In less than two years, Erich Rossi has made a phenomenal impact on Oak Hammock’s maintenance team. Known for his responsiveness, dedication to excellence, unwavering commitment and cheerful attitude, Rossi’s performance exemplifies what it means to be a model Oak Hammock team member.
Originally from Waldo, Florida, Rossi now lives in Archer with his wife, Gabrielle, and their four children—all under the age of six. Raised by his grandparents, Rossi learned, at a young age, the importance of responsibility, appreciation and the value of improving the living environments of others. His proactive nature and desire for a high level of success means he often spots issues before they escalate and works tirelessly to resolve them.
His colleagues speak highly of his contributions. Housekeeping Manager Rebecca Snowden shared, “Working with Erich is an absolute pleasure. His proactive approach, combined with a genuine willingness to collaborate, makes him an invaluable member of the team. He not only listens to concerns but also takes the initiative to provide effective solutions, often making the extra effort to exceed expectations. His professionalism, customer interactions and positive attitude set a high standard and serve as an inspiration to others.”
Rossi recently was promoted to maintenance supervisor, and his areas of responsibility are landscaping and grounds in Independent Living. Rossi starts every workday at 6:30 a.m., ensuring the buildings, grounds and irrigation systems are impeccably maintained. He collaborates closely with his coworkers and his department leaders participating in daily meetings to address current issues. He believes teamwork is essential for providing exceptional results for the residents.
Recently, Rossi shared his thoughts about his role at Oak Hammock:
How do you make a difference for the residents?
I always remember this is the residents’ home and strive to exceed their expectations. I think of the residents like my grandparents—who taught me to respect people—and I listen to their needs so I can make a positive difference in their lives.
I can think of several specific examples of how I have aimed to make a difference in residents’ lives, but one comes to mind when we were facing a recent hurricane, we made sure all outdoor furniture was secured, umbrellas stored and critical equipment double-checked before the storm hit. Our team stayed overnight at Oak Hammock, monitoring conditions and coordinating with contractors to ensure quick responses. Our goal was to make sure we would keep the residents and their property safe during this stressful situation.
I remember checking the grounds at 1:30 a.m.—everything was fine. At 3:45 a.m., we found a tree on a house. By 5 a.m., the tree service was scheduled, and we had a clear plan in place before the resident even woke up to realize what had happened. The situation was resolved smoothly, and the resident didn’t need to relocate at all during restoration.
How do you apply the WeCare values to your work?
The WeCare values—Welcoming, Exceptional, Courteous, Attentive, Responsive, and Empathetic—guide everything I do. I greet everyone with a smile, listen carefully, pay attention to details and offer reassurance. My goal for best practices is to foster an environment where residents and team members feel respected, valued and supported. I’m always looking for potential issues before they become bigger problems.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I’m a very private person, so most people don’t know I have four young kids. My youngest, Jackson, was born a month and a half early and spent two long weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit at North Florida Regional hospital. Thankfully, he’s doing great now.
I also volunteer as a coach for my five-year-old’s softball team in Newberry. In addition, I collect and work on old trucks and enjoy barbequing. Between coaching practice three days a week, my job duties, hobbies and helping with the kids at home, I stay pretty busy!
What are your goals for the future?
I want to continue growing at Oak Hammock. I’m working on my heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, certification so I can service air conditioning units. I’m also focused on improving communication with residents and delivering elite customer service. I’d love for our team to set and commit to specific timelines for project completion.
Erich is a delight to work with—very responsive. And he knows a lot about landscaping. — Bob Virnstein
Erich is a quiet, unassuming and unfailingly cheerful young man. I have interacted with him many times recently, and he is always pleasant and helpful. Best of all, when he is involved, the project always gets done with a minimum of fuss or bother, and that’s what’s important. — David Brumbaugh