Movers & Shakers — People and Positions for August

As kids head back to school, adults are moving on up the corporate ladder, with this month’s Movers & Shakers featuring a wide range of promotions, new hires, and appointments.

Looking for a new job, or even a new career? Check out senior housing employment opportunities nationwide on SHN’s job board.

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.

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Highland Springs Appoints Jerry McDonald as Director of Continuing Care

Highland Springs, the Erickson Living retirement community, announced the appointment of Jerry McDonald as its Director of Continuing Care.

Previously with the Legacy at Preston Hollow, McDonald holds over eighteen years of senior living administration experience.

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Opened in March, the continuing care neighborhood at Highland Springs features 108 residences, offering assisted living, memory care, post-acute rehabilitation and nursing care services. It incorporates the integrated health care model developed by Erickson Health that includes full-time physicians, electronic medical records and comprehensive employee training.

In his leadership role, McDonald will be responsible for providing clinical services and achieving a high quality resident experience through a holistic, patient-centered care model that reflects the core values of Highland Springs. McDonald, a Plano resident, has a Master’s Degree in Science for Long Term Care Administration from the University of North Texas.

Sarah Coulter Named Director at Evergreen Senior Living

Sarah Coulter, RN, has been named the new director at Evergreen Senior Living in Decatur, Ill., where she will oversee the 93-apartment supportive living facility in addition to the 20-apartment memory support community, The Legacy.

Coulter has been in health care since 1974, beginning as a certified nursing assistant in Taylorville. She received an associate of nursing degree from Parkland College in Champaign in 1990 and worked as a registered nurse in a hospital and long-term care setting for many years. Coulter furthered her education and experience with a bachelor’s degree in 2008 from the University of St. Francis in Joliet. She acquired her master’s degree in health care administration in 2008 from Southern Illinois University.

Coulter most recently worked at Decatur Memorial Hospital for 15 years, serving as director for a multitude of departments related to care of the senior population. She lives in Macon County with her husband and son.

Evergreen Place is affiliated with Heritage Health in Mount Zion. The day-to-day operations of the Evergreen Place partnership are managed by the Heritage Operations Group LLC, out of Bloomington, Ill.

Lori Smith Named Corporate Sales Manager for Senior Management Advisor

Lori Smith has been named corporate sales manager for Senior Management Advisors (SMA), responsible for sales and management efforts for the company’s independent living, assisted living and Alzheimer’s care residential communities.

Prior to joining SMA, Smith was rehab community liaison for Mease Manor, Dunedin, Fla., a CRC facility; community marketing liaison for Emeritus facilities in Venice, Bonita Springs and Clearwater; and account representative for skilled nursing and assisted living facilities in a seven-county area for Rads Mobile XRay. She also supervised marketing and events for Marriot/Sunrise Living facilities in Pinellas County.

Smith attended Akron University and St. Pete College, where she studied Business Administration.

LCB Senior Living Names Susan Cwieka as Executive Director

Susan C. Cwieka has been named Executive Director of the Residence at Watertown Square, a 90-apartment independent, assisted, and memory care community located in Watertown, Mass. The project is being developed and will be operated by LCB Senior Living, LLC of Norwood, Mass.

Cwieka has more than 20 years’ experience and brings deep expertise in all aspects of senior care. Her career has included practical and managerial experience in nearly every aspect of the industry, and has given her comprehensive expertise in the management of senior housing residences, delivery of care, sales & marketing, human resources, and the legislative issues that impact the business.

Previously, Cwieka worked at Hillhaven, Inc., Essex Enterprises, and Benchmark. She holds a BA in Nursing Home Administration from Simmons College, as well as an MPA with Health Care concentrations from Suffolk University. In addition she is a Certified Nursing Home Ombudsman, and has operated Licensed Nursing Homes in MA and RI. She was previously on the Board of Mass ALFA.

Employer Direct Healthcare Names Thomas Johnston as CEO

Employer Direct Healthcare recently announced that Thomas D. Johnston, J.D., has been appointed as its new CEO. Johnston has more
than26 years of healthcare management experience and a strong track record working with emerging companies.

Prior to joining Employer Direct Healthcare, Johnston most recently served as Vice President at Paragon Health and as a Director at Navigant Consulting’s Healthcare Division. During his tenure at Navigant, he developed and led multiple facets of new healthcare business partnerships, including areas such as overseeing strategies for new business development, managing physician real estate holdings and construction projects while
having responsibilities for profit and loss in many healthcare joint ventures.

Previously, Johnston also gained experience serving as CEO of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeons, PA of Austin, Texas for over 14 years -this group eventually gained national prominence as a partner in the development of the “Heart Hospital of Austin.”

Johnston also served as Vice President of Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., where he managed the integration of several large specialty physician practices working in 10medical clinics throughout the California desert region. He also served as President for both the Texas Medical Group Management Association and Surgical Leadership Alliance,and co-founded the Capital City Medical Group Administrators.

LCB Senior Living Names Kristen Duggan as Executive Director

Kristen Duggan has been named Executive Director of the Residence at Riverbend, 75-apartment independent, assisted, and memory care senior community to be located in Ipswich, Mass. The project is being developed and will be operated by LCB Senior Living, LLC, based in Norwood, Mass.

Duggan has more than 12 years’ experience in the senior housing industry, and previously worked with Hallkean Management and Atria in Newton, MA. Prior to moving into senior housing, she was in the executive recruiting industry, and worked at the Harvard Business School. Duggan attended Framingham State University.

The Residence at Riverbend is currently under construction and will open in the Fall of 2014.

Covenant Village of Turlock Adds Assistant Executive Director, Sales Director

Covenant Village of Turlock recently appointed Charles W. Johnson assistant executive director and Laura J. Bemis sales director.

In his new position, Johnson will work collaboratively with and report to Covenant Village Executive Director Bob Howell. He will be responsible for managing residential and assisted living operations at the continuing care retirement community.

Johnson has been with Covenant Retirement Communities, the parent of Covenant Village of Turlock, since 2004. Before his current assignment he spent four years leading the organization’s community in Florida. He started his CRC tenure as residential administrator at Covenant Village of Turlock. Before entering the senior service industry, Johnson was editorial director for Focus on the Family Periodicals, the publications department of the Christian ministry headed by Dr. James Dobson. He also worked in education and was principal of Huntington School, San Marino, Calif.

Johnson has a bachelor’s degree in English and history from Westmont College, Santa Barbara, Calif., and a master’s degree in pupil personnel services from Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, Calif. He is California licensed administrator of Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly. Johnson and his wife Gwen live in Turlock, Calif.

Bemis will develop and implement a sales program for Covenant Village’s 219 residential retirement apartments and patio homes. In addition to residential retirement, the community’s continuum of senior services includes 52 assisted living residences and a 50-bed skilled nursing center. She will report to Executive Director Bob Howell.

Bemis brings more than 18 years of experience in sales, property management, customer service and administration to her new position. She comes to Covenant Village from Garden Plaza Greenbriar Cove, a retirement community in Ooltewah, Tenn., where she directed sales and managed training.

Having served on the board for nine years, Bemis was president of board of the Plumas (Calif.) Association of Realtors. She has been active in the California Association of Realtors for almost 20 years, having directed its board for three years and served on a variety of special-interest initiatives. Bemis lives in Denair, Calif.

Madison Medical Resort Names Linda Smith Executive Director

Madison Medical Resort, a post-hospital recovery and skilled nursing center, has named Linda Smith, LNHA, executive director.

Smith joins Madison Medical Resort with more than six years of administrative experience leading senior living communities throughout west Texas. She served as the administrator for Buena Vida Nursing and Rehabilitation, Terrace West Nursing & Rehab, LLP, Permian Residential Care Center and Concho Health and Rehab. Smith also served as a social worker for Deerings Nursing & Rehab Center, LLP, Parks Methodist Nursing & Rehab and Terrace West Nursing & Rehab.

Madison Medical Resort, a $10 million, 43,000 square foot, post-hospital recovery, skilled nursing and long-term care community, is owned and operated by SCC Healthcare Group, headquartered in Garland, Texas.

PMD Advisory Services Opens New Office Location

PMD Advisory Services, LLC., (PMD), a 30-year provider of market feasibility data and analysis and strategic planning for the 55 plus business sector, announced today the opening a new office location in Denver, Co. With this new location, PMD is positioned to meet the growing demands and needs of clients located in the western part of the United States.

Additionally, Managing Director Keith Evans has been appointed to oversee operation of the new office location and ensure the needs of its clients are met.

Evans, a 30-year senior housing industry veteran, previously held the position of Vice President with Spectrum Consultants providing consultant expertise throughout the western region to numerous single-site communities and multi-site organizations such as the Air Force Villages communities in San Antonio, Texas and Lifespace Communities in Des Moines, Iowa. In this role, he assisted communities in developing operation management plans and sales and marketing programs. Prior to joining PMD, he gained valuable experience at Marriott Senior Living Services, Senior Resource Group and Howell Associates Management.

Evans holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Administration from the University of Michigan, and received his Masters in Science and Bachelor’s of Science from Pennsylvania State University in Social and Business Psychology.

Ferguson Partners Announces Erica Hirsen as New Director

Ferguson Partners Ltd. recently announced Erica Hirsen, 31, as a new director based in the company’s Chicago corporate office. Hirsen will focus on developing and serving clients in the healthcare real estate industry, specifically in senior housing. Ferguson Partners Ltd. is a global firm that specializes in providing executive recruiting in real estate, asset and wealth management, hospitality, and healthcare.
Prior to joining Ferguson Partners Ltd., Hirsen served as assistant vice president at GE Capital, Healthcare Financial Services. Hirsen holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s of accountancy from the University of Wisconsin. She is also a registered CPA. She currently resides in Chicago with her husband.

Erickson Living Names Lynn Schaffer Finance Director of Kans. CCRC

Erickson Living has named Lynn Schaffer the Finance Director for Tallgrass Creek retirement community in Overland Park, Kans. She will be responsible for the monthly financial reporting of the 300+-resident community, forecasting for the community and development of the operations budgeting, resident billings and audit support. She will also provide financial training and support to all departments and help lead the strategic planning processes for the community.

Schaffer is a proven leader in the areas of Finance, Accounting and Strategy, bringing nearly 15 years of experience with her from the Telecommunications and Financial Services industries.

Prior to joining Tallgrass Creek, she was Controller of SKC Communication Products, LLC, which is a unified communications company based in Shawnee, Kans. She also served as CFO and Controller for Advance Mortgage Corporation and held various finance positions with H&R Block and Sprint.

Schaffer graduated with honors receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from DeVry University and is a life-long resident of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. She and her husband Chris have three children.

Womack Elected Chair of Methodist Retirement Communities Board

Rev. Jack Womack, pastor of Hope Community United Methodist Church has been elected Chair of the board of Methodist Retirement Communities or MRC.

Rev. Womack has served on various committees and boards within the MRC system for several years and brings his interest in eldercare with him to this position. MRC offers a variety of residential options for seniors including independent living, assisted living, certified memory support, skilled nursing, rehab, home health and affordable housing. With a Christian heritage dating back to 1962, the MRC system has grown to offer services in 10 communities across six Texas cities, and currently serves over 1500 residents.

The Douglas Company Makes Giants 300 List

The Douglas Company, a general contractor specializing in the construction of senior healthcare facilities and multi-family housing, was named one of the top performing contractors in the nation by Building Design + Construction magazine for the first time ever.

Every year, Building Design + Construction magazine releases rankings of the largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the United States. The collection of lists is known as the ‘Giants 300 Report”, and takes into consideration building-type revenue, BIM revenue, green building work, scope of work and much more. Dates used for the contractor list reflects 2012 revenues derived from general contracting, design-build projects, IPD and CM at Risk; information is supplied and verified by the firms in the running.

The Douglas Company is ranked number 89 of 119 construction firms, with total revenue for the 2012 calendar year coming in at $90.27 million. Most of this revenue was a result of several healthcare and multi-family residential jobs. Projects contributing to this impressive number include Toledo VA Outpatient Clinic in Toledo, Ohio; Grand Palms Assisted Living and Memory Care Community located in Orlando, Fla.; and the Lakes of Monclova Health Campus in Maumee, Ohio.

The Douglas Company is proud to have been ranked amongst the top contractors in the nation, and looks forward to another exceptional year. Click here to view the entire list.

Former Ziegler and Sunrise Senior Living Exec Launches Consultant Firm

A husband-and-wife duo have launched Rockwood Pacific, a Berkeley, Calif.-based consultancy firm that will provide development advisory and program management services. Frank Rockwood, a former executive with Ziegler and Sunrise Senior Living, founded the firm with his wife Susan.

“The status quo value proposition for senior living and health care is being subjected to extraordinary pressures; major changes in underlying demographics and once-in-a-lifetime change in related healthcare policies necessitate a fresh yet disciplined approach to planning and executing capital projects,” said Frank Rockwood. “In particular, we expect the greater emphasis on affordability and effectiveness to change the what, where and who of capital projects.”

Frank’s previous experience includes serving as a development executive with Sunrise Senior Living, Transamerica, and the Walt Disney Company. He was also a finance executive who spearheaded Transamerica’s low income housing tax credit investment program, and most recently served as a banker with Ziegler.

Susan has experience in finance, accounting, and project management and has worked with companies that include Kidder Peabody and BancAmerica Securities.

Valle Verde Names Jacob Reimer New Executive Chef

Valle Verde has welcomed local chef Jacob Reimer as the executive chef of the senior living community located in Santa Barbara. Reimer has more than 22 years of culinary experience and has served under some of the top French chefs at many four- and five-diamond restaurants.

As a culinary veteran in the Santa Barbara area, Reimer has served under Remi Lavaund at Miro at Bacara Resort and Spa and as executive chef at Wine Cask and Intermezzo. Prior to working at Valle Verde, he worked as a high profile executive chef consultant for many properties including Fauchere, Relais and Chateaux hotels and restaurant groups such as Pierre Lafond.

The community offers a variety of dining options, including an upscale restaurant with room for banquets and private events, room service and a grab-and-go style bistro that is scheduled to open next spring. Valle Verde partners with Sodexo, to ensure the highest quality of food and the best dining experience for residents at the community.

SearStone Hires Chris Romick as Executive Director

SearStone, a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community (CCRC) being developed in Cary, has announced the hiring of Christopher T. Romick as executive director. Romick brings more than 13 years of senior housing industry experience, including managing nursing homes, assisted living communities and CCRCs.

Romick received his Bachelor of Arts degree in gerontology administration from Kent State University in Ohio and subsequently became a licensed nursing home administrator. He has progressed through the ranks in various positions in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and, most recently, Connecticut.

SearStone is nearing 90 percent in pre-sales, with only 20 homes remaining. A variety of home sites and styles are still available but are moving fast.

Thomas Wasmoen, AIA Joins BKV Group to Lead New Senior Housing Arm

BKV Group recently welcomed Thomas P. Wasmoen, AIA as its newest associate partner/managing architect. Wasmoen brings 30 years of senior-living experience and design leadership to the firm.

“Tom’s depth of expertise and leadership is a great addition to BKV Group,” said Jack Boarman, chief executive officer at BKV Group. “Not only does he have extensive experience with independent, assisted living, memory and nursing care, but also with training and mentoring architects to deliver designs solutions that solve problems, create caring environments and build long-term asset value.”

Wasmoen is leading BKV Group’s expansion into senior housing. He is also currently working on several multi-family projects for housing developer Dominium throughout the US.

Prior to joining BKV Group, Wasmoen was managing principal/chief executive officer at Firm Ground Architects & Engineers, Inc. He has led integrated design teams on many award-winning projects including the senior-living development Seasons at Maplewood in Maplewood, MN, the rehabilitation of Crosby Mansion for People Incorporated in Minneapolis, MN, the Ronald McDonald House in Minneapolis, MN, and Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Hinckley. He has also previously worked as the Director of Architecture for the developer Hartford Group, Inc. was a team leader for the architectural staff at Ryan Companies US, Inc., an architect for KKE Architects and Edward Farr Architects, Inc.

Wasmoen is an AIA (American Institute of Architects) and NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards) licensed architect and certified interior designer (CID). He earned his bachelor of environmental design and architecture degrees from the University of Minnesota.

RED CAPITAL Hires Jim Hensley to Head Origination Teams

Red Mortgage Capital, LLC, the mortgage banking arm of comprehensive capital provider RED CAPITAL GROUP, LLC announced recently the addition of James P. Hensley as a Senior Managing Director to its senior management team.

Hensley, based in Atlanta, will play a critical role in overseeing the multifamily originations platform and leading RED’s strategic and aggressive expansion plans in both footprint and services nationwide. With more than 25 years of experience in commercial real estate, Hensley brings a proven history of agency and FHA platform strategy, business development and lending expertise.

Before joining RED, Hensley most recently served as a Principal with Prudential Mortgage Capital Company. Previously he was a senior account executive with Fannie Mae for a DUS lender in Atlanta.

Foulkeways Board Names D. Michael Peasley as New CEO

The Foulkeways Board of Directors announced that it has selected D. Michael Peasley to succeed Douglas Tweddale as CEO of Foulkeways at Gwynedd Continuing Care Retirement Community. Peasley will assume his new position on January 1, 2014.

The Foulkeways Board has been engaged in a search for a new CEO since Tweddale informed the Board of his intention to retire at the end of 2013. Tweddale joined Foulkeways in 1986 and was named to the position of CEO in 1990. A frequent lecturer on Quality First Health Center Designs and Innovation Long Term Care Designs, he served as an evaluator for the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CCAC), for over 18 years, reviewing operations and standards at continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) nationwide.

Peasley graduated from the George School in Newtown, PA and received his BBA/Management from Temple University in Ambler, PA where he graduated Cum Laude. He is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator in Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Jersey, is a Past President of Rotary International in Stephens City, and a member of LeadingAge (the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. He also served on the Board of Friends Services for the Aging (FSA); a Quaker service organization focused on the needs of Quaker CCRCs throughout the country, and has been active in the establishment of the Peace Church Risk Retention group; a self-insurance organization established by members from CCRCs associated with the Church of the Brethren, Mennonites, and Quakers. He is currently living in Medford, New Jersey with his wife, Debra.

Peasley has spent his 30 year career in the Senior Living environment, participating in the growth, excitement and positive changes within the industry. His strengths and extensive experience in long-range strategic planning, operations, resident relations, major construction/project management, and community involvement, along with his demonstrated vision and creativity, lead to the unanimous decision by the Board of Trustees, to name D. Michael Peasley to be the next CEO of Foulkeways at Gwynedd.

BMA Management Names Laurena Carter Administrator of Chicago ALF

Laurena Carter, of Chicago, has been named Administrator at St. Anthony of Lansing, a BMA affordable assisted living community recently developed in southern Cook County.

Before joining St. Anthony, Laurena oversaw Bethel New Life’s Senior Services Division in Chicago and served as the administrator at HCR-Manor Care Services in Indiana. She also has experience in pharmaceutical sales and marketing for nursing and rehabilitation facilities.

Carter earned her bachelor’s degree in health administration from the University of Kentucky and a master’s degree in business and health administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. She holds professional nursing home administrator licenses in several states, including Illinois, Indiana, Georgia and Kentucky.

Wexford Place Names New Community Relations Director

Senior Star at Wexford Place Assisted Living and Memory Support has named John Monty as Community Relations Director for the senior living community in Kansas City, Mo. In his new position, Monty will work with local civic and community leaders and health care professionals to foster relationships with seniors and their families, and inform them about the innovative, holistic services that will be available once the expansion is fully operational in December 2013.

Monty comes to Wexford Place Assisted Living and Memory Support with more than 15 years of experience in health care sales and management. He most recently worked for Mobile Doctors as the director of marketing. Monty’s prior health care experience with seniors and physicians provides a natural transition into conducting community relations for the expansion at Wexford Place Assisted Living and Memory Support.

LCS Announces Several Promotions as Company Grows

LCS recently announced several promotions reflecting the continued growth of the company. LCS companies currently provide management, development and marketing services to 116 senior living communities serving over 32,000 residents nationwide.

Individuals promoted to Senior Vice President are:

Mark Heston, Director of Human Resources, LCS, Des Moines, Iowa
David Laffey, Director of Property Finance, LCS, Boston, Mass.
Dennis Tabor, Director of Risk Management, LCS, Des Moines, Iowa
Brett Logan, Senior Director of Operations Management, Life Care Services, Charlotte, N.C.
Jill Sorenson, Senior Director of Operations Management, Life Care Services, San Diego, Calif.
Kevin Meyer, Chief Operating Officer, CPS, Delray Beach, Fla.

Individuals promoted to Vice President include:

Tim Cain, Director of Operations Management, Life Care Services, San Diego, Calif.
Suzanne Alford, Director of Operations Management, CRSA, Memphis, Tenn.
Catherine Jenkins, Director of Operations Management, Life Care Services, Hilton Head, S.C.
Cindi Nelson, Director of Marketing and Sales, Life Care Services, Greenwood, Ind.
Karen Hogan, Director of Marketing and Sales, Life Care Services, Old Saybrook, Conn.
Scott Doherty, Director of Operations/Equity Communities, Life Care Services, Des Moines, Iowa
Yvonne Rickert, Director of Human Resources/Operations Management, Life Care Services, Old Saybrook, Conn.
Jason Victor, Controller, Life Care Services, Des Moines, Iowa

CBRE Announces Zach Bowyer, MAI as Managing Director, Seniors Housing Practice Leader

CBRE’s Zach Bowyer, MAI has been named as the Healthcare & Seniors Housing Practice Leader for Valuation & Advisory Services (VAS), effective immediately. In his new role, he will work CBRE’s leadership team in the U.S. and the company’s senior housing experts in Canada.

Specializing in seniors housing and healthcare for more than nine years, Bowyer has completed over $25 billion in aggregate valuations and consulting assignments nationally, specific to this space. His experience includes third-party valuations, market studies and feasibility analyses of single-asset to large portfolio transactions throughout the United States. Clients served include a broad base of local and national investment firms, property owners, development and operating companies, commercial and investment banks, insurance companies and REITs.

Bowyer began his career in commercial real estate as a Commercial Real Estate Analyst at a regional bank. Prior to joining CBRE, he worked as a Director for a national seniors housing specialty firm, managing their operations in the northeast United States. Bowyer graduated from the University of Florida with a major in Business Finance and a minor in Food and Resource Economics.

Erickson Announces Key Staff Hires for CCRC Expansion

Erickson Living has named Jeffery Richardson the Continuing Care Administrator for Mill Vista Lodge, the new continuing care neighborhood opening in October at Wind Crest retirement community in Highlands Ranch, Colo. In addition, Elizabeth Song has been named the Director of Nursing, Micah Peterson has been named the Director of Health Care Sales, and Meghan McLaughlin has been named the Memory Care Manager.

Jeffrey Richardson began his health care career in Boulder, Colo. as an Environmental Services Director with Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan in 1997. While working full time, he completed his college degree in pursuit of his dream to become a licensed administrator. During his 11 years with Good Samaritan he also served as a Regional Facilities Manager supporting 45 communities, as an Executive Director of a startup retirement community in South Dakota, and as a licensed administrator for a community in southern Texas. He joined Wind Crest in 2013 after three years as the Executive Director at Golden Palms, a continuing care retirement community in Harlingen, TX. Prior to entering the health care field, he served in the U.S. Army for six years, both Active and Reserve/National Guard. Richardson and his family live in Centennial, Colo.

Elizabeth Song began her nursing career working in acute care hospital settings including intensive care area, moved on to hospice care for about ten years working for Hospice Care Inc. and Vitas Hospice. She moved to Colorado in 2001 and has been working in long term care management in various roles including the Director of Nursing role for the past 4 years. She has been a registered nurse for 27 years has an associate degree in nursing and associate degree in general education.

Micah Peterson has been working in health care sales and retirement living since 2007. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cal Lutheran University, he relocated back to Colorado to serve in various Sales and Marketing capacities for Brookdale Senior Living. He is actively involved with LeadingAge Colorado and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Meghan McLaughlin graduated nursing school from the University of Maine in 2009 and worked briefly on a medical/surgical floor at a small, rural hospital before taking a role as Wellness Nurse/Director of Residential Care Services at a newly opened stand-alone memory care community in Rockland, Maine. She served in that role for nearly 3 years before moving into the role of Administrator at the same community in 2011. In early 2013, she moved to Colorado from Maine, having had a desire to live in the west for many years.

Somerby of Alpharetta Names Executive Director

Anthony J. Grieco has been named executive director of the active retirement rental community Somerby of Alpharetta.

Grieco has more than 32 years of administrative experience in the senior living field and prior to joining Somerby of Alpharetta, he was Georgia Operations Director for Premier Senior Living in Alpharetta. He has held Nursing Home Administration licenses in Georgia, Maryland and Delaware.

He is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Health Administration and Planning.

Senior Living Communities Names Chris Rio as EVP of Operations

Senior Living Communities, an owner/operator of retirement communities located throughout the Southeast and Midwest, announced today that Chris Rio has accepted the position of Executive Vice President of Operations for the 9-community portfolio.

Rio is an experienced senior housing operator with specialized expertise in real estate development. His track record includes stints as a management consultant with GVA Advantis Company and as a Co-CEO and COO for EDCare Management, located in Durham, N.C. Rio’s career also includes time at Southern Assisted Living Company where he was promoted from the position of EVP of Operations to COO.

Senior Living Communities’ CEO Donald O. Thompson, Jr. says Rio’s background is a unique combination of real estate development and senior housing operations. The company will put that experience to good use with plans to develop a new service line, Wellmore, aggressively over the next two years.

Through an internal promotion, Senior Living Communities also added Katie Huffstetler to the position of Vice President of Operations. Huffstetler, who has previously held positions in communications and as an Interim Executive Director for the company, will assume operational responsibility for the company’s South Carolina properties.

Premier Senior Announces Promotions and New Hires

Premier Senior Living, LLC, an assisted living and memory care provider, has promoted Penny Tremain of Oneonta, N.Y., to the new position of Director of Operations. Tremain’s responsibilities will include overseeing the day-to-day operations of all 11 of premier’s
senior housing communities in New York, Ohio and Florida.

The N.Y.-based senior housing provider has also promoted Charlene Parslow to Executive Director of Hampshire House, an assisted living and memory care facility located in Oneonta, N.Y. Parslow was formerly the Business Office Manager at Hampshire House.

Premier has also hired Kyle Wright, MBA, of Lynnwood, Wash. as its Senior Accountant. Wright has held previous accounting positions with both Emeritus Senior Living and Starbucks Corporation.

Clearview Capital Announces Promotion & New Hire

Clearview Capital, LLC of Old Greenwich, Conn. recently announced the promotion to partner of Anthony J. Veith and welcomed associate Mark A. Adams.

Veith joined the transaction Sourcing Team to cover the eastern U.S. in 2006 and has since assumed additional responsibility for managing Clearview’s marketing and intermediary communications effort. Prior to joining Clearview, he spent ten years at LaSalle Business Credit, Inc. in the New York office. As a Senior Vice President, his primary responsibility was to originate, negotiate and close senior debt financings for lower middle-market companies.

Before LaSalle, Veith had experience starting up and managing a private company as well as other positions in banking and investment banking. He holds an MBA from City University of New York and received his undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Arizona.

Adams joined Clearview in 2013 from Stephens Inc., where he worked as a generalist investment banking analyst in its Little Rock office. While an undergraduate, he had internships at Acxiom Corp. and Index Funds Advisors, Inc. Adams graduated with a BA in Philosophy, Politics & Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Senior Helpers’ CEO Named President of Home Care Association of America

Peter Ross, co-founder and CEO of Senior Helpers, has been named the new president of the board of directors of the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA), an organization that provides programs, resources and services to home care agencies and has a network of more than 1,300 private duty organizations.

On the precipice of anticipated changes to the home care industry regarding the Companion Exemption and the Affordable Care Act, Ross assumes the presidency at a particularly important time. With these changes, it will be more important than ever for organizations like the HCAOA to have strong leadership. Ross will serve as president through 2015.

The Home Care Association of America was founded on the principle that quality private duty home care requires organizations to employ, train, monitor and supervise caregivers, as well as create a plan of care for the client and strive for a safe and secure environment for the person at home. The purpose of the organization is to “provide leadership, representation and education for the advancement of non-medical, private duty home care, and to provide a strong, unified voice to speak to the issues of concern within the private duty home care industry.”

Ross co-founded Senior Helpers with Tony Bonacuse in 2002, after a successful career in business and marketing that included positions at ADP, Ernst & Young and Intuit. Bonacuse opened the first Senior Helpers office in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2002 and Ross joined full time in 2004 with the opening of an additional office in Orange County, California. Today, the company has 262 franchises in 39 states and one in Canada, all offering a wide range of personal and companion care services to assist seniors living independently with a strong focus on quality of life for the client and peace of mind for their families. Ross also sits on the board of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

Greenfield Senior Living Announces Leadership Team for Va. Community

Greenfield Senior Living, Inc., a Falls Church, Virginia-based senior living service provider, announced today two key leadership positions have been filled at Greenfield Senior Living of Williamsburg.

Neal Clarke, CALA, Executive Director of Greenfield Senior Living at Williamsburg, brings 20 years of senior living management experience to the community. He understands the expectations of residents making the transition from their lifelong residence to an assisted living where they will be encouraged to continue to remain independent with dignity and respect.

Clarke has opened 3 assisted living properties, most recently in Arlington, Virginia. He has managed upscale retirement communities in New Jersey, New York, California and Washington DC. He has been honored as Gerontologist of the Year by the NJ Society on Aging and a Special Recognition for Service to the Aged by the Seton Hall University School of Social Work. He served as Senator Bill Bradley’s Delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Aging. He holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Farleigh Dickinson University.

Kim Van Eck, MSG joins us as Director of Community Relations at Greenfield Senior Living of Williamsburg. Van Eck is a Gerontologist/Thanatologist who has lived in Williamsburg for 14 years with her husband, Dale.

She holds a Master of Science in Gerontology (MSG) from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA, a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Development – Human Services from Oakland University in Rochester, MI, and extensive coursework in Accounting and Finance from Canada before moving to the U.S. 25 years ago. Van Eck has national Certification in Thanatology (CT) from the Association for Death Education and Counseling and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) from the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners.