Name: Greg Bittke.

Business name: Brookdale Camino del Sol, 14001 W. Meeker Blvd., Sun City West; 623-975-4000, gbittke@brookdale.com.

Personal background highlights: I was born and raised in southern California and have three siblings. We lived in an area where we could have animals, and we had a farm full — horses, steers, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits, chickens, ducks, game birds, dogs and cats. I attended Lutheran schools from kindergarten through eighth-grade. I was involved in swimming at age 9 and swam and played water polo in high school. I also did volunteer work while in 4-H and we sang at nursing homes.

Professional background highlights: I worked in grocery stores for a while until I landed a job at Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream (pre- Nestle’) and was fortunate enough to work with them for 17 years. I worked in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Minnesota and then back to Los Angeles. I learned a lot and worked with some amazing people. I did a complete career change in my 40s and used my experience and management skills to work for a nonprofit that provided housing and habilitation for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I developed a passion to help people and found that is what truly matters to me. I started in California and then transferred to Oregon where I ended up managing their operations. I then found my new passion and found a career in senior living. I love working with seniors and their families. I have so much in common with their situation as I am on the same path. My goal is to help as many residents and families to have the opportunity to live their best life in whatever situation they are currently in.

What I do: My official title at Brookdale is sales manager. My actual role is so much more. I spend time with residents and I provide residents and families with information about senior living. Visiting our community is the best way to see how our team support residents. The main thing I do is being open, honest and empathetic to different situations that comes our way and seeing how we can help. What I really do is help people.

What I like most about doing business here: Moving to Arizona from Oregon was purposeful for me and my wife, Debbie. Our goal was to find an awesome place to eventually retire. We started coming down to Arizona to visit my wife’s former college roommates and discovered that we really loved the area. I have loved working with all of the families from different parts of the country and I feel that my experience living in the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest helps being able to relate why people live here. The people I have met here have been very friendly and welcoming.

What am I promoting: I work at Brookdale Camino del Sol. Our community is an Alzheimer’s and dementia care community. We are an all private pay community. We have Nursing on site 24/7 and have three staff that provide programming and activities seven days per week for our residents. We recently implemented some new technology that uses a camera system and artificial intelligence to capture unwitnessed falls in resident rooms. I am most proud of our care team as it is their work that really makes the difference in the lives of those we support.

Favorite community cause and why: Alzheimer’s Association. Their focus and efforts to better understand and search for a cure for Alzheimer’s and Dementia related diseases.  This hits home with me as I have parents going through this and I understand how this impacts families.  When you witness day in and day out how this disease effects individuals and their families, it is clear that we need to unite to find a cure.

My interest and hobbies: I like to swim, walk and finding adventures in my new state. I also enjoy cooking.

People who inspire me and how: Believe it or not, I get inspired every day by the residents and their families that are in our community. When I see the commitment of our residents to exercise, walk, helping other residents, doing art work, singing to music and whatever task they are interested, it is inspiring. I love seeing the families that are involved in their loved ones lives and being able to talk to them and spend meaningful time with them. It’s what it is all about!

My guiding philosophy: Matthew 7:12, the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

My advice to today’s youth: See the world. Travel and meet as many people as possible. You will see that we all have so much in common and want the same things in life.

Editor’s Note: For those who have questions about ABCs membership, call Lori Tone at 623-214-2600 or email abcofscw@gmail.com.