It takes a village. And sometimes, it takes a village of Connor Group associates to turn a vision into a reality.
Colin’s Lodge, a startup program funded by Kids & Community Partners, officially turned five this past month. The Lodge opened its doors in 2018 with roughly 30 members and 11 programs. Over the last five years, it grew exponentially, now serving 75 members and offering more than 30 programs. Year to date, members participated in more than 22,000 hours of programming.
Behind the scenes, these successes are driven by Connor Group associates.
“Colin’s Lodge would not be a high-performing non-profit without the resources of The Connor Group. We don’t have Tech Ops, Accounting, Marketing,” said partner and director of Colin’s Lodge Gayle Horton. “All these functions are critical in making the non-profit a success.”
On her best guess sheet of paper, Gayle believes that nearly 20 full-time Connor Group associates have also gone out of their way to help the Lodge.
“Everyone steps up. It’s 2 a.m., and I had a problem with the facility. (Partner) Dave Peacock answered the call and came straight over, no questions asked. (Partner) Wendy Green is exceptional; she volunteers and is part of Colin’s Lodge’s DNA,” Gayle added. “And (partner) Ryan Ernst is instrumental in our strategic planning, vision and holds me accountable. His impact goes above and beyond what anyone could ever imagine. The list goes on.”
On Friday, the members of Colin’s Lodge gathered for a dance and celebration of their first five years. The center allows adults with cognitive differences to be their best selves. They enrich their lives and take ownership of the facility through social, physical and healthy programs.
“What I’ve enjoyed the most is watching the camaraderie and the excitement of the members wanting to be there,” Wendy said. “I’ve watched them come out of their comfort zones to welcome new friends and build new relationships.”
Since the Lodge opened its doors, Wendy estimates she’s dedicated 400 – 500 hours to the Lodge between volunteering at dances and completing payroll. She’s also added her own fun twist to the dances, dressing up in costume to match the themes.
“I think it’s great to see how The Connor Group gives back to our communities, and I just wanted to be a part of it,” Wendy added.
The Connor Group’s culture is woven into Colin’s Lodge’s operations. It tracks absolutely everything. From the miles the members walk, to attendance numbers, personal training sessions and beyond – the Lodge even established its own version of a systems check.
“We’ve also gotten better at vetting the right members, just like we do with our apartment communities,” Gayle added.
When a new member joins Colin’s Lodge, the current members bring them into the gym for a ceremonial welcome. In 2019, Gayle watched as Cody, a member who had just joined the Lodge one month before, turned to the newest member and said, “Welcome to the family.”
“That moment was totally unscripted,” Gayle said. “It’s when Colin’s Lodge found its heartbeat. The members took ownership and continue to build camaraderie to this day. I couldn’t be more proud.”
A big thanks to all Connor Group associates who, by performing their roles at a high level, help fund Colin’s Lodge. A special thank you to our associates who have given additional time and talent to making Colin’s Lodge a success:
- Brady Etzler
- Dustin Tritle
- Sydney Lance
- Aaron Helfferich
- April Ballard
- Brandi Luttrell
- Dave Peacock
- Julia Brown
- Keri Stafford
- Krista Henehan
- Ray Kallmeyer
- Rodney Johnson
- Ross Johnson
- Ryan Ernst
- Wendy Green
- Wendy Taylor
- Zach Wood