Tyler Harvey works in maintenance at Oak Hammock, but he’s far more than just the friendly guy with a warm smile. He’s intelligent, thoughtful and deeply committed to making a positive impact on residents and fellow team members alike. Once you strike up a conversation with him, it quickly becomes clear how much he’s learned through self-study and introspection.
When asked, “What is the meaning of life?” Harvey responds, “I feel the meaning in life is to live and experience everything you can to the fullest.”
And that’s exactly how he approaches each day.
Originally from Hot Springs, Arkansas, Harvey grew up with his two sisters, who—along with his mother—still live there with their families. Though distance makes visits infrequent, he stays closely connected to them.
Harvey moved to Gainesville over five years ago with his now ex-wife. Harvey is now a single dad with two sons: Bruce, age nine and Miles, age four. He cherishes the time he spends with his boys. Together, they read (their latest book was Call of the Wild), set up Hot Wheels tracks all around the house, play sports, wrestle, roughhouse and enjoy the outdoors. He also encourages their creativity—Bruce, for example, loves to doodle.
Harvey’s personal interests are as varied as they are impressive. He reads one to two books a week and is passionate about analytical psychology, poetry, historical philosophy and fiction/fantasy. He enjoys hiking, martial arts and playing guitar—with a particular interest in music theory. A proud self-proclaimed autodidact, he constantly teaches himself new skills and gets inspiration from the books he reads. He even writes movie reviews for friends on Facebook, often infusing them with his unique comedic flair and keeps a regular journal.
Harvey likes to travel and is whittling away at his bucket list, which he wrote when he was 22. Last year he was able to travel to Ireland with his cousin and admits that trip made a lasting impact on his life.
In every conversation and every task, Harvey brings his full self: curious, compassionate and always striving to lift others up. He shares his story with humility and dedication to his work.
Harvey is well liked by his colleagues. As Vice President for Plant Operations and Facilities Management Bill Griffin said, “Tyler has been a great addition to our maintenance team, bringing strong technical knowledge and a natural ability to connect with others. He’s especially skilled at building relationships with our residents in Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing, making sure their needs are met with both care and respect.”
Harvey has been with Oak Hammock for just over a year and recently reflected on his role:
What do you like most about your job?
I really like working here, serving others and plan to stay in this role. I enjoy the daily interactions and helping people—which often means the simple act of making them smile. I was drawn to Oak Hammock because I wanted to make a difference, especially for residents in Assisted Living. I like the challenge of solving problems, fixing things and impacting others in meaningful ways.
I’ve also made myself the unofficial “morale booster” for the maintenance team. I try to build strong relationships with everyone. A good example was during hurricane season last year. Many of us stayed overnight to be on hand in case of emergencies. At 2 a.m., we were outside cutting up trees that had fallen into the road. It was hard work, but I started singing to lift the mood and everyone ended up laughing. That small act helped release the tension.
How do you apply the WeCare values?
The WeCare themes—Welcoming, Exceptional, Courteous, Attentive, Responsive, and Empathetic—perfectly reflect how I try to treat everyone.
Listening is key. I always take the time to hear what people are really saying—to let them share their thoughts, their concerns and their inspiring stories. That’s how I find the best way to help and make them feel appreciated.
I go the extra mile to ensure residents feel comfortable. A good example is when someone transitions from Independent Living to Assisted Living. That can be a stressful time, so I do what I can to ease the move, sometimes it’s a simple act of helping hang pictures or arrange furniture so they feel at home. They’ll often ask, “How does it look?” and I’ll smile and say, “I don’t live here—it’s your home.” Sometimes I’ll even ask if they’re thinking about the aesthetic… or the feng shui.
I try to find common ground with everyone. From there, I let the relationship grow into something genuine.
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I have an eclectic taste in books and movies. The last book I read was Plato’s Republic. My favorite book is God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut. My favorite movie is Cloud Atlas. I’m not a fan of horror movies or musicals.
“Tyler is an absolute pleasure to work with. We frequently collaborate on transitions from Independent Living to Assisted Living, which often involves numerous requests — and Tyler is always incredibly helpful. Every time I see him, he greets me with a friendly attitude and a willingness to assist. He’s approachable, agreeable and never hesitates to lend a hand. I consistently hear positive feedback from residents and their families about how patient and kind he is with them.” – Leah Watkins, personal services manager
“Tyler is wonderful and helpful! He is so accommodating and talented. I cannot praise him enough.” – Betty Moon-Kramer, resident
“Tyler is always willing to help no matter the job. He goes above and beyond to ensure that the residents are happy with a smile on his face. He demonstrates WE CARE service pillars.” – Brittany MatusRay, assisted living manager