It’s All About the People
When I became president and CEO role of Lenbrook after serving as its chief financial officer for almost five years, people would ask, “What’s different about being a CEO than you might have expected?” The simple answer is, I expected my “new job” to be more about people. But what I have found is it is all about people.
As a finance guy, it was logic and numbers. Now, it’s all about relationships — which are multifaceted, complex and encompass everything from appreciation and recognition to communication and fellowship.
While our building may be a big “WOW” factor for Lenbrook, I can assure you that our people are our greatest asset. We have over 500 residents and 275 associates, and we take special interest in getting to know each other as individuals and creating meaningful relationships.
Our people are what set Lenbrook apart. Our people are what make Lenbrook a vibrant and engaged community in every way. So I’d like to share with you a quick look at the people I have the pleasure of working with every day:
Remarkable residents with diverse backgrounds and very long resumes…so long that they keep me on my toes daily. Every time I give a talk at a resident meeting, I know there’s someone in the audience that is likely to know more on the topic or have more experience with it than I do. Each time I grab a cup of coffee in our Bistro or attend a resident event, I know I’ll have the pleasure of interesting conversations ranging on everything from what’s new in Atlanta Rotary or the Buckhead Coalition to ideas for mentoring the youth of Atlanta.
Dedicated associates…so dedicated that I practically had to beg a group of our associates to head home before an impending snow fall in early March. We had our essential staff in place and had accommodations ready for them to stay the night if needed. All others were encouraged to head home. But their dedication made them reticent to leave.
That same night, our dining services staff created and served a delicious 60th-anniversary dinner to one of our resident couples in our Bistro when one of Buckhead ‘s finest steak houses had to cancel their reservation due to the weather. Other residents joined in their celebration, making it one of the most memorable anniversary dinners ever for the couple.
Seasoned management staff and board members with proven expertise in senior living, hospitality, marketing, finance, residential communities, senior health-care and the construction industries. This provides deep bench strength as we set and carry out our strategic plans for keeping Lenbrook ahead of the curve in meeting the needs for senior living today and for the incoming wave of retiring baby boomers.
I still may be a numbers guy by education and professional training. But the true joy of my new position is the admiration and respect I feel for the exceptional residents and associates I get to work with every day at Lenbrook.
For more on Lenbrook from Chris, please see the The Lenbrook Difference video.
Chris Keysor is President and Chief Executive Officer of Lenbrook. His passion for the senior living industry began early in his career as a CPA with KPMG Peat Marwick. Chris progressed in executive responsibilities over the years, working for a senior health-care provider, health-care financing organizations and senior living consulting groups. Chris is also a nationally ranked Ironman triathlete, which he says comes in handy raising his two young children with his wife here in Atlanta.