Local Professional Receives National Recognition for Contribution to Senior Living Industry

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. - Feb. 24, 2020 - PRLog -- Alicia Hartnett, Director of Healthcare and Assisted Living at The Lutheran Village at Miller's Grant, has been named a Rising Star in the McKnight's Women of Distinction awards, a joint program of McKnight's Long-Term Care News and McKnight's Senior Living.

The program recognizes women who have made significant contributions to the senior living and skilled nursing professions or who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the fields. Rising Stars are women who are younger than 40 or have fewer than 15 years in the industry. Of the hundreds of professionals nominated, Hartnett was one of 23 professionals selected, according to McKnight's.

"To say the least, this is a well-deserved honor," said McKnight's Editorial Director John O'Connor. Nominations were judged by an external panel of industry experts. The awards will be presented in Chicago on May 7, 2020.

Hartnett oversees the daily operation of long-term care, short-term rehabilitation, assisted living, and therapy services serving adults 60 and better at The Lutheran Village at Miller's Grant, a faith-based, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community operated by The Lutheran Village at Miller's Grant (https://millersgrant.org/).

According to Michelle Rosenheim, the community's Executive Director, Hartnett joined the team four years ago, just as the community was about to open. She quickly ascended to her current leadership role and was among a small group of Maryland professionals selected to participate in the LeadingAgeMD Leadership Cohort program (https://www.leadingagemaryland.org/page/EmergingLeaders), which was paid for by the Miller's Grant Resident Scholarship Fund.

"Alicia's focus on human dignity, nurturing relationships, and inspiring others to do and be their best translates into consistent, compassionate and quality care for our residents," says Rosenheim. "By empowering her team in this way, she's investing in their future, the future of our organization, and the future of our industry. That's why this Rising Star award is so deserving."

From an early age, Hartnett said she knew her career mission was working with an aging adult population. While earning her degree in sociology concentrating in aging studies at John Carroll University in Ohio, she worked as an intern at the Montefiore Hospice in Cleveland. Upon graduation, she served as activities director at a senior residential apartment complex and then participated in a nine-month administrator-training program through the Ohio State Board Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators.

In addition, Hartnett worked at Alden Estates in the Chicagoland area as an assistant nursing home administrator overseeing day-to-day operations of the short-term rehabilitation facility with responsibility for all human resources oversight.