Greg Byrge: Leadership With Heart at Brandon Wilde
After nearly two decades in senior living, including leadership roles in multiple states and a grueling stretch at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Greg Byrge arrived at Brandon Wilde looking for a fresh start. At Augusta’s premiere senior living Life Plan Community, he discovered that his calling was more meaningful than ever.
A Career That Found Him
Like many in senior living, Byrge didn’t set out to work in the field. After serving in the U.S. Navy and earning a degree in communications, he found himself at a crossroads, unsure of what was next. “I started applying for jobs just to get practice interviewing,” he recalls. One of those applications led to an unexpected opportunity — a position as a sales and marketing director at a skilled nursing facility. “I wasn’t thinking long term,” he admits. “But during the interview process, something clicked.”
A few weeks into the job, a seasoned administrator gave him advice that would shape the rest of his career: “You’re either going to hate this work — or you’re going to love it for life.” For Byrge, the answer was clear. “Helping families navigate incredibly difficult decisions became something I truly loved. There’s nothing like offering hope and support when people need it most.”
Over the years, he progressed from admissions and marketing roles into regional leadership, earned his administrator’s license, and led communities across Tennessee, Texas and Washington. In Seattle, he oversaw a large Life Plan Community through the devastating early months of the pandemic. “It was a heartbreaking time,” he says. “I honestly considered leaving the field altogether.”
But family ties and a chance to return to the Southeast pulled him back in. When the opportunity at Brandon Wilde came along, Byrge saw it as more than a job; it was a chance to rediscover the purpose that had once inspired him.
Building Connection — and Community
Since joining Brandon Wilde in April 2022, Byrge has made it his mission to become not just a leader, but a true member of the community. “When I arrived, I knew I wanted to be part of the fabric of this place,” he says. He immersed himself in campus events, from becoming a hobby horse jockey for the annual Derby de Mayo race to going all out for Halloween festivities, dressing up as Ken alongside the rest of the administrative team who wore Barbie-inspired costumes.
“People were surprised at first that I said yes to everything and jumped right in,” Byrge says with a laugh. “But to me, that’s what being part of a community means. If residents are participating, I want to be right there with them.” Byrge’s four-legged sidekick, Winston — a gentle Golden Retriever-German Shepherd mix — has also found a wonderful new home in Brandon Wilde. “He comes to work with me three or four days a week,” Byrge shares. “He greets residents, gets treats from the staff, and brings joy to everyone. People stop by the office just to see him. I’m an afterthought.” Byrge has also joined the community choir, performing solos with encouragement from a resident who once sang professionally. “She invited me to sing at her cottage, gave me some pointers, and pushed me to perform,” he says. “It’s been such a gift.”
Resilience After the Storm
One of the defining moments of Byrge’s tenure at Brandon Wilde came during Hurricane Helene in 2024. The largest natural disaster Augusta has ever experienced caused widespread damage to the campus and to his own home, but what stood out most was the way the community responded.
“The storm shook us, but it also brought us closer together,” Byrge says. ”Residents were checking in on staff. Staff were sleeping on cots to make sure residents were safe. Even now, people still ask me how my house is doing. That’s the kind of place Brandon Wilde is.” The campus continues to recover from the physical damage, but Byrge sees opportunity in the transformation. “We’re reimagining the landscape. It’s not just rebuilding — it’s healing.”
Looking Ahead: A Milestone and a Legacy
Brandon Wilde is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2025, and Byrge is helping lead the charge with plans that involve the entire community. A yearlong anniversary game is underway, and he is excited about the sense of pride and participation it’s generating. “This community has such a rich history,” Byrge says. “We have third-generation residents — grandparents, parents, and now their children have all lived here. That kind of legacy is incredibly rare and speaks volumes about the trust people place in Brandon Wilde.”
As he looks to the future, Byrge remains focused on fostering connection and compassion. “This work can be hard,” he says. “But if you surround yourself with the right people — people who care deeply — it becomes joyful again. That’s what I’ve found here.” At Brandon Wilde, Greg Byrge isn’t just the Executive Director. He’s a neighbor, a dog dad, a volunteer, a singer, a friend — and above all, a steward of the kind of welcoming, tight- knit community we all hope to be a part of.
To meet Greg Byrge or learn more about Brandon Wilde, schedule a tour.