Sisters graduate heads senior living home

Jennifer Spor Sturdivant, a 1993 graduate of Sisters High School, is back as the executive director of Sisters Senior Living.

Photo by Sue Stafford

Jennifer Spor Sturdivant is back to lead Sisters Senior Living.

Sisters Senior Living, formerly known as The Lodge, has been purchased by Washington resident Chris Blackburn, who also has a home at Black Butte Ranch. Management of the facility is the responsibility of Artegan, with facilities in Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and Maryland.

Sturdivant was formerly the marketing/sales specialist and executive director for The Lodge between January 2019 and March 2023. She also served a stint as executive director for Regency Village in Redmond. Jeni attended Sisters Elementary School and Middle School, spent three years at Redmond High School when Sisters didn't have a high school, and returned to the new Sisters High School (now the middle school building) to be in the first graduating class in 1993. Her dad worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Sisters.

Her first job was working at The Gallery restaurant for 10 years before she worked in retail management in Bend. When her maternal grandparents in Sisters were aging, she helped care for them and realized her desire to "give back." Her first job at Touchmark in Bend provided her the opportunity to experience all aspects of senior living. She went on to be the marketing director for three years at Regency Village in Bend before joining The Lodge staff in Sisters when it opened. She met The Lodge activity director Alea Schliep years before when they both worked in retail.

Sturdivant received her bachelor's degree in human service management with a concentration in gerontology from Phoenix University. She and her husband Demitrius live in Redmond. She has two adult daughters, Tiffany 28, and Lexi 25, who live together in Hillsboro.

Jeni finds her chosen career very rewarding.

"I enjoy making a difference in seniors' lives and making them feel valued. I am blessed to come to work every day where I can help them feel heard and understood...My passion lies in making every senior or person matter and bringing joy to their lives," she said.

It is gratifying when family members say, "We're so happy our mom is here." She said, "We take care of their parent so they can relax and be the parent's children."

Sturdivant has been in her new position since mid-September, and is busy learning the new management company's routines. She is creating some structural changes, and intends to be transparent with everyone, ensuring that residents and families are all heard. She has hired a new culinary director who formerly owned and operated Baltazar's Restaurant in Bend. With a change in management and name, the residents were asked to select a new logo. This past week, a professional videographer and photographer came to the facility to shoot footage for social media purposes.

Currently, the center has 89 percent occupancy with two move-ins scheduled over the next month. The capacity for Sisters Senior Living is 95 residents. There are studio, one-, and two-bedroom units. Respite care, with a 30-day minimum stay, is available if there is an open unit.

Sturdivant is "happy to be back and looking forward to getting to know all the residents and their families."

For more information, visit http://www.sistersseniorliving.com or call 541-549-5634.