There is a certain rhythm to work days at Sunnyside, one that marketing coordinator Alice Halvorsen is still adjusting to as she settles into her new role. “That first week,” she told me with a laugh, “I was absolutely exhausted.”
The exhaustion, of course, is the good kind—the kind that comes from learning a new position in a place that never truly sits still.
For Alice, joining Sunnyside’s marketing team this June was a return to familiar terrain, though with a new vantage point. She has been part of the community for nearly two years already, working in resident services, which included coordinating transportation across the campus.
Before Sunnyside, Alice spent a decade in a corner of the marketing world most of us rarely consider: export compliance training. “It’s the driest topic imaginable,” she admitted. “But if I can market export compliance training, I can pretty much market anything.” The role involved helping companies navigate the labyrinth of international trade regulations—an exacting field where the consequences of mistakes are real. When COVID came, her team shrank, the work moved online, and Alice found herself working longer hours from home than she ever had in the office.
In some ways, the experience shaped her appreciation for a workplace with purpose. “At Sunnyside, I feel like I’m part of something that matters,” she said. “It’s not just a paycheck. You’re making a difference.”
Now, as marketing coordinator, Alice’s days are full of first impressions and follow-ups. She is the first person many prospective residents speak with when they reach out. Leads come from every direction—phone calls, referrals, website inquiries—and her job is to welcome, guide, and connect each person to the right sales counselor. “You’re really the first line of communication,” she said. “It’s about listening and making sure people feel comfortable.”
And she’s already adding new ideas to the mix. In August, she’ll coordinate “Comedy for a Cause,” a fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association featuring the Funny Womacks comedy troupe. “We’re hoping to create a real comedy club vibe,” she said. “Pack the house and raise some money for a good cause.”
Outside of work, Alice is a vintage camper enthusiast and second-hand collector. Her prize find: a $250 1969 pop-up camper that, despite a few quirks (“support arms that would probably be insurance claims today,” she joked), has carried her on many trips. She also loves refinishing old furniture, bringing new life to castoff pieces—not for resale, but simply because the work brings her joy.
She and her husband are empty nesters, their 29-year-old son now grown and married. These days, they enjoy taking off for weekend adventures, scouting for that perfect quiet state park. “I like being able to just pick up and go,” she said. “That’s the nice thing about being pet-free right now.”
As for her favorite part of working at Sunnyside? It comes down to people. “Everyone here is on the same page,” she said. “There’s this shared sense that we’re here to do the right thing, to serve the residents well. And that makes all the difference.”
