TUTERA SENIOR LIVING AND HEALTHCARE | SEPTEMBER 2026
INSPIRED
BY YOU G N I D LEA
E G N A
CH
ERS D A E L TO HOW N I S A IDE TURN RE
CULTU
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COMMUNITIES EARN
NATIONAL HONORS
RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT:
MEET GARY
CELEBRATING OUR PEOPLE
This Month at Tutera 04
Page 04 LEAD FEATURE: LEADING CHANGE
Page 08 CELEBRATE WITH US
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FEATURED BLOG: QUALITY AWARD WINNERS
Page 12 RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT: GARY AS A TRUE HUMANINTEREST FEATURE-OUTS
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Page 14 SHOUT-OUTS
TUTERA
Book of the Month: “Change isn’t
an event. It’s a leadership process. ”
September Newsletter
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Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail JOHN P. KOTTER
In Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail, Harvard Business School professor John P. Kotter examines why some organizations successfully transform while others struggle to turn good ideas into lasting results. His insights came from studying transformation efforts at more than 100 companies and ultimately led to his well-known framework for leading organizational change. One of Kotter’s most important lessons is that transformation rarely fails because leaders lack good ideas. It often fails because organizations underestimate the leadership, communication, persistence and cultural reinforcement required to make those ideas stick. For Tutera, this is especially relevant.
September Newsletter
We are continually introducing new programs, improving the resident experience, strengthening operations and finding better ways to serve residents, families and one another. Launching an initiative is only the beginning. The real measure of success is whether it changes what we do every day.
FIVE KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Create a Reason to Change People are unlikely to change simply because leadership announces a new initiative. They need to understand why the change matters and why it matters now. Kotter identifies insufficient urgency as one of the most common reasons transformation efforts stall.
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At Tutera, that means connecting change to something meaningful: improving a resident’s experience, making a team member’s job easier, strengthening census, improving quality or positioning our communities for the future. Ask yourself: Do our teams understand why this change matters, or have we simply told them what to do? 2. Change Requires Champions, Not Just Leaders A transformation cannot depend on one executive, one department or one enthusiastic team member. Kotter emphasizes creating a strong guiding coalition, a group of people with enough credibility, influence and commitment to move the organization forward. Within a Tutera community, the Executive Director may lead an initiative, but lasting change happens when department leaders and frontline team members become champions too. Leadership lesson: Don’t carry change alone. Identify the people who can help others believe in it.
September Newsletter
3. Communicate the Vision Again... and Again One of Kotter’s most memorable observations is how dramatically organizations tend to under communicate change. Announcing something during one meeting, sending one email or conducting one training session is rarely enough. People need to hear the message repeatedly and see leaders reinforcing it through their decisions and actions. For Tutera leaders, this means keeping important initiatives visible through: Stand up meetings Department meetings Leadership rounding Recognition Coaching conversations Resident and family interactions
Communication is not complete when we have said it. It is complete when people understand it and begin acting on it.
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4. Create Small Wins Along the Way Large transformations can feel overwhelming. Kotter recommends intentionally creating and celebrating short term wins so people can see evidence that the change is working. If the goal is improving census, don’t wait until the community reaches 100 percent occupancy to celebrate progress. Recognize the first successful referral partnership, improved tour conversion, positive resident review or week of i ncreased inquiries. Small wins create something every transformation needs: Momentum. 5. Don’t Declare Victory Too Soon Perhaps the most important takeaway is that implementation is not transformation. A new process can be launched without becoming part of the culture. Kotter warns organizations against declaring victory too early and stresses the importance of embedding new approaches into everyday organizational behavior. At Tutera, the question should not simply be: “Did we roll it out?”
September Newsletter
The better questions are: “Are we still doing it six months later?” “Has it become part of how we operate?” “Would a new team member learn this behavior simply by watching the rest of us?” That is when change becomes culture.
THE TUTERA TAKEAWAY Kotter’s message is a valuable reminder that change is not an event. It is a leadership process. The strongest leaders don’t simply introduce the next initiative. They create understanding, build champions, communicate relentlessly, recognize progress and stay committed long enough for a new behavior to become the way we do things here. As Tutera continues to evolve, the opportunity for each of us is to think differently about our role in change. Don’t just ask, “What are we changing?” Ask: “What can I do to help make the change last?” That is where transformation begins.
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Celebrate with
us September Newsletter
Let’s celebrate our amazing team! Here are this month’s birthdays and anniversaries – we’re so grateful for all you do and excited to share these special moments with you.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEPTEMBER 1
SEPTEMBER 10
SEPTEMBER 23
MISTY ANDERSON SONYA CHRISTOPHER TAMMI WILLIAMS
JOE TUTERA
LATOYA BRUCE
SEPTEMBER 11
SEPTEMBER 24
ROBIN TROPANSKY
CHERIE POLLINA
SEPTEMBER 12
SEPTEMBER 25
DIANA SNIDER
TARA NASTASE
SEPTEMBER 15
SEPTEMBER 27
TRACIE MORENO
TABITHA JENKINS
SEPTEMBER 19
SEPTEMBER 28
AMANDA COMSTOCK
DOUG GRAUPMANN
SEPTEMBER 22
SEPTEMBER 30
EVA RAMIREZ RICKIE SUBAR
NICK ANDRESEN AIMEE CALOVICH DALAINA GOBELI
SEPTEMBER 2 DAIANNA MASHAK LUIS QUINONES
SEPTEMBER 4 BETH REFFITT
SEPTEMBER 5 JAMIE WILLIAMS
SEPTEMBER 6 MIGUEL VILCHES DENISE WITHEROW
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY 1 YEAR
2 YEARS
6 YEARS
SARAH CHAMLEE GEORGE NEILL BRITTNEY HALE DOUG GRAUPMANN PAIGE SPRADLIN REBECCA ANDERSON AVERY VAUGHN BRITTANY URY JESSICA KRENKA GINA CARTER HILARY CURTIS
TIFFINNIE MANGOTICH THOMAS HINKEL JACOB WIEDEMANN DIANA SNIDER AMANDA JIMENEZ HEATHER TOLER CANDY MCGINNIS BETH BROOKS GARY LIN
MATT KAUSHAL
4 YEARS
8 YEARS JESSICA MURPHY JEFF TAYLOR ALYSSA SEBELIEN
14 YEARS YVONNE HAND
18 YEARS KILEY BROOKS
KIM ORLANDO
5 YEARS PAM LABUDA KRISTEN SPRADLIN September Newsletter
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FEATURED BLOG:
SEVEN COMMUNITIES.
One N National ational Standard of E Excellence. xcellence.
2026 AHCA/NCAL QUALITY AWARD WINNERS: SEVEN TUTERA COMMUNITIES EARN NATIONAL RECOGNITION DISCOVER OUR AWARD-WINNING COMMUNITIES
September Newsletter
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COUNTRY GARDENS
EILER SENIOR LIVING
GREENFIELD SENIOR LIVING
MISSION CHATEAU SENIOR LIVING
MORTON MEMORY CARE
ROLLING MEADOWS SENIOR LIVING
TIFFANY SPRINGS SENIOR LIVING
We are thrilled to announce that seven Tutera Senior Living communities have been honored with the 2026 AHCA/NCAL Silver – Achievement in Quality Award! Congratulations to Country Gardens Assisted Living Community, Eiler Senior Living, Greenfield Senior Living, Mission Chateau Senior Living Community, Morton Memory Care, Rolling Meadows Senior Living and Tiffany Springs Senior Living for this incredible national recognition.
September Newsletter
Earning the Silver award demonstrates that these communities have moved beyond planning to show established quality systems and measurable results in areas like leadership, team development, daily operations and the resident and family experience. This award serves as independent proof of our ongoing structured commitment to improving quality and providing exceptional care that our residents and their families can trust.
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Resident SPOTLIGHT
NAVY VETERAN. ARTIST. MUSIC LOVER. VIKINGS FAN.
MEET GARY. September Newsletter
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GARY
FROM AMELIA SENIOR LIVING
Gary, 86, is a Navy veteran with a cheerful, easygoing spirit and a lifetime of great stories. He loves talking about fishing, enjoys painting oil landscapes, playing guitar and listening to Elvis. You’ll often find him enjoying classic Westerns or cheering for the Vikings. Having lived in Minnesota and traveled as far as Tahiti, Gary looks forward to staying active and social. He has been doing great since moving to Amelia Senior Living. He is closer to family and can spend more time with them in his golden years! You will see pictures of his oil paintings that has been working on. Gary has been kind enough to share these oil painting throughout Amelia and we have been decorating the halls with his masterpieces!
September Newsletter
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Shout-Outs: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!
Diana Lee: She certainly follows the company’s values of respect and positivity as she does not disappoint when you call and ask for assistance. She answers questions and assists, above what is expected, in a very timely manner even if it’s after hours. Her work ethic is exceptional. - FROM JOE POLLINA
I would like to give a shout out to Candy McGinnis. Windsor Estates had a challenging outcome on their annual survey. Candy stepped in and saw the process through from start to finish. Her dedication to a tough situation enabled the community to have a good outcome in the end. Thanks, Candy, for your leadership during this difficult process. - FROM CHRIS BURKART
A huge shout-out to Teresa for always going above and beyond! She is dependable, supportive, and always there when I need her. Teresa’s dedication, kindness and willingness to help never go unnoticed. I’m incredibly grateful to work alongside her and truly appreciate everything she does. Thank you, Teresa, for being such an amazing coworker and friend! - FROM DIANA HERBERTS
September Newsletter
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Back to School with Dixon Rehab It’s that time of year where back to school is our focus! We would like to recognize Dixon Rehab for their dedication to staff education. The theme this year represented not only the season we are entering, but the importance of having fun while learning. Way to go to the team of educators at Dixon Rehab! Your Regional Team appreciates you!
I would like to acknowledge and thank Thomas Krueger for always communicating with me and often asking for my opinion on special projects. Thomas ensures the projects that he is working on are progressing with quality and always has his eye on the budget. Great job, Thomas!
- FROM SCOTT MCBRIDE
September Newsletter
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Billing Excellence and Unwavering Support I would like to take a moment to recognize Amber Loveless and the entire CBO team for their exceptional dedication, hard work, and unwavering support. Amber and the CBO team consistently go above and beyond in working closely with our facilities to ensure accurate billing practices and successful claim management.
“ Their willingne ss to serve a s a reliable re source and support system ha s made a significant difference for our teams acro ss the organization.
”
The Business Office Managers especially benefit from their prompt and thorough email responses regarding claim statuses, billing questions, and complex reimbursement issues. Their expertise, professionalism and commitment to assisting others help facilities resolve concerns quickly and maintain confidence in the billing process.
September Newsletter
Thank you, Amber and the CBO team, for the countless hours you invest, your collaborative spirit, and your dedication to supporting our facilities. Your efforts do not go unnoticed and are greatly appreciated. - FROM RONNETTA SULLIVAN
Shout-out to Amber Loveless and Stephanie Redburn! A huge thank you to Amber and Stephanie for all your hard work navigating our recent CHOWs and the many opportunities and challenges that have come with our MCO partners. These transitions require a tremendous amount of coordination, followup, and attention to detail, and your partnership has been invaluable. I truly appreciate your responsiveness, expertise, and willingness to work through each issue alongside me. Thank you both for everything you do and for always being such great partners! - FROM TRAVS CADWELL
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A huge shoutout to our Fundamentals and Education Manager, Holly Hutto, for always making a difference! Whether you’re providing education, supporting coworkers, or simply showing how much you genuinely care, your heart and passion for helping others are truly top tier! You make this company stronger and the world a better place just by being YOU! I also want to give a huge shoutout to our traveling BOMs —Jasmyn Brewster, Jeannie Congenie, JBriana
I would like to give a shout out to Denise Witherow. Denise helped us set up pre-employment screenings for KC Metro Teamworkers at two separate locations September Newsletter
Johnson, and Judy Packett — for bringing that much-needed in-person support and truly being the boots on the ground! Your presence helps close the gap between regional support and our BOMs, strengthening the overall support we’re able to provide to our teams. Thank you for being flexible, dependable, willing to roll up your sleeves and always ready to jump in wherever you’re needed. - TAMMI WILLIAMS
to speed up our onboarding process and to remain compliant. We really appreciate all you have done to assist us, Denise! - HOPE FALLEY 17
A Simple Gesture, A Big Impact REGION 7’S RMC, CASEY PARKER, TRULY INSPIRES ME!
When Casey conducts a group interview with residents during a PQAPI visit, she goes above and beyond to make sure they feel comfortable, valued and safe sharing their experiences. Before asking questions about the care and services they receive, Casey takes time to build a genuine connection with residents through a simple beachball activity. Each section of the ball has a different question, giving residents the opportunity to share fun things about themselves—like their favorite color or favorite food. This small but meaningful extra step helps Casey get to know residents as individuals before asking them to provide feedback. More importantly,
it creates an environment where residents feel comfortable being open and honest.
“ Ca sey’s approach is a
wonderful example of ho spit ality in action.
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She reminds us that sometimes the simplest gestures—taking a little extra time, getting to know someone and helping them feel at ease—can make the biggest difference. Thank you, Casey, for inspiring us to lead with connection, compassion, and hospitality! - FROM DENISE WITHEROW
I want to recognize Cindy West and Emily Monger. These ladies are part of our STRIDES committee, and I want to give them a shoutout because they helped me implement STRIDES at both Highland and Windsor this year. They both did an exceptional job presenting, and I am proud of the extra work they have done to make this program successful. I appreciate you both so much! - FROM MELANIE SIEBER September Newsletter
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90% OCCUPANCY! A huge shout out to McKay Manor, the entire community team, and our regional team, Brittany Ury and Larry Diersing, for reaching an incredible milestone—90% occupancy! It has been a few years since McKay Manor has reached 90%, and this achievement is a true reflection of the hard work, dedication, teamwork
September Newsletter
and persistence of everyone involved. Congratulations to the entire McKay Manor team! We are so proud of this accomplishment and can’t wait to see what you achieve next. Onward to the next goal! - FROM PAM LABUDA
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THE HEART OF TUTERA:
Our Community Our residents truly feel at home here because of you – from the flawless teamwork on the floor to the quiet acts of kindness that happen behind the scenes. Providing this exceptional level of care requires an extraordinary village, and we are incredibly blessed with the most compassionate, dedicated team. Thank you for putting your heart into everything you do; you are the true difference-makers at Tutera.
7611 State Line Road, Suite 301 Kansas City, MO 64114 816-444-0900