ALEXANDRIA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) today announced that Joseph Huskinson, executive director of Lincoln Court in Idaho Falls, Idaho was honored with the ALFA 2014 Senior Living Community Leadership Award. Huskinson was recognized at the ALFA 2014 Conference & Expo in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Leaders like Joseph exemplify the key values so important in senior living today by superbly leading community teams in a manner that raises the bar of excellence in senior living,” said Richard P. Grimes, president and CEO of ALFA. “Joseph is an ideal role model for current and future leaders seeking to cultivate their engagement in senior living.”
Huskinson serves as executive director at Lincoln Court Retirement Community, a senior living community located in Idaho Falls, Idaho and operated by Stellar Senior Living. The executive director is mission critical for operators of senior living communities. Executive directors are managers of resources and define the tone of a community and its relationships with residents, families and the surrounding neighborhood. They need to have a diverse skill set, high emotional intelligence, passion, empathy and solid business acumen.
In addition to honoring Huskinson, ALFA announced the winners of the ALFA 2014 Hero Awards honoring extraordinary individuals who serve older adults in senior living communities. Five heroes were chosen as representatives and role models for the tens of thousands of senior living community professionals. The winners were honored May 21 at the ALFA 2014 Conference and Expo.
During this luncheon, the ALFA Hero Award winners were recognized for championing quality of life for the residents they serve and for embracing the resident-centered philosophy of senior living. Special guests Capt. Mark Kelly and Congresswoman Gabby Giffords helped present the awards to the five winners.
The 2014 ALFA Hero Award winners are:
- Donell (DJ) Akers of Horizon Bay, a Brookdale Senior Living community located in Plano, Texas.
- Beth Dreas of Heritage Woods of Centralia, a BMA Management community located in Centralia, Illinois.
- Vienna Rice of Colonial Courtyard at Tyrone, an IntegraCare community located in Tyrone, Pennsylvania.
- Cory Roberts of the Inn at Cass Lake, a Holiday Retirement community located in Waterford, Michigan.
- Rosario Spires of Windsor of Lakewood Ranch, a Legend Senior Living community located in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
“The 2014 ALFA Hero Award winners are exemplars of the great work done every day in senior living communities across the nation,” said Grimes. “Their dedication and passion for serving seniors are the reasons more older adults choose to call senior living communities their home.”
ALFA is also recognizing, after the conference this year, a number of individuals as the ALFA 2014 Champions of Senior Living. More information about the ALFA Hero Awards and the ALFA Champions of Senior Living is available at www.alfa.org/hero.
About ALFA - Creating the Future of Senior Living
ALFA is the largest national association exclusively dedicated to professionally managed, resident-centered senior living communities and the seniors and families they serve. Since 1990, ALFA has advocated for choice, accessibility, independence, dignity, and quality of life for all seniors. ALFA’s programs promote business and operational excellence through education, research, publications, professional networking and online tools designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurism in the field of senior living. Visit ALFA’s website at www.alfa.org.
