TUTERA SENIOR LIVING AND HEALTHCARE | OCTOBER 2026
INSPIRED
BY YOU RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT:
MEET VIOLET
CELEBRATING OUR PEOPLE
Featured Blog Tutera’s Kelly Hilmes Elected Treasurer of Missouri Health Care Association Board
This Month at Tutera 04
Page 04 BOOK OF THE MONTH
Page 06 CELEBRATE WITH US
Page 08 08
FEATURED BLOG: TUTERA’S KELLY HILMES ELECTED TREASURER OF MISSOURI HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATION BOARD
Page 09 RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT MEET VIOLET
09
Page 10 SHOUT-OUTS: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!
TUTERA
Book of the Month:
October OctoberNewsletter Newsletter
44
Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World GENERAL STANLEY M c CHRYSTAL, TANTUM COLLINS, DAVID SILVERMAN AND CHRIS FUSSELL
THE BIG IDEA: OUR BEST WORK HAPPENS WHEN WE WORK ACROSS DISCIPLINES Every department at Tutera brings an important area of expertise. HR understands our people. Clinical understands resident care. Accounting understands financial performance. Plant Operations understands our physical environments. Revenue Cycle understands reimbursement and financial risk. Sales & Marketing understands our customers and growth. Operations connects these disciplines at the community level. But expertise alone isn’t enough. In Team of Teams, General Stanley McChrystal explains that complex
October Newsletter
organizations perform better when specialized teams stop operating as separate silos and begin functioning as an interconnected network. The goal isn’t for everyone to do everyone else’s job. It’s for each of us to bring our expertise to the table while understanding how our decisions affect the larger organization.
FIVE IDEAS WE CAN PUT INTO PRACTICE AT TUTERA 1. Our Department’s Goal Cannot Be Bigger Than Tutera’s Goal Tutera example: A community needs to grow census. Sales & Marketing wants more admissions, Clinical must ensure residents can be safely served, HR must provide adequate staffing,
5
Revenue Cycle must evaluate payer risk, and Operations must ensure the community can execute. The shared goal isn’t simply more admissions. It is sustainable, financially healthy census growth while delivering excellent resident care. Ask yourself: Am I optimizing my department, or helping optimize Tutera? 2. Information Cannot Be Departmental Property Tutera example: A community’s occupancy is declining. Sales knows prospects are concerned about the building’s appearance. Plant Operations knows capital improvements are delayed. HR knows turnover is increasing. Clinical knows referrals are being declined. Accounting sees declining revenue. Each department sees one piece of the problem. Together, we see the whole picture. Ask yourself: Who else knows something that could change how I understand this problem?
October Newsletter
3. Collaboration Doesn’t Mean Everyone Gets a Vote Tutera example: A complex Medicaid pending referral requires input from multiple disciplines. Sales understands the opportunity and referral relationship. Clinical evaluates whether we can safely meet the resident’s needs. Revenue Cycle evaluates financial risk. Operations understands the community’s capabilities. Everyone contributes expertise, but accountability still matters. Consult broadly. Decide clearly. Execute quickly. Ask yourself: Do we know who provides input, who makes the decision, and who owns the next step? 4. Leaders Should Create the Conditions for Success McChrystal describes effective leaders less like chess masters moving every piece and more like gardeners creating the conditions where people can thrive. Tutera example: When a community is struggling, HR, Clinical, Sales & Marketing, Accounting, Revenue
6
Cycle, Plant Operations, and Operations could each send the ED a separate list of priorities. Or we can come together, identify the community’s three most important priorities, and coordinate our support around them. The community should not have to integrate Corporate. Corporate should arrive integrated. Ask yourself: Am I adding another task, or helping solve the community’s most important problem? 5. Build Relationships Before You Need Them Tutera example: When census suddenly declines, departments that already have strong working relationships can begin with, “What are you seeing?” rather than assigning blame for declined referrals, staffing challenges, spending, collections, or building conditions. Trust makes difficult conversations faster, more productive, and more focused on solutions.
INSPIRED
BY YOU CHALLENGE At your next cross functional meeting, try changing one question. Instead of asking: “What does my department need?” Ask: ”What does Tutera need, and what expertise can I contribute to help us get there?” That doesn’t mean giving up your discipline’s standards, responsibilities, or expertise. It means using them in service of something bigger.
Ask yourself: Do I know and trust the people in other disciplines well enough to call them before a problem becomes a crisis?
October Newsletter
7
Celebrate WITH US 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.
October Newsletter
8
Happy Birthday OCTOBER 2
OCTOBER 9
OCTOBER 24
REBECCA ANDERSON
NICOLE SMITH
OCTOBER 3
OCTOBER 10
ANGIE ANDERSON
ARIAL JOHNS
SYDNIE HARPER DUSTIN COVERT HOPE FALLEY
OCTOBER 4
OCTOBER 11
JILL JONAS
JENNIFER FISH
OCTOBER 5
OCTOBER 13
ELLEN MONTGOMERY SUSAN RICE-BOBST
DANIEL CORBETT
OCTOBER 6
VICTORIA VANDERPOOL STEPHANIE MYRBERG JESSICA KRENKA
SIMON KHOANG
OCTOBER 7
OCTOBER 15
OCTOBER 17
DONNA BENNETT TERESA BURTON
BRITTANY CLARK
OCTOBER 8
OCTOBER 19
BRITNEY REID LANCE TOSSELL
MARILYN ANDERSON BRENDAN NICHOLS
OCTOBER 27 JENNIFER BOISCLAIRE PAMELA LABUDA
OCTOBER28 RAMOND BROWN
OCTOBER 29 MELANIE LAREAU
OCTOBER 30 MIKE LEVITT
Happy Anniversary 1 YEAR
2 YEARS
5 YEARS
JENNY BROOKE YVONNE CLARK HANNAH SCHMITZ-HORVATH MONICA COLEMAN STEPHANIE ELLENBERG INGRID MINOR BRITNEY REID BEN WALKER
TIFFANY GREEN JENNIFER WALLACE ANGIE MILLER
TAMMY HERRING
3 YEARS
26 YEARS
October Newsletter
SOPHIE BEATTY
4 YEARS ALLYSSIA NIEMA
16 YEARS HOLLY HUTTO DIANA HERBERTS TIM BLYTHE ROSIE BECKETT
9
FEATURED BLOG:
TUTERA’S KELLY HILMES
Elected Treasurer of Missouri Health Care Association Board Kelly Hilmes, the Regional V.P. of Operations for Tutera Senior Living & Health Care, was recently elected Treasurer of the Missouri Health Care Association (MHCA) Board of Directors for the 2026–2027 term. Her election took place during the MHCA’s 78th Annual Convention held in Branson, Missouri. Hilmes had already been deeply involved with the organization, having previously served on the Board for several years as a Regional Representative.
The Missouri Health Care Association is a leading educational and advocacy organization representing over 400 licensed nursing and assisted living communities across the state. The MHCA’s 27-member Board of Directors works to shape state policy, provide resources for health care professionals and advocate for positive changes that improve the quality of care for seniors and individuals requiring continuous health care services. For Tutera Senior Living & Health Care, Hilmes’ new role as Treasurer highlights their commitment to exceptional leadership and compassionate, resident-centered care. Through her expanded position, she will be able to have an even greater impact on the future of Missouri’s health care and senior living industries. Furthermore, her leadership helps keep Tutera at the forefront of senior living innovation, regulatory updates, and best practices, ensuring that the company continues to provide high-quality care that aligns with state standards.
READ OUR FULL BLOG
October Newsletter
10
Resident SPOTLIGHT
FAMILY-ORIENTED. CREATIVE CRAFTER. SQUARE DANCER. CUBS FAN.
MEET VIOLET.
Violet
FROM OAKLEY COURTS SENIOR LIVING
Violet was born on May 23, 1930, in Shannon, Illinois. Her favorite saying is,
“ I have had
a good life, ”
and it truly shows in her joyful spirit. She is a happy, family-oriented woman who lights up most when her family comes to visit (and she smilingly admits that she is sometimes just as happy when they head home!). Violet enjoys simple comforts, confirming that her favorite food is “anything broiled!” Her favorite season is summer, and she is a devoted Chicago Cubs fan who also enjoys watching Hallmark family movies. October Newsletter
Creative at heart, Violet spent many years square dancing, sewing, knitting and doing crafts. One of her proudest accomplishments is a hand-knitted sweater she made, which is still cherished and displayed in her granddaughter’s boutique. Some of her daughter’s favorite memories are crafting with her mom in the basement while spending quality time together. Violet and her husband built their favorite home together—a pink house in Forreston— and he even added a swing in the basement doorway so that the kids could swing indoors when the weather was bad. Creative, courageous and full of love, Violet reminds us how meaningful family, laughter and handmade memories can be. 11
Shout-Outs: THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!
Building a Community TO BE PROUD OF Victory Hills has experienced an incredible transformation, made possible through thoughtful planning, teamwork and a shared commitment to creating a safe, clean and welcoming community for its residents. At the heart of that progress is our dedicated onsite team: Tunisia, Pedro, and Margarita. Although each has different responsibilities, they work together and willingly do whatever is needed to care for the property, support one another, respond to residents and keep Victory Hills moving in a positive direction. Their consistent efforts have helped strengthen the community, improve the resident experience and create an environment that people are proud to call home. The positive changes throughout Victory Hills reflect their hard work, dedication and genuine care for the property and its residents. We are incredibly grateful to Tunisia, Pedro and Margarita for everything they have accomplished and for the pride they continue to bring to Victory Hills each day. - WENDY ST. LOUIS
October Newsletter
12
EXCITING CHANGES
& Positive Growth
We have some exciting, positive changes happening in our Sales and Marketing department, and I’m happy to share them with you! Please join me in congratulating Brian Tully, who will transition into the Regional Marketing Coordinator role for Region 1 (Chris Burkart RDO) on October 1st. Brian has served as a Partner Relations Coordinator with Tutera for the past two years and brings more than 15 years of healthcare experience, including direct patient care. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and an MBA in healthcare administration from Aurora University. Brian enjoys building relationships with hospital teams and community partners while helping patients and families navigate their next steps in care. Outside of work, he enjoys reading, cooking, spending time on the water, and visiting family in South Carolina. His cattle dog, Archer, is usually by his side! You can reach Brian at BTully@tutera.com to congratulate him on his much deserved promotion. We also have an update to our divisional oversight: Diana Herberts will oversee Region 5 (Justin Vaughn), and Teresa Burton will oversee Region 1 (Chris Burkart). This change in oversight aligns Diana with RVPs Tim and Lance and aligns Teresa with RVPs Kelly and Scott. We believe these new alignments will better support our regional teams through clear communication and strengthen team building amongst the regions. - TERESA BURTON
October Newsletter
13
A huge shout-out to our Corporate Payroll Team for the hard work, dedication, and teamwork you demonstrate every single day! Payroll can sometimes be a thankless job. Much of the work happens behind the scenes, and when everything goes right, it may go unnoticed. But the truth is, what we do matters. Every week, our team works together to make sure thousands of employees receive accurate and timely paychecks.
The Unsung Heroes of Payday
From meeting tight deadlines and resolving last-minute issues to answering questions, correcting errors and supporting our communities, our team continues to push through, support one another and make it happen. Thank you for your commitment, your flexibility, your attention to detail and most importantly, your willingness to work together as a team. The work you do has a direct impact on our employees and their families, and it does not go unnoticed. We may work behind the scenes, but the impact we make is front and center. Thank you, Payroll Team, for everything you do! - BROOKE WHIGHAM October Newsletter
14
REGION 7 TEAM SHINES AT
MHCA Convention Congratulations to Cindy West, Jessica Krueger, and Emily Monger on being selected to present at the Missouri Health Care Association Annual Convention in Branson, Missouri!
Their session, “Nursing Excellence in Action: Turning Quality Measures into Quality Outcomes Through Proactive Actions,” was one of the convention’s top-rated sessions and received outstanding feedback from attendees. Cindy, Jessica, and Emily have worked together in Region 7 for years with a shared focus on turning QM data into meaningful action. Their efforts have contributed to better resident outcomes, improved Quality
October Newsletter
Measure star ratings and increased Medicaid VBP add-on payments— demonstrating how clinical excellence and operational focus can make a measurable difference. Thank you, Cindy, Jessica, and Emily, for representing Tutera so well at MHCA and for continuing to raise the bar for our residents, our communities and each other. You truly exemplify Inspired by You! - KELLY HILMES 15
A TRUE EXAMPLE OF
Servant Leadership
It is with great appreciation and admiration that we recognize Kim Anderson, a remarkable long term care administrator whose leadership extends far beyond the walls of her own facility. Kim consistently demonstrates what it means to be a true servant leader to our residents and beyond the walls of her own facility. She is a true example of our YOUNITE Philosophy. She continues to set a true example of operating a successful business with her eye on census growth and exceeding overall operational standards. Although this is not her only focus. While successfully managing and leading her own facility in Flanagan, IL, she continues to make herself available to support other facilities across the company whenever her expertise, experience, and leadership ability is needed. Her commitment to the success of others is evident in the countless hours and hundreds of miles (Metropolis) she has traveled to provide hands-on support to facilities facing challenges. What makes Kim truly exceptional is her ability to lead with purpose,
October Newsletter
compassion, accountability and confidence.
“
She inspires staff, builds strong teams, and creates an environment where people understand expectations and are empowered to achieve them.
”
She inspires staff including myself, builds strong teams and creates and environment where people understand expectations and are empowered to achieve them. Kim does not simply talk about leadership she demonstrates all of it through her actions and is a true Tutera Champion. Thank you for everything you do! - TIFFANY GREEN
16
Beating Deadlines and Overcoming Obstacles I just wanted to reach out to let you know what a blessing and asset Jana Wheeler is. We were having lots of issues with petty cash in our community, and she worked with me so much to get it straightened out. This wasn’t just one time; it took multiple attempts and corrections, with her working on the backend, on my part to get it balanced. I was under a huge deadline because of upcoming expenses for our community video and photoshoot that requires us to make some unplanned purchases. We also had to work around us having no wi-fi as they install our new. Sometimes all we hear are bad things, so I wanted you and Jana to know what a great job she is doing and how much I appreciate her. - RACHEL RIMMER
October Newsletter
I would like to recognize Jessica Murphy and Jenny Brooke for providing such great customer service to a community in region 4. Their “what can we do to help” attitude was refreshing to see and hear during some very challenging days. We appreciate the support! - RACHEL RIMMER
17
WE’RE INSPIRED BY YOU! WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO
NEXT MONTH’S NEWSLETTER?
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT
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