Military Service Member Begins Leadership Internship through DOD at Juniper Village

Patrick Oblad, a transitioning Air Force service member, has begun a 90-day Environmental Services Director internship at Juniper Village at Chatham through Juniper Communities' partnership with the Department of Defense's SkillBridge program and approved provider Vets2PM. The partnership makes Juniper the first senior living organization in the nation to participate in the program, introducing military talent to career opportunities in senior living.

As senior living providers across the country face ongoing workforce challenges and increasing demand for experienced leaders, Juniper is the first to expand its recruitment efforts by connecting military talent with leadership opportunities throughout its communities. Service members often bring incredible experience leading teams, managing operations, maintaining compliance, and responding to challenging situations and emergencies. These are skills that can be translated into leadership positions within senior living.

The SkillBridge program provides transitioning service members the opportunity to gain civilian work experience during their final 180 days of service while continuing to receive their military compensation and benefits. Juniper has participated in the program for two years, offering opportunities across all director-level positions and across its communities in Pennsylvania, Texas, Colorado, New Jersey, and Delaware.

During his 90-day internship, Oblad is rotating through environmental services operations, including maintenance, housekeeping, laundry, life safety, regulatory compliance, and preventive maintenance. Under the guidance of the Executive Director and Environmental Services team, he is gaining hands-on experience in environmental rounds, work orders, fire and disaster drills, infection control, and OSHA requirements, along with exposure to how Environmental Services works alongside Wellness, Dining and Connections.

"The biggest skills that have carried over are attention to detail, flexibility and the ability to adapt to different situations," Oblad said. "The military taught me the importance of being dependable, working with a team, and approaching challenges with a positive mindset."

Oblad learned about the opportunity through Vets2PM, an approved SkillBridge provider he discovered through the Department of Defense website. He said the SkillBridge application process included three interviews, each offering insight into the role, the team, and daily life at Juniper Village at Chatham. "The most rewarding part has been learning from people who have years of experience in their roles," Oblad said.

"Partnering with the SkillBridge program has been such a rewarding experience for the community,” said Janel Kohaut, Executive Director at Juniper Village at Chatham. “Patrick has brought his strong work ethic, leadership skills, and commitment to serving others from his time in the Air Force into his role at Juniper. He has been a wonderful addition to our team and truly embodies the Juniper spirit through the way he connects with residents, supports his teammates, and approaches each day with a desire to learn and make a difference. We are grateful for his service to our country and proud to be part of his transition into this next chapter.”

Juniper has always been a strong advocate and leader for diversity in recruiting and recognizes and respects veterans as an underrepresented group in senior living. Don Breneman, Chief Operating Officer, started this program at Juniper two years ago after learning about the SkillBridge program at a golf course in Pennsylvania. He wanted to translate this to senior living and Juniper. The partnership with Vets2PM greatly advanced Juniper’s recruiting in the military environment through targeted recruitment ads, virtual interviews, Juniper senior living industry opportunity education sessions, and by leveraging the unique experiences of the veterans already working at Juniper Communities. Oblad is among a growing group of participants in Juniper's SkillBridge initiative. To date, Juniper has seven candidates who are ready, or getting ready, to start their new careers in senior living with Juniper Communities. The goal is to showcase senior living as a dynamic career opportunity for military service members of all types. According to Juniper, the company has been the leader in introducing transitioning service members to the senior living industry, providing hands-on training with current directors, and extending full-time employment opportunities when possible.

"This internship has given me a much clearer picture of what a career in this field could be, and I'm excited to see where it leads," Oblad said.

As the program expands, Juniper plans to welcome additional transitioning service members into leadership training opportunities across its communities, reinforcing its long-term commitment to workforce innovation and career development.

Juniper Village at Chatham is located at 500 Southern Boulevard, Chatham, NJ 07928. For more information, please call (973) 966-5483 or visit www.juniperchatham.com.

About Juniper Communities

Juniper Communities, a leader in quality, value, and innovation, owns and operates senior living communities in Colorado, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas that emphasize the well-being, interaction, and security of those who call Juniper home. Our approach to housing and care offers community members the opportunity to live a full life, regardless of age or health. Juniper’s innovative Connect4Life program has been proven to improve resident care by decreasing hospitalizations, re-hospitalizations, and urgent care visits, while offering potential cost savings to public programs such as Medicare. To learn more about the many ways Juniper Communities innovates in support of the communities’ residents, visit www.junipercommunities.com.