There are many individuals who make Rittenhouse Village at Portage great, from the awesome residents to the hard-working staff who get stuff done in front of and behind-the-scenes. One of these dedicated staff members is CJ Richards, the maintenance director for Rittenhouse Village at Portage.
Richards grew up in Hobart, IN, attending River Forest High School. He worked in a cleaning service for multiple years for Calumet College of St. Joseph before coming to Rittenhouse Village at Portage.
“I found out from my friend Marty Ethridge, the former maintenance director, about the open position,” Richards said. “He left to become an assistant pastor in Michigan so I applied and got the position.”
On a daily basis, Richards is in charge of the upkeep of the facility. He helps keep the residents’ rooms tidy, makes sure that the facility’s grounds are in tip-top shape, and helps with the overall upkeep of the day-to-day activities.
“I like what I do. It’s something new every day. It keeps you challenged and makes me use my brain every day,” Richards said. “Plus, we have an amazing staff. The employees are like family and everyone is very easygoing and understanding.”
Richards said that interacting with the residents are one of the best parts of his job.
“I love our residents. Their stories are great and they make you laugh,” he said.
Outside of work, Richards is a family man. He has a wife and two kids and he spends as much time with them as he can. He also plays the piano, a skill that he has been honing from the young age of six.
“My wife is in music ministry and I will play with her,” Richards said. “I really enjoy playing and being able to spend time with her and the kids.”