Meet Gena Duncan, Ardenwoods’ sales associate and public relations manager since March 2019.

Employed in the senior care industry for the last 15 years, Gena loves working with residents, crediting their often-wise words for giving her a new lease on life. Prior to working with seniors, Gena worked in construction for 20 years, originally moving to Western North Carolina to open a fireplace company with her husband. After the economic downturn in 2008, the business became hard to maintain, and it motivated her to make a career change.

When she first began working with seniors, one of the residents offered her a bit of advice: Live life to the fullest. She took this tip to heart, purchasing her own Can-Am motorcycle and learning to ride solo. No longer a backseat-biker, Gena is now on her second Can-Am, which she enjoys riding on the Blue Ridge Parkway alongside her husband, who rides his own motorcycle. She says that riding her own bike has given her a newfound sense of freedom — and she’s forever grateful for the wisdom of the residents she works with each day.

In addition to her work at Ardenwoods, Gena also has a real estate license, and she is in the process of obtaining her Senior Real Estate Specialist endorsement. Gena enjoys spending time with her three children: Jessica, TJ and Dillon; her two stepchildren: Jessica and Derek; and her four grandkids: Callie, Silas, Raiden and Raven.

When she’s not hard at work at Ardenwoods, you might find her relaxing out at Lake James, where she and her husband own a home — spending most summer weekends boating, kayaking, swimming and visiting with friends.