Philip Wilcoxson started at the Lee’s Summit community 13 years ago, as a co-manager with his wife, Patty Jo, of 23 years. After nine months of being at Lee’s Summit, he became the general manager. His goal has always been to serve the wonderful people in this community and their families who live here. He, along with his great staff, “Serves with a Spirit of Excellence” and strives to make all who enter feel welcome. After 10 years as manager, Philip was promoted to the executive director position by Solstice. Philip’s previous years of experience in sales and management prepared him for all the duties of this position. He has now risen to these new challenges as an executive director, continuing to manage one of the highest-census communities in the Lee’s Summit area. His greatest hobby is fulfilling his motto that he puts on his business cards: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Kirk Briscoe has been in the sales and marketing position at this community for the past seven years. He grew up in the area and graduated from Lee’s Summit High School back when there was just one. Now, there are three high schools. He says, “I always knew this town would grow larger, but I had no idea of the actual potential.” Kirk loves his work, especially the part that consists of helping seniors decide, when the day comes, that they shouldn’t be living alone any longer. “It’s very rewarding to share the solution Solstice Senior offers families.” With his wife, Cindy, of nearly 34 years, Kirk has four grown children and seven grandchildren. Together, they enjoy their leisure time boating and doing watersports, passing that love down to their family.

Mona Simmons is the Business Office director at Solstice Senior Living at Lee’s Summit. She has worked in senior care for the past eight years as an assistant manager. When Mona had the opportunity to combine two of her passions – serving others and working with numbers – she jumped at the chance to rejoin the team and many familiar resident faces at the community in Lee’s Summit.

Mona grew up in the rural area of north central Kansas, where she and Garith, her husband of 46 years, raised their two boys. She loved teaching high school mathematics, gardening, sewing, and participating in community and church activities.

Early in their marriage, Garith and Mona were house parents for 12 boys at a time at New Mexico Boys Ranch. She and her husband relocated to the Lee’s Summit area when their son and his wife started their family. Grandchildren are her delight.

Brent Frisbie is the chef at Solstice Senior Living of Lee’s Summit. After attending Le Cordon Bleu in Las Vegas at the age of 25, Brent ventured into a culinary career that has lasted over two decades. He has worked all over the world catering VIP special meals for sports teams and cruise lines. In 2013, Brent moved to Dallas and became the executive chef and culinary adviser for a company servicing senior living centers, in addition to starting his own private catering company. In 2016, Brent moved to Kansas City and became a chef instructor in order to be able to spend more time at home with his family, and to help educate the next generation of future culinarians.

Theresa Tanner has been working in the activities department for six years. Originally from Raytown, Mo., Theresa graduated from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo., in 2008. While living in downtown Kansas City, Mo., for over 25 years, she worked with state and federal offenders. After meeting her husband and getting married, they moved to Belton, Mo. This is where they have lived for 30 years.

Before Theresa’s father passed away in 2009, he resided at Solstice Senior Living at Lee’s Summit for three years. It was during this time that Theresa became acquainted with the building and its residents and decided that it would be fun to work with the older population.

Theresa enjoys getting to know the residents and working with them to connect with each other, the community and their families. She loves planning new adventures every month and continuing monthly activities that work well for the residents. The residents simply enjoy the once-a-month “Mystery Trips” on the Solstice bus.

Charles Rhodes has been in the apartment industry for almost 40 years, with most of his experience working in senior living community-style apartments. He’s been serving the Lee’s Summit community for the last 12 of those 40 years.

Over the years, he has held multiple positions, including assistant manager, manager and maintenance supervisor. Now, Charles serves as the building services director, where he oversees any construction, maintenance and housekeeping duties. Keeping 140 or so residents happy is his main goal, and according to our residents, he does a fine job at it.

Born and raised here in the Jackson County area, Charles is a local guy with a love and loyalty for the local sports teams. This includes Chiefs football and Royals baseball, which are his passion. He and his wife, Terri, have three grown children between them. Charles loves his job and believes the best part of it is how working for the seniors has helped him become the person he is now in life. His words of advice are to “just listen to what they are saying.”

Patty Jo Wilcoxson has been in this great community for 13 years, serving at the side of her husband, Philip, as managing partners. When the change came for Solstice, it was the proper time for her to become the head concierge and become serve at the community’s front desk. She believes in loving and caring for her residents and their families as her own family. She enjoys being a part of the great staff here as we join arm and arm to help care for these wonderful seniors. Her job to smile in-person and on the phone sets the tone of a great experience for visitors and residents alike.