Leadership Success Stories
The best leaders are recognized and encouraged from within an organization. Their knowledge of the facility, residents, families, and staff are invaluable. Axiom recognizes and celebrates their expertise and strives to identify and embrace individuals who show dynamic leadership skills at the onset of their career with the facilities Axiom manages. A leader shows courage and tenacity in times of hardship and that is exactly what these leaders do everyday.
Breanna’s Story
My career at Nottingham Health and Rehab began in September of 2020 when I joined as a PRN floor nurse. It was an exciting new chapter for me, especially after departing from a company I had been dedicated to for five years to take on an interim Director of Nursing role.
Little did I know that this change would lead me to something truly extraordinary. In November of 2020, I was offered the full-time position of Director of Nursing at Nottingham Health and Rehab, and from that moment on, my passion for this place and its Axiom family only grew stronger. I could envision myself retiring from here, that's how much I fell in love with the people and the work we do.
Embracing new challenges and opportunities is something I've always welcomed in my career. So, I embarked on an Administrator in Training program with our Campus CEO, determined to expand my skill set even further. By January of 2022, I successfully completed the program, and in February 2022, the next chapter began as I was offered the full-time Administrator position. It was a dream come true!
You know, I firmly believe that I have the best job in the world, all thanks to my incredible team. The journey may have started in 2007 in this industry, but I have never experienced such unwavering support for resident care as I have with Axiom. They truly go above and beyond, always available and forward-thinking, be it lobbying in DC or staying ahead of local health department changes. This dedication from Axiom translates into amazing resident care that we can all be proud of.
Working in this industry is tough, but with the phenomenal support I receive, every day feels like a new opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of our residents and their families. I'm grateful for this fulfilling journey and can't wait to see what the future holds for me and the Nottingham Health and Rehab family!
Veena’s Story
My whole life, I have been dedicated in helping people and always wanted to make a difference in their lives. I contribute that to my mom. So, finding a career that could do both things was something that I have always wanted. Entering the healthcare field was something right up my alley, so when the opportunity presented itself, I was super excited to begin this journey. However, I never could have predicted the path ahead of me.
I have worked in the long-term care/skilled nursing field for about ten years now. I first became interested in long-term care because I love working with numbers and being around people, so when there was an opening to be a Business Office Manager at Medicalodge in Douglass, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for me. I stayed with Medicalodge for five years before I moved on in my career. This is when I joined the Axiom family! I moved on to Derby Health and Rehab and became their Business Office Manager. I worked as the BOM for about two years, and after getting to know John Brand, I decided that I wanted to pursue getting my administrative license. I was then promoted to the Assistant Executive Director of DHR. In this role, I was able to work closely with John Brand, who taught me everything I needed to know and made sure I knew all the regulations and the best ways to handle difficult situations. In April 2022, John moved on to become our Vice President and I became the acting Executive Director. I am proud to say that I have been the official Executive Director of Derby Health and Rehab since December of last year.
It has been an awesome experience to be presented these opportunities for growth and have so many people here at DHR and at Axiom cheering me on.
I am so glad that I took the leap to come to DHR. It truly is a family here and everyone is so supportive. I could never have done this without John. He has always been my biggest cheerleader, along with my awesome leadership team and my amazing family. I’m so thankful to work for such a great company!
Miranda’s Story
10 years ago, I was looking for a career change and decided to pursue my education in nursing. Having two small children at home meant I still needed part time employment while going to school. My grandmother was a resident at Derby Assisted Living and informed me they were looking for a part time housekeeper. It was perfect timing! Once I started working the Director of Nursing encouraged me to take the CNA and CMA classes through Allied. I was able to complete both classes and started working as a full-time CMA by January of 2014. During the following next year, I worked 3rd shift full time while completing the pre-requisites for WATC LPN program. I started the LPN Hybrid program in January of 2015. During that year I continued to work full-time at Derby Assisted Living. I completed the program in December of 2015 and passed the NCLEX in January 2016 and began working as a full time LPN at Derby Assisted Living. I was nominated and won KCHA/KCAL nurse of the year in 2017. Over the next couple of years, I was mentored by several of the best nurse, I have ever known, the DON at Derby Assisted Living being one oft them. When the time came for her to leave the facility, I was recommended for the DON position. I had only been an LPN for 3 years and was beyond nervous. Day 3 of my new role brought state surveyors into the building. Thankfully, the previous DON and I had worked closely together, and I was prepared. We ended up with a zero-deficiency survey! I continued to be encouraged to continue growing within the community and obtained my Operators License in 2021. In May of 2022 I was promoted to Executive Director of Derby Assisted Living and in that same year won the KCHA/KCLA Assisted Living Operator of the Year Award. I never dreamed I would be where I am today. Being able to grow from housekeeping, to CMA, to LPN, to DON, and now the Executive Director, would not have been possible without the encouragement and support from my family, my co-workers, the residents, and everyone at Axiom.
Derby Assisted Living is more than a community to me; it is my small village that has given me so much support professionally and personally.
Andrew’s Story
I started as the Bar & Grill Manager for Avita Rolling Hills in 2013. Having been around long-term facilities for a very long time I never saw myself working at one. Quickly I fell in love with working with the residents and learning their stories. I learned not long after working there that I could see myself making a career out of long-term care facilities. After over 2 years there I thought I would venture out to something for more money, but was drawn back to long term care because of a new position Axiom was creating called the ILEE Champion.
After hearing a quick job description, I knew I would excel in this newfound position. I felt like this position was created for me! So I became the new ILEE Champion at Reeds Cove Health and Rehab. While there I decided to get my Operators certification, highly encouraged by one of the owners of the company.
After over 2 years at Reed’s I became the Staffing Coordinator for Derby Health and Rehabilitation- a job that was not my cup of tea but gave me a different perspective on the business. After being there for a few months, I went back to my roots as the ILEE Champion for Derby Health & Rehabilitation. During my tenure in the ILEE position, I was granted the opportunity to use the certification at the Cottages at Garden City. I oversaw and ensured the facility was operating properly. I was the Operator of record for a few months. Following 2 years of being the ILEE Champ and going through the COVID times, I was offered the position of Business Office Manager. This proved to teach me more about the operations and business aspect of running a facility. After about 7 months of being in the business office, I had an opportunity to truly use the Healthcare Operators certification I had received many years prior. I became the Executive Director for Colwich Gardens Assisted Living in April of 2022. I am currently at Colwich for over a year and will soon begin working on getting my Administrators license!
It has been such an exciting journey to find my niche in healthcare!
Logan’s Story
I began my career in Skilled Nursing with a Master’s Degree in Wichita State’s Arts of Aging Program and a Graduate Certificate in Public Health. During the program I completed the required Administrator in Training (AIT) internship with Family Health and Rehabilitation Center. I loved the building and accepted a job offer as the Business Office Manager in 2017, a short time later earning my licensure as a Nursing Home Administrator. I knew it was important to “do the work” instead of jumping straight into a leadership position. During that time, I worked closely with the Axiom team finessing my accounting knowledge and Human Resource tools.
After a little over two years, I moved into the Administrator position for Family Health and Rehabilitation Center and then the tidal wave of COVID-19 hit. Suddenly my Administrator peers and I were all learning together and it didn’t matter how much or little experience you had. It was an incredibly unifying time for healthcare. It also cemented the responsibility we accept in caring for those who are considered most vulnerable, as families had to trust our care like never before.
Looking back on the past three years as a younger administrator, I have felt supported by not only the Family Health and Rehabilitation staff but also the dynamic Axiom Team as I gain experience and found them to be a strong resource as well as leaders in their field. By working with Axiom the past five and a half years, I have learned how to run a skilled nursing facility with integrity to staff and provision of the highest quality care possible to our residents. I have learned all the little details it takes to truly prepare your facility to be successful in caring for your residents. Some examples would be: a one deficiency Annual Survey (my first!), Passed Infection Control Surveys in 2020 & 2021 with 100% compliance, Awarded Best of Wichita Gold & Silver, Awarded Baldrige Bronze 2023.
What a great career and what a great chance to make a difference each and every day!