Woodland Ridge’s employee of the month for November is our Dining Director, Richard Garrett. Richard is from Talladega, Alabama growing up just 2 blocks from the speedway racetrack.
He says his mother helped her younger siblings so that there were 7 of them in the household when he was growing up. Richard’s mother worked in his high school lunchroom which may be where he got his calling to the dietary field. He remembers having to ride to school with his Mom and says because she worked there, he couldn’t get away with anything. After high school, Richard worked in a textile factory for a couple of years before going into the Army.
He met his wife there and their military life had them living in parts of Europe and Hawaii. He says he liked Nuremberg, West Germany the best. Richard and his wife have a son, a daughter, and a 5-year-old granddaughter that Richard says is the love of his life. Richard and his wife divorced after 20 years. Richard found his way back to the dietary field after working in Child Care Services, managing a bowling alley, and later a night club.
All this led him to work with food again. When he came to Georgia in 2007 he worked at Publix and Woodland Ridge part-time. He was asked to come on full time and eventually ran the dietary department at Woodland Ridge. Richard returned to Alabama to help care for his family for 3 years and then came back to work at Ridgeview and Woodland Ridge again last October.
In his spare time, Richard loves to do anything outdoors. His favorites are tennis, golf and running. As he puts it, anything active! Richard says, “I love what I do. I’m where I’m supposed to be. I appreciate Beth and Amy for allowing me to come back.”
You’ll recognize Richard by his great smile and his friendly, caring attitude. All our residents love the attention he showers on them! We are so thankful to have Richard back at Woodland Ridge and would like to congratulate him on being our employee of the month!
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