Her Story
About Shelley
I've been working in senior living all my life. When I was 16, I became a certified nursing assistant at a local nursing home in Minnesota, where I was born and raised. My mom was also a certified nursing assistant, which influenced my path. I earned my Associate's degree in nursing from Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Minnesota in 2006 and have been a registered nurse for 20 years. I worked for one large healthcare organization for 27 years before moving to Wisconsin for a job opportunity as Director of Nursing in a skilled nursing facility. Prior to my current role, I worked with American Baptist Homes in skilled nursing. In February 2025, I joined Cornerstone Management as Director of Clinical Informatics, transitioning to the assisted living side of senior living. A colleague I had worked with before brought me to this position, and it's more in my wheelhouse. In my current role, I work with other RNs in our management company and coordinate the software systems behind the scenes. I hold my RN license, RAC-CT certification, and CPR certification. I'm a member of ANAC, Leading Age National, Leading Age Minnesota, and Leading Age Wisconsin. I've never steered away from senior care because I've been passionate about it forever. I'm a pusher and a striver who works really hard to get where I'm at. I foresee myself riding out my career in senior living up until retirement.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shelley
01What do you attribute your success to?
I'm a hard worker, and I have a drive and a passion for elderly people. I feel that they deserve great care, and I love to be a part of it. I'm a pusher and a striver who works really hard to get where I'm at. Throughout my career, I've let my passion guide me. I've been passionate about senior care forever, which is why I've never steered away from it. Even during my college clinical rotations in different areas like ortho, I knew I kept going back to senior living. That's where my heart is, and that passion has driven my success.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I ever received came from a nurse I worked with for many, many years. She was a co-worker who told me to focus on myself. She said to let go of what you can't control and prioritize what you can. That advice has really stuck with me throughout my career and helped me navigate the challenges of nursing and senior living.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
There's a lot of opportunities out there in nursing. You need to go with your heart and go where you feel you fit in best. If you're just out there trying to get a job and going into some area just because you need a job, it's not going to work. You need to go where you're passionate about. I've been passionate about senior care forever, and that's why I've never steered away. In my college career, we had clinical rotations in different areas like ortho and other specialties, but when I did those classes, I knew I kept going back to senior living. Follow your passion and find where you truly belong.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in our field is staffing and finding the right people that care and want to do the work. It's not easy. Senior living is not for everybody, I get that. And it's not easy work. Finding dedicated, caring staff who are willing to do this difficult but rewarding work is one of the most significant challenges we face in senior living today.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are integrity, responsibility, respect, and adaptability. I also value accuracy and reliability in everything I do. These principles guide both my professional work in senior living and clinical informatics, as well as my personal life. They help me provide the best care possible for elderly people and maintain the high standards I believe they deserve.
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