Each spring, The Arbor Company brings engagement directors, memory care leaders, and support staff together from across the country for the annual Arbor Connections Conference, and this year, Chuck Nichols brought a microphone.
In this special episode of The Golden Gang, Chuck sits down with colleagues he met at the 2026 conference in Atlanta to capture the stories and perspectives that make this work so meaningful. You'll hear from Lee Jarrett of Arbor Terrace South Forsyth, who found his way into senior living during a college spring break and never really left.
Alaina, memory care director at The Solana Doylestown, shares how a mentor in high school set her on a path she's followed for a decade. Aly and Gauri, both former coordinators under Chuck, talk about their first years as engagement directors and what surprised them most about stepping into leadership.
Tracy Clark and Sparkle reflect on how caring for their own parents shaped their careers and brought them to Arbor. Clayton Hayworth, a nearly 12-year veteran, shares what it's like to come to a conference after years in the field and leave with a notebook full of new ideas.
Michael, Arbor's newest leadership team member, spent his very first day on the job at the conference and came away blown away by the tenure and warmth of the people around him. The episode closes with Judd, president of The Arbor Company, who shares what he feels when he looks out at a room full of people united by their commitment to residents. Listen to the full episode below.
