CEO reflects on 14 years at Pines of Sarasota

Pines of Sarasota CEO John Overton got his start in the long-term care business 41 years ago. His first title: Santa Claus.

It was 1973, and Overton’s wife, Pam, was working as a nurse in a senior living facility. She asked him to play Santa for the residents, and he agreed.

“I was so disappointed that evening because the activities director in that facility at the time acted as though it was a real pain to be there handing out gifts to the residents,” says Overton. “From my standpoint, nothing could be more important, so I said, ‘That might be something I would want to learn more about.’”

That interest would develop into a passion for people that carried Overton through various positions in long-term care to his current position. But after 14 years at Pines of Sarasota, Overton is looking forward to retiring from the senior living, therapy and rehabilitation facility in July.  

There aren’t many people at Pines who Overton doesn’t know personally. But on the off-chance that he doesn’t recognize a face, he greets the person and welcomes him or her to the facility that’s become his home, too.

Before coming to Pines of Sarasota, Overton worked for other long-term care facilities, including one in Detroit. But when the option to move back to Florida to work at Pines of Sarasota surfaced, Overton once again listened to his wife. 

“She said, ‘I happen to love Sarasota very much, and I believe you can make a difference at Pines,’” he says.

Since then, Overton has focused on having an impact at the local long-term care facility, which has served the community since 1948 — longer than any in the area, from Bradenton to Naples. 

“Today we have many more people choosing to be cared for here when they can go anywhere else they want to. I have so much pride in what we’ve been able to do.”

– John Overton

 

Under Overton’s supervision, the facility has expanded to include skilled nursing for rehabilitation with the Ann & Alfred Goldstein Therapy and Rehabilitation Center, which opened in 2010, providing capacity for an additional 204 patients.

He’s also worked to reduce employee turnover. For the last five years, more than half of staffers have worked at Pines between 15 and 20 years.

He says the key to maintaining a happy workforce is to invest in employees.

“It’s tough being a caregiver,” he says. “So we make sure that we’re able to find the right people and encourage them, not only for the job they’re in now but to also provide them additional education to achieve their goals.”

Overton, who will turn over his duties to incoming CEO David Sylvester, says he looks forward to retirement, but he’s “not ready for the rocking chair.”

He plans to spend his time traveling with his wife.

Overton is proud of the impact he’s had through his work.

“Today, we have many more people choosing to be cared for here, when they can go anywhere else they want to,” he says. “I have so much pride in what we’ve been able to do. I like to say that hopefully we are more relevant now in this community than 14 years ago.”