Find a Rewarding Career Path with the Help of the Highland Springs Career Expo!

January 21, 2025
Alex Hanson serves as the Assistant Director of Dining Services at Highland Springs, an Erickson Senior Living community in North Dallas, Texas.

Looking for ideas, possible advancement, or a bold shift in your career path? Attending a Career Expo at Highland Springs, the Erickson Senior Living community in North Dallas, was a valuable way for team members to seek answers to their questions in 2024!

Alex Hanson, Assistant Director of Dining Services at Highland Springs, found its 2024 Career Expo invaluable for exploring possibilities for advancement and development, while learning about available career paths.

“I was excited to see everything they were showcasing,” Alex says. “There's so much going on at Highland Springs. I love working in dining but wanted to know about other careers, too.”

Alex started at Highland Springs in 2021 as a sous chef and worked her way up to Assistant Director of Dining Services.

Providing resources

As Erickson Senior Living continues to expand and enhance offerings to residents at its communities, retaining top talent like Alex is critical. Cultivating opportunities for talented team members like her to grow and develop fulfilling careers is key.

“The Expo occurred when I was interviewing for the Assistant Director of Dining Services role, which I moved into later,” Alex says. “So, I knew what I was aiming for. It was great to talk to employees that had, not the same career trajectory, but had grown within their roles and experienced different avenues.”

Alex appreciates Erickson’s care and nurturing of its employees and their career goals, with its focus on culture and core promises to team members for financial stability, a vibrant work experience, and a commitment to health and well-being. Plus, at Erickson communities like Highland Springs, a friendly, supportive atmosphere is built on a foundation of meaningful relationships between residents and co-workers.

“Our goal is providing our talented and diverse team members with meaningful work experiences that match 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. 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 careers they desire.”

Through training and professional development opportunities, mentorship programs, and benefits such as reimbursement for higher education, trade schools, and certifications, Erickson and its communities nationwide provide 16,000 team members like Alex with the tools to advance in roles throughout the enterprise. Career Expos provide a one-stop shop to learn about available resources and connect with leaders and peers who have built Erickson “careers for life.”

Making connections

“I wanted my team to attend the Expo too, because it's really important they know about career options,” Alex says. “Of course, I want my team to stay because I love them! But you never know what someone’s seeking as far as job growth.”

At the Career Expo, Alex and her team engaged with department ambassadors, learning about career opportunities, and discovering a wealth of innovative resources to help with career advancement.

“This is nothing like I pictured five years ago,” Alex says of her new career at Highland Springs. “I would not have believed I'd be an assistant director now. I love learning and growing and sharing my experiences with others, and Highland Springs creates the environment to be able to do that.”

Alex says that she’s been lucky in her career, with “fantastic leaders and mentors.”

“I try to emulate that,” she adds. “I also love the residents. They care about the dining team, which makes what we do so much easier—when there's a circle of caring going on here.”

Watch your calendar! Be on the lookout for the 2025 Career Expo at Highland Springs!

Learn more about career opportunities at Highland Springs--and apply online--at www.ericksonseniorlivingcareers.com

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