River City 6: Kim Spicer
Walnut Grove Retirement Community (rlcommunities.com) is a Resort Lifestyle Community located at 4901 S. 153rd Street in Omaha, NE. Kim Spicer is the Lifestyle Director at Walnut Grove Retirement Community.
Tell us a little about your business. – We offer independent senior housing with luxurious choices for a maintenance-free living in a safe and secure community setting. We believe that amenity-filled living should also be affordable, so we don’t require a buy-in fee and residents pay an all-inclusive price, month by month. We’re honored to serve our residents, and committed to doing everything we can to help them enjoy life to the fullest. Home health care nurses, physical therapy, and geriatric assistance are welcome from third party resources.
How did you get started in the business? – My background includes hotels, childcare and floral. I was looking for a change when I came to Walnut Grove in 2010 as a server in the dining room and I was hooked from day one! When I became the Dining Room Supervisor I set out to make the dining room a place of fun and laughter, a place where the residents enjoyed having their meals. When the Lifestyle Director position became available it was a natural step for me, just on a larger scale.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – My position as Lifestyle Director has forced me to better manage my time as well as to become more creative in doing multiple things at once.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – I won our company’s “Ron Herron Service From the Heart” award, which is a companywide award given to top performers who are nominated by our residents and corporate training team. I am also an Admiral in “The Great Navy of the State of Nebraska,” a service award given by the Governor that likewise was resident recommended.
Tell us a little about your family. – I have been happily married to my husband for 28 years. We have two adult children and one beautiful granddaughter.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – I have a much greater respect and admiration for our seniors since I started at Walnut Grove. They are indeed the “greatest generation!”
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Enjoying a baseball game with my family, and reading a good magazine on the patio.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – A resident once said to me, “Some of us can’t see very well, hear very well, or even walk very well. But there is something that we can all do and that is laugh.”
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Kind-hearted.
Which talent would you most like to have? – To be able to play the piano.
What is your favorite movie? – The Green Mile.
What is your favorite TV show? – The Voice.
What is your favorite restaurant? – Any place that serves great BBQ!
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? – One last dinner with my grandparents (they are very famous to me!).
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – Give me a call at (402) 861-1611, email me at wgact@rlcommunities.com, or visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/walnut.grove.retirement.