Ashby Ponds Provides Unmatched Resources for Professional Growth

January 19, 2025

At Ashby Ponds, an Erickson Senior Living community in Ashburn, Va., team members enjoy more than just a job. They also enjoy opportunities and support for achieving their individual career goals including further education, professional development, advancement, and a healthy work-life balance.

In support of these efforts, this year, each Erickson Senior Living community hosted a Career Expo for current team members to meet department ambassadors, learn about current and upcoming career opportunities, map out a personal development path, and access skill-building opportunities to fuel professional growth.

“Our goal is to provide our talented and diverse team members with a meaningful work experience that matches their interests and goals,” said Nicole Walker, Chief Human Resources Officer for Erickson Senior Living. “This is why we created the 2024 Internal Career Expo Series across the enterprise. As a growth company with a bright future, we strive to be an employer of choice by providing our team members with the resources to cultivate the career they personally desire at Erickson Senior Living.”

Joining the Ashby Ponds team in 2013, Dominique Wallace, began her Erickson Senior Living career, as a college student, working as a member of the dining services waitstaff.

“I was looking for a job that was flexible with my college schedule,” she says. “While I was working on my associates degree, I worked up the dining services career ladder eventually becoming an assistant general manager.”

When Dominique decided to pursue her bachelor’s degree, Ashby Ponds worked with her to accommodate her class schedule. She worked as a bartender in the evenings and attended school during the day.

“During that time, I talked a lot with management, both in dining and in the other departments, about my goals and possible opportunities,” she says. “I’m so grateful for all the advice and direction I received.”

On the suggestion of the Ashby Ponds Sales Director, Dominique applied for the position of operations associate. For over a year, she rotated between the various departments including general services, human resources, finance, and philanthropy. 

“As an operations associate, I learned that we really are all one team,” says Dominique. “And, on our peer team calls, I began to appreciate the fact that I was part of a larger organization. I learned that I could grow, professionally, either at Ashby Ponds or at a different Erickson Senior Living community.”

Recognizing Dominique’s initiative and desire for career expanding opportunities, she was chosen to fill in for Ashby Pond’s philanthropy manager when she took her maternity leave. 

“That time in philanthropy was really eye opening for me. I knew this was the role I wanted to pursue,” she says.

As a result, Dominique met with Ashby Ponds leadership to build the case for a philanthropy coordinator position, a position that was ultimately created for her. 

“Throughout the years, I’ve been fortunate to meet so many team members who’ve supported me, people who allowed me to pick their brains,” she says. “I really appreciate making authentic connections with people. Their openness and willingness to meet with me and talk about what I’m interested in has been an amazing opportunity.”

 Earlier this year, Dominique represented the philanthropy department at Ashby Ponds’ Career Fair. 

 “It was a wonderful opportunity for team members to experience all that is happening at Ashby Ponds, to see what other opportunities are out there,” she says. “With all the departments represented, it’s a chance to learn about what you need to do to advance your career. I really enjoyed sharing my story.”

 In November, Dominique experienced, first-hand, the possibilities of cross-community promotion when she accepted the philanthropy manager position at Linden Ponds, an Erickson Senior Living community in Hingham, Ma. 

 “The best advice I have to share is to talk with the people you work with. We really are one team,” she says. “Not only do we support each other, but Erickson Senior Living provides so many benefits, including training opportunities and courses to gain more knowledge. There are always avenues for growth.”

Watch your calendar! Be on the lookout for the 2025 Career Expo at Ashby Ponds!

To learn more about career opportunities at Ashby Ponds, or to apply online, visit www.ericksonseniorlivingcareers.com

 

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