In today's competitive senior living landscape, leaders need to be equipped with the skills and knowledge to lead their communities to success. The Executive Director In Training Program (EDIT) is a comprehensive program designed to provide aspiring leaders with the skills needed to be a successful Executive Director at The Arbor Company.
The program was spearheaded in 2023, and is still going strong as it prepares a new cohort for 2025. It is a 10-month training program that meets weekly, each month having two instructor-led sessions, one project-based assignment, and the fourth monthly session dedicated to participant learning and reflections.
Each month takes a different focus to ensure participants cover all of the areas needed to be successful Executive Directors. The schedule includes:
- People
- Accounting and Finance
- Sales, Marketing and Communication
- Resident Care
- Memory Care
- Engagement
- Maintenance
- Dining
- Operations
Though this type of program isn’t exclusive to The Arbor Company, there are some variations that make it a uniquely “Arbor” experience. For example, Arbor EDIT training starts with the topic of people because we believe our people make the difference. Two full months are devoted to resident care because of the importance of that department in the services of residents, and the program ends with operations because it encompasses everything Executive Directors need to know in that role.
Two other elements that make the Arbor difference are that it is more an experiential learning model, having half of the monthly sessions focused on project-based learning and reflection, rather than the typical 100% classroom-led instruction. Participants are also encouraged to complete their project assignments at communities where they don’t currently work in order to get them out of their comfort zone, meet new people, and solve problems as an observer.
The latest group of participants from the EDIT program enjoyed an elegant graduation celebration, getting a final chance to reflect on what they learned and network with other Arbor leaders. By investing in the people, The Arbor Company is really investing in the level of care residents experience in our communities.
