Legacy Senior Living names Doug Veazey COO

Doug Veazey has been named chief operating officer of Legacy Senior Living and Dominion Senior Living. He will assume responsibility for Legacy’s 17 independent living, assisted living and Alzheimer’s care communities.   

Veazey has 21 years of experience in the senior living industry, beginning in 2002 as division vice president of operations for Century Park Associates, a division of Life Care Centers of America, where he was responsible for operational oversight of 32 independent living and assisted living communities and opening five new communities across the country.

In 2016, Veazey transitioned to Enlivant Senior Living, acting as senior vice president of operations. Under his leadership, Veazey helped Enlivant grow from 18 communities to 64 communities across 10 states while helping to build regional leadership teams.

In June 2019, he joined Dominion Senior Living as senior vice president of operations-Everlan and focused on launching and developing four Everlan communities, across three states. In 2020, Veazey was promoted to senior vice president of operations for the entire 17 community portfolio of Dominion Senior Living.   

Benchmark Therapies names Edward Luberski CEO, Jennifer Mulraney COO

Edward Luberski has been appointed CEO at Benchmark Therapies, a Presbyterian Senior Living company. Additionally, Jennifer Mulraney has been appointed chief operating officer. 

Luberski is a physical therapist with more than 20 years of management experience in the senior living and skilled nursing sectors. He has a Master of Science degree in science and physical therapy from Arcadia University and a Bachelor of Science in biology and exercise and sports science from Ursinus College.  

Mulraney has more than 20 years of experience in managing rehabilitation programs within the acute and post-acute healthcare industries. She has served Benchmark Therapies in several positions since 2011, including vice president of therapy operations, director of compliance, therapy program manager and, most recently, interim CEO.

Charter Senior Living names Patrick Mathews SVP of finance and investments

Patrick Mathews has been named senior vice president of finance and investments at Charter Senior Living. 

Mathews joins Charter Senior Living with more than 15 years of experience in investment and operational analysis, having spent much of the past decade focused on the senior living industry. Mathews most recently was with Aviva Senior Living as executive vice president of finance and business development. Before that, he was the director of portfolio management at The RMR Group. 

Mathews graduated from Brandeis University, where he earned an undergraduate degree in economics.

The Chateau Girardeau names Jimmy Wilferth CEO

Jimmy Wilferth has been named CEO at The Chateau Girardeau, Cape Girardeau, MO. 

Wilferth most recently worked for St. Francis Healthcare System as vice president of support services. Before joining Saint Francis, Wilferth served as president of US operations for Heart for Africa; vice president of national operations, financial director and chief of staff for Men at the Cross; vice president of operations for Schaefer Electrical Enclosures; and president of United Oil Co.

Centerline Healthcare Partners names Gary Guidry CEO 

Gary Guidry has been appointed CEO at Houston-based Centerline Healthcare Partners, which provides medical practice management services, including programs, technologies and administrative support, to independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing providers.

Guidry joins Centerline with more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience. Before joining Centerline, he was executive vice president of hospital medicine operations and value based care at SCP Health. He also previously held executive leadership positions with several nationwide corporate healthcare companies focused on outsourced clinical services to hospitals and health systems. He began his career as a registered nurse.

Claiborne names Jeff Hanover executive director, Leslie Reed community relations director at Avaline at River Oaks

Jeff Hanover has been named executive director, and Leslie Reed has been named community relations director, at The Avaline at River Oaks, a Claiborne Senior Living community in Memphis, TN. 

Hanover has worked in assisted living and memory care for the past 12 years, serving first as an executive director then as regional business development before becoming a regional director of operations in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas.

Reed has more than 30 years of experience in the senior living industry. 

Juniper hires Rikki Goldenberg as catalyst innovation and implementation specialist

Rikki Goldenberg has been named a catalyst innovation and implementation specialist at Bloomfield, NJ-based Juniper Communities. 

In this newly created position, Goldenberg will play a role in advancing Juniper’s Catalyst program by spearheading innovation and overseeing its effective implementation. Catalyst is a signature program of Juniper designed to integrate all resident services under one platform.

Traditions Management names Wendy Briggs director of cognitive services

Wendy Briggs has been named director of cognitive services at Traditions Management, part of Meadowbrook Senior Living.

Briggs most recently was the hospital CEO at Brightwell Behavioral Health. She earned a master’s certificate in dementia from Eastern Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from the University of Phoenix.

Lenbrook names Krista Cosgrove to board of directors

Krista Cosgrove has been named to the board of directors of Lenbrook in Atlanta. 

Cosgrove is principal at ZWJ Investment Counsel, an investment advisory firm. She has provided investment counsel and guidance to companies and individuals for more than 30 years. She is a chartered financial analyst charter holder and a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of Atlanta.

Cosgrove holds a Master of Arts degree in economics with a concentration in finance from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics, with minors in business administration and mathematics, from Elon University. She is a member of the Atlanta Estate Planning Council.

Siena Lakes promotes Varun Kakar associate executive director

Varun Kakar has been promoted to associate executive director at Siena Lakes, an Erickson Senior Living-managed community in Naples, FL. 

Kakar joined Erickson in 2009 as a student server and has worked in dining leadership at several Erickson communities, including Highland Springs in Dallas, Fox Run in Novi, MI, and Maris Grove in Glen Mills, PA.  He most recently was director of dining at Siena Lakes. 

In 2023, Kakar was named Siena Lakes’ Leader of the Year. He has an MBA and an undergraduate degree in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University.

Roland Park Place president and CEO Sam Guedouar elected to LeadingAge Maryland board

Sam Guedouar, president and CEO of Baltimore life plan community Roland Park Place, has been elected to LeadingAge Maryland’s board of directors. 

Guedouar holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration from Utica College and an undergraduate degree in community and health services from the State University of New York. He also has a degree in hospitality and tourism from the University of Paris, Sorbonne, as well as a graduate certificate in executive leadership from Cornell University.  

Four Integral executive directors receive CDAL credentials

Four Integral Senior Living executive directors have received certified director of assisted living (CDAL) credentials from Argentum.

They are Danielle Tsevas, Heartis Orland Park senior executive director; Roland Gandy,  executive director; Kristie Laine, Brunswick Village executive director; and Andrea Katz,  senior executive director.

Send your personnel news to Lois Bowers at lois.bowers@mcknights.com. High-quality color headshots are welcome but not required.

Genacross Lutheran Services appoints Jason Morris as VP of HR

Jason Morris has been named the vice president of human resources at Genacross Lutheran Services, Toledo, OH.

Morris has 20 years of experience, including leadership roles at Hollywood Casino and Owens Community College, as well as work at the SSOE Group. He was named the Northwest Ohio Human Resource Professional of the Year in 2021 by the Northwest Ohio Human Resource Association.

Morris earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and public administration from the University of Toledo. He is a certified professional in human resources and a Society for Human Resource Management-certified professional. He also is a member of NOHRA, SHRM and the Employers’ Association.

BHI Senior Living names Percell Smith Jr. regional VP of operations Michigan

Percell Smith Jr. has been named vice president of operations for the Michigan region of Indianapolis-based BHI Senior Living.

Percell has more than 25 years of experience in senior living and skilled nursing operations. He is a career coach and mentor for long-term care professionals and has taught at the collegiate level, preparing students aspiring to become administrators.  

Percell is a licensed nursing home administrator in Michigan. He received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan.

Retirement Unlimited Inc. adds two directors to regional team

Stephanie Roach has been named regional director of sales, and Anna Fowler has been promoted to director of sales development, at Retirement Unlimited Inc. 

Roach will oversee communities in Virginia, Florida and North Carolina. She has more than 15 years of experience in sales and marketing and has worked with older adults for more than 20 years.  She previously held the titles of director of sales and marketing, regional director of sales and marketing, and customer experience manager.

She received her associate degree in business administration and management from the State College of Florida.

Fowler launched her career in sales at the RUI community The Westmont at Short Pump in Virginia.  She began as the director of sales and community relations and soon was promoted to senior director of sales and community relations. She received her bachelor’s degree in applied economic management from Virginia Tech.

Juniper Village at Chatham names Katheryn Martin executive director

Katheryn Martin has been named executive director at Juniper Village at Chatham in New Jersey. 

Martin’s previous position was director of sales and marketing for Juniper Village at Paramus. Before that, she was a regional director of operations and vice president of sales and operations for Raydian Properties, Foxtrail Senior Living and Foxtrail Memory Care Living.

Martin holds a bachelor’s degree in business from New York University.

Silverstone Senior Living names Ray Dennison executive director of The Providence Fairfax

Ray Dennison has been named executive director of The Providence Fairfax, a Silverstone Senior Living community in Virginia. 

Before joining The Providence, Dennison was the executive director of various communities in the Washington, DC, area, including Elance Luxury Living at West End in Alexandria, VA, and numerous Sunrise Senior Living properties. 

Lifespace Communities welcomes Jim Kobrick as Abbey Delray executive director

Jim Kobrick has joined Lifespace Communities as executive director at Abbey Delray in Delray Beach, FL.

Before joining Lifespace, he served in operations roles for senior living organizations such as Harbor Retirement Associates, Meridian Senior Living and Sunrise Senior Living.

Kobrick has an MBA from Nova Southeastern University and an undergraduate degree in healthcare administration and management from Ithaca College.

Roland Park Place welcomes Tylermae Hunt as executive chef 

Tylermae Hunt is the new executive chef at Roland Park Place, Baltimore’s first and only accredited continuing care retirement community.

Hunt has years of experience in fine dining establishments, including country clubs, hotels and cruise ships. 

Health Dimensions Group names Paul Branin VP of business development

Paul Branin has been named vice president of business development at Health Dimensions Group. He will assist in the execution of HDG’s strategic growth plans.

Branin brings more than 25 years of experience in senior living operations, finance and business development strategies to the role. Before joining HDG, he was the vice president of production at commercial real estate and investment firm CBRE.

McGuireWoods Consulting names Lisette Carbajal VP of government relations

Lisette Carbajal was named vice president of McGuireWoods Consulting’s government relations team in Richmond, VA. 

Carbajal joins the company from Capital One, where she led public policy priorities in seven major operational market states. She began her career in public service, were she worked as a policy adviser and community integration coordinator at the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services. Her career service began when she was appointed as a policy advisor by Gov. Terry McAuliffe and as Virginia’s Latino liaison. 

Carbajal received her master’s in public administration degree from Virginia Tech and an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia.

Parker Jewish Institute CEO Michael Rosenblut receives Humanitarian Award

The Parker Jewish Institute President and CEO Michael N. Rosenblut has received the Humanitarian Award by Voices for Truth and Humanity.

Voices for Truth and Humanity promotes US public school education about the Holocaust, slavery and genocide. The organization aims to fight hatred against Jews as well as all bigotry.

Alissa Clouse earns CFRE designation

Alissa Clouse, director of advancement operations and major gifts at United Church Homes, has earned the certified fund raising executive designation from CFRE International.

Clouse has a 16-year track record in fundraising for aging services, including proficiency in grant writing, annual giving, special events, major gifts and operational leadership. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in gerontology from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green OH, and an MBA from Franklin University, Columbus, OH. She is a 2016 graduate of LeadingAge Ohio’s Leadership Academy.

Send your personnel news to Lois Bowers at lois.bowers@mcknights.com. High-quality color headshots are welcome but not required.

Having a disabled father, Cindy Longfellow from a young age had a passion for helping those with health vulnerabilities. Her early work was in vocational rehabilitation. This experience led her to the insurance and worker’s compensation industry and eventually into long-term care with Alterra Healthcare. She joined Bloomfield, NJ-based Juniper Communities in 2003 as the director of community relations. 

Juniper’s focus on helping residents and their families obtain quality, highly individualized care resonated with Longfellow. She was promoted to regional sales director, national director of sales and, in 2014, to her current role of vice president of business development, sales and marketing, bridging the gap between sales and operations. 

Longfellow’s responsibilities have grown along with Juniper’s portfolio and census. Juniper had 12 communities in 2010 and 30 at the end of 2022. She serves on the advisory board of the American Seniors Housing Association’s Where You Live Matters consumer campaign. 

During Longfellow’s time as in that role, Juniper has implemented a comprehensive digital strategy that has delivered more than 8,000 inquiries with a qualification rate of 73% and a move-in rate of 19%; developed a “scorecard” designed in conjunction with operations that assesses the health of a community via more than 100 benchmarks; and introduced customer relationship management systems that improve data collection, reporting and analysis of sales metrics. In 2021, Juniper exceeded industry standards for inquiry-to-lead qualification (79%), speed to lead (less than one hour) and tours. 

Longfellow was the primary creator of Camp Aging Insurrection at Burning Man, Juniper’s camp focused on combating ageism, and she has been central to the development of many of Juniper’s acclaimed programs. 

Her colleagues know Longfellow as a consummate professional who has charisma, passion, humility, an intense professional will and the ability to relate to many different individuals and work styles. She also provides a constant reminder of the positives to be found in each individual.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Senior Living, McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Home Care. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.

Eskaton promotes Sheri Peifer to president and CEO 

Sheri Peifer has been promoted to the position of president and CEO at Carmichael, CA-based Eskaton. She most recently was president, a position she had held since 2022 as part of the first phase of a board-led CEO succession plan.

Peifer, who before being president was Eskaton’s chief strategy officer, joined the organization in 2005 and has led the organization’s efforts in development, management services and affiliations, joint ventures, partnerships, innovation, and marketing and communications.

She holds an undergraduate degree from Messiah College and a Master of Science degree in gerontology and education from California State University, Sacramento. Peifer also is a 2008 graduate of the program now known as the LeadingAge Larry Minnix Leadership Academy. 

American House adds 3 to executive team

American House Senior Living Communities has added three new members to its executive leadership team. 

Jeff Floyd has been named president. Floyd has 35 years of experience leading multi-site operations with property portfolios valued at more than $425 million. His most recent tenure as senior vice president of operations at Pathway to Living in Chicago was preceded by executive positions at Discovery Senior Living, Enlivant, Wingate Healthcare and Sunrise Senior Living.

Alex Germain-Robin has been named chief operating officer. Germain-Robin has spent most of his 20-year career in the senior living industry. His previous roles include vice president of operations at Pathway to Living in Chicago and senior positions at Discovery Senior Living, Pegasus Senior Living, Enlivant and Five Star Senior Living.

Shea Krause has been named senior vice president of sales and marketing. Krause has more than 20 years of experience driving growth, creating profitable, integrated marketing campaigns. She comes to American House from Pathways to Living in Chicago, where she was vice president of sales and marketing. She also previously held director roles at Discovery Senior Living, Pegasus Senior Living and Enlivant.

Summit promotes Elizabeth Pagliarini to CEO, Sharyn Grant to CFO

Elizabeth Pagliarini has been promoted to the position of CEO at Laguna Hills, CA-based Summit Healthcare REIT, a publicly registered non-traded real estate investment trust that currently is invested in 53 senior housing properties across 14 states.

Pagliarini has been CFO of Summit since September 2014 and added the title of chief operating officer in August 2019.

Additionally, Sharyn Grant has been promoted to the position of chief financial officer. A certified public accountant, she has held the position of controller since she joined Summit in January 2015.

The company announced the appointments July 18, elaborating in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Randy Bufford to step down as Synchrony CEO, Brad Estes to become COO

Randall J. Bufford is stepping down as president and CEO of Louisville, KY-based Synchrony Health Services as it is reintegrated into Trilogy Health Services as a business unit rather than being a separate company venture. Synchrony will remain an owned subsidiary of Trilogy, which  operates almost 130 senior living communities across five states: Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Bufford will continue as an adviser to the board and will support business development and key customer account relationships, Trilogy said.

Bufford, founder and former president and CEO of Trilogy, transitioned to the role of chairman of the board at Trilogy in late 2019. Leigh Ann Barney, Trilogy’s chief operating officer at the time, succeeded him as president and CEO and remains in those roles. Bufford was announced as president and CEO of Synchrony in early 2022.

Brad Estes will assume the role of chief operating officer for Synchrony, transitioning from his previous position as chief financial officer. Synchrony Health Services includes Synchrony Pharmacy, Synchrony Rehabilitation, SynchronyRx@HOME and Synchrony Lab under its umbrella.

Claiborne names Karen Doering COO

Karen Doering has been named chief operating officer of Claiborne Senior Living. 

Doering brings more than 25 years of experience executing operational strategies across various industries, including senior housing, retail, call center and healthcare. She previously worked at organizations such as Senior Star and Brookdale Senior Living. By the end of her tenure at Brookdale, she was serving as senior regional vice president of operations.

Retirement Unlimited appoints Sabrina Harden COO of ancillary services

Sabrina Harden has been named chief operating officer of ancillary services at Retirement Unlimited Inc. 

Harden has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She received her undergraduate degree in healthcare administration from James Madison University.

Confluent Development names Matt Derrick managing director of senior living

Matt Derrick has been named managing director of the senior living division at Confluent Development. 

Since joining Confluent in 2016 as a senior development director, Derrick has led the development team in the completion of almost $600 million in senior living development projects, divided across 14 projects. 

Derrick holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a master’s degree in real estate and construction management from the University of Denver.

Juniper Communities promotes Anne Campbell to VP of operations

Anne Campbell has been promoted to vice president of operations at Bloomfield, NJ-based Juniper Communities. 

Campbell is a member of the Assisted Living/Personal Care Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, the state affiliate of the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living. She previously was president of the Geriatric Interest Network of Centre County in Pennsylvania and an examiner for the AHCA/NCAL Quality Awards program.

She has been with Juniper since 2014. 

Bridges by Epoch at Westford names Abbi Laushine executive director

Abbi Laushine has been named executive director at Bridges by EPOCH at Westford, Westford, MA.

Laushine has worked for Epoch For more than a decade. She started her career as a certified nursing assistant at Bridges by Epoch at Westford and has served several different roles, among them life enrichment director. She most recently was the Bridges program director at Waterstone on High Ridge in Stamford, CT.

She and her team recently achieved the Purple Flag for Dementia Care accreditation for the community through Connecticut Assisted Living Association.

Lifespace names Doug Fleegle executive director of Beacon Hill

Doug Fleegle has been named executive director of Lifespace Communities’ Beacon Hill, Lombard, IL. 

Fleegle has executive-level leadership experience in senior living, healthcare and human services. Most recently, he was the executive director of Las Ventanas at Summerlin, a HumanGood life plan community in Las Vegas. He also has held leadership roles at Westminster Communities of Florida, Asbury Communities and United Church Homes and Services. 

Fleegle is pursuing his executive doctor of education degree in organizational leadership and innovation at Saint Francis University in Pennsylvania. He already has an MBA and an undergraduate degree in community health. 

Kisco hires Joseph Villanueva as executive director for Kensington at Walnut Creek

Joseph Villanueva has been named executive director at Kisco Senior Living’s The Kensington at Walnut Creek in California.

Villanueva brings more than 15 years of senior living experience to the role. He started as a licensed vocational nurse at a retirement community and has held a variety of positions within the industry, including associate executive director, and he previously was executive director of another senior living community in California.

Morning Pointe of Lexington-East names Lori Cooper executive director

Lori Cooper has been named executive director of Morning Pointe of Lexington East, a personal care and memory care community in Lexington, KY. 

Cooper has a background in healthcare administration and support for community living administration, as well as in crisis and substance abuse counseling. She has worked in senior living for five years.

Waterstone at the Circle names Wendy Nollman executive director

Wendy Nollman has been named executive director of Waterstone at the Circle, an Epoch Senior Living community with independent living and supportive services in Boston.

Nollman joins the team with more than 15 years of leadership experience in senior living throughout Massachusetts. Before joining the Waterstone at the Circle team, she was executive director of communities in Wayland and Watertown, MA. 

Nollman earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from The University of Rhode Island.

Kendal names Malika Bouhdili head of spiritual life of Enso Village

Malika Bouhdili has been named head of spiritual life at Enso Village, a Zen-inspired Kendal-affiliated life plan community under construction in Healdsburg, CA. 

Bouhdili started her career as a legal aid attorney, serving low-income families. Before joining Enso Village, she was a hospital chaplain, a role via which she provided emotional and spiritual support, crisis intervention, counseling, meditation instruction, ritual facilitation and grief support.

Bouhdili holds Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in social transformation degrees from the Pacific School of Religion and a law degree from American University in Washington DC.

Erickson promotes Leslie Johnson associate executive director at Charlestown

Leslie Johnson has been promoted to associate executive director at the Erickson Senior Living-managed Charlestown life plan community in Catonsville, MD. 

For the past five years, Johnson has been the director of nursing there, as well as a member of the community’s executive leadership team.

Before joining the team at Charlestown, Johnson worked for HCR Manor Care (now ProMedica Senior Care) and spent 11 years as a clinical leader in the St. Agnes Hospital emergency department. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Maryland.

Erickson names Kailey Viray director of sales at Avery Point

Kailey Viray has been named director of sales at the Erickson Senior Living-managed Avery Point, a life plan community in Short Pump, VA. 

Since joining Avery Point in January 2020, Viray has moved through the ranks, most recently serving as sales manager, where she was responsible for overseeing daily sales operations and supervising sales associates. Before this role, she was a sales event associate and senior sales associate at the community.

Viray has an undergraduate degree from Liberty University.

Gulf Coast Village hires Jeanette Friend as sales and marketing director

Jeanette Friend has been hired as the sales and marketing director at Gulf Coast Village, a Volunteers of America life plan community in Cape Coral, FL. 

Friend has more than 13 years of experience in senior living sales, with prior positions at established senior living communities across Southwest Florida. She obtained her associate degree from Metropolitan Community College with an emphasis in counseling and communication, and she also is a licensed real estate sales associate. 

Mass-ALA honors the late Larry Gerber with Lifetime Achievement Award

The Massachusetts Assisted Living Association is honoring the late Laurence “Larry” Gerber with its 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award.

The former president and CEO of Epoch Senior Living and Mass-ALA Board Chair, Gerber passed away in March. The award will be accepted by his wife, Laurie Gerber, who has been named chair of Epoch, at the 2023 Mass-ALA Excellence Awards Dinner on Aug. 1.

Gerber had been active in the senior living industry in New England for more than three decades. In addition to founding Epoch, his career included service as board chair of the MALA and the Massachusetts Senior Care Association as well as Hebrew SeniorLife.

Before Epoch, Gerber was a management consultant at Bain & Co. and a senior tax accountant and certified public accountant at Arthur Anderson & Co. Also, he was president and CEO of the Berkshire Group from 1991 to 1997.

Goodwin Living’s Josh Bagley receives 40 Under 40 award

Josh Bagley, executive director of The View Alexandria, a Goodwin Living life plan community in Alexandria, VA, has received a 2023 40 Under 40 award from the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce.

The award, established in 2016, recognizes the successes of 40 individuals aged fewer than 40 years who are working in various industries, as well as the impact they have had on the Alexandria community. This is the third consecutive year that a Goodwin Living employee has been honored as a recipient. 

Bagley was named the executive director of The View Alexandria in March after serving as the interim executive director from the time when Goodwin Living acquired the residential community in August 2022.

He began his career with Goodwin Living in 2014 as an administrative assistant. During his time in this role, Bagley completed the administrator-in-training program before being promoted to change leader at Goodwin House Alexandria.

Bagley holds an undergraduate degree in health, society and policy from the University of Utah and a Master of Health Administration from George Washington University.

Send your personnel news to Lois Bowers at lois.bowers@mcknights.com. High-quality color headshots are welcomed but not required.

Christian Horizons names Kate Bertram president and CEO

Kate Bertram has been named president and CEO of Christian Horizons. 

Bertram joined Christian Horizons in March 2022 as chief operations officer with 20 years of experience in the field. She has an MBA from Mount Mary University and has been active in LeadingAge Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Chapter of the National MS Society.

Rose Villa announces planned departure of CEO Vassar Byrd

Vassar T. Byrd, CEO of Rose Villa, has decided to explore growth and development opportunities beyond the Portland, OR, continuing care retirement / life plan community.

Byrd joined Rose Villa in 2006. In 2014, she spearheaded a comprehensive campus redevelopment that has earned recognition and industry accolades for its award-winning design, environmentally conscious construction and innovative approach to sustainable living. It includes two zero-energy neighborhoods and a gray water reclamation system, ROSIE (Recycled Organic Stuff is Everywhere), which is expected to save approximately 300,000 gallons of clean water annually.

Byrd is a 2020 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Hall of Honor inductee.

Tabitha announces retirement of CEO Christie Hinrichs

Christie Hinrichs, president and CEO of Tabitha, has announced that her last day in the role will be Aug. 4

Hinrichs’ departure concludes a 30-year career with the provider, but her future plans keep her fully committed to supporting older adults as she and her husband relocate to Colorado for her next opportunity, the provider said. 

Hinrichs has served in the leadership role since 2010. She is the first woman to do so at the nonprofit provider of services for older adults.

12 Oaks Senior Living names Melissa Labor chief people officer

Melissa Labor has been named chief people officer at 12 Oaks Senior Living. 

Labor has more than 25 years of experience. She previously held roles as head of talent at Amherst Holdings and chief human resources officer at Granite Properties.

Invesque names Adlai Chester CFO

Adlai Chester has been named chief financial officer at Invesque in addition to leading the Fisher, IN-based health care real estate company’s investment group.

Scott Higgs, the current CFO, will resign effective Aug. 1 to pursue other interests. Higgs will remain on as a consultant until the end of the year.

Chester has more than 20 years of finance, real estate, investment, development and capital markets experience. He currently is director and chief investment officer at Invesque. Prior to his current role at the company, he was CFO of HealthLease Properties.

Retirement Unlimited, Inc. promotes Emily Erickson to chief clinical officer

Emily Erickson has been promoted to chief clinical officer at Retirement Unlimited, Inc. 

At RUI, Erickson began as the director of clinical services at Bay Lake in 2016. She then received promotions to regional director of clinical services and vice president of clinical services before her latest promotion. 

Erickson received her nursing degree from King University and has worked in healthcare for nearly 15 years.

She was named a 2023 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Rising Star. 

Solstice promotes David Lors to VP of sales and marketing

David Lors has been named vice president of sales and marketing at Solstice Senior Living. 

Before joining the Solstice team in 2019, Lors was the regional director of sales and marketing at Sunrise Senior Living for 14 years. Overall, he has 18 years of experience in the field. 

Epoch promotes Erica Labb to director of team member engagement, culture

Erica Labb has been promoted to the newly created position of director of team member engagement and culture at Epoch Senior Living.

Labb has worked for Epoch for five years, most recently as executive director of Bridges by Epoch at Westford. Over the past two decades, she has served in several management roles and positions in communities throughout the Greater Boston area.

Juniper promotes Kathryn Bainbridge to regional director of operations, Texas

Kathryn Bainbridge has been named regional director of operations, Texas, for Juniper Communities. 

For the past 4.5 years, Bainbridge was the nursing home administrator at Juniper Village at Brookline Rehabilitation and Skilled Care in State College, PA. In all, she has been with Juniper for approximately nine years and has worked in senior living and care for more than 20 years.

Bainbridge received her undergraduate degree in rehabilitation science from Pennsylvania State University, a master’s degree in gerontology from Capella University, and a nursing home administrator license.

Anthem names Sara Miller executive director of Chisholm Place

Sara Miller has been named executive director of Chisholm Place, an Anthem Memory Care community in Wichita, KS. 

Miller previously was residence director and assistant residence director with Legend Senior Living in Wichita, KS. She brings more than 16 years of healthcare experience to her new position.

Miller earned an undergraduate degree in health services management and community development from Wichita State University

Covenant Living of the Great Lakes names Dave McEwen executive director 

Dave McEwen has been named executive director at Covenant Living of the Great Lakes.

McEwen’s career spans more than 30 years in healthcare leadership in Michigan, with responsibilities that have included long-term care, independent living, hospice, hospital and sub-acute care.

He most recently was CEO at Huron Valley Sinai Hospital in Oakland County and chief operating officer at Mercy Health Saint Mary’s hospital in Grand Rapids, MI. McEwen has held board roles with the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, economic development agencies and other community service organizations.

McEwen earned an undergraduate degree in healthcare management from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree in hospital administration from Loma Linda University.

Erickson promotes Elizabeth Dunwoody to director of sales at Ashby Ponds

Elizabeth Dunwoody has been promoted to director of sales at Ashby Ponds. 

During her six-year career at the Erickson Senior Living-managed continuing care retirement / life plan community,  Dunwoody most recently was sales manager, where she was responsible for overseeing daily sales office operations and supervising new sales associates. Before that, she was a concierge supervisor and a senior sales associate.

Dunwoody holds an MBA with a concentration in healthcare from the Jack Welch Management Institute and a Bachelor of Science degree in event management from the University of Florida.

Jackson Creek Senior Living names Adam Salser executive director

Adam Salser has been named executive director of Jackson Creek Senior Living. 

Prior to joining Jackson Creek, he managed retirement communities in Longmont, CO, and Cheyenne, WY. Adam holds a degree in air traffic control from Aims Community College.

Health Dimensions Group adds to financial leadership

Health Dimensions Group has expanded its financial leadership and expertise to support its organizational growth in senior living operations and developments.

Melissa Zygarlicke has joined HDG as senior director of finance. A certified public accountant and chief financial officer with more than 15 years of experience, her areas of expertise include financial statement analysis, risk and compliance management, and financial reporting.

Carmen Broska has been promoted to senior director of revenue services. She has 25 years of experience in overseeing accounting and finance operations throughout the senior living and care industry.

Veronica James has been named vice president of clinical reimbursement. She is responsible for managing the clinical aspects of the revenue cycle, including the systems around third-party reimbursement for HDG-managed communities and consulting clients, and ensuring compliance with all state and federal requirements.

Brookdale CEO Cindy Baier appointed chair of Nashville Health Care Council

Cindy Baier, president and CEO of Brentwood, TN-based Brookdale Senior Living, has been appointed board chair of the Nashville Health Care Council for 2023-2024.

She is the first female board chair in the council’s history. 

Trinity Health Senior Communities’ Emma Duquette named 2023 National Nurse Leader

Emma Duquette is the 2023 winner of the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration’s Nurse Leader of the Year Award.

Duquette is regional director of quality and risk management for Trinity Health Senior Communities.  A former director of nursing, she has served as a Tri-State NADONA Chapter president. She is a registered nurse and holds a Master of Science in Nursing degree.

ACHCA names Shawn L. Neville fellow

Shawn L. Neville, FACHCA, chief operating officer at Salmon Health and Retirement, recently advanced to fellow of the American College of Health Care Administrators. The fellow distinction is the highest membership status one can gain, in recognition of professional achievement and continuous adherence to the ethical and professional standards of ACHCA.

Neville began in the healthcare industry 25 years ago as a certified nursing assistant at the same facility where his mother worked as a nurse. Throughout the years, Neville has served at a multitude of senior living and care facilities before joining Salmon Health and Retirement in 2017. Recently, Neville was promoted to the role of chief operating officer, where he oversees multiple care levels in senior living, including independent living.

Lisa M. Cini wins Telly Award for documentary

Interior designer and aging expert Lisa M. Cini, ASID, IIDA, has received a Telly Award in the General Documentary Short Form category for her documentary series, “Infinite Living Secrets of The Werner House.” The Telly Awards recognize excellence in video and television production.

The film series showcases the transformation of the 108-year-old Werner House Woodland Manor Mansion in Columbus, OH, over 18 months, highlighting the potential of life-improving technology and inclusive design for both senior living and multigenerational households. The series was spearheaded by Cini and directed and produced by 22-time Emmy Award winner Nick Nanton.

Cini is the president and CEO of Mosaic Design Studio and the author of several books, including “Boom: The Baby Boomers’ Guide to Preserving Your Freedom and Thriving as You Age in Place,” “The Future is Here: Senior Living Re-imagined” and “Hive, The Simple Guide to Multigenerational Living: How Our Family Makes it Work.”

WATG appoints Daun St. Amand as global practice principal

Daun St. Amand has been named global practice principal, luxury multifamily residential and senior/later living, at WATG.

St. Amand joins WATG with more than 30 years of experience in global markets. His career has largely been focused on senior living and residential living, with many high-rise and urban-density projects.

Send your personnel news to Lois Bowers at lois.bowers@mcknights.com. High-quality color headshots are welcome but not required.

More than 300 aging services professionals and supporters gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of 60 honorees working in the areas of senior living, skilled nursing, home care and hospice May 22 during the McKnight’s Women of Distinction Awards and Forum at the JW Marriott Chicago.

In addition to a Lifetime Achievement Award, which was bestowed on Marilynn Duker, co-chair of Baltimore-based Brightview Senior Living, awards were given to 21 Hall of Honor inductees, 16 Veteran VIPs, 16 Rising Stars and six Spirit Award winners at a gala dinner that was preceded by a cocktail reception.

Duker told those gathered for the awards ceremony that her career has “wildly exceeded my expectations.” “I would never think you … take a job when you’re 26 years old and that you can end up the same place 40 years later in a completely transformed organization. …I couldn’t feel better about what we have all accomplished,” she said.

Everyone in the room is “incredibly fortunate to have a career that can be incredibly fulfilling while doing something really good for people at a very vulnerable time in their lives,” Duker said. “I’ve found the greatest personal satisfaction from having the incredible opportunity to work with so many amazing people. I’ve learned so much … from many of you, both in Brightview and throughout the industry, and know we are better as a whole because we’re all in this together.”

The festivities also featured two afternoon educational sessions that showcased insights from women honored this year and in previous years.

One panel, “Traits of a successful long-term care leader,” was moderated by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News Senior Editor Kimberly Marselas and highlighted six 2023 inductees: Help at Home Market Leader Katie Gallenstein, WelbeHealth Director of Strategy and Special Projects Sophia Guel-Valenzuela, Clement Manor Campus Administrator Carly Loewus, Elara Caring Skilled Home Health President Kimberly Nystrom, Sanford Hospice Administrator Desirae Toomey and Help at Home Chicago Director of Operations Rose Trevino.

The other session, “A lifetime of lessons from the C-suite,” was moderated by McKnight’s Senior Living Editor Lois A. Bowers and featured three Lifetime Achievement Award winners: Duker; 2019 honoree Lynne Katzmann, founder and CEO of Bloomfield, NJ-based Juniper Communities; and 2020 inductee Wendy Simpson, chairman and CEO of Westlake Village, CA-based real estate investment trust LTC Properties.

2023 marked the fifth year of the McKnight’s Women of Distinction awards, which have grown from the inaugural year to include additional categories of recognition as well as the educational component. This year’s celebration was the third in-person Women of Distinction event, with two years of festivities having been held virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.

See the names of honorees from this year and previous years here, and see additional coverage of this year’s event here.

PointClickCare was the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica was the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors included American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

The nomination process for the 2024 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Awards will open later this year. Details will be posted at mcknightswomenofdistinction.com and on the McKnight’s websites.

CHICAGO — The future is bright for the long-term care industry, but its leaders must decide what they want the industry to be instead of waiting for tomorrow’s consumers to present a list of demands, a panel of industry leaders said Monday at the McKnight’s Women of Distinction Forum.

Three McKnight’s Women of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award honorees shared their collective wisdom and experiences during a session entitled “A lifetime of lessons from the C-suite.” The discussion was moderated by McKnight’s Senior Living Editor Lois A. Bowers.

Innovate by doing good

Marilynn Duker, Baltimore-based Brightview Senior Living’s co-chair and the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, said she was the first employee at the management company that eventually would morph into Brightview.

“For 40 years, I just had a lot of fun,” said Duker, who stepped down as CEO in September. “I feel so lucky to be in an industry that enables us to do good, but also to have really successful businesses.”

But she warned that senior living organizations will need to be innovative to attract baby boomers. Leaders, she said, need to start thinking about what they would want in a community for themselves and about how to help boomers navigate the transition into senior living.

Wendy Simpson, chairman and CEO of Westlake Village, CA-based real estate investment trust LTC Properties and the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, said that industry leaders need to start thinking about what they want the future of the industry to look like rather than wait for the next generation to tell them.

“We’re the industry. We know the industry,” Simpson said. “I think it’s time to start making those decisions and going forward.”

Lynne Katzmann, PhD, founder and CEO of Bloomfield, NJ-based Juniper Communities and the first recipient of the McKnight’s Women of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award, in 2019, said she lives by the mantra “Doing well by doing good.”

That mantra came into play when operators took risks and embraced vaccination and testing during the COVID-19 pandemic not knowing whether it was the right approach, she said. “We did it because we felt we were taking care of people,” Katzmann said. “It turned out to be that, and it was good business.”

The world is dynamic, she said, adding that she subscribes to Nike’s “Just Do It” message and that it’s important to keep moving and to understand and embrace change. The next generation of residents will be a new category of individuals, she said, adding that senior living needs to be repackaged because baby boomers don’t see themselves needing current services.

“You can be afraid, or you can go for it. At the end of the day, I choose to go for it,” Katzmann said, adding that what’s important is how the industry views itself and how it packages itself for the next generation. “It will be buildings and programming, but at the heart of it is the mindset that we have to radically change our brand.”

Innovation, she said, is a way of accepting change, and it was a desire to innovate that moved Katzmann to lead an effort to form an operator-owned Medicaid Advantage network called Perennial Consortium, offering Perennial Advantage, in 2020.

“We did it because senior living helps people live longer, better. We manage chronic illness, we save the government a ton of money,” she said. “The only way we can begin to capture that value is by controlling the healthcare dollar.”

She mentioned another innovation, Connect4Life, that was developed at Juniper and licensed to AllyAlign Health. Integrating primary care onsite, encouraging the use of data and electronic health records to drive care, and dedicating a coordinator to bridge senior living residents and providers are the pillars of the program.

Great workplace is priority

Duker said that although Brightview works hard to support its residents, the company’s top priority is being a great workplace for staff.

“If you’re a great place to work, you’re much more likely to be a great place to live, and the financials will follow,” she said.

Brightview has topped or been the only senior living company on lists—Best Workplaces for Women, Best Workplaces in Aging Services, People’s Companies that Care, Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For—recognizing its workplace culture. To community-level employees, Duker said, the company is the community where they work.

“Culture is not what you say it is. It’s the lived experience of your associates every single day in their little Brightview,” Duker said, adding that success goes back to focusing on who is hired and how they are onboarded and trained. “You’ve got to have a culture of continuous improvement or someone will pass you by,” she said.

Brightview recently placed a heavy emphasis on leadership development that led to “exponential growth” across departmental collaborations and brought “incredible value” to the business, Duker said. The “transformational” intensive leadership development program began with its home office staff and is now rolling out to departmental directors, focusing on individual strengths, she said.

Relationships are ‘heartbeat’

Paramount to LTC Properties’ success, Simpson said, are its business relationships with its skilled nursing and senior living operators, which she called the “heartbeat” of the REIT. When the pandemic hit, she said, the LTC Properties’ immediate response was to determine what it could do to help the operators in its portfolio.

“We’re the finance arm for this industry,” Simpson said. “We want to be the finance arm of choice.”

She said she enjoys seeing how women have embraced long-term care and how far they’ve come in managing and operating and “being in charge.” She attributed her success to showing up and doing her job—and being available to do something more.

“That’s how you grow. That’s how you learn outside of yourself,” Simpson said.

It’s not too early to think about women to nominate for next year. Visit mcknightswomenofdisinction.com this fall for details.

The event will take place Monday at the JW Marriott Chicago. Forum-only tickets are available.

In the first educational session, “Traits of a successful long-term care leader,” from 2-3 p.m. CT, panelists will discuss what makes a great leader, the key components that deliver results, and how to motivate and nurture up-and-comers in senior living, skilled nursing and home care.

McKnight’s Home Care Editor Liza Berger will moderate the first session. Panelists will include:

• Katie Gallenstein, market leader, Help at Home, a 2023 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Rising Star,
• Sophia Guel-Valenzuela, director of strategy and special projects, WelbeHealth PACE, a 2023 Veteran VIP,
• Carly Loewus, administrator of Clement Manor, a 2023 Rising Star,
• Kimberly Nystrom, president of skilled home health for Elara Caring, a 2023 Hall of Honor inductee,
• Desirae Toomey, administrator, home- and community-based services, Sanford Hospice, a 2023 Rising Star, and
• Rose Trevino, director of operations for Help at Home, a 2023 Rising Star.

In the second session, “A lifetime of lessons from the C-suite,” from 3:30-4:30 p.m. CT, three  McKnight’s Women of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award winners will share insights gleaned over decades of experience on the leading edge of senior living and care.

McKnight’s Senior Living Editor Lois A. Bowers will moderate the second session. Panelists will include:

• Marilynn Duker, co-chair, Brightview Senior Living, and 2023 McKnight’s Women of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award winner,
• Lynne Katzmann, founder and CEO, Juniper Communities, and 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and
• Wendy Simpson, chairman and CEO, LTC Properties, and 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award winner.

The educational sessions will precede a cocktail party, dinner and awards presentation celebrating this year’s McKnight’s Women of Distinction.

Tickets for the McKnight’s Women of Distinction Forum and Awards are still available and may be purchased at www.mcknightswomenofdistinction.com. Options include forum-only tickets and packages that include all events.

Those with questions about the events should contact Anna Naumoski, senior event manager at the parent company of the McKnight’s brands, Haymarket Media, at anna.naumoski@haymarketmedia.com.

PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Doing well by doing good has certainly proven true for Lynne Katzmann.

In 1988, at the age of 32 and with a PhD in health policy from the London School of Economics, Katzmann started Juniper Communities in Bloomfield, NJ. Begun as a way to invest in undervalued skilled nursing facilities and improve them, the company since has grown to also develop and manage senior living communities. 

There are now 24 of them — traversing New Jersey, Texas, Pennsylvania and Colorado.

Her company remains the only woman-founded, owned and led firm among the top 40 national assisted living companies.

A pioneer and visionary who also contributes to multiple boards, Katzmann has been relentless in her drive to improve the lived experience for the aging, including creating new financial models to support the industry. 

In 2020, she led the effort to form an operator-owned Medicare Advantage network called the Perennial Consortium, offering Perennial Advantage.

Another innovation, Connect4Life, was developed at Juniper and licensed to AllyAlign Health. Integrating primary care onsite, encouraging the use of data and electronic health records to drive care, and dedicating a coordinator to be the bridge between the senior living resident and the providers are all pillars of the program, which ultimately aims to improve outcomes and save money.

Before founding Juniper, Katzmann held positions at Health- Choice Inc. and Metrocare Inc. Later, she was vice president of JMK Associates Inc. from 1986 to 1987.

In 2019, she was the first recipient of the McKnight’s Women of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award. She followed that up the next year with induction into the American Senior Housing Association’s Senior Living Hall of Fame.

The McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Senior Living, McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Home Care. Honorees were recognized March 7 at a dinner and awards ceremony in Chicago. The program’s Platinum sponsor was MatrixCare. Omnicare was a Silver sponsor, and additional sponsors included Pinnacle Quality Insight, HealthDirect and Sentrics.

A nonprofit senior living organization based in Washington state now has an entirely women-led executive leadership team for the first time in its history.

With the promotion of Michelle Wood to vice president of operations, the Redmond, WA-based Emerald Communities’ executive leadership team consists entirely of women. Wood will provide leadership, strategic and daily operational support to the executive directors at its life plan communities, Emerald Heights in Redmond and Heron’s Key in Gig Harbor, WA. 

Kay Wallin, vice president of marketing and public relations, said the all-women leadership team occurred organically “as the best individuals were recruited or promoted for positions in the organization.”

“I think this says that this is a company that recognizes that talent and expertise is not limited by gender and is an organization where employees don’t just come for a job — they come for a career that includes the opportunity for growth,” Wallin said. “There is no glass ceiling at Emerald Communities.”

Having a women-led leadership team isn’t unique, but Wallin said it is rare.

“It is definitely a change from the industry of 20 to 30 years ago, when it was rare to find women in leadership positions,” she said. “I think an all-women team offers the same level of skill, creative thinking and expertise in individual areas of leadership as mixed-gender teams or male-led teams.”

Women in leadership a growing trend

A focus on increasing the number of women in corporate leadership positions has been a growing trend over the past several years. 

Last year, a “Women in the Workplace” report found female leaders switching jobs at the highest rate in years, moving to companies with better career opportunities, flexibility and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

The importance — and benefits — of reaching gender parity on corporate boards in senior living and other industries was noted by Juniper Communities founder and CEO Lynne Katzmann when she accepted the inaugural McKnight’s Women of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. “Gender-balanced boards are imperative, and gender-balanced boards get results,” she said at the time.

In 2018, Argentum launched an initiative to cultivate the next generation of women leaders in senior living and increase diversity. The association also made women a focal point of its 2019 Senior Living Executive Conference. Two years later, the 2021 Argentum & Lument Largest Providers Report shared evidence of growth in women in leadership in the senior living industry, growing from only 8% of companies led by women chief executives in 2014 to 19% in 2021 — with women leading three of the top 10 companies.

In 2019, history-making elections placed women at the head of the National Center for Assisted Living board of directors and the American Health Care Association board of governors. Helen Crunk of Nebraska was elected chair of the NCAL board, and Debbie Meade of Georgia was elected chair of the AHCA board for the 2019-2020 terms.