Rob has never felt “static” at Springbrook. Over the course of his 35-year career at Springbrook, he has watched the organization grow and change in many ways. This growth has been positive because it has offered Rob the opportunity to continuously learn and improve. Although he admits that change can be uncomfortable sometimes (as change often is), accepting the “flux” only benefits a person and allows for personal and professional development. Now the director of Quality Assurance & Corporate Compliance Officer, Rob has held many other positions. He started in a temporary position at Ford Avenue, where Jeffry Edelstein was the manager at the time. Rob has worked the morning and day shifts, as well as overnight at the Walnut Street Community Home, where he was promoted to shift coordinator. He was once the house manager at Nichols and later became an assistant director of community homes.

Rob cites Patricia Kennedy—his direct supervisor for 15 years—as having the most direct influence on his professional development in his current position. He also cites Jeff Edelstein—his first manager and the person who encouraged him to apply for the QA position (which Jeff was leaving at the time)—for his encouragement. For those new to Springbrook, Rob has this to say, “Don’t make this personal and keep it professional. Treat the people you support and your coworkers with respect, as you would treat any other person in your life. If you can do this one simple thing, you’ll be just fine.”

Outside of work, Rob is a self-proclaimed “Dead Head.” He traveled the country in his VW van in the 80s while in college to attend over 100 Grateful Dead shows. To Rob, the Grateful Dead are “more than music.” He explained, “At live shows, they jam, they connect, they are the music – and it can go wrong at any moment, so to be there is to experience something unique, something more than listening.” If it is not already apparent, Rob loves to travel and has traveled throughout North America and Europe. He is a history buff who studied anthropology, philosophy, and psychology, and describes himself as a “Europhile.” In his travels, he enjoys immersing himself in different cultures. Thank you for sharing your time with us at Springbrook, Rob, and for sharing your personal and professional growth with us!