Homestead Hills’ Angie Pantazopoulos Wins 2022 Supernova Award
Human Resource Director Takes Home Highest Honor
The Supernova Award is the highest individual honor that our company gives and each year. One individual on the leadership team at Homestead Hills is voted by their colleagues as the community’s Supernova based on an assortment of criteria. Each year during the Senior Living Communities Annual Meeting, the winner is revealed and given a customized crystal award at the company’s formal Supernova Awards Evening. The criteria for voting is based on upholding our company’s mission to be caring professionals dedicated to quality services. Additionally, this individual will consistently deliver excellent customer service (to Members, families, and colleagues), lead positively with integrity, take accountability, put the team before themselves, and embody the company’s vision to create communities where people live longer, healthier, and happier lives.
This year, we are proud to congratulate our Human Resource Director, Angie Pantazopoulos as the recipient of the 2022 Homestead Hills Supernova Award. This honor was bestowed at the Senior Living Communities Annual Meeting on Thursday, July 28th at The Omni Grove Park Inn, in Asheville, North Carolina. As the Human Resources Director, Angie is the heartbeat of the community. She welcomes new Team Members with open arms, is dedicated to all Team Members’ career paths, benefits management and work health.
Working with Senior Living Communities is my second career. Right out of college I worked as a paralegal, then moved into recruiting for a state-wide law firm and was there for ten years. I became a stay at home mom near the end of my second pregnancy but that didn’t last long. I was fortunate to pick up two jobs working from home while our children were young. Homestead Hills was my first foray into a career-type job as I joined the community as the Assistant Business Manager and was part-time only. My first day, I learned that it would eventually go to a full-time position and here I am.
My husband, Barry, also works in Human Resources and has his entire career. We are blessed with three wonderful children (Abby, Brandon and Bo) and are semi-empty nesters since the youngest is in his junior year of college. We also have two fur babies, a beagle/shepherd mix, Buster, and a shih tzu/maltese, Lexi.
Interview with 2022 Director of the Year, Angie Pantazopoulos
Congratulations on being chosen as a Supernova! How do you feel?
I feel honored every day that I come to work and I am especially honored by the Supernova Award. Our team has seen a lot of change over the last year and a half that I’ve been in this position. It’s been great to see our team building back up and providing quality services for our Members.
What’s your favorite part about your position?
Getting to work with individuals in all parts of the community. My favorite days are those when I was able to help resolve an issue or at the very least give someone some peace of mind.
What do you want people to know about working in a retirement community?
Most people have no idea of what goes on in a retirement community; it is very hard work but it is also some of the most rewarding work you could ever do and becomes a part of who you are.
What is your favorite thing about working for Senior Living Communities?
Senior Living Communities is a dynamic company with a lot of energy and innovative ideas. We have the advantages that come with being part of a large company but are still small enough that we can have relationships with Home Office leadership.
What’s a quote or inspirational words that influence/impact you and why?
“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” Difficult times are the times that build character. The easiest thing to do in those times is to give in to it, feel bad, etc. Sometimes you do have to let yourself feel those things but then you have to dust yourself off and reset your thinking.
“No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, show up, and never give up.” I feel this even more strongly as I get older, deal with my own aging parent and see the residents in our community. Staying engaged and present is so important to my mental mindset and aging well.
One thing that I say to our team all the time is that they have to “Look for something positive or the up side in every situation.” Sometimes you have to look really hard to find it but it helps to keep things in perspective.
Positions that are eligible to vote and win the Supernova Award include: HR Director, Business Manager, Assistant Business Manager, Care Services Administrator, Director of Nursing, Assistant Director of Nursing, Resident Care Director, Lifestyle Advisor, Lifestyle Advisor – Care Services, Transition Specialist, Social Director, Wellness Director, Director of Facility Services, Director of Dining Services, Executive Chef, Client Services Manager (Live Long Well Care).
