In this issue, meet VIPs John Thompson and Emily Martin, find out some of the comings and goings of our Outlook team members, and see some of the special moments captured at last year’s Gratitude Luncheon and VIP Holiday Celebration. Make this the year to finally get rid of all that stuff. Cheryl Morgan, founder of MOVE Method, shares more strategies with us to help you get started. Plus, join us for an informative webinar January 27 and learn tips to improve your travel experience in 2023.
And there’s a lot more waiting for you inside this month’s issue!
Perhaps you know someone who’d like to learn about The Outlook at Windhaven. If so, contact us at (972) 996-3887 or TheOutlook@nullForefrontLiving.org and you will both benefit! Our VIP referral rewards program has been revamped. See details.
Meet Your Future Neighbors
John E. Thompson, Jr. and Emily L. Martin
John Thompson and Emily Martin are avid travelers. Currently they are pursuing two fun travel goals: to visit all 50 state capitals (they are about halfway there) and to visit all 254 county courthouses in Texas (they have about 12 left). They also enjoy international travel and have recently taken a Mediterranean cruise with ports of call in Italy, France, and Spain. Having family in places such as Arizona, California, Iowa, and Washington, D.C. provides them with other great excuses to hit the road!
John grew up in New Jersey and then moved to Wisconsin as a sophomore in high school, going from being one of 600 kids in his class to one of only 42! For college, he traveled south to Fort Worth and attended Texas Wesleyan, where he got a business degree. John then served in the Navy and afterward used the GI Bill to go to graduate school and get an MBA in finance. He got a job with TXU (Texas Utilities Corporation) and stayed there for 38 years. He spent his career managing external assets such as pensions and 401(k)s and really enjoyed his work.
John retired ten years ago but has stayed busy doing investment work. He is on three different boards overseeing assets for a variety of non-profits and appreciates being able to give back to the community. In addition, John leads a professional organization for institutional investment managers. This group gets together several times a year for lunch and to hear a speaker in their area of expertise.
Emily grew up in Aurora, Illinois and upon graduation from high school went to Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where she got her undergraduate degree and an MBA. Emily worked for several companies in the Dallas area, her last full-time job being with an advertising agency. After that, she set up shop as a freelance writer, which gave her the flexibility to continue working and also volunteer after their kids were born. She still takes a gig whenever anyone calls and laughs, “I’ve retired when I don’t answer the phone anymore!”
At age 50, Emily pursued an altogether different interest: she attended the Dallas Theological Seminary and got a master’s degree in theology. She was inspired to do this because she wanted to do more writing in the Christian space and has done so in the form of Bible study materials. In 2014, the church she and John have attended since they were married, Park Cities Baptist, asked her to join the staff in their library. She did this until she retired about a year ago and continues to volunteer there.
John and Emily have been married 45 years, have two children (a son in Washington, D.C. and a daughter in Plano) and three grandchildren (all born in the space of 14 months!).
John and Emily’s interest in The Outlook at Windhaven stemmed from a pleasant experience with a senior living community where John’s mother resided. Originally, they were interested in being in that same community as it was close to their home in Dallas. Circumstances changed when they ended up downsizing and moving to Plano to be closer to their daughter. They grew to really like Plano and decided to investigate senior living communities in the area. The Outlook caught John’s eye because it’s run by the same group as Presbyterian Village North, which “has a really good reputation,” he says. They spared no time in going to talk to the staff at The Outlook. It really felt right, so John and Emily signed on immediately. They are in their early-mid seventies and in great health but know this could change unexpectedly for any of us. “It just makes me feel really good that we’ve got this figured out and settled,” says Emily. They are very happy with their decision.
John and Emily are really looking forward to having a new place after living for decades in a house built in 1936 for decades. They also look forward to picking out their own finishes and having someone to call to fix things. In addition, John mentions that, “It will be nice to not have to cook a meal occasionally.” John and Emily are walkers and love that The Outlook is right across from Windhaven Meadows Park with many trails. The other residents are another draw; Emily and John have really enjoyed meeting other future residents at Outlook get-togethers.
Farewell, Sara, and Welcome, Rachel!
As you have probably heard by now, our interim marketing assistant, Sara Massoudi, is following her dream of a career in the arts in New York City! We are so happy to hear that she is thriving in her new endeavor.
Rachel McGowan
Marketing Assistant
And we’d like to introduce you to Rachel McGowan. Rachel has a decade of experience in active adult communities and nonprofits. She is dedicated to service with a heart and a passion for making a difference in people’s lives and serving meaningful missions. Additionally, she has spent a lot of time in the gym, taking classes to obtain her certificate for personal training. You can also find her fishing on the lake with her son and enjoying many sporting events like hockey and baseball.
We are so pleased to welcome Rachel to The Outlook team and know you will enjoy working with her.
Gratitude Luncheon
November 16, 2022
Many of our VIPs attended our Gratitude Luncheon at Stonebriar Country Club as Reverend Jarod Cooper, M. Div., Chaplain at Forefront Living, led us in an exploration of gratitude.
VIP Holiday Celebration
December 5, 2022
VIPs celebrated the season at Gleneagles Country Club.
Strategies on Rightsizing
Reminder from Cheryl Morgan, founder of MOVE Method
While rightsizing can be quite liberating for many people, it can also be stressful. People often ask, “What is the best way to get started?”
When organizing, ask yourself these questions, and be realistic!
NEED
Do I need this now?
Will I need it later?
WANT
Is this something I want?
Does a family member or loved one want this?
FUNCTION
Am I going to find a use for this?
Does it still work like it should?
Upcoming Events for Outlook VIPs
Strategic Travel A to Z Webinar
Friday, January 27, 10:00 am
TravelToolsTips.com owner Carrie Conner will provide a gold mine of Travel Tips for 2023. Good-bye travel nightmares—hello bubbles and bliss! Pay less—get more! That’s covered too. Twenty-six Travel Tips will be covered that are guaranteed to ramp up the Travel Experience. Carrie is a Shopping & Education Guru for the EXPERT TRAVELER, and a Bullseye Packing Fanatic.
RSVP to Rachel McGowan at rmcgowan@nullforefrontliving.org or call (972) 996-3887.
We Love Our VIPs!
Tuesday, February 14, 4:00-6:00 pm
Join your fellow VIPs for an afternoon of painting while we sip wine and enjoy hors d’oeuvres. No prior experience is needed —we’ll provide the canvas, the paint, and even the instructor.
Painting with a Twist in Plano
1713 Preston Rd B, Plano, TX 75093
RSVP to Rachel McGowan at rmcgowan@nullforefrontliving.org or call (972) 996-3887.
Personalization Corner
with Lane
Hello, Outlook VIPs! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season! I had a brief—but amazing—break over Christmas, enjoying a few days in the United Arab Emirates. The photo is me in Dubai enjoying the perfect weather and the most beautiful architecture.
During the fourth quarter, I was able to meet with many VIPs, and we finalized the “MEPs” (mechanical, electric, and plumbing) for the Cottages, as well as for the first-, second-, and third-floor apartments. If you haven’t met with me yet (4th- and 5th-floor VIPs), think of this as a fun and exciting time! If you find the thought of personalizing to be a bit daunting, please know—I am here to help you. As a reminder, if you are unsure about making changes or having a hard time deciding, making changes post closing is always an option. We do not want this to be a stressful time, so if I can help you in any way, I am a phone call or email away to help guide you in the process or provide advice.
Remember, if you are satisfied with your floor plan as is and have no MEP changes, you can simply sign an MEP Waiver and an appointment is not necessary unless you would like to meet—it is your choice. When it comes to finishes (such as flooring, backsplash, countertops, etc.—the fun stuff!), you can select from the standard selections (at no charge) or from the upgrade selections (available for an extra charge). Or if you’re not sure, I’d be happy to make selections for you from one of several beautiful color combinations assembled by Bridget Bohacz, our project interior designer.
Once you receive your detailed gridded floor plan—unique to your residence—you’ll notice the 3/16-inch scale. Each square on your floor plan represents one square foot. The furniture cut-outs are also in a 3/16-inch scale and are a fun way to plan your furniture placement—you have plenty of time to plan!
I am currently meeting with VIPs reserved on the fourth floor regarding MEP changes. As soon as I receive all the samples of flooring, lighting, quartz countertops, etc., we will start the finishes appointments. I will provide both finish booklets (standards and upgrades) to you in advance of your appointment so that you can review the choices before our meeting.
I will reach out to you well in advance when it is time to get your appointment on the calendar. Until then, please start a question list and plan to bring it to your Personalization appointment. I am focused on one “neighborhood” at a time and am not likely to have much time to respond to questions/emails/calls in advance. I will do my best, but there is only one of me! And Charlotte, Angela, and Jennifer are all busy recruiting more wonderful new neighbors for you. We very much appreciate your understanding of this process—all designed to help us stay on schedule for a timely opening in 2024!
Our VIP event for January is a webinar and one I’m looking forward to—all about travel! So I’ll look forward to seeing you a little later in Q1 at a get-together or at the Information Center for those of you with appointments. Thanks, and Happy 2023!
Sincerely,
Lane Phanthavong
Personalization Coordinator
design@nullforefrontliving.org
972-996-3887
“Lane, it was a pleasure meeting with you this afternoon. The whole process went better and easier than I expected. Thank you so much.“
– Joseph Raymond, Outlook VIP
Personalization FAQ
Q: Can a resident hang drapes and pictures/paintings on the wall?
A: YES! This is your home to decorate as you wish.
Welcome to a Few of Our Newest Outlook VIPs
Construction Corner
- Utility installation is wrapping up across the site
- Concrete work is ongoing with all piers, basement columns, basement walls and basement slab on grade complete
- Waterproofing of basement walls is underway
- Grade beam pours ongoing
- Column pours complete in Assisted Living and Memory Support
- Assisted Living/Memory Support area is prepping for slab on grade pours
- Concrete drives around site are being poured
- Elevated deck pours are underway
Refer a Friend and Get Rewarded
With construction well underway and nearly 80% of residences reserved, there is no better time to recommend The Outlook at Windhaven to a friend or family member. And what could be better than getting to choose your neighbors? For a limited time, your potential new neighbor can take advantage of special pre-opening pricing and benefits while some amazing apartment homes are still available.
So, if you know someone you think would be ideal for The Outlook, let us know. And you both win!
IF YOUR FRIEND RESERVES AN APARTMENT, YOU WILL RECEIVE A $500 H-E-B GIFT CARD RIGHT NOW.*
AFTER YOU AND YOUR FRIEND MOVE IN, YOU WILL RECEIVE A CREDIT OF $3,500 & THEY WILL RECEIVE $2,500.*
Contact us at (972) 996-3887 or TheOutlook@nullForefrontLiving.org
*Offer valid for new referrals only. Effective through 3/31/23.
At The Forefront Podcast
Future Outlook Residents
In this episode of the Forefront Living podcast, host and Forefront Living CEO Tim Mallad welcomes our own Jennifer Campbell, Marketing and Sales Director for The Outlook at Windhaven (OAW), and a panel of future OAW residents, composed of VIPs Jane Bower and Lisa and Joseph Raymond, to discuss Forefront Living’s newest Continuing Care Retirement Community.
Help Parkinson’s Disease Research:
Scratch-and-Sniff Test
Forefront Living is partnering with the Michael J. Fox Foundation to help end Parkinson’s disease. Early research indicates that smell loss is an important indicator of risk to brain health as we age. A simple scratch-and-sniff test is all that is needed to gain important information about your brain health. So, if you are age 60 or older and have not been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, download the flyer for information on how you can help. Once you register, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research will send you a free scratch-and-sniff test to complete. You might be a candidate to join a brain health study and further the effort to end Parkinson’s forever. Download the PDF for more information.
