Emily Engdahl Loves Her New Role in Sales at Brooksby Village

As a first-year college student, Emily Engdahl's class trip to Brooksby Village piqued her interest in exploring career opportunities at the Erickson Senior Living community in Peabody, Mass. 

Nine years later, Engdahl's career is well on its way, and, like many Brooksby employees, she loves her job, the residents, and the community. 

"I applied for a sales associate role in 2019, got the job, and worked my way up from there," she says. "The rest is history!"

Getting started

Engdahl grew up outside Worcester, Mass., in a small town called Boylston. 

Deciding to stay close to home for her higher education, she chose Endicott College on the coast in Beverly, Mass.--not far from Peabody. There, she majored in hospitality management with a concentration in hotel management.

"I loved my school so much that I stayed there for my master's degree in business administration," says Engdahl, who applied for a part-time job with Brooksby's catering department while completing her classes.

"I knew Brooksby was nearby and it had a really great reputation in our community," she says. "Remembering my visit there years before, I decided to apply."

While working in catering, she was involved with lots of sales events and quickly got to know the sales team. She also fell in love with Erickson Senior Living's philosophy, "helping people live better lives."

"To this day, I really love what Brooksby offers--a vibrant lifestyle and financial peace of mind," she says. "I could easily speak to the benefits of the community, so I thought sales would be a great fit for me."

Joining the team

It turned out to be perfect timing. 

At one of the catered sales events, Engdahl approached Gina Fernandez--sales manager at the time--and expressed interest in moving over to Brooksby's sales office. Fernandez encouraged her to apply.

"From the moment I met Emily, I knew she would be an asset to the sales team," says Fernandez, who has since been promoted to sales director. "She is dedicated to prospective residents, our current residents, and her teammates."

In her sales associate position, she took over the Ambassador program and the Live the Life program, both of which help prospective and new residents get to know the community. Answering phones, sending out informational brochures, and other sales office duties got her acclimated to sales and the process of bringing in new residents. 

In 2022, thanks to her ambition and hard work, Engdahl was promoted to senior sales associate.

The greatest gift

By December 2023, Engdahl's career continued to progress, as she was promoted to sales counselor.  

"It's a pleasure working with her, and I look forward to watching her grow and develop in this new role!" says Fernandez. 

In addition to providing support to sales office staff, Engdahl is responsible for all initial appointments along with Brooksby Village's other sales counselor, Suzanne Roche.  

"I meet with people coming in for the first time, wanting to expand their knowledge about what Brooksby is and who we are. I'm a people person, so I love meeting new people and getting to know them," she says. "I also maintain our Priority List--retirees who have shown interest in a future move here. There are over 800 names on our waiting list."

Engdahl prioritizes developing strong, lasting relationships to better support the retirees who are ready to start their next chapter at Brooksby Village. 

"It's a very fulfilling job," she adds. "We truly help people live better lives. I witness it every day!"

A vibrant lifestyle

Her favorite part of her job is seeing people she's helped thriving at Brooksby with new friends, participating in activities, and being more social than they ever thought they'd be. 

"There is so much available to them here," Engdahl says. 

She adds, "My walls are filled with thank-you notes from people I've helped move in! It's a great place to work and an even better place to live."

When she's not at work, you'll find Engdahl on the slopes or in her boat. 

"My husband and I love skiing in the winter and spending summers on our boat," she says. "That keeps us busy all year round!"

To learn more about affordable, independent senior living at Brooksby, request your free brochure to get the scoop on amenities, floor plans, and so much more.