For Carlton Senior Living, recruiting young professionals begins with intentional outreach. President and CEO Dave Coluzzi notes that his organization participates in CALA (California Assisted Living Association) meet-and-greet events, where members have the opportunity to sponsor students’ attendance and engage with them directly.

“Attracting young professionals and students to senior living requires a proactive and engaging approach,” Coluzzi said. “One of the most effective strategies we’ve utilized is participating in CALA’s student meet-and-greet events, which I have personally been involved in for several years.”

He explained that many of the students Carlton meets have backgrounds in healthcare, hospitality or business but are unsure about their precise career direction.

“By exposing them to the rewarding and multifaceted nature of senior living, we help them see how their skills and interests align with the profession,” he said, noting that the company also leverages social media, career fairs and partnerships with educational institutions.

Hands-On Experiences and Tailored Learning
Once students sign on, Carlton emphasizes real-world exposure. Interns have the opportunity to rotate through various departments or focus on a specific area of interest. If they choose to rotate through departments – culinary, care, administration, sales and activities – participants present their insights to a committee, honing their analytical, leadership and public-speaking skills.

“Our internship and student programs are designed to be both structured and adaptable, allowing participants to gain a well-rounded experience based on their background, interests and career goals,” Coluzzi said. “For individuals with prior experience or strong potential in a specific area, we take a more customized approach.”

This flexibility helps students gain confidence in day-to-day responsibilities while also exploring the bigger picture of how a senior living community operates.

Measuring Impact Through Growth and Retention
Carlton assesses its internship initiatives through several lenses: conversion of interns into permanent roles, departmental placement, feedback from participants and performance indicators such as leadership potential. Coluzzi said interns over the last few years have each found a unique niche – ranging from sales to nursing – while some rose to departmental leadership positions.

“Over the past few years, we’ve welcomed seven students into our program, and each has found success in a unique way,” he said. “Several former interns started in care roles and have since grown into leadership positions within their respective departments.”

One intern moved into a sales director role, while another discovered a passion for activities programming. Others pivoted to clinical paths, including one who now manages a skilled nursing facility. Coluzzi emphasized that this diversity of outcomes speaks to the range of opportunities within senior living, whether students remain with Carlton or move on to other organizations.

Success Stories from Carlton Senior Living

Katheryn Lejano

Graduating from UC Davis in 2016, Katheryn discovered Assisted Living by chance when she received a scholarship email inviting her to the CALA conference. There, she connected with Carlton Senior Living and soon became the company’s very first intern. Although she had initially considered nursing, Katheryn’s internship opened her eyes to the broader possibilities of senior care and leadership. Following her internship, Katheryn accepted a few different roles on Carlton’s HR team, ultimately joining “Carlton University,” which helps train and develop staff company-wide. She said each opportunity deepened her commitment to improving resident care. Inspired by the hands-on experience, Katheryn is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing while continuing her work at Carlton. “Starting a career at Carlton so young, with a group of individuals invested in my success, gave me so much purpose, drive and motivation to keep growing as an individual, both personally and professionally,” Lejano said.

 Innes McFarlane

Driven by her longstanding interest in serving older adults, Innes pursued a gerontology degree at Sacramento State University. Upon learning about a CALA conference meet-and-greet, she seized the opportunity and connected with Carlton Senior Living. Soon after, Innes began working as a care partner at the Sacramento community while still in college. Recognizing her dedication and desire to learn every aspect of Assisted Living, Carlton offered her a place in its internship program, where she spent about a month in each department – from dining services and housekeeping to shadowing managers. This immersive experience gave Innes invaluable insight into how each role contributes to the overall success of a senior living community. She is currently sales director at Carlton Senior Living in Davis. “Carlton has been nothing but good to me,” she said. “I think the amount of growth that I have had since I’ve only been with the company for five years makes me want to come to work every day and be my best because they absolutely give that back to me tenfold.”

Gianni Amari

After discovering his passion for senior living through childhood visits to his father’s RCFE communities, Gianni decided to attend a CALA conference meet-and-greet in search of new opportunities. That decision led him to connect with Carlton Senior Living, where he was soon hired as sales director. Through hard work and a commitment to providing excellent care, he has now achieved his longtime goal of becoming an executive director – a realization of the future he first envisioned while still in college. He will be transitioning to executive director at Carlton Senior Living Fremont in April. “Carlton has such a focus on the staff — the employees, frontline staff, the managers,” Gianni said. “Everyone preaches the idea that if you have happy, capable people in place to do their job, and you make sure they’re happy, they can do their best work possible.” Gianni’s success story highlights the impact of a supportive environment and shows how one conference connection can transform a dream into reality.