Executive Director Mike McCormick Celebrates his 30th Year with Erickson Senior Living

When Executive Director Mike McCormick walks the campus of Siena Lakes, an Erickson Senior Living community in Naples, Fla., he greets everyone by name and introduces himself quickly if someone is new.

That's because for McCormick, who is celebrating his 30th year with Erickson Senior Living, the people are the best part of the job.

"What attracted me to Erickson Senior Living was its sense of community--how residents and staff support each other," he says. "I'm someone who thrives in community."

Match made in Maryland

McCormick learned about the company when a friend who worked at Charlestown, an Erickson Senior Living community in Catonsville, Md., asked him to have lunch there.

"I was bowled over by the magic in the air," says McCormick, who was running a company in Baltimore, Md., at the time. "There was something special that attracted me instantly to Charlestown and to Erickson Senior Living."

After working as Charlestown's director of health services, then as associate executive director at Oak Crest, an Erickson Senior Living community in Parkville, Md., McCormick was promoted to executive director of Fox Run, another Erickson community set to open near where he had grown up in Novi, Mich.

He thrived in the position, staying at Fox Run for 18 years. "I love starting new things, and I've found that I'm good at it," says McCormick.

So, when plans began for Siena Lakes, he jumped at the chance to open the community.

Building the culture

Having raised their sons--Xavier (27) and Chase (24)--in Michigan, the McCormicks felt that the beach was a new opportunity calling them. Their daughter Trinity, now 16, was entering middle school, so they thought it was a good time to relocate.

In 2021, McCormick started as Siena Lakes' executive director.

"It's been a blast! I'm glad I had another opportunity to open a community from the start. There's an energy around a new startup that's just infectious," he says. "At Fox Run, everything was new to me. But here, I was able to apply things I learned through that process."

McCormick explains that, to build a culture of caring in a new community, it's imperative to recruit talented employees who are passionate about delivering an excellent experience for residents.

"It's exciting to see the potential in everyone and everything," he says.

Good communication

Throughout his years of experience, McCormick has learned that listening to residents helps improve many community operations.

"Our residents have a lifetime full of wisdom and knowledge. Collaborating with our Resident Advisory Council and conducting open forums enables us to implement their ideas and ultimately make Siena Lakes better," he explains.

For example, residents who had previously played bocce in residential communities or at country clubs offered suggestions for improvement. "As a result, we did a major upgrade to our bocce courts, adding shaded areas for players and those watching," says McCormick.

Another example: Siena Lakes originally used shuttle buses to transport residents to the community's restaurants for dinner. But that's not usually how it's done in Florida.

"Residents suggested we use golf carts, which wasn't typical at other Erickson communities," says McCormick. "But we worked out a way to be able to provide golf cart transportation at dinner time--because that's what you do in Florida."

He adds, "We've learned a lot that we're going to pass on to Emerson Lakes, an Erickson community set to open near Sarasota in 2026."

Leading by example

McCormick sees setting an example for staff members as an important part of his responsibilities.

"If I know everyone's name, the expectation is set for everybody to do the same. As a leader, people follow my actions and how I conduct myself," says McCormick. "If I see a bit of litter on the ground, I pick it up. When others see the executive director doing this, they'll do it too. It's the butterfly effect: Everybody is impacted when they see someone else doing something positive."

McCormick has helped new residents move in, slept on an air mattress in his office to be on site during hurricane season, and he's even played "The King." We're talking about Elvis.

"One of my favorite things to do, besides working alongside residents, is to have fun with them. At this year's talent show, our entire executive team did a dance routine to Burning Love, and I was Elvis," says McCormick, with a laugh. "I really love working with older adults. I'm passionate about what I do."

To learn more about senior living at this vibrant community, request your free brochure to learn about amenities, floor plans, and more.

By Michele Wojciechowski