Belmont Village Senior Living, a leading developer, owner and operator of senior living communities, is honored to announce that two employees were awarded the Texas Assisted Living Association (TALA) HERO Award for displaying the highest levels of care and dedication in senior living. Brit Burk, Executive Director at Belmont Village West University, was recognized as Executive Director of the Year for being a hands-on leader with an immense dedication to his community. Angie Montelongo, Activities Program Coordinator at Belmont Village West University received the HERO Award for Life Enrichment/Activities Director for creating a dynamic and enriching learning environment for residents.
“Belmont Village would not be what it is without our amazing team members and their true passion for providing the highest level of care,” said Patricia Will, CEO and Founder of Belmont Village Senior Living. “We are so proud of Brit and Angie for going above and beyond for the residents we serve daily and their exceptional leadership. It is an honor to have them as a part of the Belmont Village team and we congratulate them for receiving the TALA HERO Award.”
With more than 160 nominations submitted, Burk and Montelongo are two of the 14 winners recognized at the 2024 TALA Conference and Industry Expo at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort held April 2-4. The HERO Awards recognize outstanding recipients in ten categories for their significant contributions to the senior living community.
Burk has risen to serve as the executive director of the West University community, Belmont Village’s first location after first joining the Executive Director in Training Program in 2020. He was promoted to executive director at West University in 2021. Burk takes a hands-on approach to leadership, jumping in to help his colleagues with any task, and is always approachable and supportive. His tenure has been marked by higher employee retention and job satisfaction in the community, employing a transparent communication style and creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust.
“Brit has an unwavering passion for senior care, making everyone he comes in contact with feel welcome and comforted,” said Will. “His management style encourages his team to stay positive but allows them to learn from mistakes and highlights their strengths. It is incredible what Brit has been able to accomplish in the 2.5 years he has served as executive director. We are so honored to have him on our team.”
Montelongo has served as the activities program coordinator at Belmont Village West University since 2022. Utilizing her background in education, Montelongo takes an innovative approach to learning for the residents, having introduced intergenerational programming to the community and forming partnerships with local schools. She organized a reoccurring senior prom in collaboration with St. John’s School that has become a favorite tradition at Belmont Village West University. Her colleagues recognize how her vision and leadership have made a huge impact on the learning, growth and experiences of the community.
“Angie has been instrumental in shaping the programming for Belmont Village West University,” said Will. “How she approaches learning with our residents demonstrates her passion and it is truly remarkable to see what she has accomplished. Angie is a shining example of how to foster engagement and connections within the Belmont Village community and the surrounding community.”