Gabriel Young joined the team at Applewood as a teenager back in 2014. Hired as a temporary agency employee, Gabe began his career as a dishwasher. Later that same year, he was hired as an Applewood full-time employee and quickly climbed the ranks from wait staff to shift lead to his current role as Dining Services Supervisor. During his full-time tenure at Applewood, Gabe earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Rutgers University (2017).
As Dining Services Supervisor, Gabe is responsible for daily dining operations and special events while ensuring quality control, operational efficiency, and high resident satisfaction. He supervises 20 wait staff and kitchen-based team members, overseeing their training and scheduling.
Well-loved by residents, Gabe is known for his ability to anticipate and exceed the needs of our residents and is admired for his affable, kind nature. As residents recently prepared for their annual Applewood Senior Prom, Gabe asked a resident who had recently lost her husband if she would like to be his date. She gladly accepted and the couple were the hit of the night and stars on the dance floor.
“Gabe is efficient, attentive, reliable and expresses genuine concern for our residents’ dining experience,” notes Heath Braunstein, Senior Director of Dining Services and Gabe’s manager. “His consistent dedication to his job inspires and motivates our team daily.”
Looking ahead, Gabe is considering returning to college to earn an MBA or a Master’s Degree in Nutrition. “You need to keep learning in this industry and staying current with the hospitality and the nutritional side of food service,” Gabe notes. “I have always been passionate about this industry and want to keep learning and growing.”
Applewood Employee Tenure Surpasses the Average
The employee retention rate at Applewood far exceeds the industry standard. While most retirement communities see a yearly staff turnover of more than 40 percent, Applewood maintains an average employee tenure of nearly 10 years.
Applewood and its partnership with CentraState Healthcare System, an Atlantic Health System partner, offers a wealth of healthcare, senior services, administrative and support team career opportunities that come with employee benefits for full-time and some part-time positions. Visit Applewood Careers to apply for open positions, including Dining Services.