Author: Amee McGough

Justin High is the Wellness Coordinator for The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW), a role he was excited to begin in April. As part of this role, Justin manages OAW fitness activities and classes, both land and water-based. He also ensures that fitness equipment is well-maintained and that program participants stay safe. We sat down with this dedicated teammate to learn more about him through a fun question and answer session. Read about Justin below.  

What are you passionate about regarding your professional role?
I am passionate about changing lives and reminding our residents that they still have control over their body, mind and spirit. I am also enthusiastic about encouraging residents to join our amazing wellness program.

What are you looking forward to most once the OAW community officially opens?
I look forward to the community pool opening!

Favorite memory/moment to date during your time at OAW:
My birthday was earlier this month, and it was great to feel the love from my teammates and our residents.

What do you think sets OAW apart from other senior living communities?
I believe our dedication to excellence and prioritizing the needs of our residents sets us apart. We are privileged to lead the way in the senior living industry, and I try to embrace this opportunity every single day.

What is something that makes you feel proud?
I have hosted four men’s retreats throughout my career and I’m really proud of creating spaces where people can let go of their past trauma and become their best selves, mentally and spiritually. These retreats have been some of my most rewarding experiences thus far.

Share about your family:
My fiancée, Dawn, and I are expecting a daughter, who we plan to name Charlie-Rose, in late July! I also have an eight-year-old daughter, Jayla.

Tell us about your hobbies:
In my free time, I enjoy traveling, hiking, reading (especially comics and non-fiction), playing video games, working out and spending time with friends.

On the weekend, you can find me:
When I’m not at work, you can find me with my family – Dawn, Jayla and our pets. We have a dog named Zatanna and a cat named Palo. If we aren’t out and about around town, we love to travel.

What are some of your favorite foods and restaurants?
While I am mostly a steak and potatoes kind of guy, I love to visit local pizza shops like The Crazy Tomato in Allen and Heritage Pizza and Taproom in The Colony. Some of my favorite foods to enjoy are pizza, pad Thai, stir fry, chicken shawarma and birria tacos.

How would your friends describe you?
My friends would say I’m dedicated, a voice of reason and the “glue” guy – I’m usually the one making plans and bringing everyone together. They would also say I’m interesting because I am open to all kinds of experiences!

In the next six weeks, The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) construction progress will include:

• Nearing completion of the following spaces in Commons building: living room, administrative and dining areas, commercial kitchen and back of house spaces
• Continue finishes in residences and common spaces of Assisted Living/Memory Support (AL/MS) building
• Continue finishes on first and second sets of Independent Living (IL) apartments
• Continue finishes on Fitness Center
• Finish framing and mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) rough-in of pool enclosure
• Nearing completion of landscaping and hardscaping of Community Courtyard, located between Commons and AL/MS buildings
• Continue landscape and hardscape around Commons building and IL Pool Courtyard

Trevor Perkins, the newly appointed Executive Chef for The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW), began his role on April 1. Chef Trevor oversees OAW’s Culinary Operations and looks forward to creating healthy, nutritious and flavorful meals that cater to residents’ dietary needs.

We sat down with this talented teammate to learn more about him through a fun question and answer session. Read about Trevor below.  

What are you passionate about regarding your professional role?
I am passionate about bringing joy to our residents by cooking flavorful and eye-pleasing dishes.

What are you looking forward to most once the OAW community officially opens?
I look forward to building a strong culinary team that operates at a high level in the kitchen.

Favorite memory/moment to date during your time at OAW:
My favorite memory is personally delivering an OAW charcuterie board to a new resident family as their welcome gift. They were beyond grateful and this is one reason I love senior living – our residents always seem to care a bit more about the work and thought you put into pleasing them.

What do you think sets OAW apart from other senior living communities?
I believe what sets us apart are the people and the thoughtful culture that has been put into OAW. This attention to detail is amazing to see, especially from behind the scenes. Our high-quality dining and customer service will be another element that separates us from others.

What is something that makes you feel proud?
I am most proud of balancing being a caring and present father to my children, while still focusing my attention towards growing professionally as a chef.

Share about your family:
I have four children (one daughter and three sons) and they are my reasons for everything I do in life! I would not be the man I am today without them. My daughter, Jessenia, turns 15 at the end of May. She plays softball and I really love watching her play. My little boys are Xavier, age 5, Donovan, age 4 and Isaiah, age 3.

Tell us about your hobbies:
In my free time, I enjoy fishing – there is something about being on the lake that puts my mind at ease. I am really into watching sports, especially football, and I am a huge Green Bay Packers fan! Other than that, I enjoy spending time with my kids, going to parks and exploring the world.

On the weekend, you can find me:
When I’m not at work, you can find me with my kids at my sister’s house, letting them run around with their cousins, while my sister and I prepare a meal for our family. I also make time to bass fish with my Uncle Mike. We fish at Lake Fork a good amount and enjoy participating in fishing tournaments.

What are some of your favorite foods and restaurants?
Almost every cuisine is my favorite kind of food to eat! I enjoy comfort foods, Southern cooking and anything that has FLAVOR! I also love Italian as well as Mediterranean food. My kids and I enjoy a good pizza spot and they love eating at Texas Roadhouse. My favorite dishes include Chicken Marsala, Veal Picatta or a classic pepperoni pizza (or as my 4-year-old, Donovan, calls it: a spicy and cheese pizza)!

How would your friends describe you?
I think what makes me a good friend is my companionship is available whenever needed. I listen to my friends when they need an ear and try to offer helpful advice. In addition, I am a protector and people seem to feel safe around me. I like to think that my friends consider me a fun, outgoing person and someone they love to be around!

To kick off National Prime Rib Day, The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) community celebrated a day in advance on April 26, with an inaugural dinner! Sixteen residents and VIPs indulged in a delicious meal, highlighted by perfectly cooked, melt-in-your-mouth prime rib, prepared by the talented OAW Culinary team. It was a fantastic way to cap off the first week in their new home.

In the next six weeks, The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) construction progress will include:

• Finish ceiling system and continue finish out in Commons building
• Continue finish out of first set of Independent Living (IL) apartments
• Begin finish out of second set of IL Apartments
• Begin finish out of the Assisted Living/Memory Support (AL/MS) units and common spaces
• Continue exterior façade work on IL building
• Continue landscape and hardscape of Community Courtyard, located between Commons and AL/MS buildings
• Continuing landscape and hardscape around Commons building and IL Pool Courtyard

The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) team rolled out the red carpet for Cottage VIPs who moved into their new homes on Monday. To begin the day, residents gathered at Cottage 22, where OAW Executive Director Kristen Jordan, Director of Resident Services Katie Snezhkova, Executive Chef Trevor Perkins and Move-in Coordinator Rachel McGowan were on hand to greet newcomers for a key party. At the party, the residents received keys to their new homes, enjoyed refreshments and posed for moving day photos while visiting with OAW teammates setting the stage for a picture-perfect event.

There was not a cloud in the sky as moving trucks and vans began their procession into the beautiful community as residents looked on with anticipation. As each item was wheeled from the trucks, residents’ dreams of a stress-free life began to unfold. Every detail was thoughtfully arranged by OAW teammates to make residents feel at home, including stocking VIP fridges with food and beverages as well as a beautifully displayed keepsake OAW charcuterie board for them to enjoy. The team even provided essentials like toilet paper and OAW Class of 2024 T-shirts to make the move-in transition easy and fun.

Through lots of hard work and thoughtful planning, move-in day for the first OAW residents set the stage for a bright new future at this vibrant community.

Angela Morgan serves as Senior Living Counselor on the Sales and Marketing team at The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW), a Forefront Living senior living community currently in the construction phase in Plano. Angela began her role in February of 2021, and supports future residents and their loved ones by providing them with valuable guidance throughout the senior living decision-making process. Forefront Living is grateful for devoted teammates like Angela and we sat down to learn more about her through a fun question and answer session. Read about Angela below.  

What are you passionate about regarding your professional role?
My passion comes from knowing that the guidance I provide plays a significant role in helping our future residents find a place they can truly call home, where they can live with purpose and joy in their daily lives.

You’ve been at OAW from the beginning, what have you learned?
Everything! After more than thirty years of working in the hotel industry, my transition into senior living was a complete 180! But during the process, I have learned the value of working for a mission-driven organization like Forefront Living and am honored to have the opportunity to bring my knowledge of hospitality to OAW.

Favorite moment during your time at OAW?
I have so many favorite moments, but seeing this community come to life has been amazing! I am thrilled that my first professional experience in senior living is watching a community grow from the ground up!

What do you think sets OAW apart from other senior living communities?
The people! Our future residents are fun, caring and friendly. Plus, I adore my teammates and look forward to our team growing as we get closer to the opening of OAW.

What are you most looking forward to when OAW opens?
I look forward to seeing our residents thrive and enjoy life. I’m also excited to learn all the ins and outs of our community when it’s officially open. There’s so much left for me to discover!

What is something that makes you feel proud?
I take great pride in turning a difficult situation—losing my thirty-plus year hotel career due to the pandemic—into an opportunity of discovering a new career that brings me so much joy and fulfillment!

Tell us about your family:
I’m fortunate to have married my best friend, Hamid, and we recently celebrated our 28-year wedding anniversary. Even though our daughter Sara, age 23, is thriving in New York City, I still miss her every day. Our family is a beautiful blend of cultures; Hamid is Persian and my sister’s husband is Israeli. When we gather for special occasions, it’s always a joyful affair filled with laughter, delicious food and lively conversations. Right now, we’re celebrating Nowruz, the Persian New Year, marking the beginning of spring and the start of the new year in the Persian calendar.

Tell us about your hobbies:
I’ve never really been one for the great outdoors; I’ve always felt more at home indoors. I indulge in a bit of shopping, which I humorously refer to as my “retail therapy” when explaining it to my husband. I also enjoy experimenting in the kitchen with Persian and Mediterranean dishes. My other interests are sampling new wines, honing my poker skills to keep up with my husband’s weekly games, delving into astrology and numerology and I’ve recently begun dedicating time to workouts at the gym. Finally, I am obsessed with murder mysteries and forensic science shows. I can’t get enough of them! On the weekend, you can find me spending time with my family. My immediate family members all live within 10 minutes of each other, which is great!

What are some of your favorite foods and restaurants?
We enjoy Mexican food from Mi Cocina, Ojeda’s and Rose Mediterranean. Kabob Koobideh is my favorite Persian dish. It is made from ground lamb, or ground beef or a combination of the two and is typically prepared on skewers and grilled. It is delicious!

How would your friends describe you?
Although I have a small circle of friends, I think they would describe me as loyal, kind-hearted and a great listener.

Jennifer Campbell, OAW Director of Sales and Marketing, shared these kind words about Angela, “Angela is a wonderful teammate! She is reliable, personable, professional, dependable, caring and more. Angela has set very high standards for herself. She prides herself on customer service (from her hospitality background) and she strives to learn more about the senior living industry. She is always willing to help and go the extra mile for VIPs, prospects and her teammates! Angela is a joy to work with.”

In two special presentations for The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) VIPs, Wendy Cassidy, a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service, shared her about extensive experiences with financial crimes and cybercrimes. For the last 6.5 years, Cassidy’s focus has been on the Cyber Fraud Task Force in the United States Secret Service Dallas Field Office, where she spearheaded investigations for more than 300 computer-related cases. Her presentations offered insight into common cybercrimes facing senior adults today, including elder fraud, romance scams and crypto fraud. Cassidy aimed to equip the OAW audience with the tools needed to navigate the digital landscape securely and confidently.

Looking to embark on a meaningful and fun-filled career in the world of senior living? Look no further than The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW), Plano’s newest, premier senior living community, opening this summer. Forefront Living is looking for dedicated individuals to join the OAW team. Make plans to meet us at our upcoming job fair on Monday, April 15, at the Plano Chamber of Commerce, or on Thursday, April 18, at the Collin College Career Fair. Bring your resume and participate in on-the-spot interviews! Whether your expertise lies in administration, fostering vibrant community life, building services, housekeeping, providing compassionate healthcare or crafting culinary delights, we have opportunities tailored to your skills and passions. Join the OAW team in shaping the future of senior living and making a difference in the lives of our residents. Click here for more information about our upcoming job fairs.

In the next six weeks, The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) construction progress will include:

• Installation of ceiling systems and finishing out of the Commons
• Continuing finish out on first set of Independent Living (IL) residences
• Begin drywall on second set of IL residences
• Begin drywall and finish out on AL/MS (Assisted Living/Memory Support) residences and common spaces
• Finish exterior façade on AL/MS building
• Continue exterior façade finishes on IL building
• Continue landscape and hardscape of Community Courtyard, located between Commons and AL/MS building
• Begin landscape and hardscape in the IL Pool Courtyard