Aubrey, a regional director of operations at Cassia, was unsure about a resume she received for the administrator position at Haven Homes in Maple Plain, MN, in 2023.

“When we posted for the administrator position and saw a resume come through from Montana, I was a little skeptical on how serious this applicant was about moving to Minnesota,” Aubrey says of Josh Brown. “Within 10 minutes of our Zoom interview, I knew Josh was the person I wanted for the role.”

Montana Upbringing

The Haven Homes position was the first job Josh had beyond his home state.

He grew up in north central Montana, earned a business management degree from Montana State University in Bozeman and pursued a Master’s degree in healthcare administration from MSU-Billings.

His first job after college was as the administrator of a small nursing home in northwestern Montana. Over the next 20 years, he served as administrator at five skilled nursing facilities in western and central Montana.

In 2020, he switched careers to become a project coordinator for Unite for Youth in northwest Montana, where he promoted leadership and drug and alcohol prevention with high school students.

As he returned to the healthcare field, he chose to do so in Minnesota, where his two oldest daughters play college volleyball.

Childhood Memories Lead to Career

His decision to enter the healthcare field all began with his father’s career choice.

“My dad started his career as the administrator of a small critical access hospital with an attached nursing home in my hometown,” Josh says. “I have vivid memories of walking through the facility vising with residents and staff, weekend country music groups with banjos and fiddles, special events in the community and engaging in so many fun activities.”

When he started his Master’s program, his goal was to follow in his father’s footsteps. He had the opportunity for an internship at a faith-based Life Plan community in Billings.

“The community had all levels of care from independent living and assisted living to skilled nursing to memory care,” Josh says. “While there, I started to see healthcare, and specifically elder care, in a new light. I recalled my childhood and the memories that I had from growing up and those memories were not made in the hospital setting but rather the nursing home setting.”

A Rewarding Job

Josh says “knowing every day that this team is striving to make life better for our residents and their families and for our employees” is rewarding. He calls the Haven Homes team top notch.

“Whether we are hosting a holiday party or giving a tour or engaged in a difficult situation, the level of professionalism and care and compassion that is displayed is inspiring,” Josh says. “I am rewarded by being a part of a tremendous group of people who have created a culture within Haven Homes that truly embraces the mission and service standards of Cassia.”

Even before he moved to Minnesota, he felt connected to a close-knit community, he says.

“It has always been evident to me that Cassia is Christ-centered and I know that the connectedness comes from being Christ-filled,” Josh says.

Fitting Into the Culture

Aubrey says Josh lives with integrity.

“He is just a good person, through and through,” Aubrey says. “He has a strong faith, which blends so well with Cassia’s culture, but also speaks to who he is as a person.”

She added that she enjoys working with Josh for a number of reasons.

“I know he will ask good questions, listen to the answer and follow direction,” she says. “Josh always wants to do the right thing, from following policies and procedures correctly to ensuring his staff have all the necessary tools to do their job.”

Aubrey says she believes Josh was led to Haven Homes for a reason.

“God has a plan for us. Haven Homes is a special place and it needed a special leader,” she says.

Ultimately, Aubrey says she is glad that she took Josh’s application seriously and that he opted to relocate.

 “Having to move a family of nine from northwest Montana to the Twin Cities took a lot of time and coordination, but I knew Josh would be worth the wait,” Aubrey says. “And, I love when I’m right!”