Page 8 • WOMEN IN BUSINESS • Albert Lea Tribune • Friday, October 28, 2011
From retail to long-term caring
By Sarah Stultz
sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com
After Albert Lea resident Shelly Woitas graduated from college in sales and marketing, she worked in retail for several years. But when she started having a family, she said, she realized retail hours didn’t mesh. She began to look for something else that fit better with their lives. Though she never saw herself working in a long-term care facility or with older people, she said she was caught by surprise when she found Oak Park Place. “I had never been here before,” Woitas said of the facility. “I remember thinking, this is a hidden secret in Albert Lea.” Now, seven years later, she’s still at the facility on Bridge Avenue and works as the business and marketing coordinator. “I really enjoy it,” Woitas said. “I have the fun part, getting to chat and see the residents every day, getting to know them.” As marketing coordinator, she also
works with people who are interested in moving to the facility, gives tours, sends out information and does some advertising. For the business part of her job, she’s involved with resident billing, some human resources work and insurance paperwork for the employees. “In this job it’s more emotional or personal than others,” Woitas said. “When people come here they’re at their wits’ end. I listen to a lot of stories, a lot of sad stories. “Some days can be very emotional, very draining.” Regardless, she said she loves helping people. Sometimes, she also gets assigned other miscellaneous tasks, making her a jill of all trades. “We’re a small community here, so we kind of wear a lot of hats,” she said. “Every day is different. Today, I was moving furniture; tomorrow I might help with a resident party. You never know what you’re going to do. That’s what I like about it.” As a single mother of two boys, Aaron, 17, and Andy, 13, she said she
Inside: • An Albert Lea woman speaks about being a small business owner • Visit Darcy at Conger Meat Market • An Albert Lea woman enjoys the long-term care industry
Sarah Stultz/Albert Lea Tribune
Oak Park Place Business and Marketing Coordinator Shelly Woitas stands in front of a fireplace at the facility Oct. 21. Woitas has worked at Oak Park Place for seven years. typically works traditional hours, sphere,” instead of one with stark but she noted the company has been hallways and intercoms, has 49 flexible with her and her sons’ schedresidents. ules, allowing her to take time off for She said the Oak Park Place staff appointments and then come in at pride themselves on quality one-ondifferent times if needed. one resident care. The facility, which she describes When she’s not at work, she enjoys as a “cozy, warm, home-like atmoreading, decorating and camping.
Oak Park Place can be found at 1615 Bridge Ave., Albert Lea.
Thursday, October 20, 2011