Willow Valley Communities Collaborates with Millersville on Leadership Program

Willow Valley Communities, a premier 55+ community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, recently collaborated with Millersville University to envision, create and deliver the Corporate University’s “Organizational Leadership Program” to Willow Valley Communities’ team leaders.

The 12-month training program was customized and developed to provide intermediate level supervisory and leadership training to a group of 21 team leaders across various departments of Willow Valley Communities. The curriculum was designed to reflect Willow Valley Communities’ mission, vision and values as the organization seeks “to positively transform the way aging is viewed and experienced in our world.”

“By providing professional development to team leaders within the organization, we are supporting Willow Valley Communities’ efforts to retain and develop talented individuals in order to best serve their residents,” says Hope Schmids, director of Continuing Education & Workforce Development at Millersville University. “Workforce development is at the core of what we do. We were pleased to assist Willow Valley Communities.”

Scott Summy, Willow Valley Communities’ chief human resources officer, explained how the program will ultimately benefit residents. “Willow Valley Communities’ team members dedicate themselves every day to being the very best. Programs like this help them grow their skills to continue to provide the extraordinary service our residents have come to expect.”

Members of the class identified and initiated projects of cross-departmental value that aligned with departmental goals. They then presented to the organization’s senior leadership in January.

“At Willow Valley Communities our mission is to inspire each person to embrace the possibilities of a life lived forward,” added Maureen Leader, public relations and communications manager at Willow Valley Communities. “I was delighted to be chosen to participate in the year-long Organizational Leadership Program presented by Millersville University.

For more information about Millersville’s Corporate University, contact Hope Schmids at Hope.Schmids@millersville.edu or 717-871-7642.

For more information about Willow Valley Communities, contact Maureen Leader at mleader@willowvalley.org or 717-464-6288.