SOULcial Salute November, 2024
Military Service and Servant Leadership
Gregg Fox – Manager, Executive Director, Director of Operations, National Guardsman
Talking to Gregg, if you didn’t know him, it is hard to know how accomplished and well regarded he is in the senior living industry. He is genuine and unassuming in that way that never makes the conversation about himself.
Servant Leadership Was Inevitable
In exploring Gregg’s background it was easy to see that early on his career path towards direct service is exactly where he was always heading.
As a kid growing up in the Twin Cities suburb of Elk River his parents taught by example the value of “be humble and treat others right” as Gregg succinctly put it. He also had the remarkable gift of having all four of his grandparents growing up. In high school he additionally chose the opportunity to work with Big Brothers and mentor a young boy who I can only imagine was better off for his time with Gregg.
The Benedictine tradition of St John’s University undoubtedly contributed to Gregg’s approach to his work. Benedict’s Rule is often summarized by the saying “Prayer and Work” as well as being a “living example of service”.
Army National Guard Contributed to Outlook
Gregg also spent nine years in the Army National Guard throughout high school and college. While the discipline of military training and service certainly helped hone his eventual management skill set, the several missions abroad contributed to his service mindset. Not the least of which was his final 10-month peacekeeping mission in Bosnia in 2003. It involved numerous community works projects particularly visiting kids in hospitals.
Senior Living Eventually Called Him
Gregg clearly has natural management skills as he immediately succeeded by rising up through management rolls straight out of college. It was with a healthcare contract service provider initially. As skilled as he was becoming in management, the ‘servant’ aspect of leadership was growing within him as well.
His next stint of a year or so in a bio-medical service company was short lived as he concluded serving others more directly was his calling. After managing the St. Paul YWCA he eventually found his entry to senior living with Lang Nelson. This experience confirmed his desire to be in community with those he serves.
From there his skills were further developed in his time with Brookdale Minnetonka. “Brookdale has good systems and a solid foundation for developing front line staff.” Gregg explained.
Around 2015 he was ready when the opportunity came to join Ebenezer at the point of their rapid growth in senior living. His management background and easy manner combined to ride the sometimes choppy waters of a growing company. It served him and the community he led in Forest Lake very well for nearly six years.
Service Through Senior Living Continues
As Covid arrived Gregg was pursued to help turn around a struggling group of senior living communities across a number of states. Following the pandemic Gregg moved on to further management duties with Great Lakes Management. And new adventures are yet to come.
Senior Living Stories Are Rewarding and Fruitful
Gregg shared one anecdote of stepping into harm’s way once with a distraught resident who was threatening to break open a fire extinguisher glass door. As he sidled up to the resident and calmly engaged the man, he grabbed Gregg’s hand on the glass door. Gregg accepted the vice-like hold for over 20 minutes until the authorities arrived to settle the matter. He de-escalated the situation successfully though his circulation took a bit to return to his hand.
On the lighter side, Gregg laughed while sharing one particular experience early in his career inside a memory care.
While orienting at a new community he was observing the activity director preparing to dye easter eggs with a group of women residents. When the director asked if he would mind keeping an eye on those residents while she ran to the office to gather some forgotten items he obliged. She no sooner left the room when one of the ladies raised a vinegar-dye filled dixie cup and announced something about a happy hour toast. And with that they all downed the colorful cocktails leaving themselves with bright mustaches. He panicked as to how to explain that when the director returned.
It apparently all worked out as that activity director eventually became Gregg’s bride!~