Emotional ties

George Mishraky has been working in Riderwood's sales office for nine years, and earlier this year he became the director of sales. In his new role, Mishraky oversees a team of nine people and all of the activities of the sales department, which helps prospective residents make informed choices about their retirement living.

"I merely steer the ship in the right direction, creating strategies and goals to maximize our effectiveness and efficiency, and I support my team whenever needed," he says.

'Customer obsessed'

As for how he runs the department, Mishraky describes his sales philosophy as "customer obsessed." He says he and his team work hard to understand the needs of those considering a move to Riderwood and to develop relationships with them that are built on trust.

"This is a tough, emotional, and complex decision people face, and they trust us to guide them through this journey," he says. "We must make it easy for our prospects to do business with us by stripping away barriers and fears as best we can."

When people visit Mishraky's sales office to learn more about Riderwood, they receive a very warm welcome and a wealth of information.

"Prospective residents can expect knowledgeable, genuinely caring, and friendly staff to tailor each personal tour based on each prospect's specific questions, preferences, and situations," he says. "We are attentive to our guests and strive to make each prospect feel special from the moment they arrive on campus to when they leave."

Personal touch

Mishraky says his team's job is to serve as guides for prospective residents as they make decisions about their retirement living. Since they have already helped so many through the process, they are well equipped to navigate any situation—and they do so with compassion and respect for what a big decision people are making.

"My team is very resourceful and creative in how we help resolve any challenges our prospects bring us as they navigate through this journey," Mishraky says. "I continue to be in awe of how emotionally tied our team is to our prospects. We understand the emotional and physical toll a move like this can demand—that's why we jump in to take on the burden so our prospects don't have to do it all alone."

After earning a degree in business management from Towson University, Mishraky first came to work at Riderwood in 2008 as an operations associate. About a year later, he was hired as a sales associate at the community and went on to earn an M.B.A. from the University of Baltimore with the help of Riderwood's tuition reimbursement program.

He continued rising through the ranks of the sales office, becoming sales manager in 2015 and associate director of sales in 2017, prior to his most recent promotion in 2018.

Mishraky says he knew from the start that he wanted to build his career at Riderwood. He believes the company's leadership truly cares about and invests in its workforce and gives employees the tools and resources they need to achieve their goals. Plus, he enjoys the fast-paced and meaningful work he does day in and day out.

"I truly believe we offer a better life for seniors," he says. "I have a deep sense of satisfaction knowing I'm making a difference in someone's life as they transition to Riderwood."

Mishraky says he enjoys working with his dedicated team members, who he describes as his "work family." He also appreciates the opportunity to get to know the many interesting people who live at Riderwood and stop by his office to visit.

Did you know?

"I enjoy hearing their stories, learning from their wisdom, and asking their insight into historical moments throughout the twentieth century," he says. "We have folks who marched with Dr. King, worked for NASA on the Apollo missions, for the CIA and FBI during the Cuban Missile Crisis, for various presidents. We have inventors, engineers, professors, civil rights leaders, authors, and the list goes on and on. It's simply fascinating."

Mishraky lives in the Federal Hill neighborhood of South Baltimore with his wife Mari Carmen and their toddler son Emilio. During their downtime, the family enjoys walking all over the city, taking in the many parks, restaurants, festivals, and farmers' markets.

"I love to spend time with my family; I also like to cook; hike; visit historical sites and museums; and play golf, football, and tennis," Mishraky says. "I'm a huge hometown sports fan—go Os and Ravens!"

Many people know Mishraky is of Egyptian heritage, but one thing some are surprised to learn is that he was actually born in Egypt. His parents immigrated to the U.S. when he was five years old.

One of his favorite things from his native country is stuffed grape leaves, which are traditionally served at Christmas and Easter.

"I love them so much I learned how to make them—they're very labor intensive—and I'll cook a couple of batches for my wife and me during the long stretches of time between Easter and Christmas to satisfy my cravings," he says.