2023 Legends of Marquis, Consonus, and AgeRight

With more than 30 years of devoted service to Marquis Companies, it’s difficult to identify just one defining act by Lani Bennett, assistant controller. But during the COVID-19 pandemic her status as a true Legend was finally proven, once and for all.

During the first tragic outbreak to strike a Marquis facility, she went above and beyond her job at the corporate home office to encourage exhausted Hope Village staff and frightened residents. On her own time, she created and hand-delivered snacks and cards into the danger zone.

Not only was she selfless, she was brave, since vaccines and treatments hadn’t yet been developed. And in 2023, when the facility was yet again inundated with cases, she did it all over again.

“From the first time I met Lani, all she’s done is help people,” said Chris Fogg, accountant at Marquis Companies. “She’s the moral compass. She’s the best of us.”

“She doesn’t want anyone to notice, it’s just what she does and who she is,” wrote Debbie Taggart, facility bookkeeper, in nominating Lani for the Legends award. “She has an incredible sense of compassion, and shares with us all unselfishly.”

For Shane Wendell, maintenance director at Marquis Eugene, work was done for the day, and it was time for a well-deserved date night to the movies. But that’s when he got the call that made him a Legend.

It was Marquis Springfield on the phone, and they urgently needed help. A New Chapter event had been planned for a beloved resident, but their bus had blown a tire on the way, stranding the disappointed resident and staff.

Without hesitation, Shane changed his evening plans, insisting on personally riding to the rescue. Along with his significant other, he picked up the bus from Marquis Eugene, drove out to where the group was marooned, and returned them safely back home.

“They weren’t even from his own facility. He didn’t know them at all. But he still wanted to help, even on his own time,” said Erin Sprando, director of operations at Marquis. “And like a true Legend, he doesn’t think he did anything special.”

“People sometimes need a helping hand, and it’s just the simple things that get them through the day,” said Shane. “I was just doing my job though.”

At Marquis Springfield, the mission to help residents live the best rest of their lives doesn’t always stay inside the four walls of the facility. Sometimes it has to happen outside. On a cold and rainy winter day. With a life in serious jeopardy.

After being admitted with cognitive dysfunction after a stroke, a new patient became extremely angry as a likely side effect. Though in desperate need of care, he insisted on leaving the facility, walking out into the driving rain. Resident rights guidelines prevented staff from stopping him, so Kasandra, Jacqui, and Carrie (not pictured) stayed with him for the next four hours as he wandered aimlessly mile after mile.

As they walked, this trio of soaked and selfless employees kept him talking and monitored his neurological status, eventually persuading him to briefly get out of the rain at the home of Jacqui’s mother, where they served him toast and tea. But soon he became restless again, and insisted on venturing back out into the inclement weather, where it quickly became clear his condition was worsening. Finally, they persuaded him to stop and called 911, and he was transported to the hospital for further care.

“Through hours of fatigue and cold, Kassandra, Jacqui, and Carrie never stopped protecting his dignity and pride,” wrote the staff member who nominated them for Marquis’ most prestigious award. “For this and a thousand other things they do every day out of caring and kindness, they are Legends in my eyes.”

When a severe snowstorm swept through the Portland area on February 22, 2023, Steve Tlockowski, dietary manager at Marquis Piedmont, swiftly sprang into action, picking up marooned staff and driving them to work in the morning. But that’s not why he’s a Legend.

By the time he headed for home at the end of the day, the weather had deteriorated even further. Though driving a four-wheel drive vehicle, he was stuck for six hours on a local bridge before opting to go back to the facility. What he found when he returned was a group of very hungry staff, many of whom were opting to sleep at the facility in order to continue providing care for the residents. Steve immediately set to work preparing a late-night meal for them, but even that isn’t the entire reason for his award.

About 11 p.m., with the storm outside still raging, the facility received an urgent phone call from an assisted living resident who was stranded on a city bus that had been abandoned in the snow. Without hesitation, Steve volunteered to venture back out into the ice and snow, and with the help of another staff member, brought the resident back to safety.

“You took the time to be there for your coworkers, and went out of your way for a resident who needed help,” said Zach Fogg, vice president of operations for Marquis, in presenting the Legend award at a facility all-staff. “Thank you for everything you did in that defining moment.”

“I didn’t even think about it,” answered Steve, when asked about his motivation to go above and beyond. “We’re here for the residents, and to keep them safe. It’s just what we do.”

Humble. Patient. Dedicated. Kind. Empathetic. When colleagues described Linda Slocum, resident care manager at Marquis Springfield, those were just a few of their glowing words. “She considers everyone else first, and never asks for recognition,” said Patricia Paruch, director of nursing. “She goes above and beyond for everybody but herself.”

Linda joined the Marquis team in 2010, and has exhibited all those extraordinary traits every day since. Even while facing a devastating battle with cancer, she has continued to support and prioritize everyone else in her personal and professional life.

She serves the residents and staff she loves so dearly right up until flying to Arizona for frequent treatments, and returns to work as soon as possible after she gets back. “Linda is the perfect example of making the most of every moment, and giving her best right here right now,” said Patricia. “She’s inspiring to all of us.”

“In a time when others might be broken and withdrawn, Linda has always been upbeat, kind and compassionate,” said Kasandra Mills, facility administrator. “She’s an incredibly positive example of love and devotion to Marquis and her residents.”

On the day the surprise outdoor Legend celebration was planned, the sun broke through the pouring rain as coworkers and family members waved placards singing her praises. Still emotional from all the unexpected recognition, Linda made sure to deflect the praise to others. “I’m no more deserving than anybody standing here,” she said tearfully to those who gathered to honor her. “Just thank you so very much.”

Playing music and caring for seniors. Sophia Heater, a CNA at Marquis Marian Estates, has been doing both for most of her life—and it was those two passions that earned her a prestigious Legend award, one of Marquis Companies’ highest honors.

Ironically, her story starts back in the 90s, when her great-grandmother was a resident at this very same senior care facility. As a child, Sophia would frequently visit to play piano for her, and that’s when she decided to make a career out of providing care for the elderly.

Years later, soon after becoming a CNA and joining the Marian Estates team, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and Sophia took it on herself to go beyond her typical duties to bring joy to residents at a time of isolation. On her own time, she volunteered to play piano and sing with them in the dining room, and even brought her own musical instruments in for them to play.

When Sophia learned that John, one of her residents, had played guitar since he was seven and would love to do it again, she reached out to her social media community and asked for help in getting him one of his own. She personally presented him with his new guitar, and the two of them performed an impromptu concert in the dining room.

“Sophia is a CNA, and so much more,” said facility administrator Jennifer Hoffer to the crowd of residents and staff who gathered to surprise her with the Legends award. “She gives life to our residents, and brings them so much joy and love.”

“Thank you for everything,” a resident shouted. “You are loved,” said another. “You’ve got a very warm and wonderful heart,” said a third. “Yeah, she does,” added a fourth.

Sophia was speechless for a few moments, then told them how much she appreciated the honor, and would try her best to live up to it. “I’m really touched,” she said. “This is amazing.”

“You’re amazing!” a resident instantly responded.

To say Lorena Curtis, campus activity director at Marquis Piedmont, is passionate about her residents is a huge understatement. “I want to make this their home while they’re here, and make sure they’re happy and having fun,” she says, “because you never know what tomorrow brings.”

That passion for helping the elderly live their best lives led to a unique partnership with the Portland Pilots, the University of Portland’s women’s basketball team—and to Lorena being honored as a Marquis Legend.

A couple of years before COVID-19 struck, Lorena was referred by another Marquis employee to the team’s coach, who quickly embraced the idea of connecting the players with the facility’s residents. Calling the program Pilot Pals, she matched each team member with a Piedmont senior according to personality and interests, and invited the team to the facility dining room for a get-acquainted session.

“There was so much energy in the room that day, as the younger generation got to know our seniors,” recalls Lorena. “It really just touched my heart.” She soon started taking residents to Pilots basketball games, where they danced to the pre-game songs, cheered on their Pals and reconnected with them afterwards.

Though direct visits weren’t possible during the pandemic, residents still dyed their hair purple, wore thePilots shirts the University provided and watched the games on Youtube. Now with restrictions lifted, they’re back to attending games in person again. “It brings them so much joy, since a lot of them don’t get to see their children or grandchildren very often,” says Lorena.

“The Pilot Pals program has just been amazing,” says facility administrator Jan Worley-Blazek. “The residents love it. The families love it. And most of all, the players love it. It’s great to see that generation gap brought together.”

Lorena saw an opportunity to make lives better for those she serves, and acted on it in an extraordinary way—truly exemplifying a Marquis Legend. “She has a passion for the elderly,” says Jan. “It’s not a job for her, it’s truly her life.”

The street was eerily quiet as Kristin DeGroat approached an Independent Living cottage on the campus of Marquis Tualatin. But as she started up the driveway, still wondering why she’d been summoned, the garage door suddenly began to rise, revealing a noisy throng of neighborhood residents packed inside, waving banners and shouting her name.

It quickly became clear that this was an ambush, a celebration planned in honor of her still-secret selection as a Marquis Legend. And when the cheers subsided, the story eventually tumbled out, as told by Art, the resident who nominated her for the award.

He recounted how Kristin, a fitness instructor and occasional barista at The Community, had taken it on herself to decorate 42 of the cottages with some holiday cheer, including his. How he’d watched her go up and down a ladder long into the evenings, stringing the colorful lights, some of which she’d even purchased herself, with the help of her two young sons. How inspired and impressed he was by her commitment. “When I saw what she was doing, I knew I just had to call somebody,” he told the group.

That somebody was Erin Sprando, a director of operations at Marquis’ corporate headquarters, who took Art’s call, heard the story and immediately set the Legend wheels in motion. She knew Kristen met the criteria perfectly—a staff member who had made a defining act in a defining moment.

After popping the cork on some champagne, a toast was led by a resident with flashing lights on her head. “To Kristin, our superstar,” she said, and the clink of glasses filled the garage.

“I’m so touched,” Kristin responded. “Thank you so much. It’s been a tough couple years and I just wanted to bring you some joy.”

“Well boy, you certainly did that,” said another voice from the crowd. “You’re the one who deserves all our thanks.”

“You’re the star,” Art added.

When the celebration was over, and Kristin was by herself again, she shared a little of what drives her to act so unselfishly. “It doesn’t take much to do a little extra,” she said. “An extra smile, an extra hug, an extra hello or check-in takes no time or effort, and it does wonders to everyone’s spirits—even your own.”

As the pandemic continued, and the strain on every senior care employee grew, two nurses wanted to recognize the sacrifices made by their CNA coworkers at Marquis Mt. Tabor. But for Chris Bell and Leslie McKibben, writing thank-you cards and buying pizza just didn’t seem like enough to share their deep and honest gratitude.

So instead, with their own money, these RNs purchased brand-new stethoscopes (valued at $70 each) for every one of the CNAs working on their unit, a gesture that lifted morale and made a real impact.

For Chris and Leslie’s gesture of generosity and appreciation, they were nominated and recognized as Marquis Legends, a prestigious program that honors employees who make a defining act in a defining moment.

“The last two years have been very challenging, and all Marquis staff have made sacrifices to take care of our residents,” said Zach Fogg, vice president of operations, at a Mt. Tabor all-staff where he presented them with the award. “But you went above and beyond, and I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done.”

When the applause died down, the two took a moment to talk about why they did what they did. Chris explained how the stethoscopes could be used not only at work, but by those who are furthering their CNA education or pursuing nursing careers. “It just felt right,” he said.

“In these hard times, we as nurses couldn’t provide half of what the residents deserve without our CNAs,” added Leslie. “They’re just as important as we are, and we wouldn’t be up here today without them.”

“Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, Tracy Berg was already a source of strength and inspiration at Marquis Hope Village. As social services director, she’s known for her boundless optimism and energy in helping residents live the best rest of their lives. “She is always at the center of what makes this a special place,” said Pilo Cano, facility administrator, “and she’s part of everything positive that happens here.”

But it was when a devastating outbreak struck the facility that Tracy’s compassion and dedication to her residents rose to truly legendary levels. Even though she was fighting the virus herself, she volunteered to visit residents who had also tested positive and were nearing end-of-life, so they wouldn’t be alone in their final hours.

The story of her selflessness quickly spread, and soon the media came calling. “”My job every day is to connect with the residents and with their families,” she told the Canby Herald newspaper when asked why she did what she did. “I had relationships with them and their families, and so it kind of felt like a family member of mine had COVID.”

An article in CanbyFirst.com recounted how Tracy sat with a beloved community member for hours on the last two evenings of his life, and was there as he took his final breath. “Tracy was such a blessing,” said a grateful family member.

For her incredible self-sacrifice and strength at this extremely difficult time, Tracy was recognized as a Marquis Legend. “Usually a selfless act of love and compassion like this is something you only read about,” said Pilo, “but we got to witness it first-hand.”

When Robert Thomas, admissions director at Marquis Newberg, asked his administrator for permission to leave early from work one day, what he didn’t say was why. And it’s that “why” that distinguishes him as a Marquis Legend who made a defining act in a defining moment.

The untold reason for his request was that he’d received word that a former Newberg resident was dying in the hospital and had no family or friends in his life. “No one should die alone,” Robert told the receptionist as he left.

Asked later why he did what he did, Robert expressed a deep belief in the value of every life, and the importance of honoring it. “It was just an acknowledgement of what he’s done, and letting him know that we see him to the very end, that he wasn’t forgotten,” he said. “Honestly, I just sat there with him. It doesn’t take much to have an impact.”

“Saying that Robert has a huge heart is an understatement,” wrote his administrator in the Legend nomination. “He understands the importance of human connection, even if it’s someone you barely know. I admire his selfless nature and the example he sets for all of us.”

To live a vital life while helping others experience it to the fullest—that’s Autumn’s personal and professional mission as Activity Director at Marquis Piedmont. It’s also why she’s a Legend.

In choosing Autumn for this award, it’s not just one thing she’s done—it’s everything. “She always puts the residents first, and takes her own time and energy to take the program beyond what anyone else would do,” says Lynne Hughs Jensen, activity consultant for Marquis. “She does that naturally, because that’s just who she is.”

“It’s all about the residents,” agrees Jan Blazek, Piedmont’s campus director. “There’s never a moment it’s not.” Jan recounts many examples, like the Haunted House Autumn creates almost single-handedly in the facility every Halloween, or the personalized resident costumes she works long hours at night crafting, or the holiday gifts for residents she shops for on her own time.

Autumn was also integral to the facility becoming involved in the Pilot Pal program that connects residents to the Portland Pilots, the University of Portland women’s basketball team.The athletes have visited Marquis Piedmont, and at least 10 residents cheer them on at every home game—complete with pom-poms and homemade signs.

In one of Autumn’s most selfless contributions, she made it her personal mission to secure approval for two of her residents to go on the Journey of Heroes, a Vital Life Foundation program that takes veterans to Washington, D.C. to see the monuments created in their honor. To help keep them safe, Autumn volunteered to go along, and she made it a trip of a lifetime.

Ever humble and self-effacing, Autumn is quick to deflect the praise for her commitment and achievements elsewhere. “I couldn’t have done it without all of you,” she said when her Legend award was presented in an all-staff meeting. “We’re a team, and I love you all.”

Ruben Hinojos, a resident care manager at Marquis Centennial, didn’t set out to be a Legend—far from it. After starting his career as a CNA, he found that caring for seniors came naturally to him. He enjoyed talking to them and hearing their stories, and after serving in a variety of positions, decided he could best serve them by going to nursing school. He’s been a Marquis nurse for 19 years, and with the company for nearly 30.

About two years ago, Ruben had been temporarily filling in at Marquis Marian Estates when a young staff member appeared in his office door. His name was Jose, and he was a first-generation high-school graduate who had been accepted to Mt. Hood Community College for a Physical Therapy degree. “His family sacrificed everything to bring him to the United States so he could go to college,” Ruben said.

The problem was, Jose lived in Salem, Ore., a three-hour round-trip drive, without traffic, just to get to class and back every day. He’d heard Ruben might have a spare room in his home, which was close to the school, and wondered if he could possibly stay there. Ruben’s answer was quick and to the point: Yes, absolutely, and by the way, for free. Now Jose is in his final semester, and says he couldn’t have done it without Ruben’s help.

“I was impressed with Jose’s ambition, so I didn’t hesitate,” Ruben recalled. “He had no fear. He had a goal and was going to do whatever was necessary to accomplish it. I could help be that bridge, and I was happy to.”

Once you talk to Ruben for any length of time, his actions aren’t surprising. He believes in being selfless, in helping people when you can. “You have to have the empathy to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, and see things from their point of view,” he believes. “Nobody can do everything alone in life, and there are so many opportunities to help people. It’s just listening and responding when asked.”

He’s appreciative of the Legend award, but like many Marquis and Consonus Legends who have come before, he’s a humble person who’s a little embarrassed by all the attention. When he stepped outside for the surprise event in his honor at Marquis Centennial, he felt “bamboozled” but honored to be acknowledged by his coworkers and residents.

He doesn’t see anything special in what he did—he’s just committed to always taking that extra step, because he believes it can have ripple effects across generations. As he said in his Legend acceptance speech, “It’s truly the Marquis culture. You see someone who needs a step up, you’re just eager to help if you can.”

In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the midst of one of the first and most devastating outbreaks at a Marquis senior care campus, the word Legend took on new meaning in a time of extreme crisis.

As the virus tore through the Marquis Hope Village facility, the urgent request went out for volunteers from other Marquis locations who could fill in for infected staff. Sixteen employees answered the call, risking their own lives to provide vital care for residents.

From Marquis’ two facilities in Las Vegas and four in the Portland, Ore., area, they left their own homes and families, choosing to stay in hotels, work double shifts and help battle a deadly virus about which little was known at the time. Vaccines were still many months away, and the chance of becoming infected and falling seriously ill was significant. Despite all that, they made the selfless choice to step up and serve.

“We talk about health care heroes, and these employees were the epitome of that,” said Zach Fogg, vice-president of operations at Marquis. “Not having their support would have been devastating, and they are truly Legends.”

In the months since, as outbreaks have struck other Marquis facilities, many employees have followed their example, doing whatever is necessary to serve and protect their residents and co-workers.

“To all who have literally risked your lives to provide care, what you have done is truly heroic,” Fogg said. “We can never thank you enough for helping us navigate one of the most challenging times we’ll ever face.”

All Jessica Jensen, a nurse at Marquis Newberg, was asked to do was put up a few holiday lights in the courtyard. What she did instead went wildly beyond anyone’s expectation—more than 10,000 lights, seven real Christmas trees, and a party for residents, staff and families complete with hot cocoa, cookies and a visit from Santa.

The centerpiece was a 20-foot-tall Noble fir, decked out in 2,500 sparkling lights. “I was thinking she’d maybe do a couple strands around the building, but when I went out in the courtyard, I was overwhelmed with emotion,” said Joscelyn Cook, facility administrator. “It was an amazing display that took everyone’s breath away, and the residents are still talking about it.”

To accomplish this extraordinary feat, Jessica worked evenings, and even weekends, and recruited other facility staff to help with planning and execution. As the team worked, residents would watch from their rooms. “They’d give me the thumbs up through the window to let me know if it was good, and they’d tell me if I missed something,” Jessica recalled.

Her motivation was knowing many of her residents wouldn’t have the luxury of getting in a car with family and looking at holiday lights. So she determined to bring the lights to them—an act that earned her this award as a Marquis Legend.

“Jessica knows and loves our residents, and is always willing to do anything for them,” said Joscelyn. “She reminded us to slow down and think about what we can do to really bring a smile to their faces.”