Victory Centre’s Patricia Doyle Named Executive Director of the Year

Pathway Senior Living, a premier owner, operator, manager and developer of independent and supportive living communities for seniors throughout the Chicago area, proudly announces that Patricia Doyle, Executive Director at Victory Centre of Sierra Ridge, near the corner of Pulaski and 167th Street, in Country Club Hills, IL, earned the company’s top honor as the 2009 Executive Director of the Year.

Doyle, a Tinley Park resident, has been the Executive Director at Victory Centre of Sierra Ridge for the last three years. As an 8-year-old girl, Doyle began bringing joy to seniors’ lives by playing the piano at area nursing homes and has continued her dedication to seniors by choosing a career in senior living that spans more than 20 years.

“Victory Centre of Sierra Ridge is one of the amenities in Country Club Hills of which we are most proud,” said Dwight W. Welch, Mayor of Country Club Hills. “Its executive director, Patti Doyle, is the heart and soul of this facility and has put the interests of our senior citizens above all else. We view our senior population as one of our greatest resources in this city, and Ms. Doyle brings to her work at Victory Centre a high level of respect and care for the seniors who reside there.”

Victory Centre serves nearly 200 seniors between its independent senior apartments and affordable assisted living residences. Within the assisted living environment, residents can relax in the privacy of their own studio apartments and enjoy the comfortably furnished community spaces and activity programming, all while benefiting from services like housekeeping, maintenance, meals, medication management and a helping hand with personal care needs. Victory Centre is also one of only a few senior communities in the south suburbs to offer financial assistance through Illinois’ Supportive Living Program.

“During Pattie’s tenure, she’s worked diligently to create an affordable assisted living and senior apartment community with an excellent reputation in the south suburban area that is a warm and caring home for seniors and a rewarding workplace for employees,” said Maria Oliva, Chief People Officer at Pathway Senior Living.

Doyle makes life run smoothly for her residents and staff by paying attention to the details and leading by example. Before a big event, Doyle always pitches in to help set-up, hanging decorations, moving furniture or doing whatever is needed. If housekeeping requires a hand, she grabs a vacuum. “Pattie is the first to help out in any situation,” said Shirley Arentz, Sales Manager at Victory Centre of Sierra Ridge, who has worked with Doyle for years.

Doyle knows all of her residents by name and stays in touch with them through informal daily visits and by hosting a more formal coffee and chit-chat every couple of weeks. “Residents and their family members feel comfortable sharing their joys and concerns with Pattie,” said Marjean Fech, Community Life Manager at Victory Centre of Sierra Ridge.

And when resident need a little extra helping hand, Doyle has been known to take one grocery shopping to get ingredients for a special meal and another resident furniture shopping to help her find the perfect recliner.

During the holidays and in a down economy, Doyle used her creative problem-solving skills to find a way to give her staff a little extra spending money. Instead of hosting a high-priced, catered holiday party, the staff held a pot-luck. The money saved went toward giving each employee’s holiday gift card a little more purchasing power.

“Through these examples and others, Pattie embodies Pathway’s core values: integrity, professionalism, teamwork, responsibility and quality,” Oliva said.

In partnership with various not-for-profit partners, Pathway Senior Living creates and operates vibrant, healthy, residential communities and supportive programs for seniors. Formed in 1997, Pathway Senior Living has grown substantially over the last 10 years. Pathway currently operates communities in the Chicago suburbs of Bartlett, Country Club Hills, Elk Grove, Joliet, Melrose Park, Park Forest, and River Oaks; and in the Chicago neighborhoods of Roseland, Galewood and South Chicago. The company is breaking ground on a community in Vernon Hills, scheduled to open 2011. For more information please call 888-342-4111 or visit www.PathwaySL.com.

Published: February 5, 2010…Des Plaines, IL . . .