Eden B. Jones
Atlantic Shores Executive Director
Eden directs all day-to-day operations of the Atlantic Shores Retirement Community - -
a 100-acre campus in Virginia Beach, Virginia, featuring a 50-bed skilled nursing facility, 53 apartment home assisted living facility, a 14-bed Memory Care unit, and 555 independent living units, ranging from apartment-style to freestanding villa homes. She oversees 350 employees in providing the finest, fully comprehensive senior living experience possible for more than 600 Atlantic Shores residents.
Since 1999, her team-based budgeting and strategic planning initiatives have successfully transitioned Atlantic Shores to self-management, created new business enterprises, and implemented operating efficiencies. Her financial negotiation and planning skills have propelled growth for the facility including, in 2004, completion of a multi-million dollar refinancing and debt restructure to create an additional 52 assisted living units and 190 independent living units.
Eden is the only female to hold a similar position among large senior living facilities in Southeast Virginia, and is a frequent lecturer on equity owned senior housing at key trade association meetings. She is also responsible for the formation of the Senior Housing Operating Executives (S.H.O.E.), a group of executives from local senior living facilities that share information regarding the industry and their respective facilities.
In addition to enhancing Atlantic Shores’ reputation as one of the nation’s premier senior communities, she has also has implemented customer service, employee morale, mentoring, and effective management programs to make it a great place to work. A role model and strong advocate of women in the workplace, Eden has encouraged women to fill important senior management positions.
Eden is admired for her keen intelligence, fast-paced decision-making, and seemingly endless energy and enthusiasm for her extended family of Atlantic Shores residents. She has embraced their talents, skills and hearts to create programs that leave legacies of support not only to the community, but also the world - - including the Pin-Up Boys of Atlantic Shores calendar. The project, which donated $21,695 to the Princess Anne Courthouse Rescue Squad, was selected as a finalist for the 2011 American Business Awards “Stevie Award” for the Best Communications or PR Campaign of the Year-Community Relations. She was also instrumental in creating the Atlantic Shores/Guiding Eyes for the Blind “Puppy Love Program,” where residents of Atlantic Shores are raising and training dogs guide dogs for the blind, while also partnering with local elementary schools.
Eden has been an active participant in the Rotary Club of Cape Henry, and has played a key role in Atlantic Shores' sponsorship of numerous health, arts, and education related non-profit organizations.
Although working in the midst of an older generation where many still believe men should hold business leadership positions, at the young age of 43, Eden has won over even the most antiquated thinkers, garnering the support of men and women alike who learn quickly to respect her impeccable business judgment, unfailing compassion, boundless energy, and tremendous sense of humor and quick wit.
