About
Founded in Faith
Garden Spot Communities has evolved into a community that thrives on purpose, opportunity and living life to its fullest. As a result, 22% of the people coming into the community are 50 and 60 Somethings. People say it’s because there’s a different mindset at Garden Spot Communities. While others in our market space talk about seniors and retirement, here we talk about people and opportunity. Our heritage, mission and core values play a fundamental role as they ground us in the present and shape our future.
Garden Spot Communities opened in 1996 as a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community that is committed to Christian values and principles. Home to residents of many faiths and backgrounds, we are affiliated with the Lancaster Mennonite Conference of the Mennonite Church; the Atlantic Coast Conference of Mennonite Church USA; Mennonite Health Services; LeadingAge PA and LeadingAge.
Envisioned Future
Spark a pro-aging revolution
Our aspirational envisioned future, explained: Garden Spot Community is a significant catalyst for sociocultural transformation regarding aging—resulting in new language, new mindsets and new attitudes which are fully embraced by society. We reject can’t, shouldn’t and won’t because of age. Age is no longer seen as a liability but instead a reality that is leveraged in ways that improve the life of the individual, the wellbeing of communities and also benefits society.
Mission
INSPIRED BY THE LIFE OF JESUS, WE CULTIVATE VIBRANT COMMUNITY FOR PURPOSEFUL LIVING.
Our mission, explained: Healthy organizations are built on foundational values. Garden Spot Communities has a foundation based on a Christian heritage. As a result, we create an inclusive community for staff and residents from many faith traditions and those with no faith tradition. We desire to maintain this heritage. We look at the life and teachings of Jesus for inspiration on how we can best live and work together in this world, believing that if we do this well, it will lead us to abundance, not scarcity… to trust, not control… to love, not fear.
GUIDING PRINCIPLE
BE KIND. DO GOOD. SHOW LOVE.
Our guiding principle, explained: Guiding principles are the characteristics or qualities that articulate the desired behavior within an organization. Guiding principles contribute to and should be consistent with an organization’s culture.
A guiding principle is a strongly held belief that is understood and embraced by all our team members. It should influence and guide employee behavior, actions and decisions. We created our guiding principle to meet each of these definitions and because it emphasizes our commitment to person-centered care for everyone in our community.
Our Team
This is our core leadership team.
Steve Lindsey, Chief Executive Officer
As CEO of Garden Spot Communities, Steve Lindsey is the keeper of the unique and vibrant culture that Garden Spot Communities is known for throughout the country and around the world. He has a proven track record of innovation and searches for new ideas by continuously evaluating his surroundings. He has more than 25 years of administrative experience in retirement community and rehabilitation hospital industries and was instrumental in developing the new Guidelines for Residential Health, Care and Support Settings. He serves on the board of directors for the Society of Gerontological Environments (SAGE) as well as on the editorial advisory board for Environments for Aging. In July 2019, Steve was identified by Senior Housing News as a Changemaker, one of the pioneers driving the future of senior living. He holds a Master of Social Work from Temple University and is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences.
Andrew Dietzel, Chief Information Officer
As Chief Information Officer, Andrew Dietzel develops technology goals and strategies, plans and directs the implementation of new IT systems, and creates innovative technology platforms that contribute to the Garden Spot Communities mission and experience. He joined Garden Spot in 2004 as Information Technology Specialist, then served as Information Technology Manager and Director of Information Technology. A Lancaster Mennonite High School graduate, Dietzel has an Associate’s degree from Hesston College, Hesston, Kan., and a Bachelor of Science in Management of Information Systems from Eastern University, St. Davids, Pa.
Lois Dostalik, Transformational Architect
Lois Dostalik brings nearly 30 years of consultancy experience through her work as Founder and Chief Strategist for E4 Strategic Consultancy, based in Lancaster. As Transformational Architect with ForgeWorks, Dostalik uses a co-creation, team-oriented process to serve organizations in these key areas: strategic thinking, strategic problem solving, organizational alignment, and governance. Her reputation for a bold approach to navigating challenging situations and addressing ‘organizational elephants’ in the room has helped many organizations find their new path forward. Lois lives in downtown Lancaster and thrives in the vibrancy of this city, which has undertaken a renaissance change. Lois is honored to have supported and led the strategic planning for the city. She also enjoys the theater, reading, kayaking and traveling.
Lora Gomboc, Director of Healthcare Services
As the Director of Healthcare Services for Garden Spot Communities, Lora oversees personal care, memory support and homecare, as well as the skilled nursing households for Garden Spot Village and Maple farm. She is a LeadindgAge PA board member and is active on the LeadingAge PA Worforce Initiatives Taskforce. She also works with Harrisburg Area Community College as an adjunct professor for the Nursing Home Administrator Course and is a member of the Gerontology Advisory Board. Lora holds a Bachelor’s in Health Policy Administration and a Minor in Business as well as a Masters in Health Administration with a certificate in long term care from Penn State.
Bryan Groff, Director of Human Resources
Bryan has worked at Garden Spot Village for more than 25 years. He started just a few months after the first resident moved into the community in 1996. His initial responsibilities at Garden Spot included a wide variety of functions including Information Technology and Human Resources. He has been blessed to be a part of the growth and development of Garden Spot Communities from the early stages. He currently serves on the Executive Leadership team as the Director of Human Resources. Bryan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from Messiah College.
Steve Jeffrey, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer
Steve Jeffrey leads ForgeWorks, the consultancy of Garden Spot Communities. Steve has a lifelong passion to build strong foundations in people and organizations. His leadership of ForgeWorks continues his service to nonprofit organizations. He has served over 150 nonprofits in cultural development, strategy, affiliations and growth. He is a former Managing Director of Ziegler Investment Banking and principal of Third Age, Inc., a national nonprofit consulting firm. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Organizational Leadership from Cairn University. He is a frequent speaker at local, regional and national conferences.
Scott Miller, Chief Marketing Officer
With more than 30 years of marketing experience, Scott oversees the marketing and sales and efforts for Garden Spot Communities. He creates innovative marketing approaches such as Destination Garden Spot Village, a podcast, an annual half marathon and hot air balloon. During his 23-year tenure at Unisys Corporation, a global technology firm, Scott held a variety of leadership positions, which included cultivating relationships with financial firms on Wall Street, worldwide travel promoting emerging technologies and corporate marketing. Scott holds a Bachelor of Computer Science from Millersville University and a Master of Theological Studies from Eastern University.
Steve Muller, Chief Operating Officer
As Chief Operations Officer at Garden Spot Communities, Steve guides the day-to-day work of the Dining, Facility Services, Campus Services, Construction & Project Development and Housekeeping departments. His team finds innovative ways to provide excellent customer service to residents as well as stewards the operational resources of the community. Steve’s career has been diverse, with leadership experiences in engineering, construction and business consulting, as well as extensive work with faith-based non-profits. Steve has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Penn State as well as a Master in Leadership Studies from Lancaster Bible College.
Wendy Nagle, Chief Mission Advancement Officer
As Chief Mission Advancement Officer for Garden Spot Communities, Wendy helps individuals and businesses find ways to support the benevolent care and capital campaign projects for Garden Spot Village. Over the past 25 years, Wendy has served in leadership roles in a variety of organizations, including Sight & Sound Theatres, the Lancaster County Visitors Bureau, Heritage Center of Lancaster County and Children’s Miracle Network at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital. Wendy is committed to helping organizations and individuals passionate about making a difference in the communities where they live and serve. Wendy is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy and holds a Certificate in Fundraising Management from the Indiana University School of Philanthropy.
Nate Weber, Chief Financial Officer
Nate Weber started his adventure at Garden Spot Communities in May 2014. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Accounting from Millersville University. He has worked in public accounting as well as the senior living facilities. The culture here is the best the team members and residents are incredibly welcoming and friendly. When he’s not working, he can be found around the house with his two daughters playing games and enjoying life.
Chet Yoder, Director of Pastoral Services
As Resident Life Team Leader, Chet attends to the resident experience at Garden Spot Village, including Life Enrichment, Pastoral Services, Sherpa Services, Volunteer Services and Wellness. Through collaborative effort, the team endeavors to facilitate life-engaging opportunities for resident discovery, growth and impact. Chet holds a Bachelor in Science in Bible and Pastoral Ministry from Lancaster Bible College and a Master of Arts in Religion from Evangelical Seminary. Postgraduate work in Clinical Pastoral Education and through the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. have enriched his understanding and application of systems theory in relationships.