Gary Gardner, our Senior VP of Special Projects/Financial Analyst, received the 2019 Leader of the Year Distinguished Service Award at this year’s LeadingAge PA Annual Conference in Hershey, PA. He was nominated by our senior management, professional colleagues, and members of our Board. This award is presented to a distinguished individual who demonstrates exemplary leadership and service, as well as excellence in management or governance accountability, is proactive in quality of care to residents and has played a pivotal role in overall operations leading to organizational success. His friends and coworkers believe that Gary exemplifies that description so much so that his leadership team gave him the nickname, “Yoda”. They believe this nickname captures his leadership skills entirely because he has the capability to provide council in different situations and subject content for our entire senior leadership team.
Gary has served United Methodist Homes for the past two decades and has been a part of two major campus expansion projects, including the most recent one at Wesley Village, as well as multiple renovation projects. Gary is a brilliant operational leader, but more importantly, he is genuinely a wonderful man who cares about the dedication to our mission and residents. Everyone at United Methodist Homes is proud of Gary’s accomplishments and feel that he is the most deserving of the 2019 Leader of the Year Distinguished Service Award.
“Gary has been instrumental in the development of United Methodist Homes as a voice of progress, stewardship, and purpose.”