Roy Manno did not plan to end up in senior living. After 27 years with Sodexo, his career was abruptly interrupted during the early days of the pandemic. What followed became one of the most meaningful transitions of his professional life. Five years ago, he joined Kendal-Crosslands Communities and found what he describes as his “happy place,” a role that blends technical leadership, environmental stewardship, and human connection.
Roy Manno | Kendal-Crosslands Communities | Director, Facilities
“Coming to Kendal-Crosslands has been the best thing that has personally happened to me professionally,” Manno says.
Kendal-Crosslands Communities is a Quaker-founded senior living organization located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, set across more than 500 acres of rolling meadows, protected woodlands, gardens, and waterways in the Brandywine Valley. The organization operates four campuses, Kendal at Longwood, Crosslands, Cartmel, and Coniston, serving nearly 1,000 residents with a waiting list that stretches for more than a decade. The campuses are known for their expansive trail network, vibrant resident engagement, and a culture grounded in values.
As director of facilities, Manno oversees five service lines that touch nearly every aspect of daily life on campus: maintenance and plant operations, grounds and landscaping, resident transportation, construction management, and campus responders who provide light maintenance and safety support. His department of approximately 50 employees supports independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing environments while managing complex regulatory requirements tied to healthcare, safety, and environmental protection.
“It’s not a golf resort. It’s a home,” Manno says. “Every decision we make has to respect that.”
Building a people-first facilities culture
Facilities leadership at Kendal-Crosslands is rooted in collaboration rather than hierarchy. Hiring practices reflect the same philosophy. The organization avoids third-party recruiters, relying instead on HR-led sourcing combined with hands-on involvement from department managers. Candidates are screened not only for technical qualifications but also for cultural alignment through group interviews and mission-based conversations.
Manno emphasizes that senior living offers far more than many people expect. With modern building systems, diverse resident needs, and a campus infrastructure that rivals small municipalities, the work requires both technical expertise and emotional intelligence. The resident population includes former doctors, engineers, professors, judges, and executives who bring both insight and curiosity into daily interactions.
On any given day, Manno may find himself in meetings where residents provide professional-level feedback on building systems and infrastructure design.
“I’ve sat in rooms where the person who designed the HVAC system we’re maintaining is sitting across the table from me,” he says.
That level of engagement reinforces the responsibility his team carries. The department also manages emergency preparedness, life safety compliance, and environmental oversight in coordination with the Department of Health, OSHA, and state environmental agencies. The campuses draw approximately 80,000 gallons of water per day, operate legacy water storage infrastructure, and protect sensitive watershed areas, including streams, ponds, and the 80-acre Big Woods conservation zone.
Manno’s leadership style sets the tone. Known for his calm demeanor and steady approach, he focuses on developing people rather than seeking recognition. With retirement several years away, his priority is building a leadership pipeline that ensures continuity long after he steps away.
Reshaping senior living through design & operations
Kendal-Crosslands is currently in the middle of one of the most ambitious revitalization programs in its history. At the center of that effort is the Kendal at Longwood Health Center expansion, an 88,000-square-foot addition that represents a $53 million, three-year healthcare investment.
The expansion reflects a broader shift in senior living. Residents are staying in their homes longer, entering care later, and expecting larger, more flexible living environments. The project is designed primarily around assisted living, with 18 new independent living apartments added as part of the expansion. Once the addition opens, the existing health center will move into renovation, allowing the campus to modernize without disrupting care delivery.
The project has been structured around early and continuous collaboration. Manno’s internal teams, including plant operations, grounds, and campus responders, were embedded in design and commissioning discussions from the beginning. Their feedback influenced alarm system layouts, mechanical room access, electrical routing, and serviceability decisions that will reduce long-term maintenance challenges.
“Each day we come here to take care of people,” Manno says. “At the end of your career, to be able to say that, there’s value in that.”
That same philosophy is guiding the upcoming Crosslands Community Center renovation, a $3.5 million project scheduled for January through September 2026. The renovation will modernize entrances, lobbies, auditorium spaces, and support areas while expanding craft and hobby shops that play a central role in resident life. These are the spaces where daily social interaction happens, where residents gather for performances, workshops, and meetings across more than 140 active resident committees.
In parallel, the campus is planning outdoor enhancements that reinforce social connection. A former putting green will be converted into a multi-sport court featuring shuffleboard, bocce, and putting areas, along with a covered pavilion that supports year-round activity regardless of weather.
Environmental stewardship at campus scale
Environmental responsibility is not an abstract concept at Kendal-Crosslands. It is embedded in daily operations. The organization manages streams, ponds, spray fields, and forested acreage that require careful coordination between facilities operations and conservation planning. A 22-acre deer fence supports reforestation efforts, and hundreds of trees are planted each year to strengthen habitat and erosion control.
One of the most complex upcoming initiatives is the wastewater treatment modernization project planned for 2027. The current system relies on pond-based storage and treatment. The future system will transition to underground tank storage and treatment, improving environmental protection while maintaining reclaimed water use on campus spray fields rather than discharging into nearby waterways.
The project will also create opportunities to reclaim land currently occupied by treatment ponds. One outcome will be the extension of a connector road that improves campus circulation between communities, enhancing both safety and accessibility.
This type of infrastructure investment rarely draws attention from residents, yet it quietly shapes the quality of life across the campus. For Manno, that invisible impact is part of the reward.
Finding purpose in the spaces between
After decades in corporate facilities leadership, Manno has found a setting that aligns professional expertise with personal values. Kendal-Crosslands offers scale, complexity, and technical challenge, but it also offers something less tangible. A sense of belonging.
His role places him at the intersection of people, place, and legacy. Every renovation, infrastructure upgrade, and hiring decision contributes to an environment where residents can age with dignity and staff can build meaningful careers.
Rather than focusing on personal accolades, Manno measures success through continuity. Developing his team, strengthening partnerships with contractors and vendors, and ensuring the next generation of leaders is ready to step forward have become central to his mission.
At Kendal-Crosslands, facilities management is not simply about maintaining buildings. It is about stewardship by design. Creating spaces that support connection, health, and community today while preserving the land and culture that will serve residents tomorrow.
