68 | Business World Magazine |
April 2013
Mary’s Woods’ Board of Directors when
they first opened their doors in 2001, and
later became CEO in April 2011. He was
attracted to Mary’s Woods group because
of their devotion to the full growth and de-
velopment of every individual, regardless of
age. “That mission was very much in-tune
with my own work in the field of aging,” he
says.
COMMITTED TO
COMMUNITY
According to Kaiser, a large part of what
helps set Mary’s Woods apart in the older
adult housing marketplace is their sponsor-
ship by the Sisters of the Holy Names. Be-
cause of their involvement, Mary’s Woods is
rooted in Catholic, ethical values and char-
acterized by their commitment to reverence
and integrity, a beautiful environment, and
“an exploration of the journey of aging.”
At every stage of care, Mary’s Woods
seeks to celebrate the life of its residents,
while ensuring their dignity, independence,
well-being and security. “That’s what the Sis-
ters – in all of their century-and-a-half of
work in our community – have stood for,”
Kaiser says. “It’s all about the mission and
the commitment to that mission.”
Mary’s Woods also stands out due
to the sense of community they have effec-
tively instilled in their independent living
and health care units. They have successfully
brought together a number of Sisters with a
large group of people from outside Mary’s
Woods, creating a caring and harmonious
environment for all. The organization fur-
ther sets itself apart with their prime loca-
tion, nestled in a suburb of Portland, Or-
egon. “It’s a richly beautiful, tranquil setting
that the Sisters have nurtured as part of their
