RidgeCrest’s Keith Watson Wins 2022 Supernova Award
Director of Facility Services Takes Home Highest Honor
The Supernova Award is the highest individual honor that our company gives and each year. One individual on the leadership team at RidgeCrest is voted by their colleagues as the community’s Supernova based on an assortment of criteria. Each year during the Senior Living Communities Annual Meeting, the winner is revealed and given a customized crystal award at the company’s formal Supernova Awards Evening. The criteria for voting is based on upholding our company’s mission to be caring professionals dedicated to quality services. Additionally, this individual will consistently deliver excellent customer service (to Members, families, and colleagues), lead positively with integrity, take accountability, put the team before themselves, and embody the company’s vision to create communities where people live longer, healthier, and happier lives.
This year, we are proud to congratulate our Director of Facility Services, Keith Watson as the recipient of the 2022 RidgeCrest Supernova Award. This honor was bestowed at the Senior Living Communities Annual Meeting on Thursday, July 28th at The Omni Grove Park Inn, in Asheville, North Carolina. As the Director of Facility Services, Keith plans, directs, organizes and supervises the short term, scheduled, preventative, and emergency maintenance for the equipment, buildings and grounds of the campus. Additionally, he provides overall supervision for all maintenance personnel, housekeeping personnel and projects pertaining to each department.
Keith has been a resident of Surry County his entire life. He spent his early adulthood working in one of the leading hosiery mills in Surry County where he first gained leadership experience in supervision and maintenance. He left the hosiery industry and spent 14 years as an upholsterer for Henredon Furniture until its unforeseen closure. The next eight years he spent working for the Surry County Sheriff’s Office, working his way to up Sergeant in the Detention Center. He left that position to become a Maintenance Technician at RidgeCrest. After 6 months at RidgeCrest he was promoted to the Director of Facilities. Keith and his wife have three children and eight grandchildren who are their pride and joy. In his free time he enjoys playing poker, spending time with his family, and supporting his grandchildren in all of their extracurricular activities.
Interview with 2022 Director of the Year, Keith Watson
Congratulations on being chosen as a Supernova! How do you feel?
I feel humbled and truly honored to be chosen by my peers for this award. To win this award speaks volumes about each of the Ridgecrest employees and the roles that we all contribute to the community.
What’s your favorite part about your position?
I like knowing that I am providing a Weller life for seniors as they transition into retirement. It is rewarding to know that I am part of a team that is truly making a difference in our community.
What do you want people to know about working in a retirement community?
The most rewarding feeling about working in a retirement community is interacting with the residents and knowing that I am contributing in making their transition a happy one.
What is your favorite thing about working for Senior Living Communities?
I love interacting with the residents and making them happy. It is all about them and making sure that they have quality of life. I really enjoy making the residents smile, hearing their stories, and all of the hugs. I enjoy putting on concerts and events like poker nights for them. It brings as much joy to me as it does them.
What’s a quote or inspirational words that influence/impact you and why?
“Leadership is communicating to others their worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves” from Turn the Ship Around by David Marquet.
Nurturing leadership at all levels of an organization creates employees who are more efficient and who are more satisfied with their jobs. I believe that this mindset can foster a sense of accomplishment and pride within our community.
Positions that are eligible to vote and win the Supernova Award include: HR Director, Business Manager, Assistant Business Manager, Care Services Administrator, Director of Nursing, Assistant Director of Nursing, Resident Care Director, Lifestyle Advisor, Lifestyle Advisor – Care Services, Transition Specialist, Social Director, Wellness Director, Director of Facility Services, Director of Dining Services, Executive Chef, Client Services Manager (Live Long Well Care).
