“I’ve been to many of these types of showcases, but it’s usually all about profit and margin and how much money they make. This is really different. This is focused on the right places,” an attendee whispered near the conclusion of Brookdale’s Third Annual Partner Summit.
More than 170 vendor representatives from over 70 partner companies attended the August 19th event. The attendees represented vital partnerships with Brookdale, from healthcare providers and pharmacies to transportation, laundry service, power generation, telecommunications, and video production. They learned about the senior living business and Brookdale’s mission to enrich the lives of those we serve with compassion, respect, excellence and integrity.
Brookdale CEO Cindy Baier kicked off the informational summit with a welcome message, and shared why she has a passion for working in senior living. This included her role as a caregiver to her grandfather and her late mother at two different times in her life. Baier also shared the touching story of a resident she connected with at last year’s Celebrate Aging Film Festival. Baier visited the resident in hospice care recently. On his bedside table, she saw photos of his family, and a picture of him and her from a visit that she’d made to his community.
“Seeing that this photo was important enough for him to have by his bedside at the end of his life made me realize that the relationships our residents form with our associates are genuine and meaningful,” said Baier. “We enrich their lives and, as important, they enrich ours.”
Other Brookdale executives, including Mary Sue Patchett, EVP, Communty and Field Operations, Diane Johnson May, EVP, Human Resources and Steve Swain, Chief Financial Officer, discussed topics that ranged from attracting and retaining associates to quality healthcare needs.
“This summit is an important way for Brookdale to connect with our key suppliers so they understand the company’s needs and goals and can provide the right products, services, and ideas to better serve our residents,” said Jennifer Nolan, Procurement VP, who led the event.
