Executive Director Jennifer Lambert blends faith, curiosity and community to guide Garden Spot Village forward
Written by Juanita Fox, director of media experiences and storytelling
Garden Spot Village’s new Executive Director Jennifer (Jen) Lambert brings a wealth of leadership and healthcare experience to the newly created role.
“I am an occupational therapist by training,” Jen says, “but I fell in love with leadership early in my career, serving in a variety of leadership roles with Lancaster General Health for more than 20 years. Along that journey, I chose to obtain my MBA so that I could be better equipped to serve and lead.”
When a friend forwarded the executive director job description to Jen, she admits that she brushed past it as she “wasn’t looking for a change.” God continued to prompt her curiosity, however, so, after prayerful consideration, she applied.
A FAITH JOURNEY
“I received a lot of confirmation along the way,” Jen says. “At one point I was in a group interview with about twelve people. Steve Lindsey came in and said, ‘This is a big decision for all of us. Let’s open with prayer.’ The fact that prayer was present in an interview was such a balm to my soul.”
She continues, “Throughout the interview process, I was continuously impressed by the quality of the community—from the accommodations to the relationships. In one of my first meetings with Steve Lindsey and Steve Muller, we took a tour. As we were walking, we met a resident and his family. Everyone seemed to truly know each other. The resident took time to tell me why Garden Spot Village is such a wonderful place to live.”
“The interactions were authentic; I felt like Garden Spot Village was going to be a place where I had permission to bring my whole
self to work—to be a friendly face, a welcoming presence. My entry into the community has continued to affirm that initial impression. Garden Spot Village is a place where I have permission to truly get to know people and interact with them,” Jen says.
A PATH OF DISCOVERY
Jen started as executive director in mid-October 2025 and has committed the first six months to capturing impressions, learning
about the community’s culture and building relationships. One of her first experiences was helping to serve at the monthly community meal at CrossNet Youth Ministries.
“Serving alongside the residents was really fun,” Jen reflects. “I loved the fact that the residents completely owned the event, and I
was just there to serve. Seeing them live out leadership and service and interact with each other, was powerful. There were a lot of pieces to the evening, but residents’ due diligence in making it memorable for the community was impressive.”
As far as leading the team at Garden Spot Village, Jen says, “I like to equip people and allow them to use their strengths, while
mentoring them on growth areas. I use a lot of humble inquiry, seeking to understand. I find that connecting people and helping them find ways to share knowledge is powerful and breaks down silos.”
CLOSE TO HOME
Eastern Lancaster County has always been home for Jen. She grew up near Bowmansville and attended ELANCO School District
through eighth grade. She graduated from Lancaster Mennonite High School, earned her undergraduate degree from Elizabethtown
College and obtained her MBA from Alvernia University. She and her family attend Weaverland Anabaptist Faith Community,
where they are very involved. She and her husband Tom live outside Bowmansville and will celebrate 28 years of marriage in June
2026. They have three adult sons, a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter!
Juanita Fox, director of media experiences and storytelling for Garden Spot Communities, brings a wealth of marketing and storytelling experience. She is the managing editor for Destination Magazine as well as the co-host for Garden Spot’s Purpose in Retirement Podcast.