Watermark Retirement Communities
About Watermark Retirement Communities
Based in Tucson AZ, Watermark Retirement Communities is the nation’s 10th-leading senior housing operator and has been named one of the top 25 Best Workplaces for Aging Services. The senior living provider manages more than 70 retirement communities nationwide and has nine communities in the state of Florida.
Local PR Partnership
With communities located in 22 states, Watermark partners with local PR agencies to manage media relations for its growing roster of independent living, assisted living and memory care communities.
I started working with Watermark in the summer of 2016. Since then, I’ve managed media relations for six communities in the state of Florida, and this number continues to grow.
For Vicki Doyle, Director of Communication & PR for Watermark Retirement Communities, it’s important that PR partners have a good handle on the basics of story ideation and development, and strong connections with the local media. Ideally, PR partners are also skilled at finding the media-worthy nuggets that local teams may not recognize on their own.
“Kasey is the WHOLE PACKAGE,” said Doyle. “She is exceptionally talented at finding the ‘gold’ and developing stories that showcase the vibrant life and amazing residents at Watermark communities.”
Media Coverage
For Watermark, PR stories range from the unique features of the community to the vibrant lives of its associates and residents. Since working with the organization, I’ve secured coverage ranging from a local TV story to a feature in a national trade magazine. Some highlights include:
A feature story in the Tampa Bay Times on the revolutionary Gourmet Bites program (previously known as Thrive Dining).
A guest column in McKnight’s Senior Living on how one community maintains a culture of whole-person wellness.
An ABC Action News spotlight on the local chef who brought his Spanish culinary training to the Sarasota community.
A feature in the Tampa Bay Times on a local group of residents who found common ground and friendship through their robotic pets.
“Kasey’s stories ‘make the phone ring’ because our prospective residents and their families can see themselves in the stories she shares,” said Doyle. “Stories about residents thriving through experiences that you might not expect at a senior living community are so compelling that we find people moving in for the lifestyle and not just the world-class care.”
For Doyle, this partnership has been so valuable that our relationship has grown as Watermark expands in Florida. Next up, our sights are set on sharing stories about the new communities in Watersound and Marco Island.
Need help telling your story in the local media market? Contact me to learn more about my media relations services.
