This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
Houston native committed to a welcoming atmosphere at Erickson Senior Living community
Eagle's Trace, an Erickson Senior Living community in West Houston, Tex., is excited to announce that Jon David has been appointed sales director!
David, with several cross-country moves under his belt, brings skills from a range of experiences to his new position.
One of those experiences was absorbing the culture of Morocco while he worked at George Washington Academy, an American school in Casablanca. There, David learned the meaning and tradition of "marhaba," which translates to "welcome" in English.
The tradition of welcoming is also a tenet of Erickson Senior Living's culture, so David felt right at home when he joined Eagle's Trace in 2023.
"In Morocco, the entire culture is centered around marhaba," David says, "and the sales team at Eagle's Trace is the same way. We always welcome prospective residents in and help them learn more about the community and everything it has to offer."
Houston native
David, born and raised in the Houston area, was always eager to spread his wings and see the world.
"I've moved away five times and moved back five times," David says, recalling moves to Austin, Tex.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Denver, Colo.; Nashville, Tenn.; Falls Church, Va.; and Casablanca, in Morocco, with stints in Houston in between.
Most of David's travels were for school and work opportunities--and his curious nature.
He and his wife, Terri, were still in college when they moved from Houston to Albuquerque, where they attended the University of New Mexico together. Family then brought them to Austin--she was still in school, and he was working retail. Then, they moved back to Houston, where David took a notable turn toward a career in sales when he started with a Fortune 500 company.
Both eventually finished their degrees; a bachelors in organizational management from Colorado Christian University for David, and a law degree for Terri.
Cross-continent move
While pursuing their careers and raising their two children, Evan and Allison, the couple relocated to Nashville and Falls Church before returning home to Houston, when a family member became ill. When two close family members passed away, the couple reexamined their lives.
"That had such an impact on Terri and me," recalls David. "We had always wanted to live abroad, so we thought, 'If we don't do this now, we're never going to do it.' That's what led us to seek jobs internationally."
David found an opportunity at George Washington Academy in Casablanca, where he taught fifth grade, took over a human resources role, a director role, and then deputy head of the school.
"We loved it. The culture was amazing. As a family, that was the best place for us to land," David says. "We had a house right on the Atlantic Ocean. My children both finished school in Morocco."
Welcome home
After five years in Morocco, the couple decided to return home to Houston, where David's background caught the eye of Stephen Aigner, executive director at Eagle's Trace.
"Jon joined the human resources team here in 2023. He has been a passionate, charismatic leader who works to create meaningful relationships and exceptional experiences for residents and staff members," Aigner says. "I have witnessed so many examples of his positive impact on our people and culture."
David thrived in his role with human resources but soon accepted a new challenge as associate sales director. He then was promoted to sales director in January.
Tom Neubauer, chief sales and marketing officer for Erickson Senior Living, met David early on in his career and is thrilled he's now heading the Eagle's Trace sales team.
"Jon brings over two decades of sales and human resources experience to our team. His keen ability to build relationships with residents and teammates helps make Eagle's Trace a great place to live and work," Neubauer says. "Jon's positive attitude and can-do spirit inspires everyone around him."
'Where I belong'
From day one, David has been leading the team with one word in mind--marhaba.
"You couldn't do business with people in Morocco until you had tea with them," David says. "We do that here in the Sales Center, too. We have coffee and tea when folks come in. I feel welcome here, and we want our residents and prospective residents to always feel welcome, too."
He continues, "I love our mission of helping retirees live this amazing, vibrant lifestyle. And I love the team I work with, helping create a workplace where people feel valued. I have found the place that I fit; where I belong."
Aigner adds, "As the community continues to grow, I'm confident that Jon's well-rounded leadership experience, paired with his desire to listen with his heart, will help take our community to the next level."
To learn more about affordable, independent senior living at Eagle's Trace, request your free brochure to get the scoop on amenities, floor plans, and so much more.
By Susan Ingram
The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?