Starting a new job reveals a lot about an organization. What happens on day one? Are people handed paperwork and wished luck, or are they welcomed with time, attention and care?
At Atria, that welcome has a name: Origins.
Origins is the onboarding experience within Atria’s Journeys program, the company’s framework for career growth and development. It’s built on a simple idea: When people feel prepared and supported from the start, they step into their roles with confidence and a clearer sense of what comes next.
For those entering leadership roles, Origins is thoughtfully tailored. Sales leaders, Executive Directors, General Managers and department leaders each follow a track aligned to their day-to-day work. The approach is consistent across roles. Learning is practical, engaging and grounded in real experience.
As Ashley Austin, Manager of Learning & Development, explains, participants learn alongside a trainer in real time, then continue building skills through practice, assignments and real-world scenarios.
“We want people to really understand how we show up for residents and families and why we do things the way we do,” she said. “It’s not just about learning the role. It’s about understanding Atria’s approach to serving seniors and giving people the chance to practice that in real situations so it feels natural when they’re back in their community.”
The pace allows time to absorb and apply what they’ve learned, building confidence that lasts well beyond the first few weeks.
For John Pezzella, a Community Sales Director at Atria Merrimack Place, the difference was clear right away. “I knew I was stepping into a different caliber of organization,” he said. “As soon as I gained access to the training materials, it confirmed everything I had heard.”
After completing on-site mentoring and virtual learning, John returned to his community ready to take action.
“The very first sales call I took after completion was a successful one,” he said with a smile. “So yes, I felt prepared to step fully into my role.”
That sense of readiness is built into every part of the experience.
Torie A., who works at Holiday Golden Oaks, had experience with other senior living companies before joining Atria, so she noticed the difference right away.
“I have never been part of a company that poured resources into onboarding like we do here,” she said. “They take a full week and structure each day in an interactive and fun way.”
Small group sessions and one-on-one moments made the experience feel personal, while trainers broke down complex ideas into clear, approachable steps.
“We were learning from each other too,” Torie said. “It felt more like a conversation than a class.”
By the end of the week, that learning had turned into action, along with a bit of friendly competition. Torie earned the Sales Talk Champion Award, which still sits on her desk. “It’s a reminder of how it all started,” she said. Just as important, she left with a clear understanding of how to connect Atria’s approach to conversations with families.
“It made me excited for what was ahead and showed me the support I’d have,” Torie said.
That support continues well beyond onboarding. Through ongoing training, regular check-ins and mentorship, employees are encouraged to keep growing and shaping their path.
“The experience made me feel empowered,” John said. “It gave me everything I needed to start strong and a clear path to keep building from there.”