The Executive Director of the Year Award recognizes the achievements of an individual at the senior leadership level (administrator, executive director, senior living manager) for his/her leadership contributions and skills.
Best boss ever!

Christine Shidla is the executive director at SilverCreek on Main, an assisted living/senior housing facility located in Maple Grove. Nominated by Heidi Schneider, Marketing Director, here’s what Heidi had to say about this year’s Executive Director of the Year award recipient:

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Christine Shidla’ s leadership journey began as a University of Minnesota Golden Gopher forging ahead with goals of health and wellness, sport’s medicine, and athletic training. Her passion, talents, love of people drove her forward to be a leader with older adults.

Joining the Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Center and then bringing those talents to SilverCreek, Christine established the first state of the art health club knowing early in her career that health and wellbeing benefits older adults by preventing social decline, disease, and disability.

As a leader in health and wellness, she became a speaker representing her community and the state of Minnesota at national conferences, facilitating and training for the Arthritis, Parkinson, and Alzheimer's Associations. Her visionary approach guided her to set a goal of being an executive director. Fortunately for SilverCreek on Main, we were the receiver of that vision, commitment, and leadership. 

The unimaginable, COVID-19. This pandemic is a test for all and will bring out the best leaders. Christine has a confident can-do attitude and gives 100%. She has been diligent on the pursuit of safety and security by forging early to acquire PPE, as well as working closely with all agencies to be on top of protocols and procedures. Leadership and confidence is felt and her team knows she will see us safely through to the end of COVID.

Comments from coworker Gladys Aakre, Director of Homecare Services:
“Now, why do I believe and strongly recommend that Christine should win the Best Boss Ever award? It is simply because there is nobody else who can be better. Her name starts with Christ and He, being the greatest figure of action, has made this follower of His do human and humane acts for humanity. She is genuinely CHRISTINE: Caring, Helpful, Resident-loving, Intelligent, Safety-conscious, Tenacious, Inspiring, Nimble, and Excellence-oriented.

When I first started working for SilverCreek, Christine served as the Wellness Director, or what she often referred to as the “pool girl.” She was there, assisting me all the way when the MN Department of Health came to resurvey our campus, just the day after I started! What impressed me the most was her willingness to help, to make things better for everyone, always with a smile, especially during those shaky moments of being new at the campus.

When the company was looking for a new Executive Director, the Marketing Director and I were asked how we felt about having Christine as our boss. Without hesitation, we both expressed that Christine would be the best fit to lead our team. Right out of college, she has been with the company for over 14 years, and to us, this is a manifestation of loyalty, a great quality of an excellent leader.