Bringing the Community
Together O ne E v ent at a T ime by Brooke Ezzo
A
s simple as it may seem, some people never meet their neighbors. In a community
with over 3,000 homes, meeting other residents might seem impossible. The
idea behind a lifestyle program is to give
opportunities for residents to get to know each other and build up that community feeling.
Thanks to Ashtin Slovak, Lantana is doing just that.
photos from community director Ashtin Slovak
Ashtin started working in Lantana as an administrative assistant to
the community and meet other residents. That’s what it’s all about.”
Ashtin has taken what Lantana started with, the Spring Festival, Music on the Greens series, the Halloween Event,
and she added on much more. Now the association hosts two to three events
each week; there are Adult Coloring Book nights, Senior Lunches, Storytime, and Bingo.
“We’ve tried a little bit of everything,” Ashtin said. “It is exciting.”
Ashtin works for Insight
the community manager
Association Management,
five years ago. She helped
the company that manages
organize lifestyle events
the association for
and quickly realized it was
Lantana. They manage
something she loved.
several master-planned
When the association
communities with lifestyle
decided to implement a
programs, so she is able to
full-time lifestyle program,
use other directors
Ashtin jumped at the
as resources.
opportunity. This fell under
“They help give ideas, we
her role as assistant so
share vendors, and we give
she had already worked
advice on how to set up
with vendors, was on site
events,” Ashtin said.
during events, and started
Looking toward the future
building rapport with the residents.
As Community Director, she organizes
monthly events for all types of residents, in effort to bring people together and have some fun while they’re at it.
“I just try to bring people on site,” Ashtin
said. “So people can get together here in www.LantanaLiving.com
and what to expect from
the association, Ashtin is very excited about the opening of the Lantana
Community Event Center in early March. Strictly used for events; the center has
a full indoor space, a caterers kitchen, a great lawn, Japanese rock garden, and much more.
“The center is really going to help us expand our events,” Ashtin laughed. “We can host more than 30 people in a room.” With the opening of the center, she is gearing up for Casino Nights and Murder Mystery Parties. “This will give us an opportunity to allow residents to take a bigger advantage of our lifestyle program,” Ashtin said. “There will be a reservation system in place; organizations or clubs could rent out the space, or we will open it up for an indoor meeting space.” Ashtin gives credit to Mark Norton, Lantana Community Manager, and
Bruce Crawford, Insight Association Management President, for supporting her ideas and partnering with her to build the lifestyle program to what it is today. “I love working for Insight, they have a good mindset for the residents,” Ashtin said. The residents are the part of the job Ashtin loves the most. She enjoys the relationships she has built while planning and hosting events. She even answers to “bingo lady!” “I love people, I love the kids events, and I love hanging out at Senior Lunch and talking to all of my regulars,” Ashtin said. “I personally call Bingo once a month, it’s a lot of fun.” Lantana is such a wonderful and unique place. Ashtin truly enjoys working in the community and being a connection to help guide residents. “As it finishes up development and we look towards how we can keep the community together with the lifestyle program, we want Lantana to continue to be a wonderful place to live in the future,” Ashtin exclaimed. When Ashtin isn’t in Lantana, she spends her time with her fiancée and three fur babies. She is also the managing director for the Love Pit, a foster and rescue organization. February 2020 | LANTANA LIVING | 37
