In this issue, meet VIPs Ed and Carol Maier. Learn about the seasonality of the real estate market. And congratulations to Rachel McGowan on her recent promotion to Move-in Coordinator at The Outlook—you’ll love working with her in her new role! Enjoy some great music with our Outlook VIP Spotify Playlist, a compilation of tunes curated by our VIPs themselves (you can contribute to the playlist, too!). Plus, get the latest news on construction as well as upcoming events, including a don’t-miss presentation by Kathryn Clark Childers, one of the first five women to be hired as a Secret Service Agent.
Perhaps you know someone who’d be ideal for The Outlook at Windhaven?
If so, let us know at (972) 996-3887 or info@nullForefrontLiving.org and get rewarded now—and in the future!
Meet Your Future Neighbors
Ed and Carol Maier
Carol and Ed Maier are both native Chicagoans who met while attending DePaul University. They have been married for over fifty years and in that time have lived in Chicago (twice!), Florida, and Dallas (twice!). They have lived in Frisco since 2007 and have a son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren who live nearby. Their next (“and hopefully last!” they say) move will be to a cottage at The Outlook at Windhaven.
Carol initially began work toward a chemistry degree at DePaul but decided this was not the path for her. She transferred to the University of Illinois and earned a degree in accounting. Carol worked in public accounting for a while until their son was born in 1972. She then took some time off before doing freelance work in accounting and consulting, some in the not-for-profit sector, until she retired three years ago.
Ed also studied accounting and earned his degree from DePaul. He then worked for a large accounting firm in Chicago for 6 months before doing military service for a couple of years. He returned to the same firm, and the many moves the couple made over the years were company-driven. Ed enjoyed his work, his colleagues, and the firm itself but nevertheless retired from accounting in 2002 to try something new. During the course of his career, one of the things Ed enjoyed most was working directly with people through teaching/training programs. When he retired, he opened his own executive coaching firm and ran it for over a decade; he still does some of this work occasionally, mostly for people he already knows.
Both Carol and Ed are avid volunteers. Carol was very involved with The League of Women Voters in Chicago and Florida. About six years ago, she had to pause this work to address a medical condition. Carol underwent procedures at the University of Florida that helped her—in fact, she is doing so much better that she is considering getting more involved in The League of Women Voters for the next election cycle.
Ed does volunteer work with several organizations. Project Unity is a Dallas-based group devoted to trying to help people bridge the racial divide through conversation. And Braver Angels’ mission is to get people from opposing political backgrounds talking in hopes of lessening the negative impact of political division. As in his work life, Ed enjoys running dialogue-centered meetings, so he serves as a moderator for both of these organizations. He finds the work “very challenging, interesting, and educational.”
About three years ago, Carol decided that running the home enterprise had lost its luster, and she and Ed started looking at senior living communities. They also had in mind Carol’s condition and the fact that they did not want to burden their son with the decision of moving them if something were to happen to either of them. Carol and Ed have friends at Presbyterian Village North and liked it a lot but preferred to be closer to where they currently live. They found very little comparable to PVN in their area until Ed read in the paper that Forefront Living was opening The Outlook at Windhaven, which was very close to their house. They contacted The Outlook staff immediately and the rest is history!
Ed and Carol have been to nearly all The Outlook gatherings. They’ve enjoyed meeting their future neighbors and were surprised to find that one of their fellow VIPs is a friend of Ed’s from a previous volunteer engagement. Ed has even renewed his interest in golf and been playing with The North Texas Senior Golf Association thanks to an Outlook VIP. “They’re doing a good job of building community before we are even in…it’s good what they’re doing, and I think we’re going to be very happy when we get there,” says Carol.
Carol is looking forward to managing a smaller home space and getting involved in some of The Outlook’s activity groups, perhaps book club or card playing. People-person Ed is looking forward to meeting and getting to know folks from different facets of life. The wellness programs are also a draw. Ed is intrigued by the variety of options and the subsequent opportunity to keep his brain engaged by trying different things—like the piano lessons he started taking four years ago—not to mention the ease of doing it because everything is right there! But don’t expect him to be part of the musical entertainment!
In their free time, Ed and Carol enjoy attending the numerous sporting events of their grandchildren. “They keep us going!” says Carol. They also have an adorable mini schnauzer named Barkley who demands lots of time and attention. Travel is another favorite pastime of the Maiers’, especially river cruises. They have taken several European ones and next month look forward to exploring the Columbia and Snake Rivers here in the US.
Rachel McGowan
Promoted to Move-In Coordinator
We are thrilled to announce Rachel’s promotion from Marketing Assistant to Move-In Coordinator. Rachel’s friendly demeanor, problem-solving skills and organizational abilities made her a favorite among VIPs. Rachel will bring these same qualities with her as Move-In Coordinator. In her new role, Rachel will ensure that your move goes as smoothly and headache-free as possible! Rachel leaves big shoes to fill, and we are taking the time to find just the right person to fulfill the role of Marketing Assistant. We hope to introduce you to our pick very soon. In the meantime, please continue to call us at the Information Center with any questions you may have, (972) 996-3887.
VIP Spotify Playlist
Looking for some good tunes to listen to while you work on your rightsizing efforts? Look no further than the Spotify Outlook VIP Playlist. We’ve assembled these songs from titles submitted by VIPs like you. Don’t hear your favorite? Let us know what it is and we’ll add it to the list.
“The Seasonality of Real Estate:
When Is The Best Time To Sell Your Home?”
by Bruce Walpole
We’re sure you’ve begun to think about selling your home, and we thought this article on the seasonality of real estate might come in handy. Each season brings its unique set of advantages and challenges for sellers, making it essential to understand the market dynamics throughout the year.
Sell your house more quickly than you thought (yay!)? The Outlook team has information on short-term lease options. Call us for resources.
Construction Corner
See the great construction progress we are making. Take a look at our most recent time-lapse video as of August 8, 2023:
In the next six weeks, The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW) construction progress will include:
- Framing roof of Independent Living building
- Setting windows in the Commons, Assisted Living and Independent Living buildings
- Continue exterior and interior work on Cottages
- Framing roof of Assisted Living building
OAW campus buildings – Blue outlines the Commons building, housing administration offices, kitchen and dining. Green highlights the three stories of Assisted Living and Memory Care. Red showcases the five-story Independent Living building, including additional common spaces such as the fitness center and pool.
Save Your Tires
We know how exciting it must be to see your new home under construction; why spoil it with a flat tire? Until The Outlook is ready for you to move in, it is an active construction site and may not be safe—so please do not drive on site.
Join us for our BBQ & “Barn Hall” with Forefront Living Leadership on September 11 for a drive-thru look at construction progress via shuttle bus!
Welcome to Inside The Outlook, an educational and lifestyle series created especially for you—our VIPs. Below is a list of upcoming events as well as a recording of a recent event—either way, we don’t want you to miss a single thing going on at The Outlook!
Save-The-Date
for these upcoming Inside the Outlook exclusive events
Questions about any of these events? Give us a call at (972) 996-3887.
BBQ & “Barn Hall” with Forefront Living Leadership
Monday, September 11
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Haggard Party Barn
5948 McKamy Trail
Plano, TX 75024
Join us for our first town hall-style meeting and get an update from our leadership on all things Forefront Living/The Outlook, followed by a fantastic BBQ lunch. Shuttle buses will be available to take you across to the construction site for a drive-thru look at construction progress.
What’s in the Fine Print?
Thursday, October 12
10:00 am
Webinar
Join us for this informative webinar with Scott Polzin, Chief Operating Officer at Forefront Living, who will review Forefront’s approach to continuing care through its unique contract.
Scared Fearless: An Unlikely Agent in the US Secret Service Presentation by the Author and Book Signing
Wednesday, October 18
3:00 pm
Forefront Living
12467 Merit Drive
Dallas, TX 75251
In this event for VIPs and potential VIPs, Kathryn Clark Childers, one of the US Secret Service’s first five female Special Agents, shares her life’s simple but powerful message, crafted after many years of fascinating choices and reinvention.
Books will be available for purchase and autograph, or bring your own copy for a personal message from the author.
Wine & Cheese Mingle by Floor Plan
Thursday, October 26
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Information Center
4017 Preston Road, Suite B520
Plano, Texas 75093
Watch for an invitation to this Happy Hour exclusively for those of you who selected a two-bedroom/two-and-a-half-bath apartment home, specifically the Heron, Kingfisher, Mallard or Martin floor plan.
What are you grateful for?
Wednesday, November 1
10:00 am
Location: TBD
As the calendar turns to November, we are often reminded of all we have to be grateful for. Join Reverend Jarod Cooper, M. Div., Chaplain at Forefront Living, and Rabbi Howard Wolk, Community Chaplain at Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas, as they lead us in our 3rd annual discussion on gratitude.
Previous Inside The Outlook Event
You can watch the presentation below if you missed it.
The Future of Care
Joni Watson, MPA/HCA, PT
Director of Business Development
Forefront Living
Welcome Select Outlook VIPs
Judi and Tom Phares
Lynda Pillans
Larry Foster
Refer a Friend and Get Rewarded Now and at Move-In
Contact us at (972) 996-3887 or click here for more information.
On the Forefront
Want to know more about Forefront Living and how we actively serve seniors across all our nonprofits? Click here to view the August 2023 On the Forefront newsletter.
Forefront Living Is Expanding into San Antonio!
Tell your friends and family about our new expansion into south Texas!
