SW_AA_ZC_101917

12 | October 19, 2017 | 22nd century media active aging Guide
22ndCenturyMedia.com
Smith Crossing’s longest-serving staff member retires
“You’ve reached Smith
Crossing. This is Georgia.”
For the past 13 years,
Georgia Vanek’s cheerful
voice has greeted callers
phoning residents and
staff members at the life
plan community located
at 10501 Emilie Lane in
Orland Park. The former
Orland Park resident took
on many more responsibilities
as the community
grew.
Vanek, who prefers
to state her age as “old
enough to retire,” recently
did just that. On Sept.
29, she turned over her
responsibilities as receptionist
supervisor, receptionist
and administrative
assistant to the executive
director at Smith Crossing.
Vanek and her husband,
Bill, recently relocated to
St. John, Indiana
Vanek leaves a legacy
of being the soul of Smith
Crossing, according to
some residents and administrators
“Georgia played an essential
role establishing
Smith Crossing as a life
plan community,” said
Kevin McGee, president
and CEO of Smith Senior
Living, sponsor of Smith
Crossing and Smith Village
in Chicago’s Beverly
Morgan Park neighborhood.
“And once we were
ready for residents to
move in, she helped make
it a place where people
foster friendships and offer
mutual support they
experience in their own
families.”
McGee served as the
first executive director for
Smith Crossing.
Smith Crossing sprang
up from 32 acres once occupied
by soybean fields.
It officially opened in November
2004, but Vanek
joined the staff of Smith
Senior Living even before
that when there only was
a sales office at a nearby
shopping center.
In 2002, she sought employment
after passing up
a job offer with Honeywell
that would have required
moving to Phoenix. For 17
years, she had worked as
an administrative assistant
to a regional manager of
Honeywell and as a customer
service representative.
Answering a blind ad in
a local newspaper, Vanek
applied for a sales and
marketing job with Smith
Senior Living. She was the
initial contact person for
many of Smith Crossing’s
first residents, who hailed
from Orland Park and surrounding
suburbs.
Once Smith Crossing
opened with 87 independent
living apartments
and 10 villas, Vanek’s
duties transitioned to operations,
serving as an administrative
assistant and
receptionist. “That’s when
Georgia truly became the
face and voice of Smith
Crossing,” McGee said.
“She had everything to do
with making people feel
welcome.”
Within a few months
after opening for independent
living residents,
Smith Crossing opened
its first assisted living and
memory support apartments,
plus skilled nursing
care rooms.
“I learned about marketing,
but I learned a lot
more about people — what
kindness can do in the
world,” Vanek said. “I witnessed
how growing older
can be wonderful with
the support of family and
friends.”
In addition to answering
a busy telephone in the
main lobby on weekday
mornings, Vanek supervised
the duties of 11 receptionists
covering Smith
Crossing’s entire phone
system from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.,
seven days a week.
“Because we are front
and center for residents
too, we listen to their
concerns and put them in
touch with staff who could
help,” she said. “We relayed
lots of good news,
like a special package or
new furniture has just been
delivered. We’d see their
faces light up when they
greeted family members
and friends.”
Vanek kept meticulous
daily census records indicating
residents’ absences,
due to travel, medical procedures
and snowbird residency
in other states. She
also tracked their progression
through the lifestyle
settings. She recalls a tipping
point in 2007, when
Smith Crossing achieved a
population of 90 independent
living residents and a
waiting list of 30 prospective
residents.
Not long after, plans so-
Please see retire, 18
Live it
how you see fit
At Smith Crossing, maintenance-free living, exceptional amenities
and innovative programs all come together to create an active
lifestyle that will exceed your expectations. Morning yoga classes.
Working out with a professional trainer in our state-of-the art fitness
center. Cultural, educational and wellness activities. Two firstclass
dining venues with fresh, seasonal menus. Come explore an
enriching world with the freedom to live life by the best design
of all — yours.
As Orland Park’s only Life Plan Community, backed by Smith Senior
Living, who’s been caring for older adults in the Chicago area since
1924, you’ll have the security of a full continuum of care available
here on campus if you should ever need it.
Schedule your visit today (708) 505-2925
Step into a World of Possibilities.
10501 Emilie Lane • Orland Park, IL 60467 • SmithCrossing.org