little known (or maybe well known) facts about me

My role is to oversee and manage Rose Villa’s marketing and sales team, and to ensure our community’s reputation for excellent care and quality of life is reflected in all we communicate internally and externally. I’ve worked in communications, public relations and marketing for more than 15 years, and I love to bring  brands to life through innovative campaigns and storytelling.

At Rose Villa, there are so many wonderful stories to tell: about our neighborhoods, our community, our residents and our staff. I feel there is always something new to discover at Rose Villa, and my job is to uncover those little treasures and share them with those who visit us, so they too can connect with our unique community. One of my favorite parts of my job is the opportunity to meet with residents and learn about their lives and their passions.  I am also grateful and humbled to work alongside amazing colleagues who share a commitment to enriching our resident’s and staff’s lives for the better.

Working at Rose Villa is inspiring, lively and fun!

LITTLE KNOWN (OR MAYBE WELL-KNOWN) FACT ABOUT ME

Before starting my job here as Director of Marketing and Communications, I worked at a PR agency where Rose Villa was my client for five years! As such, I’ve had the privilege of seeing the community evolve and grow during each phase of redevelopment.

My role is to direct and coordinate the efforts of our Facilities Services teams here at Rose Villa, which consists of Building Operations, Grounds, Environmental and Technology Services.

My curiosity and interest in creative problem solving was nurtured at the University of Portland where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.  After many years in facilities and project management, I discovered that I was good at developing people and became passionate about growing and developing great teams. I was able to complete a Master’s degree at Biola University in Organizational Leadership in 2009 and most recently participate in the Larry Minnix National Leadership Academy program through Leading Age. I will forever be grateful for these opportunities which have put fuel on my leadership fire!

Little-known (or maybe well-known) facts about me

I love music, to play guitar and to repair vintage or unique stringed instruments. I once bought a used purple guitar on Craigslist that I later discovered was custom built for Prince. And I also love to cook and try to brew really good beer on the weekends. Fermentation is life!

Little-known (or maybe well-known) facts about me

Little-known (or maybe well-known) facts about me

Little-known (or maybe well-known) facts about me

Of the many facets of my position as Director of Social Services at Rose Villa, I most enjoy the relationships I am able to build with our residents (and at times with their families as well). I am amazed and delighted on a daily basis by the wisdom, strength and experience our residents possess. I love getting to know them and understanding what is important to them in living their best life. At times barriers to this can occur, whether emotional or physical, and having the knowledge of the whole person is crucial in helping identify ways to overcome them.  Despite obstacles, it is my goal that each person at Rose Villa is able to continue living the life they want, and it is an absolute honor to me to be a part of helping that to happen.

LITTLE KNOWN (OR MAYBE WELL -KNOWN) FACT ABOUT ME

I am a bit of a closet crafter, and though I enjoy many types of crafts, I especially enjoy making things out of duct tape and have created quite a number of things from wallets to backpacks and more!

Katie grew up in the rural community of Chowchilla, California, perfectly situated in the middle of the state, within striking distance of the High Sierras and Monterey Bay, sprawling cities and vast wilderness.  She attended BIOLA University in La Mirada, CA, and graduated in 2007, armed with a B.A. in Anthropology and ready to take on whatever task or community presented itself to her.  She has since made the most of her makeup as a “Jack (Jill?) of All Trades”, trekking up and down the West Coast through the worlds of program management in camps & conference centers, slinging drinks in retail coffee, administrative and HR roles in classical education, and wearing a plethora of hats in senior living communities. 

Katie is thrilled that she gets to bring so many skills and lessons learned from previous roles into that of the Education and Programs Director.  She is responsible for spearheading the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessments for staff development and teambuilding, leading the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives as the DEIA Coordinator, partners with the CEO and Executive Director on Leadership Development programs for staff, and somehow became the de facto staff Zoom guru at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.  If something offers both the opportunity for greater learning and the chance to communicate more effectively, you can bet Katie will be interested and involved before too long!

LITTLE KNOWN (OR MAYBE WELL -KNOWN) FACT ABOUT ME

Something that people might not know about Katie, and probably wouldn’t find out until spending quite a lot of time with her, is that she’s had a lifelong fantasy about owning a sailboat and voyaging across the seas; however, this is unlikely to ever happen because she also has a deep and abiding fear of what lives beneath the surface…have you seen those documentaries?!   

I have always been passionate about learning and sharing knowledge with others. Prior to joining Rose Villa, I worked as a business manager in the construction and manufacturing industries, developing both financial and operational skills. Community involvement has also been a big part of my life. Throughout my career, I have served on several community-based non-profit boards. Rose Villa gives me the opportunity to combine my love of learning, professional skills, and desire to work with others who are passionate about improving their community – the ultimate career hat trick!

As Rose Villa’s Controller, I manage all accounting-related activities. Much of my focus is on budget preparation, monthly financial reporting, and ongoing trend and variance analysis. Additionally, it is my responsibility to maintain effective internal controls to safeguard Rose Villa assets and ensure the integrity of our financial reporting. The most rewarding aspect of my job is working directly with other members of the Rose Villa Team and community. I enjoy making the more obscure aspects and jargon of the finance world more attainable by demystifying accounting reports, answering questions, and providing relevant data that supports good decision-making. 

LITTLE KNOWN (OR MAYBE WELL -KNOWN) FACT ABOUT ME:

I am very competitive, especially if the sport involves a ball; fast-pitch softball and football are my favorites. Feel free to give me a call if your team is looking for a left side infielder or a wide receiver. I make a mean Chile Relleno, and my red enchilada sauce is pretty good too. I may or may not be addicted to shoes.

My love of food began at a young age. My mother’s “specialty,” dry unseasoned chicken, inspired my search for more flavor in my food. After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Hotel & Restaurant Management from Oregon State University, I sought opportunities to further my culinary expertise.

My career took off as a Chef’s apprentice at the Culinary Communion Cooking School in Seattle, and I went on to receive my culinary certificate at La Varenne, in Burgundy, France. I eventually ventured back to the West Coast to work as general manager of Bon Appétit Management Company in Seattle, and advanced to Director of Restaurant Operations.

Throughout the years, I’ve cultivated a philosophy that food should always be delicious, and that it should look good, taste good and smell good. The time I spent as owner and chef of Bowedison Food Wine & Drink I achieved consistent 5-star reviews and cultivated relationships with farmers to offer locally sourced ingredients in my menu.

My passion for flavor and attention to detail inspires the cuisine I get to share with the Rose Villa community.

LITTLE KNOWN (OR MAYBE WELL -KNOWN) FACT ABOUT ME

I am a true homebody. My favorite activity is a walk to the dog-park with my pup Mickey.

It is my strong desire to bring the best customer service and dining experience to our guests – whether you be dining with us in Harvest Grill or Heirloom or hosting a party that requires our catering services. Our team is proud to bring you a fresh, from-scratch menu, integrating in product from our own on-site kitchen garden whenever possible. We strive to provide variety to suit your dietary preferences, and I am always happy to meet one on one with any resident, to discuss your specific needs.

It has been an enormously rewarding experience to get to know and become part of the community here at Rose Villa.

LITTLE KNOWN (OR MAYBE WELL -KNOWN) FACT ABOUT ME

I began learning to play the piano at 5 years old (also from my grandmother), and still enjoy practicing and learning new pieces during my off-hours. I try to prepare a piece each year for the annual Rose Villa Talent Show.

Retired long term CEO of large state-wide nonprofit human service organization, history of service as board chair and member with several nonprofit organizations, and current co-principal of property development and retirement community companies. (Avid gardener and proud owner of 4 lovely laying hens).