Cypress Cove Scholar: Tily Sayeh, LNHA, Assistant Skilled Nursing Facility Administrator, 10 Years of Service

Tily started in dining services 10 years ago!

What started as a part-time job in dining services as a teenager 10 years ago for Tily Sayeh has led to a rewarding career in health care administration. Tily, now a licensed nursing home administrator (LNHA), recently completed the rigorous administrator-in-training program through the Florida Board of Nursing Home Administrators and upon completion became Cypress Cove’s current assistant skilled nursing facility administrator. She is the first to complete this training program at Cypress Cove.

In her new role, Tily oversees compliance with all regulatory agencies and is responsible for the overall management of The Lodge at Cypress Cove, a skilled nursing facility on the luxurious retirement community’s campus.

“The ability to work for a company that supports employees in their academics and their career makes Cypress Cove stand out,” said Tily. “I have had opportunities to move into various roles within the company and expand my skill set in each one. Throughout the years, I have been able to participate in multiple leadership classes and programs as well as an internship that helped me reach my ultimate goal of becoming an LNHA.”

“Tily has been an integral part of Cypress Cove as she has grown within the organization,” said Matt Lessig, LNHA, associate executive director and Tily’s preceptor during her administrator-in-training program. “Her hard work, dedication and team player spirit brings great leadership to The Lodge and Cypress Cove. We’re all happy to keep her in the Cypress family.”

Speaking of family, Tily’s Cypress family roots include actual family roots! Her mom, Dining Operations Manager Amy Sayeh, is also a treasured long-term staff member at Cypress Cove.

Tily’s Cypress Cove career journey started in 2012 at age 16. As a dietary aid, she prepared and cleaned the dining space and served meals. In 2017, while attending Florida Gulf Coast University full time and working full time, she was promoted to dietary team leader and then health services administrative assistant a year later. Tily graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health science in 2019 and transitioned to health care scheduling coordinator in 2020. All positions were in The Lodge, Cypress Cove’s skilled nursing facility.

Her years of service and dedication in The Lodge helped pay for college expenses in more ways than one. In addition to earning a good paycheck and benefits, Tily was awarded the first Tatler Family Scholarship, funded by a resident of The Lodge for employees of The Lodge.

“Cypress Cove’s scholarships benefited me the most after I graduated from FSW with my AA and moved onto FGCU where the costs almost doubled,” Tily reported. “Having the additional funds to take the burden off the difference helped tremendously. I was able to graduate debt free and focus on my career goals.”

Plans to begin a master’s degree program are in Tily’s future. “With Cypress Cove’s generous tuition reimbursement and scholarship programs, I feel confident pursuing the next level of my career,” Tily said.

Tily appreciates the family environment at Cypress Cove. “I have been a part of many events and activities that help the staff and residents build closer relationships,” Tily shared. “A few of my favorites are the annual dog show, which includes both staff and residents’ pets, the resident and staff talent show, and various competitions like the pumpkin decorating contest and Halloween costume contest. It makes coming to work fun!”

When asked to share a favorite work memory, Tily couldn’t pick just one. “I actually have two favorite work memories” she said. “First, about five years ago, I was persuaded by the activities director in The Harbour to dress up as Marilyn Monroe for an event in Edison Hall. This was out of my comfort zone, but once I was there and saw the residents’ enjoyment, it ended up being one of the funniest experiences I have had.”

Tily’s second favorite work memory is a staff vs. resident bocce ball game fundraiser. “The resident team captains taught the staff how to play prior to the match. It was my first time playing and learning it alongside my co-workers made it that much more enjoyable,” Tily said. “Sadly, we didn’t win the match, but we had a great time trying.”