As a Team Lead in dining services at Oak Hammock at the University of Florida, Shanelle Carter provides friendly, excellent service. She is highly recognized as one of the top Culture Champions who receives numerous WeCare nominations from residents and was one of 16 finalists for employee of the year in 2025. Her warm, engaging manner and welcoming smile endears her to the entire community.

When asked about the many We Care nominations she’s received, she simply smiles and says, “People are very nice to say kind things about me.”

Carter was born in Gainesville, Florida, and is the fifth of eight children in her family. When she was just six months old, she was adopted by her “Auntie,” Carolyn Johnson, who raised her alongside two sons, Broderick Woods and Karderick Johnson, with whom Carter remains very close.

Family has always played a central role in her life, and she credits her Auntie—who passed away in 2013—with teaching her the importance of kindness, politeness and respect. “We did everything together,” Carter says. “She shaped me into who I am today.”

Carter attended Buchholz High School, then Job Corp and began working immediately after graduation. Her work history includes various positions in customer service including working in dietary services at North Florida Regional Medical Center and seven years as a server/trainer at IHOP. These experiences helped shape her strong work ethic and love for serving others.

Carter has been part of the Oak Hammock team for three years. She was thrilled to join the community, especially since her niece, Tamika Brown, already worked here and spoke highly of it. Recently promoted to Team Lead, Carter now manages the dining room and servers, ensuring residents receive exceptional care and service.

Carter is well respected by management and her peers. As Restaurant Manager, Yamik Gonzalez-Amador, said, “Shanelle is a service-driven leader who treats residents like family and ensures they are always comfortable and well cared for. She consistently supports her team, and as her manager, I trust her completely to get the job done.”

What do you like most about your job?

What I enjoy most about my job is the people. This is my happy place. I love the residents and my coworkers. I’m here all the time, and the residents feel like my family. That sense of connection is evident in everything I do.

“Shanelle and I started around the same time, and from the beginning I noticed her sweetness and natural charm. She is quick-witted and has a wonderful ability to make residents laugh, which is why they truly love her. She goes above and beyond by checking on residents she hasn’t seen in the dining room, simply to make sure they are doing well.”  – Susan Ashcraft, coworker

How do you apply the WeCare values to your job?

Living out Oak Hammock’s WeCare philosophy of welcoming, exceptional, courteous, attentive, responsive and empathetic comes naturally to me. I try to always go above and beyond to build meaningful relationships with residents, treating each one like family. If a resident is transferred to skilled nursing, I make a point to visit them. My goal is always to brighten their day.

I believe trust is the foundation of great care. I affectionately call every resident my “favorite” or “best friend”, which is a habit that has become my signature and a reminder to residents of how special they are to me. Once I overheard a resident who said, “I’m Shanelle’s best friend, and I don’t know why!”— Which made me smile!

Please share a story you have about a positive experience with a resident.

One experience that stands out involved a new resident who entered the dining room feeling nervous and unsure. I greeted her with a big hug and patiently explained how everything worked. I think it really helped her feel welcome and at home.

Moments like that are why I do what I do—not for recognition, but to help residents feel comfortable and cared for.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

Most people are surprised to learn that my name was inspired by Chanel No. 5, as I was the fifth child in my family and my mom, Paulette Daniel, thought it was a good fit.

I credit my deep faith in God as a guiding force in my life, giving me strength and motivating me to make a difference in others’ lives. It is truly why I do what I do.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, including my sister, Rasha Brown, who is 15 years older but shares many of the same interests. I also love reading, writing and staying informed by following the news. I have a three-year-old pit bull named Chase, who keeps me busy.

Looking ahead, my goal is to return to school to pursue nursing and perhaps become a registered nurse. I’ve always had a drive to help people and learning nursing skills will help me make an even bigger difference. I plan to take advantage of the Oak Hammock Scholarship Program to help achieve that goal.

“Shanelle loves the residents so much. She is like a flower in bloom!” – Rose Crowder, catering manager

“Shanelle is a compassionate person, wonderful server and dining team leader. She graciously welcomes folks as they come to the dining room and Grille. We’re fortunate to have Shanelle with her sense of humor and excellent social skills!”   – Marcia Brant, Oak Hammock resident

“Shanelle Carter is an engaging, empathetic server that residents appreciate and adore. They look for her in the dining room for a personal greeting and attention. She makes everyone feel good and special.” – Carole Zegel, Oak Hammock resident