Reflections & Leadership | Presbyterian Senior Living | Corporate | Community Experience
At Presbyterian Senior Living (PSL), every mealtime is a chance to create comfort, spark conversation, and strengthen the community. None of that happens without the creativity and care of our dining service professionals working in kitchens, cafés, and bistros across all PSL communities. Today we celebrate every cook, server, dietary aide, and dishwasher whose daily dedication turns ingredients into memories.
The Heart Behind Every Meal
I wake up every day and can’t wait to get to work because I love to serve my residents and work with my coworkers,” says Dietary Aide Vera Williams, who has devoted 37 years to Westminster Village Dover. She still lights up when she plates residents’ favorites—“cream-chipped beef over toast” for breakfast and “fried chicken with fried potatoes and onions” at lunch.
Vera’s commitment is grounded in relationships: “My team members are my work family, and I enjoy coming and working with them. The ones with the spunk and sass really keep me uplifted.” Her resident-first mindset guides every shift: “My legacy is being a consistent hard worker who is reliable, dependable, and focused on the residents.”
Creativity and Leadership in the Kitchen
Assistant Dining Director Robert Pennington brings a different—but equally passionate—flavor to Westminster Woods. “I am happiest in the kitchen or sitting down and creating the next menu. Then I love walking around, talking to residents, and getting their feedback. That’s my happy place.”
A former U.S. Marine Corps chef, Robert, believes good food and good health go hand in hand. His wellness cooking classes let residents julienne beets and whisk vinaigrettes side by side with the chef. “This month we’re making a beet salad using yellow, red, and rainbow beets—talking nutrition while we cook together.”
Robert’s leadership style is as hands-on as his cuisine: “I lead by example—I never ask my team to do something I wouldn’t do myself.” That servant-leader mindset inspires colleagues to experiment, improve, and serve with pride.
Community Built One Bite at a Time
Whether at Dover or the Woods, relationships drive retention. “We care about each other like family,” Vera explains. Robert agrees: “This is their home. If it weren’t for the residents, I wouldn’t have a job. Happiness comes with food, and I take pride in making their dining experience special.”
Those bonds extend to knowing the life stories of residents. “Turns out one of our residents was on the TV show Emergency! You can’t get that kind of experience working in a restaurant,” Robert laughs.
Innovation and Resilience Under Pressure
When COVID-19 disrupted supply chains, Robert’s crew turned adversity into adventure: “We started a ‘What’s in the Wok’ stir-fry station on the back of a truck and introduced outdoor dining and drive-thru meal pick-up. It showed how adaptable we could be.”
Across PSL, similar ingenuity kept meals safe, varied, and exciting—proof that creativity and resilience are cornerstones of our culinary culture.
Lifelong Careers of Service and Growth
Longevity is no accident at PSL. Vera has “watched the community grow, watched people develop, and been able to mentor others,” while Robert notes, “I have employees who’ve been here 12-13 years and nurses 19 years. That speaks volumes about how PSL treats its team members.”
Both point to benefits—403(b) matches, generous leave you can sell back, and tuition support—as proof that PSL invests in the people who invest in our residents.
In Gratitude
From sunrise prep cooks to evening dishwashers, PSL dining-service professionals nourish body, mind, and spirit across every community we serve. Thank you for transforming ingredients into comfort, creativity into wellness, and meals into moments that matter. Your service is—quite literally—the flavor of home.
