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Lacey Gardner has transitioned from board member to executive director of ElderPoint ministries, succeeding Jane Hammond, who led the senior-serving nonprofit for 13 of its 14 years.
Gardner, 42, starts her new job today. She became an ElderPoint board member in December and has been director of community relations for senior-serving Care Patrol of Polk and East Hillsborough for the past year.
Her LinkedIn profile lists five other positions in sales of marketing in the senior living industry since 2012. She has an online degree in business from Berkeley College and studied digital marketing at Oxford Learning Lab.
Hammond said she intended to stay only only a short while when she was recruited 13 years ago to help organize the organization. “I took the job for six months and stayed for over 13 years. It is simply time to start a new chapter for me and for ElderPoint to continue to grow under new leadership,” she said.
ElderPoint Ministries started as a food bank for seniors and expanded into providing mobile produce markets at senior residences and wheelchair-accessible transportation.
“Clients are self-defined as elderly, based on individual circumstances. Our services are intended to help seniors remain independent for as long as they can or wish to,” according to a statement on the organization’s website.
“Hammond is particularly proud of the many collaborative relationships ElderPoint has formed with Citrus Connection, Catholic Charities, Heart of Winter Haven, and Imperial Symphony Orchestra, among others,” ElderPoint said in a news release.
“The board accepted Jane’s resignation with mixed emotions. We’re happy to see her put herself first but sad to lose her passion and vision for our organization,” said chair Danielle Drummond.
In applying for the position, Gardner said, “It’s my passion to work with the elderly population I adore, and I have the relationships in the community to hit the ground running for the organization.”
Since COVID-19 social distancing set in, ElderPoint has continued providing transportation services for medical appointments and shopping. It will assess community safety before resuming mobile markets and non-essential transportation, Drummond said.
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Jane Hammond will be missed; her tireless pursuit to keep seniors here blossoming, enjoying life. Swimming is physical therapy for me for MS and ElderPoint transportation has been a godsend to get me to Kelly Recs’, Olympic lane pool.
Congratulations to Jane. She is a remarkable, tireless, creative leader. Jane expanded Elder Point and its services exponentially, filling the gaps other service organizations were unable. All the best to Lacey with this important position.