Celebrating Sarah Marr's promotion to Executive Director
After nearly 12 years at Ardenwoods, Sarah Marr is preparing to take on a new role in the community she has come to know so well. On April 6, Marr will step into the position of executive director, following the retirement of longtime leader Pam Pate.
For Marr, the transition is both exciting and deeply personal. Over the past decade, she has grown alongside the community — first as marketing director, later as associate executive director and administrator of assisted living — and along the way, she has built lasting relationships with many of the residents who call Ardenwoods home.
“I’ve known many of them since before they even moved here,” Marr said. “So I think the transition will feel smooth for residents because it’s somebody they already know and have rapport with.”
When Marr first came to Ardenwoods, she didn’t quite know what to expect. Though she had previously worked in marketing and youth programs, she had never before worked in a retirement community.
“I had no idea what a retirement community really even was,” she said with a laugh. “But once I started working with seniors, I really feel like I found my calling.”
What has kept her at Ardenwoods all these years, she said, is the people.
“Everybody that lives here has the most unique and interesting story,” Marr explained. “Every day I feel like I’m learning something from someone.”
Starting her career at Ardenwoods in her 20s, Marr says being surrounded by residents felt a bit like having “a hundred grandparents around all the time.” Their experiences, wisdom and willingness to share their stories have shaped her life, both personally and professionally, in countless ways.
In recent years, Marr expanded her role by earning her administrator’s license and stepping into leadership within Ardenwoods’ assisted living facility, Heather Glen. The experience allowed her to learn a different side of the community’s operations while working closely with Pate, who has worked in the community for more than two decades. Marr credits Pate’s leadership as a powerful influence on her own approach.
“Pam has a high level of compassion for the residents that live here,” Marr said. “She has a really strong resident-first attitude and a servant’s heart.”
Marr recalls seeing her predecessor’s leadership in action during winter storms, when Pate would stay overnight on campus to ensure residents were cared for — shoveling snow, delivering meals and pitching in wherever needed.
“She doesn’t ask anyone to do a job she’s not willing to do herself,” Marr said.
As she prepares to step into the role herself, Marr hopes to carry forward that same philosophy of leadership.
“I think I have the same leadership mentality,” she said. “We’re here to make this phase of people’s lives the best it can be.”
Looking ahead, Marr is excited to continue Pate’s legacy by supporting resident-focused work in the community. And she credits Ardenwoods’ dedicated staff, as well as the supportive culture fostered by its parent company, ThriveMore, which emphasizes leadership development and high-quality care.
“We have a really strong team at Ardenwoods, and I’m excited to step into this role,” Marr said. “Pam has laid the foundation, and because of all the work we have done together, I know it’s going to be a really smooth transition.”
