--- title: Executive Director Celebrates 30 Years in El Cerrito description: Executive Director, Janet James, Celebrates 30 Years at Eskaton Hazel Shirley Manor, an affordable housing community in El Cerrito, CA. image: https://blog.eskaton.org/hubfs/2016/Q2/Blog_images/JanetHSM.jpeg --- [![Logo](https://blog.eskaton.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo.png?width=350&height=75&name=Logo.png "Logo")](https://www.eskaton.org/) **[eskaton.org](https://www.eskaton.org/)** [Eskaton](https://blog.eskaton.org/author/eskaton) 18 November, 2021 | 2 min read Search Blog ### Posts by Topic - [Independent Living (157)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/independent-living) - [Assisted Living (105)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/assisted-living) - [Residents + Staff (103)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/residents-staff) - [Wellness Tips (101)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/wellness-tips) - [In the News (81)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/news) - [Information & Assistance (53)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/information-assistance) - [Testimonials (50)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/reviews) - [Philanthropy (43)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/giving) - [Eskaton Village Carmichael (35)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/eskaton-village-carmichael) - [About Eskaton (34)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/eskaton) - [Ask the Expert (30)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/ask-the-expert) - [LifeBios by Students (23)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/lifebios) - [Senior Living Community (19)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/senior-living-community) - [Age is Beautiful (18)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/age-is-beautiful) - [Celebrating Diversity (17)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/celebrating-diversity) - [Living with Dementia (17)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/memory) - [Memory Care (17)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/memory-care) - [Technology (14)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/technology) - [Signs it is Time for Help (13)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/signs-it-is-time-for-help) - [Well-Being Philosophy (13)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/well-being-philosophy) - [Senior Living (12)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/senior-living) - [Emotional Health (7)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/emotional-health) - [Fall Prevention (7)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/fall-prevention) - [Kids Connection (7)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/kids-connection) - [Heart Health (5)](https://blog.eskaton.org/topic/heart-health) ## Executive Director Celebrates 30 Years in El Cerrito *Meet Janet M. James, Executive Director, Eskaton Hazel Shirley Manor since 1986.* **![20160725_075411.jpg](https://blog.eskaton.org/hs-fs/hubfs/2016/Q3/Blog_Images/20160725_075411.jpg?width=559&height=453&name=20160725_075411.jpg)** *Janet with President and CEO Todd Murch at the Quarterly Executive meeting, July 2016.* **What did you do prior to joining Eskaton?** I was in retail sales. Two years prior to joining Eskaton, I completed my BA degree in Social Science from UC Berkeley. I wrote my senior thesis on housing for the elderly. It has been great  to actually do what I went to school for. **Have you always worked at the same Eskaton location?** Yes! I opened Eskaton Hazel Shirley Manor in El Cerrito, California, on July 12, 1986 at the young age of 26. I was praying I’d make it a year. Hard to believe it has been 30 years since that day! **Favorite part of your job:** Knowing that what I do directly helps someone, especially seniors. I get to see the impact we have on a personal and daily basis. It is a feel good job. **Greatest memory at work:** My greatest memory isn’t a single event in time. Looking back I can recall so many seniors and their stories, and how they became like family. Those memories I treasure, and will be what I will take away from my career here. **What kind of advice do you give someone starting a career in senior services?** It’s a great field to be in. Thanks to the aging baby boomer generation, you will always be in demand. But most importantly, you will feel you have made a difference in someone’s life, and they in yours. How great is that! Janet's daughter Alyssa followed in her footsteps by doing a [website ](http://jamesaly2.wix.com/aginginamerica)and [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGGt-fqD-p8) for her senior project called ***Aging in America*** about immigrants. [Read about the seniors who immigrated to the US.](http://jamesaly2.wix.com/aginginamerica) Janet's two daughters Alyssa and Maria at the 30-year celebration of Eskaton Hazel Shirley Manor.![James_Daughters.jpg](https://blog.eskaton.org/hs-fs/hubfs/2016/Q3/Blog_Images/James_Daughters.jpg?width=559&height=373&name=James_Daughters.jpg) ![Three_Sisters.jpg](https://blog.eskaton.org/hs-fs/hubfs/2016/Q3/Blog_Images/Three_Sisters.jpg?width=559&height=373&name=Three_Sisters.jpg)Janet and her two sisters grew up in Berkeley. They have been part of the Eskaton Hazel Shirley Manor extended family over the last 30 years.   ### Share This Post! - - - ## Get in touch! Feel free to contact us to learn more about all of our senior care services. [![Logo REV](https://blog.eskaton.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo%20REV.png?width=1500&height=322&name=Logo%20REV.png "Logo REV")](https://eskaton.org) © 2025 Eskaton • All Rights Reserved - - - -