No April Fool’s jokes here—the senior housing industry is having an active month with plenty of promotions, new hires, and leadership team expansions.
Looking for a new job, or even a new career? Check out senior housing employment opportunities nationwide on SHN’s job board, with Brandywine Senior Living, Erickson Living, and Vi Retirement Communities among the senior living employers who are currently hiring.
Employers: Take advantage of our job board to look for some of the best and brightest in the industry. Post a job on the SHN jobs board for less than $1 per day, and attract local and national candidates through our system that leverages these postings throughout the SimplyHired network. Post a job today.
Center for Excellence in Assisted Living Names New ED
The Center for Excellence in Assisted Living, a collaborative of 11 diverse national organizations representing consumers, providers, and stakeholders is pleased to announce the appointment of Diane Doumas as its new interim Executive Director.
Doumas is an accomplished elder services professional and thought leader with an extensive track record of innovative management.
Her expertise includes successful management of several Sunrise Senior Living communities; senior management consultant with Vantage Advisory Group; collaboration with health care professionals, social workers, regulatory agencies, and other senior services providers; leadership coaching and mentoring; development and delivery of sales and marketing strategies with senior living technology firm WellAware Systems; elder services consulting and blogging as a Certified Senior Advisor. For several years she was licensed by the Virginia Board of Health Professions as an assisted living administrator.
Doumas earned a Bachelor of Science in Gerontology Services Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas. She holds a Master of Science in Organization Development and Knowledge Management from George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
Brookdale Hires Tricia Conahan as Chief Marketing Officer, EVP
Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. (NYSE: BKD) today announced that Tricia Conahan has joined the company in the newly created position of Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Conahan has responsibility for all aspects of the Company’s marketing, brand, communications, digital strategy, and creative services functions.
Conahan has more than 25 years of marketing and branding experience, most of it in senior level positions in the financial services, real estate, and publishing industries. She is a seasoned strategic marketing executive, with a strong track record of building unique brands that drive ROI and business results. Most recently, she served as partner and U.S. Chief Marketing and Sales Officer for global accounting/consulting firm Grant Thornton, where she was responsible for strategic marketing, brand building, lead generation, CRM, and sales.
Prior to that, Conahan was senior vice president, brand and acquisition at JPMorgan Chase, where she managed the rapid conversion of the failing Washington Mutual brand to Chase’s retail banking network. Conahan also spent almost eight years with ING Americas, during which she launched the ING brand in the United States and in six Latin American markets. Conahan has also held marketing leadership positions at RealEstate.com, McGraw-Hill Inc., Time Warner and Times Mirror Magazines.
Dominion Partners Names John Benner Director of Development
John Benner has been named Director of Development of Dominion Partners where he will work with principal Dave Rodgers in the development of multi-family and senior housing projects throughout the southeast for Dominion.
He is currently overseeing the development of Somerby of Santa Rosa Beach, a $14-million assisted living community and a $6 million expansion of the multi-family community Tarramar. Both are in the initial stages of construction in Florida. Benner has 25 years of commercial real estate management and development experience and was formerly owner of Hawthorn Real Estate. He is a graduate of Auburn University and is working to complete theological studies at Beeson Divinity School at Samford University.
Dominion Partners currently owns and manages multi-family and Somerby senior living communities in Mobile and Birmingham, Ala.; Peachtree City and Alpharetta, Ga., and Mt. Pleasant, S.C. The company is in the design stage on a $25-million expansion at Somerby of Peachtree City which includes 12 Villas and 100 residential units. The Somerby senior living communities are operated by Somerby Senior Living, a division of Dominion Partners.
ARCO Elects LifeCare Residences CEO Richard Davis as New Chair
Richard Davis, Chief Executive of LifeCare Residences, has been elected as the new Chair of The Associated Retirement Community Operators (ARCO).
Davis will lead ARCO in its continued efforts to establish the housing-with-care sector in the United Kingdom as a mainstream option for older people. He takes over from ARCO’s inaugural Chair Jon Gooding.
ARCO was founded in 2012 to help solve the housing needs for the next generation of retirees who face multiple social problems such as unsuitable housing, high care costs and loneliness. ARCO members build and own retirement communities, which combine specialist housing, care and community on one site, providing elderly people with the care and security they need, with their own front door.
LifeCare Residences are an experienced international developer and operator of retirement communities and have UK villages in Hampshire and Dorset and will open London’s first luxury retirement community in October 2015.
Lifespace Communities’ Beacon Hill Names New Executive Chef
Local chef Gabriel Lagunas has been named the new executive chef at Beacon Hill, a Lifespace Communities location in Lombard, Ill. Lagunas previously owned and managed the restaurant Eggz Dujour, and has more than 21 years of experience in the culinary field.
Lagunas is known throughout the west Chicago suburbs for his work at the Itasca Country Club, and he brings the upscale culinary style he mastered there to Beacon Hill. In his new position, he oversees the dining staff, plans menus, and ensures that residents have healthy and nutritional choices.
Beacon Hill welcomes Lagunas’ expertise, as today’s seniors’ dining expectations include a more resort-like experience, variety of choices and experienced chefs.
Lagunas plans to create new menu options for residents, and to add more diversity to meals. He’ll also incorporate unique specials, including international and ethnic flavors such as Spanish, Polish and Greek dishes. Beacon Hill’s menu currently rotates every five weeks and includes a salad bar, daily fish and at least two options of protein each day for residents to choose from.
Prior to owning his own restaurant, Lagunas was the executive chef at the Itasca Country Club for 19 years. He studied at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.
McLoughlin Place Senior Living Hires Sherry Andrus as ED
McLoughlin Place Senior Living, an assisted living and memory care community located in Oregon City, has hired Sherry L. Andrus as its executive director, effective February.
Andrus was previously employed by Emeritus Senior Living, where she served as executive director of Chestnut Lane Assisted Living Community. She has more than 20 years of business management experience and eight years of senior living-specific experience. Andrus has a degree in business administration and organizational development.
Amica Mature Lifestyles Appoints David Minnett as President
Further to its news release of October 15, 2013, Amica Mature Lifestyles Inc. announced April 1 the appointment of David Minnett as President, effective April 10, 2014.
As part of the Company’s focus on building and further strengthening the Amica executive and senior management team, Amica commenced a recruiting process in October 2013 to hire a President for the Company. In its search, the Board sought an experienced leader with a strong history and track record in business.
Minnett brings his leadership experience from the restaurant, consumer goods and telecommunication industries. Most recently he served as President of Swiss Chalet & Harvey’s Restaurants where he provided leadership for two restaurant chains with $750 million in sales, 470 locations and over 14,000 associates across Canada. During his tenure, Minnett delivered sales growth, streamlined operations, increased market share and improved profitability across both businesses.
Previously, Minnett served as President of Kelsey’s Restaurants. Prior thereto, he held senior positions with Mars Canada Inc., Molson Coors Brewing Company and Rogers Communications Inc. He earned his master degree in Business Administration and his bachelor degree in Engineering and Management at McMaster University.
Michael Daly Joins Jonathan Rose Companies as COO
Jonathan Rose Companies LLC, a green real estate development, investment and project management firm, has named Michael Daly as the firm’s chief operating officer. In this capacity he will manage the company’s operations, and the expansion and diversification of the Jonathan Rose Companies’ nationwide portfolio.
Most recently, as president of Forest City Enterprises’ affiliate Mesa del Sol, Daly was responsible for the overall master plan and development for a 9,000-acre, new urbanism mixed-use project in Albuquerque, N.M. that will ultimately include 38,000 homes and 18 million square feet of commercial development.
Prior to that, he founded Sterling Glen Communities, a joint venture with Forest City Enterprises created to develop, own and manage luxury senior housing. At completion, the portfolio included 11 buildings, over 1,200 residents and employed more than 800 people. Ultimately, the company was sold to Lazard Freres (Atria Senior Living). Daly started his real estate career working at Forest City Ratner Companies, where he responsible for leasing and development of the firm’s commercial properties in Brooklyn and Manhattan.
The Terraces at Bonita Springs Hires New Clinical Liaison
The Terraces at Bonita Springs in Florida has hired Carolyn Vecchio as the new clinical liaison for its health care continuum, Renaissance at The Terraces. Vecchio is responsible for building relationships with area hospitals and health care providers, and showcasing the services, amenities and quality care that Renaissance at The Terraces offers to area seniors.
Vecchio has more than five years of experience in senior living and health care, working in community relations and sales positions in both Naples and Bonita Springs. Prior to that, she spent a decade working for faith-based organizations, and also held her real estate license in New York.
Premer Senior Living Promotes Dawn Bare, Lura Butler
New York City-based Premier Senior Living, LLC, an assisted living and memory care provider, has promoted Dawn Bare to Corporate Director of Sales & Marketing. In this capacity Bare will be visiting each of the Premier communities to enhance their marketing capabilities with a special focus on census.
Bare was promoted from the position of Executive Director of Premier’s Summit at New Port Richey Assisted Living and Memory Care community in Florida and previously was the marketing director for a 32-unit chain of senior housing properties.
Premier has also promoted Lura Butler to Corporate Director of Quality Assurance. Butler, who was most recently the Executive Director of Premier’s Westbrook Assisted Living & Memory Care community in Ohio, is a nurse with a great deal of experience in compliance with all regulatory requirements and in developing new systems, including the latest software and applications for electronic medical records.
AHEPA Management Hires Kay Quatroche as Quality Assurance Manager
AHEPA Management Company, a property management firm providing onsite management for affordable senior housing communities nationwide, recently announced the addition of Kay Quatroche as the firm’s Quality Assurance Manager. In this capacity, Quatroche will be responsible for quality assurance and training within the company’s Service Coordination and Quality Assurance Services programs.
Prior to joining AHEPA Management Company, Quatroche served as Area Sales Manager for AT&T in Indianapolis for nine years. Her business experience also includes a focus on wellness through yoga and art retreats and corporate team building events. She has four years of experience in creative wellness programs.
Quatroche is a member of the Indiana Association of Service Coordinators where she is Marketing Co-Chair. She is also a member of the American Society on Aging.
A native of Houston, Texas, Quatroche earned a Master of Business from Indiana Wesleyan University, Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the Herron School of Art and Design at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. She is a resident of Indianapolis.
RED Hires Ben Frank as Director of Seniors Housing & Healthcare Originations
Red Mortgage Capital, LLC, the mortgage banking arm of comprehensive capital provider RED CAPITAL GROUP, LLC announced today the addition of Benjamin M. Frank as a Director, Seniors Housing & Healthcare Originations.
Frank, based in Orange County, California, will play a critical role in growing the Seniors Housing business line and bring considerable strength in balance sheet lending. He has more than a decade of experience in the commercial banking industry.
“Adding Ben to our seniors housing team positions RED to grow this market segment swiftly. We see tremendous opportunity in the industry and with Ben on board bringing strong balance sheet lending experience, we look to expand our market share in the coming months. Ben brings a very solid history of underwriting, financial modeling, risk assessment and contract negotiations,” says Kathryn Burton Gray, senior managing director of RED’s Seniors Housing and Healthcare platform. “As well, Ben maintains an extensive network of senior level industry contacts, which he will utilize to foster the growth across other RED businesses.”
Prior to joining RED, Frank served as Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer for Sunwest Bank in Irvine, CA. Previously he was a Relationship Manager for Commercewest Bank in Newport Beach, Calif.
Wichita Presbyterian Manor Adds 2 New Directors to Healthcare Leadership
Two new health center staff members have joined Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s leadership team. Amanda Griffin joins the team as health services director and Andrea McMillen as assisted living services director. The community is undergoing a $35 million expansion, the first phase of which is expected to be complete in summer 2014.
Griffin brings 25 years of experience in working with seniors, the last 17 of which have been in the greater Wichita area. She previously worked as a supervisor and greenhouse guide at Asbury Park in Newton, Kan., and as head nurse at DCCCA (Douglas County Citizens Committee on Alcoholism) in Wichita. In her role as health services director, Griffin oversees 45 nursing staff members. She develops clinical care plans for residents, creates policy and procedures for care standards, and implements staff education and training.
McMillen most recently worked as a care transition coordinator at Amedisys Home Health and Hospice and previously was a registered nurse care manager at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. As assisted living services director, she oversees the assisted living and home health sections at Wichita Presbyterian Manor, which currently includes 25 residents.
Leisure Care Hires New General Managers, Corporate Sales Manager
Seattle-based Leisure Care recently announced two new hires of general managers along with the promotion of an existing general manager to corporate sales director.
Steve Battisti has been named general manager of Heritage Estates in Livermore, California. As general manager, Battisti will oversee all of Heritage Estates’ operations and ensure that they align with Leisure Care’s core ‘Five Star Fun’ philosophy. Battisti came to Heritage Estates from Arrowhead Country Club where he was also a general manager. He brings with him a wealth of hospitality management experience, previously managing restaurants and private country clubs across California, Colorado, South Dakota and Pennsylvania.
Becky Monday is the new general manager of the Springfield Place Retirement Community in Petaluma, California. As general manager, Monday will be charged with providing overall leadership and management to the nearly 100 residents and 50 staff at Springfield Place. Monday brings with her extensive management and marketing experience. She has a deep understanding of the Leisure Care brand and its values. She has been with Leisure Care for nearly four years, most recently serving as the general manager of The Preserve in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Leisure Care has also announced the promotion of Chris Lucero to corporate sales director. As corporate sales director, Lucero will be charged with leading, coaching and training the sales team, in addition to monitoring and analyzing sales performance. Lucero has a track record of management success and a deep understanding for Leisure Care’s ‘Five Star Fun’ philosophy. Lucero has been with Leisure Care for nearly seven years, most recently serving as the general manager of Fairwinds Rio Rancho in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
3rdThird Expands Consulting Division as Senior Living Clientele Grows
3rdThird announces an expansion of their consulting division in order to meet the growing needs of their senior living clients. With the advent of the Silver Tsunami, senior living professionals are facing increasing challenges in the booming senior housing sector. Rapid community expansion and an influx of staff members new to the senior market have created a need for senior living expertise.
The addition of three former senior housing executives to the consulting team means 3rdThird will now be able to provide consulting services, including sales, marketing, operations, policies and procedures, resident services, and new business development, plus training programs in each of these areas.
DeAnne Clune – Sales and Marketing Specialist, Senior Living Consultant
Clune has worked in corporate and regional sales and marketing positions for well-known operators such as Leisure Care, Emeritus, and Merrill Gardens since 1999. For the past four years as an industry consultant, she has worked with non-profit senior living organizations and developers of new and emerging concepts in affordable and lifestyle communities. She dedicates her time as a strategist, coach, and mentor to all types of senior living communities, helping organizations identify and promote their unique brand promise and developing strategies for successful lease-up of new communities and turn-around of occupancy-challenged communities.
Cecil Rinker – Operations and Development Specialist, Senior Living Consultant
Rinker’s senior living experience and hospitality background has helped shape his philosophy of customer centricity when developing and implementing new concepts in senior living. He has a passion for developing team members, instilling a resident service focus, and enhancing the bottom line. His senior living career began in 1996 as a dining room manager, which was followed by community manager; soon after, Rinker moved to senior leadership positions in operations, resident services, and new business development. He spent 16 years with Leisure Care, a highly regarded management company known for its high standards and innovative culture. Most recently, he helped a development company establish operating procedures for a new brand of 55+ communities, opening in several western states.
Sydney Musick – Compliance Specialist, Senior Living Consultant
Musick has a 23-year history in the senior living sector and an even longer career in policies and procedures development. While working for senior living management company Leisure Care, she was responsible for the creation of state-specific policies and procedures to support communities regarding staff orientation and training, food services, resident services, and assisted living. Musick also played a critical role in the onboarding of new communities to the portfolio. Her expansive knowledge and attention to detail makes her an invaluable resource to senior living operators throughout the U.S.
Harold Emshar Joins Creekside as Executive Director
Creekside Retirement Community has named Harold Ermshar as the senior living community’s new executive director. With more than two decades of experience in senior living, Ermshar replaces longtime executive director Jim Eilers, who retired in March.
In his role as executive director, Ermshar will oversee all aspects of community operations, while interacting with residents and staff, as well as serving as the face of Creekside to the Huntsville area on a daily basis.
Ermshar comes to Creekside from another senior living community managed by Methodist Retirement Communities, PineCrest in Lufkin, Texas, where he was in charge of training and managing the long-term care and assisted living employees.
He has worked in senior living since graduating in 1992 from Southern College, now known as Southern Adventist University, in Collegedale, Tenn., with dual bachelor’s degrees in long-term health care and business administration management.
Before joining Methodist Retirement Communities in Lufkin, Ermshar worked with Momentum Healthware, a global software firm providing services to long-term care entities. In addition to his extensive hands-on experience in senior living and health care, Ermshar founded a company in 2004 called Leadership Solutions, which does consulting and interim placement training for long-term care facilities in Tennessee.
Commonwealth Assisted Living Expands Management Team
Senior living operator Commonwealth Assisted Living has added four new members to its leadership team as it positions for long-term growth.
David Dodson has been named Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Commonwealth Assisted Living. In this role Dodson will provide overall strategic direction and leadership for Commonwealth’s sales and marketing team, and implement strategic marketing plans to grow census across the company.
Dodson comes to Commonwealth with 16 years of sales and marketing leadership experience in the new home and senior living industries. A former Marine Corps sergeant, Dodson has supported senior living communities across the southeastern United States including independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing communities.
Catherine (Cat) Klett Anderson has been named new Regional Director of Operations for Commonwealth Assisted Living. In this role, Anderson will focus on building teams to support Commonwealth’s core values, as well as forming partnerships that will bring Commonwealth to a new level of innovation, success and recognition.
Anderson holds a Bachelor’s degree from George Mason University in Health Systems Management with a concentration in assisted living. She’s held numerous positions within senior living communities – from activities and volunteer coordination to director of admissions and executive director – and has gained a thorough understanding of not only the operations of a community but also the needs and expectation of residents and their family members.
Maria Irlinger has accepted the role of Executive Director at Georgian Manor. Originally from Staten Island, NY, Irlinger comes to Commonwealth having most recently managed another senior living community in the Chesapeake area for the past sixteen years. Irlinger has long been active in the senior living industry including a former role as Vice President of the Chesapeake Task Force on Aging (2001 – 2005) and is an Alzheimer’s support group facilitator.
Kathleen Donoghue has accepted the role of Executive Director at King’s Grant House. She has worked in senior care for more than 40 years and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Drew University in Madison and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Old Dominion University.
Donoghue managed independent and assisted living communities in Richmond, Norfolk, Newport News and Virginia Beach and is looking forward to returning home to the King’s Grant neighborhood. In past she has served on the Board of Directors for the civic community league and on the Board of Directors of the nearby M.E. Cox Adult Day Care Center.
Skilled Healthcare Group Appoints COO, CIO
Skilled Healthcare Group, Inc. (NYSE: SKH) recently announced that Paxton L. Wiffler has accepted the position of Chief Operating Officer effective May 7, 2014, and David Goff has accepted the position of Chief Information Officer effective April 14, 2014.
Paxton Wiffler currently serves as Senior Vice President of Operations for Genesis Healthcare. Prior to Genesis, he spent 18 years with Sun Healthcare Group, Golden Living, and Beverly Healthcare and has held positions of increasing responsibility including Regional Director of Operations, Vice President of Operations, and Division President before joining Genesis.
David Goff comes to Skilled Healthcare from Costa Mesa-based Emulex where he served as CIO for seven years. Prior to Emulex, David spent six years as Director of IT and then VP and CIO for AppliedMicro. His previous employment background includes positions with Silicon Systems and Texas Instruments.
EmployerDirect Hires Jeff Gary as EVP of Business Development
EmployerDirect, a leader in value-based healthcare that helps large, self-insured employers provide transparency for the quality and cost of their employees’ planned medical procedures, recently welcomed Jeff Gary as Executive Vice President of Business Development.
Gary has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry and has served in executive positions with a variety of managed healthcare organizations. His responsibilities at EmployerDirect are to create and lead internal and external strategic business development initiatives as well as lead strategic alliance and partnership opportunities.
Gary was the founder and president of The JMG Group in Austin, Texas, a strategic healthcare consulting company that focuses on innovation, revenue growth, medical spend and cost containment solutions. He is an active advisor and consultant to numerous healthcare and insurance organizations. In 2008, he formed Stratabex, LLC, a healthcare business development company that he later sold to Prescription Benefits Inc. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions with companies including Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Humana, and UnitedHealth Group.
Bild & Company Hires Jodi Bach as Recruitment Specialist
Bild & Company, one of the nation’s leading senior healthcare consulting firms announced the hiring of Jodi Bach as Senior Recruiter to support Bild’s client growth and recruitment and retention services. She will work with healthcare leaders to identify and place top talent.
In her role as Senior Recruiter, Bach will collaborate with healthcare organizations to seek individuals who will best fit their culture. She will utilize Bild & Company’s multifaceted talent analysis process and proprietary data base to screen and uncover the industry’s top performers for a variety of positions based on client needs.
Prior to Bild & Company, Bach spent more than 10 years as a recruiting specialist in the senior healthcare industry. She held the position as Divisional Recruiting Manager for Atria, one of the nation’s largest senior living providers. While at Pacific Resources Healthcare Search, Bach maintained a 75% search to placement ratio and 90% retention rate for candidates’ first year of employment. Most recently she worked with Bradley, Harris & Associates to identify and place talent for senior living and long-term care companies.