East Tennessee has drawn another “tourist” to its mountainous bosom and turned her into a resident. The folks at Frank R. Strang Senior Center are the beneficiaries of Denise Droullard Stocks’ love of Tennessee and seniors.
Stocks moved to East Tennessee from Florida and has been assistant coordinator at Strang since January, working with coordinator Lauren Monahan. Her visits to East Tennessee as a tourist made this area No. 1 on her list when she decided to leave Florida.
“I like the culture, the location, the weather, the people,” says Stocks. “It is just the perfect place for me. Getting a job at Strang completed the picture. I have been working with seniors for about 20 years, and I truly love coming to work every day.”
She was Denise Droullard when she started at the center at 109 Lovell Heights Road in January. On April 13, she married Byron Stocks, who also moved here from Florida. Her daughter lives in Michigan, and her son’s family, including her three grandchildren, live in Washington, D.C.
Seniors are an evolving group, says Stocks. “I find that seniors all want pretty much the same things, no matter where they live. We have great programming here that tries to meet those needs – from the ever-popular line dancing classes to computer classes to fitness.”
Today’s seniors are younger in mind, spirit and body, says Stocks, and they like to keep up with the times. “Active seniors are coming to the centers, and they are concerned about their health. They are looking for fitness routines that are fun and beneficial.”
Saying she has always “had a passion for seniors,” Stocks says the team at Strang makes the workplace a rewarding place to work. “It’s a great team – both staff and volunteers – and creativity and good ideas are encouraged and shared.”
If she had a magic wand and could bestow one gift on Strang, she already knows what that gift would be:
“More parking!”