The Academy | A community of excellence and enrichment

The "A" Team - Our Employees

Perhaps the one thing of which we are most proud is the quality of our Academy employees. Without them, we could not be "a community of excellence". They are truly "The 'A' Team"! With our small size, our staff is like family. And, we are blessed with very low turnover so Academy residents and employees develop long-lasting relationships that greatly enrich their lives. A number of Academy employees, after they've worked here for a while, encourage their family members to work here too. Below is an article from one of our Academy newsletters that talks about the relationships among our employees.

It's All Relative

We all know that The Academy is a pretty special place. Our community is located in one of the most desirable locations in Boulder. Our physical environment is truly one of intimate grace and beauty. The people who live here are incredibly diverse and gifted individuals, who breathed life into the original vision held by our owners to create a vibrant community unlike any other.

The foregoing aside, another thing that makes our community special is the staff. Whenever I give a New Employee Orientation, I speak to the uniqueness of The Academy and the opportunities and possibilities that are available to our employees. We talk about the importance of developing relationships with Residents and staff alike, and I share with them stories of relationships that have developed for almost a decade.

I often tell new employees that The Academy is a "magical" place for many reasons, one of the most important of which is relationships. They chuckle under their breath and walk out of orientation thinking, I'm sure, that the dizzy blonde is a wee bit "tetched in the head." I smile indulgently as they walk away, as I know that someday in the very near future they will be telling me that I was "spot on".

So, you say, "magical?" What in the world is she talking about? Well, consider this ... We have 61 employees.

There are four sets of siblings:
- Ross Stoner and Jenn Berg
- Dayton and Leah Kellenberger
- Karen Bowling and Ted Thompson
- Pedro and Manuel Longoria
There are four parent/child combinations:
- Gary Berg - Jenn Berg and Ross Stoner
- Karen McMurry - Ross Stoner and Jenn Berg
- Jim Stoner - Ross Stoner
- Bridget and J. Gammeter
We have three cousins:
- Tsering Lhamo, Dechen Bhuti, and Phurbu Lhadon
And, finally - five sets of married couples:
- Gary Berg and Karen McMurry
- Muhdin and Zada Husic
- Enes and Nijaza Bajric
- Pedro Longoria and Idalia Rodriguez
- Manuel Longoria and Patricia Aguilera
Given the foregoing, roughly 26% of The Academy staff is related and 7% are married.

Fun facts, right? Well, it goes beyond fun. It is yet another reason that makes this place so special.

I recently asked our Managing Directors, Gary and Karen, to share their thoughts on their experience of working together. "This community is like being part of a huge family or a small village. The operation of The Academy can be very complex and challenging, but at the same time gives us the chance to utilize our personal styles and play on our different and individual strengths, hopefully with the end result of complimenting one another."

There are very few employers who would allow, much less encourage, family members to work together. It is often seen as difficult and challenging. However, as we all know, The Academy is a special place. It's about possibilities and opportunities. It's "magical." And ... it's all relative.