Homer Alaska - Business

"It's a big complex," Cash said from his corner office in HSC's main building at the corner of Svedlund and Herndon streets. "We have 42 assisted living units, 40 independent living units in four different complexes, offer transportation services, have meal service in the dining room for people in the community and have an adult day program, Friendship Center. It's a fairly large operation and would be for a lot of places. It has a lot of unique parts to it."

Construction of a four-unit structure that would offer more living space is in the planning stages, with confirmation of funding anticipated in the near future.

The center has 45 full- and part-time employees and a crew of volunteers that assist clients, residents and staff.

Homer Senior Citizens operates on an annual budget of more than $1.5 million and currently has a waiting list for independent living units, said Cash.

In addition to HSC activities, the facilities' meeting space is used by several local organizations, including Rotarians, the Lions Club, card groups and for numerous special events.

"We try to be available to the community and get a lot of good support," said Cash.

His first two weeks in Homer offered Cash an opportunity to become well acquainted with Friendship Terrace, HSC's assisted living facility. One of the apartments was home until he could move into an HSC-owned home on Lee Street, which he is renting. Through regular meetings with other senior service providers in the Homer area, Cash also is becoming familiar with what the area offers for the senior population.

His arrival in Homer comes at a busy time for HSC. For starters, its tax season and, as in the past, the center is offering tax-preparation assistance for seniors on Mondays and Tuesdays.

"You can call the center to arrange an appointment, bring your Social Security card, picture ID and the necessary papers and we'll hook you up," Cash said.

As in the past, Friendship Center opens its doors to the public during the Homer Winter Carnival in February, serving cups of steaming hot chocolate to warm up parade watchers. Plans also are under way for the center's annual fundraising talent show, this year scheduled for April 14. In addition to showcasing local talent — musicians, dancers, singers — it includes an auction and door prizes. As its popularity has grown, talent show audiences grew to fill Friendship Center. In 2009, the show moved to the senior center dining room in order to accommodate a larger audience. This year it's moving to an even larger venue.

"We're having the talent show at the Homer Theatre. It's done such a good job that we're hitting the big time," said Cash, who laughingly claims to lack any talent fit for the stage.

Originally from Greenville, S.C., he completed undergraduate studies in psychology, pursued graduate studies in rehabilitation counseling and received his master's degree in public health administration from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1999.

Upon graduation, Cash served as administrator for an 86-bed nursing home in Ohio. His most recent position was in Mississippi, overseeing two nursing home sites where he was responsible financial and personnel management, public relations and marketing. Toward the end of 2009, he flew to Homer to interview for the HSC spot, and the day after Christmas was on his way north, leaving Mississippi for Alaska.

"I liked the program, liked the town when I came here and was interested in moving to Alaska," Cash said of reasons for making the move, even though it meant an Alaska Highway drive in the winter.

"I was very fortunate to hit a window of really good weather for most of the drive," he said, adding with a laugh, "It was interesting, driving 500-600 miles for six days, through Tennessee, Kansas, South and North Dakota and into Canada."

Cash replaces Fred Lau, who was the HSC administrator for 12 years. After Lau, who also was a former director of the Alaska Vocational Technical Center in Seward, announced early in 2009 his plans to retire, HSC began the search for a replacement. A four-member recruitment and selection committee initially offered the position to Traci Boschert, 43, of Anchorage. However, Boschert died just days before she was to begin at HSC in September. After her death, Lau agreed to serve as HSC's administrator until a new replacement could be found.

One of Cash's challenges is spreading the word about HSC services.

"It's part of human nature that you hear the message when you need it, so we want to have a presence here, getting the word out to what we do provide," he said. "And obviously, we want to run efficiently and be good community members."

Growing the center's membership also is a goal. Voting members must be at least 55 years old. Memberships are $20 per person per year with lifetime memberships set at $300.

HSC operates with a board of directors. John Kosch is the current president, with Gert Seekins vice president. Three board seats, each with a three-year term, are opening up and anyone interested in serving on the board can call the center.

"We're always looking for volunteers and, of course, we want to be remembered for the pick-click-give charitable (Permanent Fund Dividend) program," said Cash.

Cash has one more goal ahead of him, getting his family moved up from Mississippi. His wife, Teena, is a mental health therapist. He also has a 12-year-old daughter, Monica, and a 10-year-old son, Zackery.

"Hopefully they'll move this summer," he said.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky.@homernews.com.