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Ben Tyrrell '95: Providing health care for an "amazing generation"

Ben Tyrrell '95 with his family, including wife Megan Littlefield '94
Ben Tyrrell '95 with his family, including wife Megan Littlefield '94

After graduation, Ben Tyrrell ’95 initially began his job search looking for a position where he could directly apply his academic work in government – that is, until Erickson Retirement Communities asked him to work as a temporary employee.

He quickly climbed the ranks and eventually began working in their nursing and assisted living facilities in Boston. Today, Tyrrell runs the healthcare services division of Renaissance Gardens, a retirement community in Hingham, Mass., that serves more than 1,000 residents.

“Providing care to and learning from such an amazing generation is truly incredible,” he said. “Families usually come to us in times of crisis and helping them through their difficulties is an amazing feeling.”

He said that Connecticut College professors like Don Peppard and William Frasure regularly encouraged him to take different approaches to problems in the classroom – a skill Tyrrell now applies in a workplace where he encounters some unique challenges.

He is constantly striving to improve the facility by setting it apart from traditional nursing homes. Tyrrell ensures that both his staff and residents are respected and cared for and emphasizes the importance of creating strong, positive relationships between all members of the community.

“The great educational experiences I had at Conn developed my critical thinking and thought process skills, creating a great foundation for my professional career and subsequently for graduate school,” said Tyrrell, who earned his master’s in business from the University of Chicago.

He also honed many of the leadership skills that he applies each day at the College. He served as chair of the Student Activities Council his senior year and as a Young Alumni Trustee (YAT) after graduation.

“Conn really provided me the opportunity to take on real leadership roles,” he said. “My position as a YAT allowed me to understand how important leadership is, both at the board level and at the management level.”

-Matt Zientek ’10  

 

 

 



June 15, 2010