ClareOaks SENIOR LIVING Biaystok's loss is Bartlett's gain When she arrived in Chicago in 2004, Agnes Ulanicki was a year out of college with a degree in engineering. That's a long way from her current position at Clare Oaks, the continuing care retirement community in Bartlett, where she became financial controller in 2018. But it's a mere stone's throw when you consider her journey to Chicago in the first place. Agnes grew up in Biaystok, a medium- sized city in northeast Poland, and graduated from Biaystok Technical Institute. "But after graduating I told my mother I thought I picked the wrong industry," she recalls. Unsure of her next move, she decided to make it a big one - starting over in a new country. A college friend had relocated to Chicago and offered a place to bunk. "I had the opportunity to come here and I took advantage of it," Agnes explains. She had no job in sight, and her English needed brushing up. "But when I was finishing college and had no responsibilities, no husband or children, I didn't ask "why.' It was an residents, she has forged deep connections with adventure!" With an eye toward changing professions, she enrolled in a program for English as a Second Language at Wilbur Wright College in Chicago. desk just to say hello. And I feel like I am here Searching next for a university that offered financial aid toward a new degree, she found North Park University (on Chicago's north side). to be there for them- like I would be for my where she received a scholarship and earned an MBA. Agnes Ulanicki is financial controller for Clare Oaks staff and residents at Clare Oaks. Even though her job does not include much interaction with those she's met. "It's my second family here," she says with a bit of wonder. "The residents will stop by my to help them in any way I can. They worked all their lives, and if they need help now, I want parents and grandparents. "The first time you move away is hard, of course," she admits. "But after that, I think, the next time would be easier. I joke with my husband that if we ever needed to move to another state for work, I could do that. I already moved to another country!" (But just to clarify: they have no such plans.) Agnes landed a job as an accountant in a large company's corporate office, where she hoped for the chance to learn more about her adopted vocation. But after several years, the job had become a dead end and she grew tired of life in a big office. She discovered a job posting for Clare Oaks and signed on as senior accountant in 2017, gaining enough experience to be named controller within ten months. Another state? Just another stone's throw. About Clare Oaks Since 2008, Clare Oaks provides independent living apartments and cottages as well as a continuum of care for nearly 300 residents on its 41-acre campus. Lifestyle and healthcare "I am just so thankful for this opportunity to grow in my profession," she says, singling out the support and mentorship of Clare Oaks CEO Gigi Walker. Agnes lives in Carol Stream with her husband programs include independent living, Daniel - a bank compliance officer - and their 3-year-old son Nathan. Like many first- generation immigrants who arrived just out of college, she left her family behind when she moved to Chicago. She has managed to get back to Biaystok only a couple times -most recently for Nathan to spend time getting to know his grandparents - and plans to make more frequent trips as Nathan grows up. But while she misses her relatives, Agnes has been lucky to gain a surrogate family among the 825 Carillon Drive, Bartlett, Ill., call assisted living, memory support, short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. Clare Oaks boasts an overall five-star rating. the highest for skilled nursing and short- term rehab, from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. In both 2018/19 and 2019/20, US News & World Report awarded Clare Oaks a high-performance ranking for Short-Term Stay Rehab. For more information about Clare Oaks, 630.372.1983 or visit ClareOaks.org. ClareOaks SENIOR LIVING Biaystok's loss is Bartlett's gain When she arrived in Chicago in 2004, Agnes Ulanicki was a year out of college with a degree in engineering. That's a long way from her current position at Clare Oaks, the continuing care retirement community in Bartlett, where she became financial controller in 2018. But it's a mere stone's throw when you consider her journey to Chicago in the first place. Agnes grew up in Biaystok, a medium- sized city in northeast Poland, and graduated from Biaystok Technical Institute. "But after graduating I told my mother I thought I picked the wrong industry," she recalls. Unsure of her next move, she decided to make it a big one - starting over in a new country. A college friend had relocated to Chicago and offered a place to bunk. "I had the opportunity to come here and I took advantage of it," Agnes explains. She had no job in sight, and her English needed brushing up. "But when I was finishing college and had no responsibilities, no husband or children, I didn't ask "why.' It was an residents, she has forged deep connections with adventure!" With an eye toward changing professions, she enrolled in a program for English as a Second Language at Wilbur Wright College in Chicago. desk just to say hello. And I feel like I am here Searching next for a university that offered financial aid toward a new degree, she found North Park University (on Chicago's north side). to be there for them- like I would be for my where she received a scholarship and earned an MBA. Agnes Ulanicki is financial controller for Clare Oaks staff and residents at Clare Oaks. Even though her job does not include much interaction with those she's met. "It's my second family here," she says with a bit of wonder. "The residents will stop by my to help them in any way I can. They worked all their lives, and if they need help now, I want parents and grandparents. "The first time you move away is hard, of course," she admits. "But after that, I think, the next time would be easier. I joke with my husband that if we ever needed to move to another state for work, I could do that. I already moved to another country!" (But just to clarify: they have no such plans.) Agnes landed a job as an accountant in a large company's corporate office, where she hoped for the chance to learn more about her adopted vocation. But after several years, the job had become a dead end and she grew tired of life in a big office. She discovered a job posting for Clare Oaks and signed on as senior accountant in 2017, gaining enough experience to be named controller within ten months. Another state? Just another stone's throw. About Clare Oaks Since 2008, Clare Oaks provides independent living apartments and cottages as well as a continuum of care for nearly 300 residents on its 41-acre campus. Lifestyle and healthcare "I am just so thankful for this opportunity to grow in my profession," she says, singling out the support and mentorship of Clare Oaks CEO Gigi Walker. Agnes lives in Carol Stream with her husband programs include independent living, Daniel - a bank compliance officer - and their 3-year-old son Nathan. Like many first- generation immigrants who arrived just out of college, she left her family behind when she moved to Chicago. She has managed to get back to Biaystok only a couple times -most recently for Nathan to spend time getting to know his grandparents - and plans to make more frequent trips as Nathan grows up. But while she misses her relatives, Agnes has been lucky to gain a surrogate family among the 825 Carillon Drive, Bartlett, Ill., call assisted living, memory support, short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. Clare Oaks boasts an overall five-star rating. the highest for skilled nursing and short- term rehab, from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. In both 2018/19 and 2019/20, US News & World Report awarded Clare Oaks a high-performance ranking for Short-Term Stay Rehab. For more information about Clare Oaks, 630.372.1983 or visit ClareOaks.org.