Greenspring and Ashby Ponds Named 2013 Helios Apollo Awards Finalists

Greenspring and Ashby Ponds, Erickson Living’s two Northern Virginia retirement communities, have been named as finalists for the 2013 Helios Apollo Awards.  The awards are presented to recognize Washington-area employers who promote an organizational culture focused on employee development and engagement.

Greenspring has been named a finalist in the Pente category, reserved for those organizations with more than 700 employees. 

“It is truly an honor to be recognized as a 2013 Helios Apollo Awards finalist,” said Tamika Mitchell, Director of Human Resources at Greenspring.  “Greenspring is dedicated to assisting employees in growing both professionally and personally so they can provide the best possible resident experience.”

Ashby Ponds is a finalist in the Hercules category, which recognizes “Nonprofits Doing More With Less”. 

“We are so thrilled to have been chosen as a finalist for the 2013 Helios Apollo Awards,” said Nicole Johnson, Director of Human Resources at Ashby Ponds.  “There is a wonderfully supportive culture among the team at Ashby Ponds; employees are encouraged to participate in a variety of development opportunities to better serve the residents who’ve made Ashby Ponds their home.”

An independent selection committee evaluated all of the nominees and selected the 2013 Helios Apollo Awards finalists based on the following criteria:

• Strategic alignment of employee development efforts with organizational objectives including:
  • Employee onboarding and assimilation process;
  • Opportunities for mentoring;
  • Employee development programs (internal and external training, corporate university, peer learning groups, etc.)
• Innovative programs or opportunities to develop leadership skills through community involvement;
• The measurable impact of an employee development program(s) on the employee and/or the organization.

There are many programs available at Greenspring and Ashby Ponds that are designed to build upon employees' personal and professional strengths including:

• Talent development programs;
• Staff workshops and online training courses;
• Technical training;
• GAIN (Growing Associates in Nursing) to help launch nursing careers;
• Tuition reimbursement;
• Professional credentialing assistance

Helios will hold a ceremony recognizing the finalists and announcing the 2013 Helios Apollo Awards winners on Wednesday, May 29th in McLean, Va.

About Greenspring
Greenspring, one of 16 retirement communities managed by Erickson Living, is situated on a scenic 108-acre campus in Springfield, Virginia.  The community is home to nearly 2000 residents, many of which reside in the 1404 independent living apartment-style homes.  At Greenspring, over 200 resident-run and resident-driven programs promote an engaged, fulfilling lifestyle that is reflected in resident satisfaction levels that exceed the industry average.  Additional information about Greenspring can be found at www.ericksonliving.com.

About Ashby Ponds
Ashby Ponds, one of 16 retirement communities managed by Erickson Living, is situated on a scenic 132-acre campus in Ashburn, Virginia (approximately 30 miles west of Washington, D.C.).  The community is home to over 700 residents and with over 100 resident-run and resident-driven clubs and groups, life at Ashby Ponds offers a true sense of community and an exciting alternative to the typical retirement community.  More information about Ashby Ponds can be found at www.ericksonliving.com.

About Helios HR
Helios provides human capital consulting, HR management outsourcing and recruiting services to help organizations attract, engage, and retain an exceptional workforce. After years of witnessing organizations that recognize employee development and engagement are key strategies to drive business impact and growth, Helios launched the Apollo Awards. Going on the 7th year, the Apollo Awards are now held in partnership with Washington SmartCEO and have honored over 150 organizations. For more information, please visit www.helioshr.com.