John Knox Village of Florida, Inc. (JKV), an internationally award-winning Life-Plan Continuing Care Retirement Community in sunny Pompano Beach, Florida, is renowned for its innovative wellness and life enrichment for all residents.

Fitness Manager Erik Nenortas, a 28-year employee, is a fitness professional and Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) who leads the Best-In-Class team of licensed professionals, full-time trainers, and class instructors who teach throughout JKV’s 70-acre campus.

Erik is responsible for all fitness staffing, gym equipment, and class implementation. JKV currently has 47 fitness classes per week. Individual personal training and classes are held at the Fitness Studio, Aquatic Complex, Village Centre, Cassels Tower, Heritage Tower, and Village Towers apartment building party rooms. There are many classes to choose from including aerobics, strength & balance, aquatic fitness, karate, Tai Chi, Pilates, yoga, pickleball, meditation, and Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery.

Erik states, “Do your very best to help others succeed in life! By believing in those words, I have based my education and career on making sure I engage in work that assists others to improve both physically and cognitively. Working at John Knox Village for the past 28 years has enabled me to assist residents by promoting various specialized programs to help improve their spiritual, social, physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being.”

According to Gail Sutton-Pauling, Vice President of Hospitality at JKV, “Erik is truly in tune with our residents. He has an incredible knack for understanding their needs and desires, and he consistently implements programs and activities that resonate with them. His dedication and insight make a significant positive impact on the lives of our residents every day.”

Erik Nenortas, Fitness Manager at John Knox Village

Erik earned his Bachelor of Science in Recreation Therapy from the University of Florida in 1996. For 20 years, he dedicated himself to enhancing the well-being of residents at JKV through structured activity programming. Working closely with individuals of varying cognitive abilities, he embraced each challenge as an opportunity to foster meaningful connections and help residents maintain their functional abilities.

In 2009, Erik expanded his expertise by earning his Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) and Group Fitness Instructor certifications from the World Fitness Association. His passion for health and wellness led him to transition from Recreational Therapy to the JKV Fitness Team in 2017. Over the years, he continued to advance his skills, earning additional certifications, including AEA Aquatic Fitness Instructor, PWR! Moves Teacher, Group Meditation Certification, and National Academy of Sports Medicine Personal Trainer Certification.

In May 2024, Erik was promoted to Fitness Manager at JKV, where he now leads a talented team dedicated to helping residents achieve their fitness goals. His approach to his career is rooted in positivity, guided by the philosophy, “Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.”

Reflecting on his journey, Erik shares, “I am most proud of managing two departments — first, assisting residents socially and cognitively in Recreational Therapy, and now, as Fitness Manager. I love working with my team and supporting residents at every skill level.”

We invite you to learn more and experience our breathtaking campus, astounding amenities, remarkable residents and exceptional team members like Erik who all make JKV extraordinary.  Contact us today to learn more and schedule a visit.

Always innovative and forward-thinking, John Knox Village in Pompano Beach, Florida is an international award-winning Life-Plan Retirement Community that is proud of its robust programming, thanks to Jody Leshinsky, Life Enrichment Manager at JKV for the past 3 years.

Jody’s passion for planning exceptional activities for JKV residents shines when she introduces a cultural event or new program. “Every day is an adventure,” she says.

She has elevated the programming at JKV, bringing in an impressive lineup of local, regional, national, and international performers. Notable guests include Grammy Award-winning flutist Nestor Torres, Latin jazz sensation Tito Puente, Jr., the renowned Miami City Ballet, and the South Florida Symphony, to name a few.

Beyond performances, Jody has brought art installations to the campus, both with residents’ work and shows by local artists through our partnership with ArtServe. She has expanded arts and educational opportunities for residents, offering a diverse range of creative cultural classes. Residents can explore watercolor, acrylic, fused glass, gel painting, life drawing, pastel drawing, and tile and mosaic.

Other classes include sign language, Spanish lessons, group vocal instruction, ukulele classes, improv, monologue, as well as mindfulness and wellness workshops.

Through these initiatives, Jody continues to enrich residents’ lives, fostering a vibrant and engaging community.

Jody began her career in Broward County Parks and Recreation in 1981, and then moved to the Broward Cultural Division, the designated local arts agency for Broward County in 1986.  She retired from County government after 30 years and switched to the nonprofit world where she worked with the company responsible for the Pompano Beach Amphitheater and the opening of the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. The following year, she was hired to run two cultural organizations for the Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency.

Most recently, Jody was the Cultural Venues Programming Manager for the newly created Pompano Beach Cultural Affairs Department where she was responsible for the programming of four cultural venues, the Green Market Pompano Beach, Old Town Untapped, and Pompano Beach Jazz Fest.

As someone deeply embedded in the Pompano community, Jody knew that JKV was growing exponentially, and its new Pavilion would include a 330-seat Cultural Arts Center. With this performance space, JKV was ready for a new level, and higher frequency, of hosting world-class events. With her many years of experience in the Broward arts scene, she knew she wanted to be part of the future of JKV.

“We have an exciting year ahead full of wonderful events and performances that include our jazz series, film lectures, life-long learning opportunities, and performers that include MusicFor America, Fushu Daiko Japanese Drumming Troupe, Dance NOW! Miami, Jason Hudy Magic, Across the Universe Beatles tribute band and so much more,” Jody states.

To see our full schedule of Cultural Arts Events, visit our events page.

We invite you to learn more and experience our breathtaking campus, astounding amenities, remarkable residents and exceptional team members who all make JKV extraordinary. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a visit.

John Knox Village of Florida, Inc. (JKV) sets itself apart from most senior living communities as one of the few in the country to offer an on-site employee to provide personalized, authoritative technology assistance for its residents.

To meet the growing needs of its nearly 1,000 residents, JKV brought Jason Cook on board as Technology Engagement Coordinator in 2023. Jason plays a crucial role, making technology more accessible and understandable for residents.

Jason’s approach to offering group classes and one-on-one instruction highlights his commitment to ensuring all residents stay connected with evolving technology. His ability to offer tailored support makes him an indispensable figure at JKV, especially given the complexity that technology can present to seniors.

According to CIO, Chuck Williams, “I receive messages all the time from residents who tell me how Jason has helped them better understand their ever-changing technology devices or fixed an issue. He makes his private sessions and classes informative and entertaining, sharing funny jokes and making technology easy to understand.”

Among the many challenges Jason addresses, he teaches residents how to get the most out of their smartphones and smartwatches, how to recover lost or forgotten passwords, how to use Bluetooth speakers and voice-activated tools like Alexa, and how to file taxes electronically. Jason also teaches residents how to use JKV’s online portal for event sign-ups, viewing meeting minutes, making restaurant reservations for on-campus dining, accessing the community bulletin board, and more.

“Some of the most popular topics residents ask about are on how to be safer online, how to order an Uber or Lyft driver, how to order through Instacart and Amazon, write with Chat GPT assistance, and how to pay for parking when out and about,” states Jason. “Many doctors are using online portals to manage their patients’ care, so I help residents sign up for sites like Trinity Health’s MyChart to give them access to their healthcare information and to make online appointments with their doctors,” he adds.

Jason’s ability to blend entertainment with informative support ensures that residents not only solve their technology issues but also feel confident in using their devices. His role exemplifies how technology can improve the quality of life in senior living communities by fostering independence and engagement through accessible education and assistance.

Get to know us and come see how Jason and the rest of the JKV community are best-in-class. 

We invite you to learn more and experience our breathtaking campus, astounding amenities, the exceptional team, and our remarkable residents who are all part of what makes JKV extraordinary. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a personal tour.