What is it like to work in senior living? At Holiday Bridge Park in Seattle, it can mean helping turn a simple event into something residents talk about for weeks. General Manager Stephen V.’s effort to bring Seahawks mascot Blitz to the community shows how his team works together for residents.
How the Blitz visit came together
One idea. And a lot of teamwork.
General Manager Stephen V. had a big idea for The Great Tailgate event at Holiday Bridge Park: Bring in Blitz, the Seattle Seahawks® mascot.
It wasn’t the first time he had tried this. A few years earlier, while working at different Holiday community, Stephen booked Blitz for a similar event. That first visit was a hit with residents.
This time around, there were some new obstacles.
After the Seahawks won the Super Bowl® in February 2026, Blitz was in high demand.
Stephen first reached out to the Seahawks months before the tailgate event. The first answer was no, but he kept checking back and asking what might work.
After a lot of back-and-forth, Stephen found a way to get Blitz to the event.
There was another catch. The cost to book Blitz had nearly doubled since the first time Stephen booked him. But remembering the impact the visit had on his former community, Stephen decided it was worth it.
Then the Holiday Bridge Park team got started. Residents, families and team members were invited, and the room filled with Seahawks fans.
Blitz gave out high fives, posed for photos and even refused to take a picture with one team member until she changed out of her Los Angeles Rams jersey.
But one resident’s reaction stayed with Stephen most.
The 103-year-old Seahawks fan had one thing to say when she heard Blitz was coming: “I’m coming down there for that. I want to meet him so bad.”
Her face lit up when she finally got the chance to meet him. Moments like that are the kind Stephen wants his team to help create.
Holiday Bridge Park wasn’t the only Holiday community to get a Blitz visit. Stephen also helped his former community – Holiday South Hill in nearby Puyallup, WA – arrange a visit, giving residents there a chance to join the fun, too.
That extra effort is why Atria is recognizing Stephen for Uncommon Hospitality.
Why Stephen works in senior living
Ask Stephen why he does this work, and his answer is simple.
“I believe that people need people,” he said. “I’m doing this to help bring folks together.”
Stephen has seen family members struggle after losing a spouse or partner. “People aren’t meant to be alone,” he says, “even if that’s hard to admit some days.”
He knows some people need a little help making that first connection when they move in.
That’s one reason he wants residents at Holiday Bridge Park to have people nearby and something to look forward to.
Stephen asks his team to think about that every day. His message is clear: “Every single day we need to re-earn their stay.”
You don’t need one kind of background to work in senior living
Stephen didn’t start his career as a senior living general manager.
He built much of his career in hospitality. He ran dining operations at a ski resort, worked with a food truck company and later managed food service at a casino.
He also spent time working in IT and graphic design, even though he’s colorblind. He laughs about that one now.
Stephen moved into the senior living industry during the pandemic, and he joined the Holiday team in 2024.
His path is a good reminder that talented people find their way to senior living from a variety of backgrounds.
Skills from hospitality, restaurants, customer service, maintenance or sales can all be useful in senior living.
Could your experience be a fit?
Search open jobs at Holiday and Atria communities.
What is it like to work at Holiday Bridge Park?
The community sits in a quiet part of West Seattle, “The kind of neighborhood where things move slow,” Stephen says. “But almost everything in Seattle is still just 10 minutes away.”
Stephen says one thing stands out about the community itself: People like spending time together.
After dinner, the community doesn’t simply shut down for the night. Residents play cards and games like rummy and cribbage. The crowd can get so big that games spill into other common areas and even part of the dining room.
That energy takes a team. One that notices what residents enjoy and is ready to make things happen.
For Stephen and his staff, that meant looking for one more way to make the tailgate event special for residents.
It meant not giving up until Blitz walked through the door.
What does Stephen look for in his team?
For Stephen, the job isn’t just about finishing a list of tasks. It’s about remembering who those tasks are for.
He wants team members to care whether residents are happy. He wants them to understand why connection matters.
And he knows big events aren’t the work of one person.
“Everybody pitches in,” Stephen said. “Everybody works hard to get these things done.”
He also made one thing clear: “I’m proud of my team.”
Senior living jobs: quick answers
Do I need senior living experience to apply?
Not always. Many senior living jobs use skills people gain while working in hospitality, restaurants, customer service, health care and other fields. What you need depends on the job.
What kinds of jobs are there in senior living?
Senior living communities hire people with many different skills. Jobs can include culinary, housekeeping, maintenance, resident activities, sales, transportation and management.
Why work in senior living?
In senior living, you get to know the people you serve. You see the same residents each day and are part of moments that make their days better.
Stephen puts it simply: “People need people.”
Find a job that fits you
Want to work with Stephen at Holiday Bridge Park in Seattle or find another senior living job in Washington?
Search open jobs at Holiday and Atria communities across the U.S. and Canada.