David Frey grew up watching his mother attend the funerals of her patients. At 23, he is now the executive director of Majestic Care of North Vernon, leading a team through real clinical decisions, leadership transitions, and the kind of moments that never show up on a report. In this episode of Hearts of Excellence, host Chelsey Gheyara sits down with David Frey, Executive Director of Majestic Care of North Vernon, to hear how a college intern became a building leader, what it means to be the first through a door with no roadmap, and how growing up around caregiving shaped the leader he is today.
If you have ever questioned whether long-term care is a real career path worth pursuing, this conversation will challenge that. David, Chelsey, and Paul Pruitt talk through what it actually takes to lead a skilled nursing facility as a young professional, why relationships with residents matter more than any metric, and how to stay grounded when the pressure of the role threatens to pull you under. This is a conversation about what happens when the work finds you before you were even looking for it. In this episode:
- How David went from Majestic Care’s very first intern to running one of its buildings at 23
- What leading through a major clinical leadership change taught him about trust and team resilience
- Why the most meaningful parts of this work are the ones no KPI will ever capture
- What David would tell any young person who has written off long-term care without ever stepping inside one
Highlights:
- (00:00) Meet David Frey
- (01:46) A signed book and a lesson in kindness
- (04:49) Majestic Care’s very first intern
- (08:43) Why universities aren’t talking about this career
- (13:15) Leading through a clinical leadership change at 23
- (15:56) Making the hard call for a resident
- (18:48) Choosing long-term care over hospital administration
- (22:02) What great leadership looks like at 6 PM
- (26:25) A message for anyone who has written off this industry
- (33:12) How young leaders manage their day