Villa Gardens Announces Paula Digerness as New Executive Director

Villa Gardens, a continuing care retirement community in Pasadena, today announced that Paula Digerness, has joined the community as its new executive director. In her new role, Digerness will oversee daily operations at the community whose 280 residents are served by more than 260 employees.

Digerness’ brings with her more than 20 years of experience serving as director at multiple senior living communities. Her background includes experience in management, marketing and communications. In addition to her long track record of working in senior living, Digerness’ achievements include over ten years of working with the California Awards for Performance Excellence as a judge and examiner and with NIST – the National Institute of Standards and Technology as an examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

“This field of service gives me the opportunity to meet the needs of the seniors we are privileged to serve,” Digerness said. “I hope to continue to have that opportunity at Villa Gardens. It involves not just our residents, but also our residents’ families, friends, employees, and surrounding community. I am honored and happy to be here.”

“It’s not too often that someone like Paula comes along and we are thrilled to have her,” says Jeff Sianko, divisional vice president of Front Porch, the parent company of Villa Gardens. “She brings not only operational but a strong desire to develop the close interpersonal relationships we so value here at Villa Gardens.”

In her last position as executive director for Seabrook, Digerness led the community to become number 4 on Fortune Magazine’s “Best Places to Work in Aging Services 2018? in the nation.

Digerness received a master’s degree in long-term care administration from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University. Digerness is a native of Iowa, spent over 25 years in the San Diego area and currently resides in Arcadia.

With her years of experience, innovative initiatives, and genuine care for the community, Villa Gardens is excited to welcome Digerness to her new role.

Find out more at villagardens.org.