Darnell Jones: Leading with Passion
Darnell had a hard start during his first days of life. He was born premature which caused him to spend time in the NICU section of Washington D.C. Hospital. During his newborn stay, one nurse, Inez S., cared for him showing love and support as he gained strength.
It would be 35 years later while working as a new housekeeping department manager at a long-term care facility in Virginia, that Darnell would run into Inez again. This time the roles reversed. As part of his orientation, he went from room to room, introducing himself, and meeting every resident. That’s when he entered Inez’s room. As he introduced himself and started to learn about Inez. They began chatting and learned they were both from Washington, D.C. Further into their conversation, they realized that she had been a nurse in the premature ward in Washington D.C. in 1971 – the same year and the hospital where Darnell was born prematurely. Inez recognized him as one of her “babies.”
This full-circle moment had an impact on Darnell and how he saw his profession in long-term care. He felt a sense of pride and responsibility in caring for someone who had cared for him when he needed it the most. Inez’s family was also touched by the connection and felt reassured knowing that someone who genuinely cared for their mother was looking after her.
In his role now as an HCSG District Manager, Darnell continues to be motivated by his love for his work and the impact he can have on the lives of customers, team members, and staff. He views himself as an educator, teaching and inspiring his team to reach their full potential. His experience with Inez continues to inspire him to always strive for excellence and remind his staff of the importance of their work. He emphasizes that their actions can have a lasting impact on others and that every effort, no matter how small, is an opportunity to make a difference.
“I’m passionate about the things that I do. I’m passionate about HCSG.”
– Darnell Jones
At HCSG, our people truly are the difference. Darnell’s inspiring story serves as a reminder of the power of connection, compassion, and dedication. Every day, over 35,000 HCSG team members nationwide demonstrate a passion to serve, care, and respect to provide positive experiences to the resident communities.
To learn more about HCSG services and how to become a member of our team, visit HCSG.com.
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