For Lisa Puklowski the role as Village Manager at Ryman Healthcare’s Jane Winstone Retirement Village isn’t just a job, but a calling.
“I never feel like I don’t want to come to work,” Lisa says.
“I’ve not only found my feet, but the village and its people feel like ‘home’ to me.”
Born in Palmerston North, Lisa’s family lived in Linton as her parents worked on a dairy farm.
“We moved around for a while but when I turned eight, we moved to Marton and that is where I grew up,” Lisa says.
“Lots of residents here know of, or are from, there so it’s a great talking point,” Lisa laughs.
“I enjoyed growing up in Marton and was a day girl at Nga Tawa Diocesan School. There are a couple of ‘old girls’ here so that’s another connection!”
Lisa went on to study business, and in her own words has always been determined to reach her goals.
“I didn’t do 7th Form [year 13] as I knew what I wanted to do so I went to UCOL and studied business management,” Lisa says.
After studying, Lisa started working for Woolworths and worked her way up to management.
“Eventually, I worked as a Dry Goods Manager, which is second-in-charge of the store, I actually went back to Marton and managed the Woolworths there,” Lisa says.
After several years, Lisa felt she needed a change and started working for a NZ Sales Brokerage company called Storelink, before moving on to corporate organisations such as Unilever and then Nestlé, where she was promoted to a National Manager Role.
“I had to manage a team of a 100 all the way from Whangarei to Queenstown, so I travelled a lot.”
A mother of two, Lisa felt the strains of travelling for the job was too much and started looking for a different option so she could spend more time with her family.
That’s when Ryman Healthcare came calling.
“I saw this role and thought, what do I have to lose and went for it. I could transfer my people skills and I really wanted to do something different – and make a difference,” Lisa says.
Located in Oakland Avenue, Jane Winstone Village is within walking distance of the beautiful Virginia Lake Reserve. Features include architecturally designed townhouses, serviced apartments, and a care centre, all set amongst beautifully landscaped gardens.
The amenities include an all-weather bowling green, indoor heated swimming pool, spa, gym, grand internal atrium, library, historic chapel, hair salon, bar, and shop.
Lisa first became aware of Ryman Healthcare and the village when her husband’s grandmother was living at Jane Winstone Village as a serviced apartment resident.
“The more I progressed through the recruitment process the more I knew this role is what I wanted to do,” Lisa says.
“The last five months has been amazing. Everyone has been so nice and lovely.
“Coming here I feel I have found my place, that I fit, and when I drive through the gates I just smile because the gardens are so beautiful.”
It was a change Lisa wanted, and working with the residents and building her team at the village, is just the cherry on top.
“How could you not love this place?”
