EMPLOYEE PROFILES
Alex Neff Divisional Director of Operations First Role: Business Office Manager Career Path: Began at Cedarhurst in Collinsville, then helped open St. Charles and Naperville, progressed to Executive Director, Regional Director, and now leads the “Neff Nation” division across MO, KS, and NE. Quote: “Never say never—work hard, make a difference, and bring solutions to the table.” April Martin Regional Dining Services Director First Role: Dining Services Director Career Path: Started as Dining Director in 2020, became Dining Specialist in 2022, and promoted to Regional Director of Dining Services in 2024. Along the way, she’s also led life enrichment activities—from music and comedy to fishing trips and church services— blending passion for residents with leadership development. Quote: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
Building Futures How Cedarhurst Champions Growth from Within
When Almir Sajtovic reflects on his path to becoming President of Cedarhurst Senior Living, he often starts at the beginning—with an apron tied around his waist. At just 16, working as a dishwasher and server in a senior living community, Almir had no idea he’d stumbled into the start of a lifelong career. “As a refugee, I moved around a lot during the war in Bosnia,” he recalls. “I spent some time in Germany before eventually landing in the St. Louis area. I never grew up around grandparents, so being around seniors always meant a lot to me. It felt like I was connecting with something I didn’t get to have back home.” That early respect for older adults grew into a vocation. After high school, he became a Dining Services Director. By 2011, he had joined Cedarhurst, where his first office was tucked into the kitchen. In those early days, he rotated through several roles, Dining Services Director, Assistant Executive Director, and Business Office Manager, gaining hands-on experience across multiple areas of community operations. “I learned so much from seeing every part of the community in action. Each role taught me something different—how to build relationships, solve problems, and, most importantly, put people first.”
Patricia (Patti) Louvier
Regional Dining Services Director First Role: Dining Services Director Career Path: Started
as a Dining Services Director, gradually took on responsibilities across multiple communities, and advanced to Regional Director in January 2024. Quote: “Impact is really important to me…simply being present and listening makes a difference.”
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