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.
Charlotte Slaver serves as a 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. Charlotte was the second teammate to join the OAW team, starting her role in February of 2021. Forefront Living is grateful for hard-working teammates like Charlotte, who are committed to building relationships while working together to grow a new community. We sat down with Charlotte to learn more about her through a fun question and answer session. Read about her below.
What are you passionate about regarding your professional role? Professionally, my passion lies in fostering connections between people. At the OAW Information Center, I have the privilege to meet with older adults and learn about what matters most to them. I want to know what their aspirations are for the future, how they like to spend their time and identify any concerns. This helps me provide tailored recommendations to ensure that their coming years are the most fulfilling and enjoyable. It is an honor to offer encouragement and support as they embark on the journey to a maintenance-free lifestyle that offers ease, social and wellness opportunities and peace of mind.
You’ve been at OAW from the beginning, what have you learned? Through my interactions, I’ve realized that life can really throw some unexpected curveballs. But what’s remarkable is the VIPs who maintain a positive attitude are the ones who carry on with joy. A phrase I’ve heard repeatedly, “It is what it is,” encourages me to not dwell on the negative but instead to keep moving forward.
Favorite moment during your time at OAW? I have lots of favorite moments, but a more personal moment that reaffirmed my path and purpose was when a VIP told me they thought I was in the right place, doing the right thing and they encouraged me to keep doing it. What do you think sets OAW apart from other senior living communities? Of course, the community is going to be gorgeous but what sets us apart is the people! Our VIPs are friendly, vibrant, interesting, well-traveled folks who are open to new adventures.
What are you most looking forward to when OAW opens? I can’t wait to see our residents enjoying all the amenities and connecting with their neighbors who have become friends.
What is something that makes you feel proud? I am most proud of being awarded “Best Sales Team of the Year in 2023” at last year’s Sales Adventure conference. This recognition is a testament to the positivity, fun and hard work that defines our team.
Tell us about your family: I’m completely head over heels for my husband, Monte! Together, we’re blessed with four amazing grown kids and their spouses, eight adorable grandkids and two spoiled dogs, Cisco and Cowboy and a middle-aged quarter horse, Gypsy. With our family scattered across the country, I’ve enjoyed taking on my mother’s tradition of sending creative and personalized birthday boxes. With our growing family, that means we prepare a birthday box (or more) each month!
Tell us about your hobbies: Gardening, painting and trail riding are my go-to hobbies. On the weekend, you can find me outdoors. Whether I’m riding my horse, walking my dogs, or cheering on my husband at his softball games, I’m happiest when I’m soaking up the fresh air and enjoying the sunshine!
What are some of your favorite foods and restaurants? While we don’t go out to eat often, my favorite restaurant is typically something Tex-Mex because I enjoy chips, salsa, fajitas and margaritas for a special treat. As for my favorite food, Monte’s healthy cooking is delicious and his daily lunch salads are a refreshing treat during my work hours. I look forward to whatever culinary creation he whips up for dinner and I happily take on clean-up duty as my contribution.
How would your friends describe you? A good friend is someone you can trust, who cheers you on and always makes time for you. I hope my friends will say they can count on me to pump them up when feeling down and as someone who is available for a deep conversation or to just relax and enjoy a margarita together.
Jennifer Campbell, OAW Director of Sales and Marketing, shared the following about Charlotte, “Charlotte truly connects with her prospects, our VIPs and her teammates. She is caring, creative and passionate. She is our leading sales person, with the most sales in the past two years, and is always willing to go the extra mile for those she serves.”
Revitalize, recycle and rejuvenate! The Outlook at Windhaven and WellRive, a full-service moving and management organization tailored for seniors, partnered to host a donation drive at the OAW Information Center. VIPs were invited to bring donations, recycle electronics and shred documents and they showed up in force with more than 40 OAW VIP vehicles participating in the event to drive-thru, drop-off and shred to make a difference! Participants were happy to positively impact the local community while also lightening their loads to prepare for upcoming move-ins to OAW. Donated items will be distributed to various charities and local nonprofits.
More than 30 senior living communities were represented at Greystone’s Annual Sales Adventure, a two-day conference tailored for senior living sales and marketing professionals. This year’s conference theme was “Opportunity Never Dies, 00SALES” a clever spin on the infamous 007 James Bond theme. The Forefront Living communities of Bella Vida (BV), The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) and Presbyterian Village North (PVN) received several impressive nominations and awards at this year’s Sales Adventure Awards Ceremony. These distinctions included:
Marc Mallory – nominated for Rhino Award, recognizing professionals who have demonstrated extraordinary perseverance and determination
Celeste McCloskey – nominated for Marketing Assistant of the Year
Heather Porch – nominated for Marketing Director of the Year
Forefront Living is proud of these amazing teams for their unwavering commitment to delivering excellent customer service and fostering growth within their communities!
Katie Snezhkova is the newly appointed Director of Resident Services for The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW), a position she was excited to begin on January 15. In this vital community role, Katie looks forward to developing engaging and enriching resident programs, while helping to grow a positive and welcoming community. Forefront Living is grateful for teammates like Katie, who are committed to establishing genuine personal connections with residents and teammates by creating a culture of warmth and inclusivity. We sat down with her to learn more about her through a fun question and answer session. Read about Katie below.
What are you passionate about regarding your professional role? I am passionate about senior living, of course! I began my career in the industry as a 16-year-old server at a senior living community. There hasn’t been a time in my professional life where I wasn’t working in senior living in some capacity. Never could I have imagined that a weekend, part-time job would lead me to where I am today.
What are you looking forward to most once the OAW community officially opens? I look forward to walking the halls, seeing friendly faces and getting to know the residents and teammates. Most of all, I can’t wait to watch families and friends gather to enjoy the beautiful neighborhood of OAW. I am excited to showcase our community to all who visit.
What is something that makes you feel proud? I am proud of myself for being able to take risks in life. This is a personal and professional accomplishment for me. Years ago, when an opportunity presented itself for me to leave my hometown of Chicago, Illinois, and move to Houston, Texas, I made that leap. I didn’t have friends or a support system waiting for me, but I figured it out. The move to Houston propelled me to other advancements in my career, including my recent move to Dallas. I wouldn’t be here now without taking that initial leap!
Share about your family: Due to my unusual last name, one of the most common questions I am asked is: “Where are you from?” I was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine, but my family moved to the United States when I was 11 years old. I grew up in Chicago and my parents, older brother and his family all still live there. I also have family back in Ukraine and I keep in touch with them as much as possible. Here, my pets are my family, and they include two cats, Emma and Patches, and my four-legged best friend, Missy. Emma and Patches (13 and 12, respectively) have been with me for most of my adult life and we have weathered many storms together. I adopted Missy in 2015, when she was two years old. She was one of those dogs that no one wanted and had been returned twice to the Humane Society. The first time I met her was at a baseball game and the rest was history! Now, Missy is a Certified Therapy Dog and Emotional Support Animal. Over the years, she has brought comfort and joy to many senior adults and helped emotionally during hurricanes, storms and freezes. Throughout her therapy career, she’s brought smiles to resident’s faces when visitors weren’t allowed during the pandemic and even helped college students relax between finals. Missy has made me more patient and compassionate and an overall better human being.
Tell us about your hobbies: My hobbies revolve around animals. Adopting Missy from the Humane Society really opened my eyes to the great need of fostering shelter dogs and cats. I started fostering animals in 2017, right around the time that Hurricane Harvey hit Houston. About a year later, my friend and I started a non-profit group to help shelter dogs in the city of Bellaire, located inside Houston proper, and more than 100 dogs have been fostered through that venture. Once we settle into our new home in Dallas, Missy and I will get right back to fostering and helping animals in Plano and the DFW area!
On the weekend, you can find me: On the weekend back in Houston, you would probably find me at Minute Maid Park, working an Astros game. I began working in the Guest Services department and then transitioned to the Astros Foundation 50/50 Raffle Team. That was my constant for eight years. Now, you can find me exploring my new city, binge watching mystery shows on Netflix and spending time at the dog park with Missy.
What are some of your favorite foods and restaurants? I have always enjoyed a really good cheeseburger! Many moons ago, when my waistline was more forgiving, my friends and I would drive around the city looking for hole-in-the-wall places with great cheeseburgers. Now, I enjoy a delicious margarita (with sugar on the rim) or a stuffed baked potato from a local barbeque restaurant. Chicken Alfredo will always top my list of favorite dishes to order.
How would your friends describe you? In my friend group, I am usually the voice of reason and someone my friends trust to listen to them without judgement. My friends would say I am loyal and always willing to tell the truth, even when it’s hard to hear. I try to be whoever my friend needs at that moment, whether it’s a listening ear, a partner in crime for a fun night out or someone to stay in and gab with over a glass of Moscato.
