NSW ACT Manager of the Year Crowned

NSW / ACT Manager of the Year CrownedCongratulations to Mike Lans and everyone associated with ‘The Arbour, Berry’ retirement village for taking out the 2016 NSW/ACT Manager of the Year award.Mike has been part of the team at The Arbour for more than six years, after a career in education (mainly as a physical education teacher). Mike has been able to apply the skills acquired from that career – namely team building, pastoral care, communication and conflict resolution – very effectively in retirement living.As General Manager of The Arbour, Mike coordinates day to day operations, staffing, recruitment, budget, compliance, protocols, procedures and general administration. Under Mike’s stewardship, The Arbour, Berry won the Best Retirement Living Development Award at the 2014 Property Council of Australia Innovation & Excellence Awards.Mike has reduced the original contractor landscaping maintenance costs by $25,000, yet employed more staff and leased better machinery. He has reduced the village waste bill by per cent through negotiation and retained warranties on vital village infrastructure (such as heat pumps) by liaising with the relevant companies and allowing them to do research and development trials on site.After being approached on a professional development course, Mike has mentored the staff and owners of a nearby seniors lifestyle resort (including two onsite visits) and helped fast-track their understanding of the industry.”The key to Mike’s success has been his attention to detail, mentoring of staff and hard work,” said The Arbour director John Leo. “He is relentless with village budgets because he knows how important it is to get maximum service whilst minimising cost increases.”The human touch has never been neglected. When elderly residents had a serious emergency in the middle of the night, I would later hear – not from Mike – that he and his wife has turned up to comfort the wife and drive her to the hospital to be with her husband.”Mike was highly ranked by the judges for his ability to get the best out of his staff and create a harmonious environment for residents. “The Committee has found it a pleasure to work with Mike and it appreciates his expertise in managing our village,” said The Arbour residents committee chair Heather Macdonald.”He has been instrumental in making ‘The Arbour, Berry’ the best retirement village in the country.”Mike is now in contention for the national Manager of the Year award, to be presented by award sponsor Programmed Property Services at the National Retirement Living Summit on 28 November in Melbourne.