Her Story
About Bernadette
I've been working in senior housing for 15 years as a property manager at Holiness Homes of Vision, where I manage a facility of 54 units for seniors 62 and older. It's independent living, and everything is subsidized based on their income, which means they're not putting their entire checks into rent and can now afford medical needs and medications. Before this, I worked in corporate for 10 years doing a little bit of everything - I was an e-commerce manager and worked for a restaurant organization that owned Eduardo's and Bertucci's. I was actually going to school at Roosevelt University while working in corporate. I started college a little bit later in life because I ended up getting married and having kids much younger. When I finished my bachelor's degree, I wanted something a little bit different and to make an impact within the community, so I decided to transition to nonprofit. While working here, I also ended up working on getting my master's degree - actually, I have two. I have a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in training and development, and I just finished my other one, a Master of Arts in Organizational Development. These degrees help me prepare and do my job better, making sure that all the changes within the industry are being handled properly, because sometimes a lot of these things just fall through the cracks. I want to make sure I can stay on top of that and have an influence, even within my staff, so we can provide better service to residents. My typical day includes renewing leases, taking in applications, meeting potential applicants, and assisting residents with any of their needs - if they need assistance with a bill or have questions regarding healthcare, because with so many changes in healthcare now, it's hard for them to keep up with everything and understand it all.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Bernadette
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my faith in God and my commitment to applying the knowledge and lessons I have learned throughout my personal, academic, and professional journey. My faith has provided me with strength, guidance, and perseverance during challenges, while my willingness to continuously learn and apply new skills has helped me grow, adapt, and achieve my goals.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is to never stop learning and to stay adaptable. Every experience, challenge, and opportunity offers a chance to grow personally and professionally. I have learned that success comes from being willing to evolve, apply new knowledge, and uphold integrity and professionalism in every role.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering senior housing to be open-minded. The job might look harder than it seems, but you can be a blessing and help those who are in greater need than we are, which is even more of a blessing. You have to be patient, because seniors can be a little too much sometimes, but you just have to have a lot of patience. It can be challenging because you see families that are really active with their loved ones, and then you see those who don't have any visitors at all, so they are by themselves. You try to get them more involved in the activities within the property, and sometimes that can be hard because they're so used to being alone.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in senior housing and property management today is balancing rising operational costs with growing demand for affordable, high-quality housing and services. Staffing shortages, rising insurance costs, regulatory compliance, and maintenance expenses continue to pressure organizations and property managers. Adopting technology and meeting residents’ expectations for communication and services are also ongoing challenges. At the same time, the industry offers significant opportunities. The aging population continues to drive demand for senior housing and supportive services, creating long-term growth opportunities. Occupancy rates in senior housing communities are rising, and investors are showing renewed confidence in the sector due to strong demographic trends and a limited housing supply. Another major opportunity is innovation. Many organizations are improving operations through technology, streamlined workflows, sustainability efforts, and enhanced resident engagement. Property managers who can adapt, lead effectively, and create positive resident experiences will remain highly valuable in the field.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are integrity, faith, compassion, professionalism, and continuous growth. I believe in treating others with respect, being dependable, and maintaining honesty in all situations. My faith keeps me grounded and helps guide my decisions, while compassion allows me to connect with and support others effectively. I also value lifelong learning and personal development, as I believe growth is essential for both professional success and personal fulfillment.
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