Since joining Lucy Corr’s administrative staff eight years ago, Jenae Briggs has been guided by her commitment to serving residents and their families. As she enters a senior role — with a new certification and an award nomination under her belt — that dedication remains front and center.
Briggs was recently promoted to Health Care Center Administrator for Lucy Corr, one that coincides with two other significant achievements: earning her Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA) credential and being nominated for the Southern Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s Top 40 Under 40 Business Professionals list.
“Having spent nearly three decades in senior care leadership, I recognize how impactful it is when administrators combine operational excellence with genuine empathy,” said Lucy Corr Chief Executive Officer Michael Cunningham. “Jenae’s licensure, promotion and Top 40 under 40 nomination are well deserved, but what sets her apart is her heart for residents, families and staff.”
With a background in human services, Briggs initially worked in mental health with children and families before discovering her passion for serving older adults. The ensuing pivot led her to work at Dinwiddie Health & Rehab Center in Petersburg for six years before arriving at Lucy Corr in 2018.
Her decision to pursue LNHA licensure came after years of hands-on experience across admissions, social work, community liaison work and administrative leadership. The licensure process included two exams covering a wide range of regulatory, operational and clinical concepts.
“It’s definitely nerve-wracking when you walk into the testing room, because there’s such a broad spectrum of things you have to know about,” Briggs said. She passed both exams on the first try.
Lucy Corr played a central role in supporting Briggs throughout the licensure process. As a continuing care retirement community offering independent living, assisted living, adult day services and skilled nursing, the campus provided real-time learning opportunities that bridged theory and practice. “The documentation piece and the studying piece is one thing, but the experience part of it is really what sets you apart,” Briggs said.
That experiential learning now informs her leadership as Health Care Center Administrator, a role that places her at the intersection of compliance, operations and — most importantly — care. While licensure ensures regulatory readiness, Briggs believes trust is earned in everyday interactions.
“A license means that you’re certified by the state, but that’s not what drives families to you. What drives families to you is how you treat them, how you treat their loved one, how you care for them,” she said. “You take care of the patient, yes, but you also take care of the family, and that’s what’s going to draw the families to you.”
Briggs’ leadership has also been recognized beyond Lucy Corr through her nomination for the Southern Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s Top 40 Under 40 list. The honor highlights emerging leaders who are making a meaningful impact across industries and communities in the region.
Bill Humphreys, community liaison for Crater Community Hospice, nominated Briggs for the honor, having known her since her days at Dinwiddie Health & Rehab Center. “I think that Bill and I have a lot of the same goals and passion for assisting the community even beyond what our roles are. We both have a passion for serving, especially the elderly population,” she said.
Looking ahead, Briggs sees her expanded role as an opportunity to advocate for residents, families and the future of senior care leadership — especially amid staffing shortages and growing demand. “I really want to be the voice that can help other people understand what this world looks like and what good care looks like,” she said. “It is the most rewarding and fulfilling thing you will ever do. It fills your heart. It fills your soul. It makes you feel like you have a purpose.”
