Every year, The Cottages hosts its highly anticipated Annual Leadership Meeting and Awards Banquet, bringing together our dedicated leadership team for a time of collaboration, learning, and inspiration. This event is more than just a gathering—it’s an opportunity for reflection, growth, and setting the course for an even stronger year ahead. Through empowering messages, expert training from our home office team and guest speakers, and meaningful discussions, our leaders leave feeling recharged and ready to make a lasting impact. The knowledge and motivation gained are then carried back to their teams, fostering both personal and professional growth across all of The Cottages’ communities.
Here are some of the highlights from this year’s 2025 Annual Leadership Meeting and 2024 Awards Banquet!
Leadership & Wellness Training
Our annual meeting was all about growth, inspiration, and pushing boundaries. With the theme “Becoming Your Best Self,” we embraced the challenge to “Raise the Bar”—both personally and professionally—as we head into 2025. For our team of dedicated caregiver leaders, prioritizing health and wellness can be tough while ensuring that our families, caregivers, and residents receive the best care. That’s why this year’s event was so impactful! Our incredible speakers inspired us to think bigger and do better.
Our team had the pleasure of gaining some phenomenal leadership training from several guest speakers and trainers. Jolynn Hunt, PhD cand., MSHCM, CLC, CEO of IO Consulting, delivered an inspiring presentation on emotional intelligence, equipping our team with practical strategies to foster personal and professional growth. Her insights provided valuable tools to help our leaders navigate challenges, build stronger connections, and support those they lead with empathy and understanding. We are incredibly grateful for Jolynn’s expertise and the lasting impact her message will have on our team.
Another highlight of our event was a powerful session with Chelsey Galipeau, PA-C, Owner of IdaHormones. Chelsey delivered an insightful presentation on Women’s Health, emphasizing the importance of taking charge of personal well-being. Her expertise and passion for educating others inspired our team to prioritize their health, make informed decisions, and advocate for their wellness. We are grateful for the knowledge she shared and the meaningful discussions she sparked.
We were fortunate to learn from Brittany Hansen, Chief Discovery Officer of Viiision, who shared her expertise on Creating Your Own Brand. Brittany’s presentation encouraged our team to embrace their unique strengths, define their personal and professional identity, and make a lasting impact through authenticity and purpose. Her insights sparked inspiration, helping our leaders recognize the power of branding—not just for businesses, but for personal growth and leadership as well. We are so grateful for Brittany’s wisdom and the valuable lessons she shared!
We were truly inspired by Dani Genovesi, Gold Medalist of the Race Across America, as she shared her incredible journey of perseverance and triumph. Dani’s story of grit, endurance, and determination reminded us that success is not just about talent—it’s about resilience, mindset, and pushing forward even when the road gets tough. Her experience in conquering one of the most challenging races in the world served as a powerful metaphor for leadership and personal growth. We are so grateful for Dani’s wisdom and motivation, leaving us all ready to tackle our own races—both in work and in life!
Team Building Activities
A leadership meeting wouldn’t be complete without team-building activities, and our very own Director of Fun, Jeanne, made sure to bring both energy and purpose to the experience! Through creative and engaging exercises, Jeanne not only kept the atmosphere lively but also instilled powerful lessons on teamwork, trust, and collaboration. These activities reminded us that success isn’t achieved alone—it’s built on relying on one another, communicating effectively, and working together toward a shared goal. We are so grateful for Jeanne’s leadership and the unforgettable moments that strengthened our bonds as a team.
2024 Awards Banquet
Each year, we come together for a special Awards Banquet to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of our team and the meaningful impact they make in their communities. This event is a time to recognize not only the hard work and dedication of our staff but also those who selflessly give their time and talents to create memorable moments for our residents. It is an honor to acknowledge the passion and commitment that make The Cottages such a wonderful place. Here are the outstanding individuals and teams who were recognized at this year’s banquet.
World Class Staff Award
The World Class Staff award recognizes the most compassionate staff who consistently embody the company mission statement: “We Treat People Right.” The 2024 World Class Staff award was presented to The Cottages of Middleton, who are led by Maddi.
Quality of Life Award
The Quality of Life award recognizes the top performer in increasing the quality of life for our residents through activities. The 2024 Quality of Life award was presented to The Cottages of Meridian, whose activities are led by Linda.
White Glove Award
The White Glove award recognizes the community that has the best housekeeping practices. The 2024 White Glove award was presented to The Cottages of Mountain Home, who are led by Nancy.
Cottages Success Award
The Cottages Success award recognizes the community that has the best financial improvement and/or operational performance over the past year. The 2024 Cottages Success award was presented to The Cottages of Weiser, who are led by Kenzie.
Outstanding Safety Award
The Outstanding Safety award recognizes the community that displays the best safety practices throughout the year. The 2024 Outstanding Safety award was presented to The Cottages of Middleton, Payette, Mountain Home, and Weiser who are led by Maddi, Andra, Nancy, and Kenzie.
Census Awards
100% Census Award
The 100% census award recognizes the communities that were able to maintain 100% census throughout the entirety of 2024. This is one of the most difficult awards to achieve. The community that achieved this is Lochsa Falls II – Led by Karen.
95% Census Award
The 95% census award recognizes the communities that were able to maintain 95% census throughout the entirety of 2024. This is a very difficult award to achieve. These communities include our:
- Mountain Home campus – Led by Nancy
- Middleton campus – Led by Maddie
- Emmett MC – Led by Becca
- Lochsa Fall I – Led by Karen
- Meridian MC – Led by Heather
90% Census Award
The 90% census award recognizes the communities that were able to maintain 90% census throughout the entirety of 2024. This is a challenging award to achieve. These communities include our:
- Payette campus – Led by Andra
- Columbia Village – Led by Brianne
- Weiser I campus – Led by Kenzie
Shining Star Award
The Shining Star award recognizes a team member who works at the Home Office, who embodies teamwork, flexibility, and leadership. The 2024 Shining Star award was presented to Becky Knapp.
Elite Excellence
The Elite Excellence award recognizes the community that exudes exceptional quality performance in all areas. The 2024 Elite Excellence award was presented to The Cottages of Mountain Home, who are led by Nancy.
Caregiver of the Year Award
The Caregiver of the Year award recognizes a Cottages Caregiver who does outstanding work every day. This is an individual who goes above and beyond in their duties, works hard, has a positive attitude, and most importantly does an exceptional job caring for the residents. The 2024 Caregiver of the Year award was presented to Edith, who is based at The Cottages of Payette.
Raising the Bar in 2025: Becoming Our Best Selves
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make our 2025 Annual Meeting and 2024 Awards Banquet a resounding success. Countless hours of planning, effort, and attention to detail went into creating a truly meaningful and enriching experience for our team. We deeply appreciate the hard work, heart, and passion of our team members who make these moments possible. It’s clear that we not only love what we do but also feel privileged to serve those in our care each day. As we kick off 2025, we are excited about what lies ahead. By continuing to work together, there’s no limit to what we can achieve as we soar to new heights!
Let Us Help You Today!
We welcome the opportunity to speak with you about careers at The Cottages and the care that our residents receive at our Idaho locations. We are experts in assisted living, memory care, respite, adult day care, and have been serving seniors for over 20 years. Our small home-like senior living homes and specially-trained team members offer an atmosphere that promotes the well-being of your loved one.
If you have any questions, would like to tour one of the Idaho assisted living or memory care homes, or speak with one of our licensed administrators, please fill out the form below. Please mention which location(s) you’re interested in.
