Leading with Care

Bob Goyette’s journey from military medic to leader at Liberty Senior Living is rooted in service, compassion and a belief that people come first.

Serving others has been at the pulse of Bob Goyette’s being for decades. He is currently serving as chief operations officer at Liberty Senior Living, the Wilmington, N.C.–based owner and operator of more than 20 senior living communities across the Southeastern United States, but his desire to help and care for those in need was sparked years ago in the U.S. military.

“When I enlisted, I knew that I wanted to be in some kind of position where I was helping others,” Goyette says. “So I went into the medical field with the military and did a lot of different jobs as a combat medic for the Army originally and then transferred to the Air Force.”

This, he says, is when he was first introduced to his passion for the healthcare system, both while working in the field, where he was awarded the coveted Expert Field Medical Badge, and in stationary hospitals to truly understand more about the entire healthcare continuum.

“I knew then that I was in the right place,” he says.

Goyette went on to serve in the healthcare field as a medical evacuation technician for patients in flight on the C-141 Starlifters. He then received a direct commission as a medical services corps officer, like a hospital administrator in the Air Force Reserves.

After these accomplishments, he earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing at Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio, and earned his MBA with a concentration in healthcare from David Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee.

The shift for Goyette’s career into overseeing senior living operations kickstarted in Cincinnati, Ohio, when he was 26. After more than 32 years of progressively working in the industry, he found his way to North Carolina.

“It just seemed like a great fit for me because what’s most important is to be best in the world at recruiting, hiring, training and retaining people who share our passion and values,” he says. “It’s all about the people.”

Goyette has been in a C-suite position for more than 10 years and has held nearly every leadership role in senior living, including sales director, executive director, regional director, divisional vice president and executive vice president. Over the course of his career, he has successfully opened more than 50 senior living communities across the country.

Today, Goyette’s day-to-day involves leading the operations team at Liberty Senior Living, which offers a full continuum of services in the senior living industry. Liberty Senior Living operates 55+ active adult communities, independent living for active adults celebrating their freedom from homeownership, assisted living and memory care communities, and continuing care retirement communities, which provide a seamless transition to increased levels of assistance while maintaining independence and purpose.

“What I love most about what I do is helping develop other leaders,” Goyette says. “For me, it’s really about working with a group of leaders, leveraging their strengths and helping them achieve things that they didn’t even think they could achieve. That’s been the most rewarding parts about my career.”

Goyette and the team at Liberty Senior Living are proud of the varying ranges of ages of their community members.

“As people become more aware of what we offer, our residents are coming in younger and younger as they are eager to enjoy the lifestyle earlier,” Goyette says. “Furthermore, because we have a culture of promoting wellness in every aspect of our operations, residents are living longer, healthier lives and expanding the age range of our residents.”

Goyette is also proud of the strong support system Liberty Senior Living offers for family members.

“We are not only there for the resident, but also for the family members,” he says. “We are here to help people through all stages of their loved ones’ lives and to elongate their quality of life.”

The special ones in Goyette’s life are his wife, Kim, of 35 years and their three grown children. Goyette and Kim live in Leland, and their children are spread across in the country in Durham, North Carolina; Louisville, Kentucky; and Fort Myers, Florida. One of his sons followed in his father’s footsteps, serving in the Air Force for the past seven years in security forces.

With humility and determination, Goyette is focused on developing people, elevating operations and reinforcing Liberty’s mission-driven culture.

“I’m very proud to be part of a company that is not only looking to grow, but to grow with a purpose,” he says. “I am thankful for the entire team at Liberty and the values that they live each day. Together, we will continue to build upon this great legacy of families caring for families.”