John Harned named Executive Director of new community in Overland Park

By Mark Abromaitis
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Erickson Communities announced that John Harned will serve as Executive Director of Tallgrass Creek. Harned will assume duties in early 2007. The new retirement community in the Kansas City area is slated to open later that year.

“I tend to have a servant attitude,” Harned said of his work ethic. “That’s just how I was brought up. I like to make sure everyone gets what they want and need. I’m really looking forward to the community relations part of this job—both internally and externally.”

Mr. Mayor
As Executive Director, Harned will serve as the community’s “Mayor” of sorts. He will be in charge of day to day operations at the community and his primary responsibilities will include organizing a team of directors that oversee different areas of the campus. He will also ensure that the community runs to complete satisfaction of the residents. He’ll be in charge of fostering the relationships between residents and staff.

“This is exciting. It’s so nice being in a place where my personal mission statement, values, goals, and ethics mesh so well with my job.” Harned is not new to the job’s responsibilities. He joined Erickson in 2005 as the Associate Executive Director of Charlestown, the flagship Erickson community in Baltimore, Md. He has been serving in that same role at Erickson’s Eagle’s Trace community in Houston for the past year.

The ‘Obvious Choice’
“I couldn’t think of anyone more qualified to help us pioneer into the future at Tallgrass Creek,” Erickson founder and CEO John Erickson said. “His wide variety of experiences, friendly personality, and care for everyone he meets make him an obvious choice for the job.”

Erickson explained, “His main responsibility will be to keep his hand on the pulse of our residents and ensure that Tallgrass Creek meets all of their needs. I have the utmost confidence that he will do just that.”