Editor’s Note: McKnight’s Senior Living, McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Home Care are profiling the McKnight’s 2022 Women of Distinction honorees daily July 5 through Aug. 10. For additional McKnight’s Women of Distinction content, visit this page.

At The Bay at Suring Health and Rehabilitation Center, in Northeast Wisconsin, one sign hangs on the office wall. “Always believe something wonderful is about to happen.”

For Kristina Wright, nursing home administrator at The Bay at Suring, those words could not be more true. She has always had a deep and sincere passion for long-term care.

“Older adults are very near and dear to my heart,” she said. “I have never done any other type of work than nursing home work. I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”

Wright’s dedication to the residents under her care is evident. After helping close a nearby nursing facility, all of the residents who still needed skilled nursing care requested to transfer to The Bay at Suring. This action prompted the local Aging and Disability Resource Center to start an investigation into whether Wright was limiting resident choice options. It became clear that the residents simply wanted to follow her because they enjoyed and depended on her so much. The investigation quickly was closed.

Wright contributes to every facet of long-term care. No task is too big or too small for her to take on.

“She fills in with many roles; she works in the kitchen, the activities department and works the floor,” The Bay at Suring Assistant Director of Nursing Beth Marineau explained.

Working on all levels helps establish a camaraderie between Wright and her staff. 

“I don’t want to be looked at as ‘the boss.’ I want to be seen as a member of The Team,” she said. “I want to do whatever needs to be done to make things roll.”

At home, Wright and her husband help care for her mother- and father-in-law, who are hard of hearing and have dementia, respectively. She keeps so busy, in fact, family and friends have been known to ask her, “Don’t you ever get a day off?”

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Senior Living, McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Home Care. The program’s Diamond sponsor is PointClickCare. Silver sponsors include OnShift and PharMerica, and the Bronze sponsor is Reliant Rehabilitation. Table sponsors included Dreamscape, Gojo/Purell and Sound Physicians.

Visit these web pages to see lists of the 2022 honorees: Rising Stars, Veteran VIPs, Hall of Honor, Lifetime Achievement Award and Spirit Awards.