Hearts of Excellence

Majestic Care
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Careers

Most people think they know what a nursing home is, but they’ve never heard the voices inside. The quiet moments of compassion. The stories of resilience. The people who show up, not just because it’s their job, but because it’s their calling. Brought to you by Majestic Care, Hearts of Excellence shares what it truly means to live and work in long-term care. Through real, unscripted conversations with our care team members, leaders, and resident families, we reveal what excellence looks like in action, and, most importantly, why it matters. Behind every resident is a family who wants to know they’re cared for. Behind every caregiver is a heart that chose this work for a reason. Long-term care isn’t the end of the story. It’s just the beginning.

  1. 1d ago

    Amanda Hutchison on Why Working on Yourself Makes You a Better Leader

    Amanda Hutchison believes growth does not require a title, a perfect plan, or the perfect moment. After nearly 20 years of helping people develop into leaders, she has learned that some of the biggest changes begin with small choices, self-reflection, and a willingness to keep moving forward. In this episode of Hearts of Excellence, host Chelsey Gheyara sits down with Amanda Hutchison, Director of Organizational Development at Majestic Care, to talk about what it really means to work harder on yourself than you do on your job. Amanda shares why progress matters more than perfection, how accountability can strengthen relationships, why leadership is about influence rather than titles, and how investing in yourself can change both your career and your life. Because it is never too late to start or restart your story. Listen to this episode of Hearts of Excellence to hear Amanda’s perspective on personal growth, leadership, mindset, and why excellence begins with becoming the best version of yourself. In this episode: Why progress over perfection can help care team members and leaders navigate difficult daysHow accountability, empathy, vulnerability, and self-reflection create stronger leaders and healthier teamsWhy anyone can lead, regardless of title, and how small investments in yourself can shape your future Highlights:(00:00) Meet Amanda Hutchison(02:08) What it really means to work harder on yourself(03:15) How small daily choices can support bigger goals(04:42) Choosing progress over perfection on difficult days(06:13) When Amanda realized the thing that needed to change was her(08:15) Why accountability and empathy can exist together(10:56) How anyone can lead without a title(12:23) Why Amanda sees accountability as freeing(13:59) Holding each other up instead of calling each other out(15:00) How strong teams show up for residents, families, and each other(17:14) What Amanda wants tired care team members to remember about growth(18:47) Why it is never too late to choose a different path(19:22) What excellence means to Amanda(21:11) Why investing in yourself matters

    Amanda Hutchison on Why Working on Yourself Makes You a Better Leader

  2. Oct 15

    What Level-Headed Leadership Looks Like in Senior Care at Majestic Care with Justin Lai

    Justin Lai entered long-term care in 2020, right in the middle of the COVID pandemic. What began in the business office quickly became an all-hands-on-deck introduction to healthcare, where job titles mattered less than doing whatever was needed to care for residents. In this episode of Hearts of Excellence, host Chelsey Gheyara sits down with Justin Lai, Executive Director at Majestic Care of Bloomington, as he shares how a lesson from his high school wrestling coach shaped his leadership philosophy, why staying calm matters in long-term care, how his work helping people access Medicaid gave him a deeper sense of purpose, and why great leadership starts with being willing to work alongside your team. Sometimes the strongest leaders are the ones willing to pick up the mop, step onto the floor, and show their team what leadership looks like in action. Listen to this episode of Hearts of Excellence to hear Justin’s journey and discover why excellence, to him, means going beyond the standard and finding ways, big and small, to make life better for residents. In this episode: How a lesson from Justin’s wrestling coach shaped his servant leadership philosophyHow starting in long-term care during COVID taught Justin to step outside his job description and do whatever residents neededWhy calm leadership, shared purpose, and a team that truly cares are essential to building excellence in long-term care Highlights:(00:00) Meet Justin Lai(01:25) The leadership lesson Justin learned from his wrestling coach(03:39) Why staying calm matters in long-term care leadership(05:55) How Justin gets every department working toward the same goal(08:16) Why Justin chose a career in healthcare(10:12) Starting in long-term care during COVID(16:53) What the business side of healthcare taught Justin about access to care(19:20) Justin's first leadership experience with Majestic Care(22:20) Why families can trust the team at Majestic Care of Bloomington(24:39) Justin's vision for serving the Bloomington community(26:48) What excellence means to Justin(27:47) Why Justin believes Majestic Care is doing something special

    What Level-Headed Leadership Looks Like in Senior Care at Majestic Care with Justin Lai

  3. Sep 10

    The Unlikely Path From Executive Chef To Healthcare Leadership feat. Warren McCreery

    Warren McCreery never planned on a career in long-term care. What began as a job in the kitchen at Majestic Care’s Bloomington community became a career, a calling, and ultimately an experience Warren says made him a better person. In this episode of Hearts of Excellence, host Chelsey Gheyara sits down with Warren McCreery and he shares how residents became extended family, how mentors shaped his approach to leadership, why second chances matter, and why he now challenges other leaders to find and return to their “why.” Because sometimes understanding why you do what you do can change where you go next. Listen to this episode of Hearts of Excellence to hear Warren’s journey and discover why excellence, to him, begins with character, humanity, caring, love, and support. In this episode: How an unexpected kitchen job became Warren’s lifelong calling in long-term careHow mentorship, second chances, and finding your “why” shaped Warren’s leadership journeyWhy caring for people, building relationships, and leading with humanity define true excellence Highlights:(00:00) Meet Warren McCreery(03:18) The mentor who saw leadership potential in Warren(05:11) The resident who helped Warren find his why(07:09) Why long-term care feels like family(12:03) Learning that the work is about people, not money(16:30) Leading through a facility flood during COVID(20:23) How long-term care made Warren a better person and father(24:25) Becoming the mentor he once needed(26:28) Why Warren believes in second chances(30:50) Stepping away from Bloomington after nearly two decades(32:08) Respecting what makes every community different(38:42) What excellence means to Warren(40:06) Why everyone should find their why

    The Unlikely Path From Executive Chef To Healthcare Leadership feat. Warren McCreery

  4. Aug 20

    What Young Senior Care Leaders Can Learn From 25 Years in Care

    Dave Alexander spent 25 years in senior care before stepping into a role that had never existed at Majestic Care. As the company's first-ever Chief Operating Officer, he arrived at the exact moment the organization began expanding beyond its roots into new communities, new states, and new levels of complexity. In this episode of Hearts of Excellence, host Chelsey Gheyara sits down with Dave Alexander, COO of Majestic Care, alongside CEO Paul Pruitt, to hear how a career built on resident-first thinking prepared Dave for the challenge of scaling an organization without losing what makes it worth scaling in the first place. If you have ever wondered whether a company can grow fast and still get it right, this conversation gets into that tension honestly. Dave, Chelsey, and Paul talk through what it actually takes to lead through acquisitions, why compassion is a far more complex skill than most leaders give it credit for, and what it means to build trust with care teams who have seen operators come and go. This is a conversation about what it looks like when growth is treated as a responsibility, not just an opportunity. In this episode: What walking into the West Virginia buildings for the first time revealed about the limits of what a company should take onWhy the shift from operator to influencer is the leadership transition most people never see comingWhat Dave would tell any COO who is moving too fast to notice what they are running pastHighlights: (00:00) Intro(00:39) Meet Dave Alexander(03:28) The resident story that changed how Dave sees care(06:56) Walking into buildings and just getting it fixed(09:12) The right people, the right seats(15:38) The moment Dave questioned whether West Virginia was possible(22:57) Taking off the executive director hat(31:53) Knowing when to pause the growth(40:14) What Dave would tell himself on day one

    What Young Senior Care Leaders Can Learn From 25 Years in Care

  5. Aug 6

    Why AI Will Never Replace Great Nurses, But It Can Make Them Better

    Laird Russell's path to long-term care started far from nursing homes. After a life-changing brain injury ended his hockey career, he spent nearly four years navigating a fragmented healthcare system as a patient, seeing more than 70 doctors while searching for answers. That experience eventually led him to leave careers at Goldman Sachs and Bain & Company to build exacare ai, a platform helping more than 2,000 long-term care communities deliver better care. In this episode of Hearts of Excellence, host Chelsey Gheyara sits down with Laird Russell, Co-Founder and CEO of exacare ai, to discuss how his personal healthcare journey inspired a mission to improve the long-term care experience for residents, families, and care teams alike. If you've ever wondered how technology can strengthen human connection instead of replacing it, this episode is for you. Laird and Chelsey explore why the future of long-term care depends on empowering caregivers, how AI helps clinicians spend more time with residents, and why the best patient outcomes always begin with compassion. This is a conversation about resilience, innovation, and why the most meaningful advances in healthcare will always put people first. In this episode: How a devastating brain injury shaped Laird's mission to improve healthcareHow AI helps nurses and clinicians focus more on people instead of paperworkWhy compassion, technology, and better communication create better resident outcomes Highlights:(00:00) Meet Laird Russell(02:35) Living through a life-changing brain injury(04:21) Navigating a fragmented healthcare system(07:30) Losing an athletic identity and finding a new purpose(10:31) The caregivers who never gave up(13:31) Why Laird chose long-term care over other industries(19:16) The opportunity to transform the resident experience(20:36) What families should know about AI in long-term care(22:23) How exacare ai supports clinicians at the bedside(26:31) Why AI should empower caregivers, not replace them(27:43) Reducing administrative burden for nurses

    Why AI Will Never Replace Great Nurses, But It Can Make Them Better

  6. Jul 23

    The Work That Chose Him: One Young Leader's Path to Long-Term Care

    David Frey grew up watching his mother attend the funerals of her patients. At 23, he is now the executive director of Majestic Care of North Vernon, leading a team through real clinical decisions, leadership transitions, and the kind of moments that never show up on a report. In this episode of Hearts of Excellence, host Chelsey Gheyara sits down with David Frey, Executive Director of Majestic Care of North Vernon, to hear how a college intern became a building leader, what it means to be the first through a door with no roadmap, and how growing up around caregiving shaped the leader he is today. If you have ever questioned whether long-term care is a real career path worth pursuing, this conversation will challenge that. David, Chelsey, and Paul Pruitt talk through what it actually takes to lead a skilled nursing facility as a young professional, why relationships with residents matter more than any metric, and how to stay grounded when the pressure of the role threatens to pull you under. This is a conversation about what happens when the work finds you before you were even looking for it. In this episode: How David went from Majestic Care's very first intern to running one of its buildings at 23What leading through a major clinical leadership change taught him about trust and team resilienceWhy the most meaningful parts of this work are the ones no KPI will ever captureWhat David would tell any young person who has written off long-term care without ever stepping inside one Highlights: (00:00) Meet David Frey(01:46) A signed book and a lesson in kindness(04:49) Majestic Care's very first intern(08:43) Why universities aren't talking about this career(13:15) Leading through a clinical leadership change at 23(15:56) Making the hard call for a resident(18:48) Choosing long-term care over hospital administration(22:02) What great leadership looks like at 6 PM(26:25) A message for anyone who has written off this industry(33:12) How young leaders manage their day

    The Work That Chose Him: One Young Leader's Path to Long-Term Care

  7. Jul 9

    From Banking to Long-Term Care: Why Purpose Beat the Perfect Career

    Tim Huff spent a decade in banking before making an unexpected move into long-term care. Today, he oversees facility acquisitions at Majestic Care, but the person who has shaped his leadership most was never a boss or mentor. It was his grandmother, Mimi. In this episode of Hearts of Excellence, host Chelsey Gheyara sits down with Tim Huff, Regional Director of Operations of Acquisitions, to explore his unconventional career journey, the lessons he learned from Mimi, and how those lessons continue to influence every decision he makes. If you've ever wondered what great leadership in long-term care really looks like, this episode is for you. Tim and Chelsey discuss why every resident deserves to be treated like family, what it takes to transform struggling communities into thriving ones, and why leading people starts with understanding them first. This is a conversation about resilience, humility, and why excellence in long-term care begins with seeing every resident as someone's Mimi. In this episode: Why Tim left a successful banking career for long-term careThe leadership lessons his grandmother Mimi taught him that still guide him todayWhy the best leaders work alongside their teams, not above themWhat every new nursing home administrator should know before leading a communityHighlights:(00:00) Meet Tim Huff(01:55) Leaving banking for a career in long-term care(03:11) Why Tim never wanted to be known as "the leader"(05:21) The lasting influence of Mimi(08:09) Why every Resident is someone's Mimi(09:09) Turning around Majestic Care of Columbus(11:21) The moment the team knew they had succeeded(14:47) The hardest part of leading through change(16:03) Advice for every new nursing home administrator(17:29) Inspiring care teams through empathy and trust(20:03) Keeping teams engaged during difficult seasons(21:18) Leading with your heart(22:50) Supporting care teams through acquisitions(26:03) What excellence really means(27:04) A message to every CNA who wonders if their work matters

    From Banking to Long-Term Care: Why Purpose Beat the Perfect Career

  8. Jun 25

    What a VP of Long-Term Care Wants Every CNA to Hear

    Jordan Vinson started as a CNA. Years later, she walked back into that same facility as its executive director. Now VP of Operations at Majestic Care, she has a message for everyone working the floor right now. In this episode of Hearts of Excellence, host Chelsey Gheyara sits down with Jordan Vinson, a VP of Operations who started her career as a CNA and eventually returned to that same facility as its executive director. If you've ever wondered whether long-term care is worth staying in, this episode is for you. Jordan and Chelsey talk about the real skill set LTC demands, why the bedside moments are what get you through the hard shifts, and how a career that starts as a CNA can take you further than you ever expected. This is a conversation about what it actually means to care for people well and why that work deserves more credit than it gets. In this episode: What Jordan noticed on her very first PRN shift that made her never look backWhy long-term care is a clinical specialty, not a fallbackWhat she'd tell every CNA working a double right nowHow she earned three degrees while raising a family and working full timeWhat great leadership in LTC actually looks like from the inside Highlights:(00:00) Meet Jordan Vinson(01:24) Falling in love with skilled nursing care(04:14) Challenging long-term care stereotypes(05:34) Learning to see the whole person, not just the medical condition(15:56) Returning as executive director to a familiar community(19:14) Earning three degrees while working and raising a family(23:35) First promotions and learning the importance of empowering all staff(25:50) Including therapy and ancillary staff in care planning(28:41) Creating culture across facilities(33:33) Advice for CNAs and frontline staff: take your time and connect(39:00) Why relationships and connections matter in long-term care(44:24) Recognizing long-term care as a specialty and a career(48:36) Making facilities feel like home for Residents(49:04) Closing thoughts and resources for care and career opportunities

    What a VP of Long-Term Care Wants Every CNA to Hear
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Most people think they know what a nursing home is, but they’ve never heard the voices inside. The quiet moments of compassion. The stories of resilience. The people who show up, not just because it’s their job, but because it’s their calling. Brought to you by Majestic Care, Hearts of Excellence shares what it truly means to live and work in long-term care. Through real, unscripted conversations with our care team members, leaders, and resident families, we reveal what excellence looks like in action, and, most importantly, why it matters. Behind every resident is a family who wants to know they’re cared for. Behind every caregiver is a heart that chose this work for a reason. Long-term care isn’t the end of the story. It’s just the beginning.

Information

  • Creator
    Majestic Care
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Majestic Care

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