East Ridge at Cutler Bay’s director of community operations, Ken Gould, has been selected as a fellow in the 2016 Leadership Academy of LeadingAge, the national industry organization geared to senior housing communities.
The Leadership Academy is a year-long leadership development program designed to enhance the leadership skills and core competencies of not-for-profit leaders within the LeadingAge membership. It’s a graduate-level curriculum focusing on senior living. Ken is one of 50 people selected and is being sponsored by East Ridge.
“The Academy helps you discover the type of leader you are,” he explained. “The opportunity to interact with experience leaders and others in the field of senior living helps to better understand gaps in the industry and recognize solutions.”
He will meet five times during the year with participants and will undertake an Action Learning Project that will be implemented at East Ridge.
For his Action Learning Project, Ken is focusing on the men living in assisted living at the new Three Palms Health Center.
“Many of the men miss opportunities to work with tools. My project is bringing the guys together for a monthly hands-on woodworking project,” he explained. “They’ll have the opportunity to build something individually that they can take home. By working with Home Depot, some of the workshop projects may include picture frames, birdhouses, planters and mail organizers to name a few.”
The Leadership Academy also helps leaders build a lifelong network of peers dedicated to continuing the Academy experience through shared learning, fellowship and service opportunities.
Ken has been with East Ridge for over seven years. Prior to being promoted to director of community operations, he was director of environmental services and spearheaded the community’s efforts in green practices starting with single-stream recycling. Under his management, the program was expanded to include recycling in all departments within East Ridge and continual resident and employee education.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in applied science management and supervision (BAS) from Miami Dade College and an associate’s degree in health services administration. He is a licensed Florida Assisted Living Administrator.