Manor of the Plains Community Matters – April 2023

Mardi Gras 2023

To celebrate the beginning of Lent, Executive Director Tammy Thompson encouraged each department in the community to decorate a cart and participate in the community’s firstever Manor of the Plains Mardi Gras parade. The event was a lot of fun with residents enjoying food, beads and entertainment. u

Get to know your leadership team: Executive Director Tammy Thompson

Tammy Thompson has held the position as Manor of the Plain’s executive director since March of 2022, however her connection to the community dates back much further than that.

Tammy first joined the community in 2002 as a certified nursing assistant and later served as a certified medical assistant while attending nursing school. Following a nine-year hiatus, Tammy returned to the community in 2016 as a part-time nurse and in 2019 was named health services director/director of nursing. Besides her nursing background, Tammy also has experience in home health and surgical services.

Away from work, she and her husband, James have two daughters who keep them busy running between school and extracurricular activities. When she finds the time, she enjoys shopping, doing crafts and baking.

Fun fact: Tammy’s mom was also a CNA, so she likes to say that she grew up around the long-term care industry. u

Manor

Tammy

Tammy Thompson

Jami and Dave

Ilona & Danny

Jamie

Shirtly, Kim and Donna

PMMA celebrates history with Founder’s Day

PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®) employees will observe the founding of the senior living system this month as the company celebrates its 74-year history of serving seniors in Kansas and Missouri.

PMMA’s roots go back to 1947. Alice Kalb, a widow from central Kansas, appealed to a Presbyterian Church organization to establish a home for seniors. Her vision laid the foundation for the first Presbyterian Manor community in Newton, Kan., and inspired others to do even more. Through the many decades, PMMA® remained true to the spirit of Alice’s vision, providing quality senior services guided by Christian values.

Each Founder’s Day, staff members re-commit to live our mission by signing the “WE PROMISE” board that lists the pillars of the mission: respecting that seniors retain their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; assisting residents with specific needs; providing compassionate service; serving as a trusted resource; and advocating for seniors.

“Our nearly 2,000 employees view

what they do as a calling,” said Bruce Shogren, president and CEO. “Our dedicated employees make it possible for us to sustain PMMA’s mission, as well as its heritage. I believe Alice is watching over us today knowing that we’re carrying on the legacy that she established more than seven decades ago.”

Alice Kalb’s dream has turned into a network of 15 senior living communities and two hospices across Kansas and Missouri. A new senior living community is under construction in Colorado Springs.

remains true to its core and mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. u

PMMA

Alice Kalb, the visionary who imagined a home for seniors.

Alice Kalb participated in the groundbreaking of the first Presbyterian Manor.

Department of Giving adds team member to help build community relationships

PMMA’s Department of Giving has named Jenni Jones as its director of giving. In this newly created role, Jenni will focus her attention on building relationships with donors and volunteers associated with the communities of Clay Center Presbyterian Manor, Manor of the Plains and Salina Presbyterian Manor.

“Jenni’s time will be focused on building internal and external relationships to advance PMMA’s mission,” said Sarah Oenning, vice president, Department of Giving. “Our goal with the position is to increase donor and volunteer engagement to have a meaningful and long-term impact on fundraising strategies.”

Jenni has been a part of the PMMA family since 2016 when she was hired as director of sales and marketing in Salina before later becoming regional director of marketing and sales. In this new position, Jenni will get a chance to play an active part in helping the organization achieve its mission and better serve the people she has gotten to know and love.

“I have always shared in PMMA’s mission to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values and I have seen over the last six years what giving can do to bless our residents and staff,” said Jenni. “I wanted to be a part of the team that shares our mission to the

communities through love, faith, charity and other Christian principles.”

For Jenni, it all comes back to the people who call PMMA home.

“I love our residents and I jump out of bed every day because of them. I am so grateful for the ones that have gone before me, the current residents and the future residents— I love them all!” said Jenni. “I am looking forward to serving our residents in a different capacity and making a positive difference in their lives.”

Jenni was born and raised in Salina and has a broad network of community members, friends and family in Dodge City and Clay Center as well. Her passion for seniors began when she would help take care of her own grandmother who lived in an assisted living community. It instilled in her a desire to spread love while extending a helping hand.

“I love helping people, especially the elders in our community. They have paved the way for me and I’m trying to give back,” said Jenni. u

Jenni with Glenn Kohr

Marilyn Hunt and Jenni.

Amy Hoffman with Jenni.

Connie Johnson shares with Jenni.

200 Campus Dr. Dodge City, KS 67801-2760

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Snack time!

The snack cart makes another tour of the Manor. While the cart can have many different looks—a coffee cart, a Valentine cart or a Mardi Gras cart—one thing for sure it has goodies for everyone!

Pictured left to right are Tammy Thompson, Ilona Roczo, Donna Imel and Lizbeth Ontiveros. u