This is the second in a series of Parting Thoughts on Cleveland County’s “behind-the-scenes stars”—those who are making a difference both in their “day” jobs and as contributing members of our society.
NAME: Judy Ernst
EMPLOYER & TITLE: Carlsbad Management Group, Senior Executive Supervisor
AGE: 73
According to Chad Ernst, Head of Construction, Carlsbad Management Group
All you have to do is work with Judy for 15 minutes to get a glimpse into all the valuable things she does behind the scenes. Her attention to details and ability to bring a feeling of warm hospitality to the room is something that is amazing to see! Creating a warm, friendly atmosphere is just a natural thing for her. She keeps the team motivated, inspired and moving forward with ease. She goes above and beyond when working with a new family that is helping their loved one transition to living at one of our 55+ communities. She understands the challenges and huge emotional impact this season of life is for them, and she navigates that process seamlessly for everyone. And because of her love of cooking, she is passionate about ensuring a top-notch dining experience for the residents of our new property, The Carlstone.
You may be interested to know that Judy started out her career in the 1960s as a hair stylist in the Los Angeles area. She loved helping women look their best!
Her next passion (one that carries into the present) was advocating for seniors. After serving as her mother’s primary caregiver late in her life, Judy completed an ombudsman program in 1991 to become an advocate for seniors living in senior care centers in Oklahoma, volunteering in this capacity for many years.
The mother of a child with disabilities, Judy also has been a staunch advocate for children with special needs and disabilities since the early 1970s. The doctors told Judy her daughter’s disabilities were so severe that she would be unable to ever become self-sufficient. Undaunted, Judy and her husband navigated largely uncharted waters of the time to create opportunities for their daughter so she could live a full, active and independent life. For example, they worked with their daughter’s school and the state school board to establish a special education program that would also benefit other current and future special needs children.
Judy started in property management in 2002 as a leasing agent for multifamily properties. In 2007, she became a property supervisor for the Carlsbad Management Group senior communities. As senior executive supervisor, she oversees the operations of CMG’s senior communities: the Carlstone, their newest senior independent living community in Norman, and their savannah houses in Norman and Moore.
01 Can you share a special memory?
The day I married the love of my life. It was the start of a lifetime of memories and stories that will always be dear to my heart.
02 What are you passionate about?
Spending quality time with all of my family! I enjoy cooking meals for all members of my family as often as I can. I also enjoy being a grandmother and spending time with the grandkids.
03 Community involvement?
On my off time, I enjoy advocating the voices of the senior citizens in the community, as well as listening and speaking to the city leaders about their concerns within our community.
04 What is your dream for the future?
To be able to live a long life and enjoy as much time as possible with my family—and someday having a house on the sandy beaches of an ocean.