By Torsten Hirche, President and CEO of Transforming Age
March 8th is International Women’s Day and it is my honor to recognize the infinite contributions and leadership of the female team members that power our Network. 70% of our affiliates are led by women and across the network, women make up 74% of all team members, showcasing their profound impact on our mission. But numbers don’t tell the whole story, it starts with fostering a culture where we all share our knowledge, support each other’s growth, and welcome diversity. Our Culture of Excellence acknowledges this in our values of Teamwork, Respect, Grace, and Integrity. As we celebrate International Women’s Day and this year’s global theme of #AccelerateAction, let us reflect on the work that remains throughout Transforming Age and society at large. We must always challenge biases, break down barriers, and create opportunities for all to thrive.
As a tribute to IWD, I am excited to share with you three stories of strong female leaders at Transforming Age. As I’ve said before, wisdom compounds— so let’s share it! And the relentless pursuit of lifelong learning ignites opportunities, a common thread that has been woven into the career journeys of each of these leaders.
Melinda Stone, Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for TA’s Midwest Housing portfolio, stumbled upon senior living when she found herself caring for her aging parents at a young age. Her negative experience in navigating the long-term care system inspired Melinda to manifest a career change, driven to make a positive impact in the senior living field. After holding several key roles at Eastmont and working with our development team to champion the community’s $50 million expansion, Melinda now supports 17 Community Relations Directors as well as sales initiatives for GSI clients. I personally love that Melinda attributes her career growth to listening to the market, leaning into discomfort as a means of growth, collaborating with your partners, and bringing empathy and humanity into her work. Melinda is also humbled by the residents she serves and grateful for the radical advancements made by the generations of women that have come before her.
There are not many organizations in our industry that can say they have a Director of Data Analytics on their team. For the past three years, Crystal Dillinger has been pivotal in TA’s digital transformation. Women in tech make up just 25% of the industry’s workforce but Crystal says she’s always made sure she has a seat at the table. Her journey started with a C+ programing class in high school followed by majoring in computer information systems and business in college. Stressing the importance of building strong relationships and being authentic and genuine, we never tire of Crystal’s humor and sarcasm, which make work fun. Crystal prioritizes teaching these values to both her son and daughter. Crystal’s impact at Transforming Age continues to evolve, from building our core tools that make information accessible to our teams for informed decision-making, to excitement around machine learning, AI, and Copilot agents that assist with tasks, and automate repetitive work.
Lastly, I love sharing the inspiring story of our Corporate Director of Health Services, Sophia Allwood, who is responsible for ensuring quality clinical care for our assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing residents across the network, a role that requires certification as a Registered Nurse. Her journey to becoming a leader in nursing is rooted in pure determination, quieting self-doubt and overcoming cultural differences. Born in Jamaica to a family of nine children, Sophia was always told that women belong in the kitchen. It wasn’t until she immigrated from Jamaica to Minnesota with her husband and later gave birth to two children, that she thought to pursue an education. She started volunteering at a nursing home and decided to get certified as a CNA. Working the night shift as a CNA allowed Sophia to be present at home for her two young daughters. Always striving for personal growth, Sophia progressed from CNA to LPN, RN, and obtained a master’s degree in nurse leadership. She is proof that reinvesting in yourself can deliver compounding returns. Sophia’s motivation to pursue higher education was largely driven by her desire to prove herself and set a high standard for her daughters.
Please join me in sharing the stories, wisdom, and knowledge of the many remarkable women across our Network and in your own lives. From our Board of Directors, the SLT, and all our affiliates, to our residents and clients, at home and throughout our lives, there are so many impactful women that continue to shape our world while also balancing its weight on their shoulders. Thank you for the courageous work you do and Happy International Women’s Day!