Five years ago, Tiffany Kuznia began working for the Good Samaritan Society’s Heritage Grove location in East Grand Forks, Minnesota, and discovered an amazing place. Six months later, she recruited her dad, Gregg Otteson, to start a job there.
More recently, she encouraged her daughter Taya Otteson to join the team. Now, the three generations serve residents together, along with two other family members who volunteer – Tiffany’s mom and Tiffany’s youngest daughter.
“It’s a big family experience. I can keep track of my dad,” laughs Tiffany, director of activities and supervisor of the business office.
Tiffany, Gregg and Taya appreciate working together and the connections they make.
“The residents are the best part of my job and being able to interact with them, talk with them and pray with them,” says Tiffany. “It’s just an amazing place.”
Family members serve in a variety of roles
Tiffany started as the dietary manager and then took on the roles she has today.
“I take residents on outings and we do fun activities like going to the winery,” Tiffany says. “I coordinate a lot of functions. As office manager, I take care of all the finances and do a lot of the business side of things.”
Gregg is the lead maintenance mechanic. Except for some part-time help in the summer, he is normally the only employee in the department and is on-call 24/7.
“I do a lot of different things – from yard work and mowing to mechanical work, apartment repairs, painting and texturing. Everything in construction I try to do,” Gregg says.
He worked in maintenance for 30 years, mainly by himself, before coming to Heritage Grove. A friend noticed the lonely nature of his workdays and commented that he should find a job where he wasn’t by himself so much.
“It was just me and a bunch of buildings. And that’s when Tiffany called me,” states Gregg. “I got a tour and I realized I wouldn’t have to jump in a cold pickup truck every 10 minutes in the wintertime to move from building to building.”
More than four years later, he’s still thankful to be at Heritage Grove.
“The residents all absolutely love him,” says Tiffany.
Her daughter, Taya, is a medication aid. In addition to passing out medications, Taya checks blood pressure and insulin levels and provides other medical care that residents need. She also helps residents with showers and getting ready for the day and bedtime.
Tiffany’s daughter, Maggie, became a regular volunteer at Heritage Grove as a first grader.
“She comes in typically every Friday and usually brings a backpack full of books and crayons. She visits residents and reads with them and colors with them. She’s drawing pictures now with Grandma Joanie,” says Tiffany.
A positive, welcoming atmosphere
Tiffany wouldn’t trade her job for anything.
“For me, it’s the Society’s humble beginnings and value system. It’s Christ-centered, which I love. And that was the main selling point for me,” Tiffany states.
Gregg feels the same way, “I love the Lord and it’s just a good place to be.”
“Once you walk into Good Sam, you feel like you’re at home,” says Taya. “All the staff are very warm and welcoming. The people working around you have a great attitude. They’re very positive and they treat you like family.”
Taya graduated from high school in the spring of 2024 and enjoys her job so much she wants to become a registered nurse.
“Before she started here, she was going to be a social worker,” says Tiffany. “The role helped change her mind. So that was kind of cool.”
Gregg plans to retire, probably soon, but enjoys the environment so much that he would like to be back someday.
“I’m fixing up an apartment really nice for myself,” he laughs.
