Behind the Scenes with Chris Egger, Facilities Director
Each week, retreatants arrive at the Cloisters seeking peace, quiet, and an opportunity to encounter Christ. Creating that experience requires the dedication of an entire team working carefully behind the scenes.
From maintaining complex mechanical systems to preparing the grounds, lodges, and gathering spaces, the work is both extensive and deeply connected to the mission of the Cloisters. We recently sat down with our Facilities Director to learn how he came to the Cloisters, what it takes to care for the property, and why this work means so much to him.
What brought you to the Cloisters, and what interested you about working here?
My connection to the Cloisters began in 2015, when I was working for a control systems integration company in Lincoln. A general contractor called about installing well controls to supply water for a large construction site. Because I lived only about two miles away, I came out to take a look.
At the time, there was nothing here but grass and trees. The site superintendent drove me through the field and tried to explain what the completed facility would look like. I was intrigued, but mostly overwhelmed by the scope of the vision.
After I completed the well-control project, the general contractor contacted me about additional work. One project led to another, and I ended up working at the Cloisters throughout its three years of construction.
When the facility was completed, I was invited to serve on a committee charged with finding someone to manage the property. After about three months of searching, one committee member finally said, “I don’t know why we’re looking so hard. The person who should run this place is sitting in this room.”
I immediately slouched in my chair, hoping to disappear under the table because I had a feeling they were talking about me.
Mr. Ricketts said, “That’s great. I’d like to meet with you Monday morning.”
I explained that I was not looking to change professions and could not meet until Thursday. He simply replied, “Very well, Thursday it is.”
I spent the next four days trying to find a gracious way to explain why I did not want the position. But I kept coming back to the beauty of the Cloisters and the meaning behind its mission.
I met with Mr. Ricketts that Thursday. Eight minutes later, I had decided to make a career change after 23 years with my company. I have been here ever since.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Pandemonium! There is never a dull moment.
If I create a plan for the next day, that day will probably look nothing like the plan. The Cloisters operates much like a small city. We have our own water treatment plant, wastewater system, fire-suppression water supply, and irrigation system.
There are 126 heat pumps providing heating and cooling to the individual lodges and suites. We also have a boiler-and-chiller hybrid system serving the chapel and retreat center.
There are a tremendous number of moving parts, all of which require attention on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Every day brings something new.
Retreatants arrive expecting a place of peace and quiet. What work goes into creating that experience?
One of our greatest challenges is ensuring that all work is completed by 3 p.m. on Thursday, before retreatants arrive. Our goal is to have staff off the property by that time so the campus is peaceful and ready for the retreat to begin.
Of course, unexpected things happen, which can make that deadline difficult. After more than eight years of operation, however, our staff has mastered the process. We know not to begin a major project on Thursday morning if there is any chance it will remain unfinished when the retreat begins at 4 p.m.
Every member of the team works together to make the Cloisters one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the country.
What do you hope retreatants notice, and what do you hope they never have to notice?
We want retreatants to notice the beauty, comfort, and care that surround them from the moment they arrive. At the same time, we hope they never have to notice the tremendous amount of work required to make that experience possible.
As retreatants are shuttled onto the property, they immediately see the landscaping, trees, lakes, and trails. That beauty does not happen by itself. We have an exceptionally talented grounds crew. What those four men accomplish in four days each week amazes me. We are truly blessed to have them.
When retreatants step off the shuttle and enter their lodge, their heads often turn in every direction as they take in the beauty of the facility. They then enter their private suites and experience the comfort, cleanliness, and attention to detail provided by our housekeeping team.
Our four or five dedicated housekeepers prepare 80 individual rooms, along with the chapel, retreat center, gift shop, and farmhouse, in just four days. They take great pride in their work, and no detail is overlooked.
Then there is the food. We have one of the most talented chefs in the industry, supported by a wonderful food-service team. I am amazed by their ability to prepare meals that consistently satisfy 80 guests. I have a hard time satisfying a group of four! The comments we receive about the food are incredibly positive.
My responsibility is to make sure everything operates so smoothly that no one notices the work happening behind the scenes. With so many systems and moving parts, that can be quite a challenge. I have also been blessed with two exceptionally talented maintenance team members. They bring different skills to the job, and both have become integral to keeping the property operating.
Our team shares one goal: to ensure that every person who comes to the Cloisters has an extraordinary experience.
What is one behind-the-scenes experience that people might be surprised to learn about?
One experience stands out because it changed both my life and the life of a retreatant.
Late one evening in August 2019, I received a call from a Platte County 911 dispatcher who knew me personally. A husband had contacted emergency services after receiving a frightening call from his wife, who was on retreat at the Cloisters. She had told him she could not breathe. She was disoriented, drifting in and out of consciousness, and eventually lost contact with him.
Because the dispatcher knew I worked at the Cloisters, she contacted me directly. I immediately drove to the property. It was after 10 p.m., the exterior lights were off, and I had no idea where the retreatant might be.
As I drove through the darkened campus, something led me directly to her. I found her lying in the driveway, barely responsive. She had a faint pulse and was struggling to breathe.
She reached toward my face and said, “Don’t leave me.”
I promised I would stay with her. I called 911, gave the dispatcher directions, and explained how the ambulance could enter the property. As we waited, she asked me to tell her husband that she loved him and to ask him to care for their two daughters. I kept reassuring her that help was on the way.
Eventually, I heard sirens in the distance. The ambulance arrived, and the paramedics quickly began caring for her before transporting her to the hospital.
Afterward, I contacted her husband and let him know she was on her way to the hospital. I went home but could not sleep because I did not know whether she would be all right.
At 2:43 a.m., I received a text from her husband telling me she was okay. I was ecstatic.
Later that morning, he asked whether she could return to complete the retreat. He said she needed the Cloisters then more than ever. We made the necessary arrangements, and she returned.
After the retreat, I met with her and talked for more than an hour. She shared how the Cloisters had changed her life and how much the retreat experience meant to her. Before she left, she gave me a handwritten letter that changed my life, too.
Today, when someone asks why I work at the Cloisters, I show them that letter. It explains everything.
What project or improvement are you most proud of?
I am especially proud of the emergency generator that was installed about four years ago. While I did not personally build it, I played a significant role in its design and functionality.
The Cloisters is located at the end of an OPPD power service line. When we first opened, we did not have an emergency generator and experienced a number of power outages. I explained to Mr. Ricketts that we could face a very difficult situation if the property lost power for an extended period during a retreat.
He immediately approved the design and installation of a generator capable of supplying power to the entire campus. It can operate the full facility for the duration of a retreat without needing to be refueled.
This addition gives us peace of mind and allows retreatants to continue their experience without disruption. I am extremely grateful that we have it.
How does your work support the mission of the Cloisters?
I have the privilege of reading the retreatants’ comment cards. Their words are incredibly uplifting and remind me how important this place is to the people who come here.
The Cloisters is not simply a beautiful place to stay for the weekend. It is a place of peace, contemplation, spiritual direction, and encounter with Christ. Lives are changed here.
My role is to support that experience in every way I can. If retreatants are able to focus fully on their relationship with God without worrying about the facility around them, then our team has done its job.
Do you have a favorite place on the property?
I might get in trouble for admitting this, but when I am having a challenging day and need a few minutes to decompress, I grab my fishing pole and head behind Campion Lodge, near Suite 8.
I will make about 20 casts and catch 15 or 20 fish. Just like that, my day is better.
What do you wish every retreatant knew about the people who care for the Cloisters?
I hope every retreatant understands how deeply each staff member cares about the experience of our guests.
This is not a place where people simply clock in, complete their tasks, and clock out. Every person on our staff understands the importance of what happens here. We know that each retreat can have a profound impact on someone’s life.
That mission is always at the forefront of our minds. Every room prepared, meal served, trail maintained, and system repaired contributes to the retreatants’ opportunity to experience peace, reflection, and God’s presence.