At Grace Pointe, we are a community. From our residents to our staff, we understand that everyone has a unique story to tell. We sat down with Mike, Director of Operations and Facilities, to learn a little bit more about his background and why he loves Grace Pointe.
How many years have you been in the industry, and what brought you to Grace Pointe?
I got my start in healthcare with Grace Pointe over 10 years ago. It was my first venture into healthcare. I was raised in a home that had a Physical therapist and a nurse who both practiced for 35 years, so it felt like I was coming home. After I got started here, I realized that I had found my calling. I knew that I could manage the property and all that goes along with that, but the added regulations of healthcare would take some getting used to. One thing I didn’t expect was how much I would come to love all the interactions that I have with my residents on a daily basis. Going home after a tough day is made easier when you know you’ve helped someone. There is something truly rewarding knowing that you have helped one of your coworkers or one of the residents with something that they wouldn’t have been able to accomplish without you. With our mission being “We serve Others” it is an easy one to follow, and it comes naturally to me. My people skills and ability to understand situations and what they require to get resolved now outweighs all the technical skills I’ve gained over 16 years of working plumbing, welding and in the oilfield. Since starting here, I’ve actually earned a degree in healthcare administration and management, and I’ve moved into more of an administrative role as of late. I still expedite all the facility maintenance, but I have a more critical role in the areas of safety, emergency preparedness and a whole host of other things that I get to help other departments with. I’ve always been one that was eager to jump in and help, and I think that is why I have taken on the versatile role I find myself in today.
What are you most proud of in regard to your role at Grace Pointe?
There are a number of things I’m proud of here at Grace Pointe. First and foremost, I’m proud to work in a facility that is as elegantly and purposefully designed as Grace Pointe is. It has been almost 11 years since we opened and Grace Pointe still looks as attractive and breathtaking as it did when we opened. Secondly, I’m proud of the way I have lived the mission of serving others. That mission doesn’t end when you walk out the door – we carry it with us all the time. Whether it’s helping a senior when I’m at the supermarket or helping my coworkers put on a marketing event, we live the mission. I’m also proud of the way I have made myself indispensable to my administrator and DON. I get brought in to help problem-solve or give feedback about things that often have nothing to do with my department. I’m proud that I have worked hard enough to prove that I can contribute to all things Grace Pointe, and that my opinion is valued by those that run Grace Pointe. Lastly, I’m proud of the way I have managed the supply chain for Grace Pointe in this incredibly tough time. We have all had to do things differently and the supply order has been no exception. Our normal channels could not provide what we needed, so we worked diligently to procure the necessary supplies from any and all other sources. In the beginning, it was especially tough, we had someone sew us some washable isolation gowns, we had masks made for us, and now two months into the pandemic we have a full supply of disposable PPE.
Tell us your most memorable Grace Pointe story
This story is not what I would say is my most memorable, but it is one that shows the mission we have and how the maintenance job in a senior community is not like any other maintenance jobs I’ve had in the past. I had a resident’s family get ahold of me and say that she hadn’t heard from her mom in a couple of days, asking if I could please go check on her telephone. After verifying all the wiring was correct, trying multiple phones, and attempting to call the phone company, I come to find out that the bill hadn’t been paid. The account was turned off. It is a tricky thing, since the automated pay by phone system was essentially impossible for her to operate, hard of hearing and all, so I tried to help her get the bill paid. The phone company wouldn’t take payment on the account on my behalf, so I had to get her on the phone to give them permission to speak with me…long story short is fixing a “broken telephone” can take on a whole new look when done in this environment.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I like to spend time with my family up at horse tooth reservoir since we live less than 10 min away. It’s so nice to be up on the water. I really enjoy spending lots of time getting our yard looking great and spending time in our garden. This year is shaping up to be a great one in that respect since we haven’t been hit with any hail yet. Anything in the outdoors or up in the Poudre Canyon, on the river, camping, hiking and paddleboarding, are all on our list of favorite things to do.
What is your favorite part about being a dad?
One of my absolute favorite things is the way my son runs out the door and has my car door opened before I can get out of the car when I get home. That excitement and love just absolutely make my day! I love teaching him things and then watching him do it over and over on his own until he’s mastered it. He rides his big boy bike all over the place with no training wheels, and he is only 3 ½ years old! We walk across the street from our house to go practice hitting baseballs and even spent time on the tennis court last week hitting the balls back and forth to each other over the net. The other thing that just warms my heart is seeing how caring and loving he is for a 3-year-old. He will give you the last bite of his chocolate or candy because it just tastes so dang good he wants you to share in that experience. We were in the grocery store the other day and he had a little sucker we had just gotten from the bank, and a stranger jokingly walks by and says “ohh that looks good! can I have some?” and without hesitation, Dylan just reaches his arm out and says sure…Needless to say, the person was caught off guard and actually didn’t want to lick his candy. It was just pretty comical. Being a Dad is the best part of my day. It’s hard for me to even think back 4 years and remember what my life was like before. All of this is only going to get better as I am expecting my next child, a little girl this time, to come in the first week of August.
