Career Blog

We are excited to recognize our dedicated Business Office Directors! They work with our residents, associates and family members to keep our communities running smoothly. Get to know a few of our wonderful and talented Business Office Directors!

Business Office  Director: Laura Marchand
Community: Bayberry at Emerald Court

1. What first made you interested in working in Senior Living?
   I really wasn’t interested in Senior Living specifically. I had been at my job for almost 10 years and the company was being sold. I tossed out 3 resumes to 3 jobs just to start seeing what was out there and got a call the next day for a Business Office Director position at a community in Andover, MA. The rest as they say is history.
2. How long have you been working in Senior Living and what was your first job in this field?
   I have been in Senior Living now for 17 years. My first job was as a Business Office Director in Andover, MA. I went from a very small manufacturing company of approximately 20-25 employees total to being at a large building as a first time Business Office Director, what was I thinking I often ask myself! What made me think I could do it? The person who hired me was the one and only Marilyn Stasonis (who I worked with again when I came to Northbridge) I tease her to this day that I should have asked many more questions during the interview process before accepting that position.
3. What is your favorite part about working in Senior Living?
   I am a true believer in the value/ worth of the Assisted Living world. I have seen firsthand how it can benefit an elder who is fiercely independent but much more isolated than they should be. To watch my mom bloom when she first moved in an Assisted Living and see her enjoy the socialization and the safety and security of not being responsible for her home alone, during long, snowy New England winters. Not having to eat her meals alone – it just made my soul happy. I have seen the remarkable transformation of so many residents when they move into an Assisted Living community. It is a lovely thing to be a small part of.
4. What is one thing you wish everyone new about being a Business Office Director?
   We do not know everything about everything! We know a lot – we figure out a lot of things as we go along and experience different situations, but we do not necessarily know everything (for example IT) just because we have the title we have.
5. What is one piece of advice you would share with someone thinking of starting a career in Senior Living? 
   If you are not a multitasker – look elsewhere! If you like every day to be the same, to be planned out – look elsewhere. If you need quiet, uninterrupted time to be productive, you are going to struggle in this role. After 17 years in the position, I believe in honesty! But I would also tell them it is nice being part of a team! That the bond/friendship you build with your director team will be what gets you through the very busy days!
6. What keeps you invested in the field?
   I am a numbers girl but working in this field I learned it’s much more person to person contact vs. sitting in a cubicle with just me and a computer screen all day. At the end of the day, I go home knowing that I have had some impact on someone’s life, whether it be a resident, a family member or another associate. It makes my heart happy more than simply completing the perfect spreadsheet!
7. What is your favorite part about your job? 
   Building the relationships with the families and residents so that the trust is established. This avoids lots of conflicts along the way if that relationship/trust is strong.
8. What is the best part about working at Bayberry or at Northbridge?
   I have worked for a few different Assisted Living companies in the past and I am very thankful to be part of the Northbridge team. I truly believe in Wendy and Jim’s mission and motto. I appreciate their focus on the individual. I LOVE the Resident Respect Pledge that all new associates recite during their orientation…’I pledge that I will treat all of our residents with complete respect, the same respect that I would afford my own family member. Further, if I witness another associate treating our residents disrespectfully, I will immediately report that incident to my supervisor.’ I also saw how Northbridge handled the pandemic compared to other Assisted Living communities (including the one my mom was in at the time) and Northbridge’s one and only focus/ concern was the safety of their residents and their associates. That was a huge part of my family’s decision to move my mother into Bayberry here with me in 2021.

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Working at a Northbridge senior living community

If you are considering a career in senior living, we hope you’ll consider one of our communities. Our team of associates makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our residents, every day. Because of that, we treat our team like family and we’re happy to offer:

• Competitive Pay
• Flexible Schedules
• Direct Deposit
• Vacation & Personal Days
• Paid Holidays & Sick Time
• Your Birthday Off
• Health Insurance to Qualified Associates
• 401k Company Match
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Ongoing Education
• Associate Appreciation

View our careers website today to view open positions, what a day working at Northbridge is like, and why our associates love to work here.

As a New England senior living company, we pride ourselves in being the local choice for families in need of assisted living or memory care. We look to our teams of associates to truly make our communities home for our residents. Whether that’s a helping hand or a moment to listen to a story, our associates are dedicated and compassionate. With 19 communities in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, we hope you’ll find your home here too. If you already love what you do, and want to love where you work, apply now! We look forward to meeting you.