12/26/2025
CINDY OLSEN’S HALF-CENTURY AT WESTVIEW CELEBRATED BY EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Cindy Olsen is recognized as the 2025 Employee of the Year at Westview Health Care Center. In honoring Cindy as the Dayville, CT facility’s 2025 honoree, Westview celebrates her 50 years of dedication—and counting! She has touched innumerable lives and contributed to every department’s operation spanning 5 decades at Westview. Throughout all of her different efforts, and at every level of her professional growth, Cindy has shown heartfelt passion to help others. Now in her 25th year as Westview’s Director of Nursing Services, her impact expands continually; helping others to help others across a legacy of generations.
On Christmas Day 1975, Cindy’s Westview journey began with the diligent duties of dishwashing. After working for some time as a Dietary Aide, she transferred to Housekeeping and Laundry Services and gained more familiarity with the skilled nursing environment throughout Westview. Her early interests in nursing care grew in these experiences, and flourished as she entered the field as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Adjacently, she started working with patients and residents in recreation, and in 1979, Cindy became Westview’s Therapeutic Recreation Director.
In December of 1980 Cindy set forth in her career as a Licensed Practical Nurse; finding her efforts in patient care to be highly rewarding and inspiring. Cindy aimed ever higher: when she earned her degree as a Registered Nurse in 1992, she continued caring for patients while pursuing positions of leadership. During these years, working to aid the patient population as the Infection Control Coordinator and promoting the growth of fellow colleagues as the In-Service Director instilled Cindy with important perspectives on the major operations within a skilled care setting. Next, in April 1995, she ascended to become a Certified Case Manager for those entrusted to Westview’s care and continued her work for a few years managing the needs, goals, and outcomes of rehabilitation cases. Ascending first as an Assistant Director of Nursing in 1998, she ultimately earned the role and responsibility of Westview’s Director of Nursing Services in February 2001.
Cindy credits her passion for nursing as a natural progression, considering she is a third-generation health care professional. Cindy grew up in the Killingly, CT area with her mother, her father, and her four siblings. She attended Killingly High School and Windham Technical High School to further her pre-college education in health care. She went forth from there to Becker College for her degrees as a Licensed Practical Nurse and as a Registered Nurse. Cindy and her husband Keith live in Killingly, CT. They are delightfully close in both proximity and heart to their two sons and their growing families. Cindy’s son Josh, his wife Jill, and their children Miles and Anabel, as well as Cindy’s son Justin, his wife Abita, and their children Aryanna and Aliyah are all within brief drives. Some of Cindy’s favorite activities take place in the great outdoors: she loves crafting, golf, fishing, and s***t shooting. Above all else—Cindy simply loves any time spent among family and friends. In receiving this award, Cindy acknowledged her gratitude for the principles, philosophies, and people of Westview.
“I sincerely appreciate this recognition—thank you! Over the years, I have been fortunate to work with an organization that truly listens, encourages open communication, and appreciates each and every one of us.” Cindy emphasized her gratitude for her colleagues: “I have been blessed in working with many team members that are truly caring, give exceptional care to the residents/patients of the facility, and exhibit their commitment and compassion on a regular basis. Thank you so much for this distinction!”
“Congratulations to Cindy on achieving the distinction of 2025 Employee of the Year!” remarked David T. Panteleakos, Administrator. “As Westview’s longest tenured employee, Cindy also has the unique distinction of being the longest serving Director of Nursing in Westview’s history. Now, with over 50 years of dedicated service to Westview, I share in congratulating and thanking Cindy for her remarkable longevity and dedicated service to the ultimate beneficiaries of her life’s work, the residents.”
Westview Health Care Center is a 103-bed inpatient skilled nursing facility, which includes a distinct and self-contained 28-bed sub-acute short term rehabilitation unit and outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapies including: Sports Medicine, Adolescent/Pediatric, Adult, and Aquatic Outpatient Centers, all dedicated to providing outstanding quality health care services. The Dayville, Connecticut facility is consistently ranked among the top nursing facilities in the nation, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as well as U.S. News and World Report, consecutively for the past 18 years.
