Wind Crest Offers Team Members More

A decade ago, when Douglas Moss began as a prep cook at Wind Crest, the Erickson Senior Living community in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, he couldn’t have imagined that he would one day be the chef in charge of the entire campus.

But that’s exactly what he is today.

“I’m an Executive Chef III or the campus chef, which means I meet with the other executive chefs to see what they’re working on and how business is going. I’m typically checking in across the entire campus multiple times a day, seeing what everyone needs and observing how service is progressing,” Moss says.

Moss’s career advances came about not only because of his hard work, but because he is with a company committed to the growth and development of its team members.

Moving on up

Moss, who previously worked in the baking and pastry field, came to Wind Crest on the recommendation of a staff member friend. They told him it was different from any of the other places they had worked.

After he being hired as a prep cook, Moss learned pretty quickly what these differences were.

“They were willing to work with me and show me what I needed to know,” Moss recalls. “They were interested in my development and were willing to invest in me, which I thought was great!”

Moss moved from prep cook to lead line cook. In his next position of sous chef, he showed that he knew the day-to-day operations and was good at managing people.

When the Executive Chef I position opened, he applied and landed it. Last October, when the Executive Chef III was retiring, Moss was hired for that job.

Moss had access to all these opportunities because Wind Crest believes in helping its team members thrive.

Career opportunities

Whether its through training and professional development opportunities, mentorship programs, and benefits such as reimbursement for high education, trade schools, and certifications, Erickson Senior Living and its managed communities provide team members with the tools to advance in roles throughout the enterprise. When staff is interested in moving ahead in dining, they can study through Rouxbe, a leading online culinary school. 

“I definitely needed to have my own drive,” says Moss. “But if you’re willing to show that you want to move up, grow, and continue to progress forward in your career, they’re going to make the time to help you do that.”

Having worked with mentors at Wind Crest, Moss is now one himself. In fact, at a recent Career Expo for staff, he spoke with other team members about his trajectory—where he began with Wind Crest, where he is now, and how he got there. 

“Our goal is to provide our talented and diverse team members with a meaningful work experience that matches their interests and goals,” says 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 careers they personally desire at Erickson Senior Living.”

“In the course of ten years, when I started to feel comfortable in my role, I would ask by manager or supervisor, ‘How do I get to the next level?’” says Moss. “With their help, I learned what I needed to do to be ready to interview successfully when that job became available.”

Learn more about career opportunities at Wind Crest and apply online at www.ericksonseniorlivingcareers.com.