I extend a heartfelt holiday greeting to each of you this season. I wish peace for you and your families and truly hope you find happiness and contentment. For sixteen years, you have welcomed me into your home, supported me through challenging times, and enabled me to explore new ideas and concepts that might not have been possible elsewhere. Together, we have made this the premier Senior Living campus in Colorado, and I believe it will remain so.
Many of you are aware that significant changes are on the horizon for our property. The most notable is my decision to leave Vi after 21 years with the company. This decision isn't personal; it's simply the right time for me. I won't discuss my future plans because I prefer not to shift the residents' focus, but rest assured, I will maintain a friendly relationship with management and staff and will stay in contact.
This summer and fall were a flurry of activity and creativity, requiring us to create the script on the fly, and I believe it turned out quite well. If someone had told me a year ago that I would be serving 340 independent residents outdoors for five months, I wouldn't have believed it. Shutting down every dining room and kitchen in the Care Center while closing the Main kitchen three times kept things interesting, and hiring and promoting a completely new Food and Beverage management team was just the cherry on top. Resident satisfaction with F&B improved in every category, and employee satisfaction in dining saw a significant boost as turnover rates decreased.
Many of you have asked me what will happen to their meals, and what the future will be and so I have written this to outline how our property will continue to shine after I leave. I want to reassure everyone that the strength of our dining program is the team not any one person or way of doing things.
To begin with, we have a Dining Room management team that is working together exceptionally well. Previously, you might remember some challenges in this area that made smooth dining difficult, but I believe those issues are behind us. I won't embarrass Brenda by praising her too much, but having been here for a while, I can say she is truly outstanding. With your support, she will continue to excel as a leader. She has assembled a fantastic team, and their mutual support is evident in their willingness to try new things, express opinions, and act independently. With the Front of House management team, there is little concern about any setbacks.
Close to my heart, of course, is the kitchen. Stepping into a role your boss held for twenty years is no small feat, but David has successfully made the culinary program his own with fresh ideas and operational methods. His creativity and artistry shine, especially during the holiday season, as I witness the parties and special events he oversees. He has introduced new kitchen equipment, established a dedicated Bar Food station, fostered a supportive staff, and enjoys the freedom to shape menus and programs according to his vision. David is quick to respond to resident feedback and is open to changing direction if necessary. Culinary Corner remains the best way to communicate with the chef; he is approachable and responds honestly. Most importantly, David recognizes that good food is just the baseline. While we offer good food, so does our competition. Our strength lies in pushing boundaries, challenging ideas, trying new things, and being willing to fail, all of which David wholeheartedly embraces. He will continue to innovate and explore new menus and dishes. I am fully confident that with David, no one will go hungry, and we will keep growing and improving.
The Food and Beverage Committee has consistently backed our team, even as they pushed us to improve. While I won't mention names, I'm continually amazed by the dedication and effort from volunteers who could be enjoying their retirement. I want to express my gratitude to every resident who has devoted time and energy to the committee, and over the years, that includes quite a few of you. With our current committee, I'm confident that David and Brenda will receive support and motivation.
I will be unavailable during Christmas week, as my family has experienced a lot over the past year, and we are reuniting for the holiday. I will return the following week, with my final day at Vi being January 10th. I intend to be as present as possible during that last week and will make an effort to bid farewell to as many of you as possible.
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