Future Leader: Tyler May, Operations Specialist, American House Senior Living Communities

Tyler May, Operations Specialist at American House Senior Living Communities, has been named to the Future Leaders Class of 2026 by Senior Housing News.

To become a Future Leader, an individual is nominated by their peers. The candidate must be a high-performing employee who is 40 years of age or younger, a passionate worker who knows how to put vision into action, and an advocate for older adults and the committed professionals who ensure their well-being.

May sat down with Senior Housing News to share what drew him to the senior housing & senior living industry, the biggest leadership lessons he has learned, his thoughts on the future of senior housing & senior living, and much more. To learn more about the Future Leaders Awards program, visit https://futureleaders.wtwhmedia.com/.

SHN: What drew you to the senior housing & senior living industry?

May: Growing up, I was always with my grandparents. In my opinion, senior housing is just another day at Grandma’s house.

I was dealt a great tragedy when my Dad passed away of early onset Alzheimer’s. I am personally able to relate to families enduring this. Anything I can do to make the lives of staff, residents and families easier or meaningful is my goal every day.

SHN: How would you describe your leadership style, and how has it changed over time?

May: I am a coach and I love to teach.

I believe the goal for each director should be for their department or building to be able to operate without you at the helm.

Early in my career, I was results- and numbers-driven, losing sight of what was important. COVID taught me to realize the importance of your people and that their satisfaction drives resident satisfaction.

SHN: What is the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned while serving the senior housing & senior living industry?

May: If your staff are happy, your residents are happy. People do not buy what you do. They buy why you do it.

SHN: In one word, how would you describe the senior housing & senior living industry and why?

May: Unique.

This industry is not like anything else. It is a mixture of healthcare and hospitality. It takes a unique skill set to operate in this industry.

SHN: What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges currently facing the senior housing & senior living industry?

May: These are the biggest opportunities and challenges facing senior housing & senior living:

• The rising cost for seniors
• Competition in your backyard
• Keeping good people inside the industry rather than losing them to others
• Getting young people more involved to grow the next generation of leaders

SHN: If you had a crystal ball, what do you think will impact the senior housing & senior living industry over the next 5-10 years?

May: These are the impacts I think we will see:

• Rising cost
• Heavier state regulations
• More technology
• AI-driven data for operators
• Creativity with staffing models

SHN: In your opinion, what qualities must all Future Leaders possess?

May: Every Future Leader must be able to think outside the box. Do not think like the rest. Be willing to take risks. It’s why we are recognized as Future Leaders because we did not follow; we led.

This industry is difficult; you must have the courage to get through the hard times. You must have good character; good people follow good people. 

Positivity and optimism go a long way. Each community I help support or operate I leave with as much good, positive culture as possible. That is one status quo I have never veered from.

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