Three Summit Square name badges. Three different job titles. Nearly a decade of growth between them.
When Jacob McCauley looks at the badge he wore when he first joined Summit Square in 2016 and the one he wears today, they tell quite a story.
Jacob joined Summit Square in 2016 as a server, not necessarily knowing where the opportunity would take him. A lifelong Waynesboro resident and graduate of Waynesboro High School, his educational background was actually in information technology. He completed entry level certifications and programs in computer programming and robotics before discovering that his career might take a very different direction.
It did not take long after joining Summit Square for Jacob to realize he had found an industry, and a community, where he could see himself building a future.
“I started working at Summit Square in 2016 as a server and knew quickly that this industry was the right fit for me,” Jacob said.
Over the years, Jacob has worked his way through nearly every aspect of Dining Services. He has served residents, worked in the kitchen, supervised team members and taken on increasing levels of responsibility. Each role gave him a different perspective on what it takes to create an exceptional dining experience.
Now, that journey has brought him to his newest role as Summit Square’s Director of Dining Services.
Growing Alongside Summit Square
For Jacob, his career growth has always been closely connected to the relationships he has built along the way.
Dining, he believes, is about much more than preparing and serving a meal. Some of the details that matter most are often the smallest ones.
“I love to get to know the residents and team I’m working with, down to the details of their favorite drink or niche food preference,” he said.
That personal approach has remained important to Jacob as his responsibilities have grown. As Director of Dining Services, he hopes to continue creating an environment where residents receive exceptional service while team members feel trusted, supported and empowered in their work.
His progression from server to director has also included significant professional development. Jacob completed the Certified Dietary Manager and Certified Food Protection Professional program, credentials that allow him to work in tandem with Summit Square’s dietitian in skilled nursing. He has also completed Food Safety Manager and Instructor and Proctor training, as well as Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control training.
However, much of Jacob’s education has happened right at Summit Square.
Working in so many different positions within Dining Services has given him firsthand knowledge of the department and the people who make it successful. He understands what it is like to be the server interacting directly with residents, the person preparing meals in the kitchen and the supervisor helping a team navigate a busy day.
That experience is something he now carries with him as a director.
Three Badges, One Journey
The three name badges from 2016 and today offer a simple reminder of just how far that journey has taken him.
They also represent something important about the culture at Summit Square: a team member can arrive for one opportunity and discover an entire career.
“Through the continued support of the Summit Square community, I’ve grown through all the roles in Dining Services, from serving, to cooking, supervising, and now taking on my next challenge at the director level,” Jacob said.
For Executive Director Matt Dameron, Jacob’s advancement is an opportunity to celebrate not only a new leader, but someone who already understands the people and culture of Summit Square.
Jacob begins this next chapter with nearly a decade of relationships, experiences and lessons behind him, along with the same commitment to residents that he had when he first put on a Summit Square name badge in 2016.
When he is not at Summit Square, Jacob still enjoys exploring the community he has always called home. He spends much of his free time outdoors, whether hiking, kayaking or riding around Waynesboro on his new e bike.
As for what comes next, Jacob is ready to keep growing.
“I’m looking forward to this next chapter here at Summit Square,” he said.
And those name badges serve as a pretty fitting reminder of where that next chapter began.
