Movers & Shakers: Former HCN Chief Joins OnShift Board

Cindy Cassella Joins Team at Massachusetts CCRC 

Vista Terrace, the latest addition to the campus of the North Hill continuing care retirement community (CCRC), has hired Cindy Cassella as director of resident support.

With nearly than 30 years of nursing and home health experience, Cassella will be responsible for overseeing the services provided by nurses and care partners at Vista Terrace.

Most recently, Cassella served as North Hill Home Health’s Quality Improvement nurse. In this role, she was key in implementing electronic medical records, helping the CCRC become 100% electronic.

Cassella began her career working at Waltham Hospital, though most of her experience has been in the home care industry and in program development and implementation.

“Cindy’s experience as a nurse, administrator and home health provider make her uniquely suited to ensuring that North Hill’s high standards of care are consistently met,” said Adam Goldman, the Health Center/Vista Terrace administrator.

LCS Announces 3 Promotions in Response to Growing Portfolios

Des Moines, Iowa-based LCS has announced three promotions recently in response to its growing development and investment portfolios.

Kent Larson was promoted from senior vice president/director of development to executive vice president/director of development. Allison Pendroy was promoted from finance director/asset manager to vice president/director of asset management. And Dan Lahey was promoted from finance director/mergers and acquisitions to vice president/director of investments.

“Our industry is growing. Companies entering this market space are partnering with LCS because of our deep experience and strong reputation,” said Ed Kenny, chairman and CEO of LCS, in a statement. “LCS Development is currently working on a pipeline of projects valued at over $1 billion. Our investment group has invested more than $50 million in the senior living industry in the past three years. We believe this growth will continue and we are poised to take advantage of the opportunities ahead.”

Larson is the leader of LCS Development, an LCS company. He joined the organization in 1980 and has experience in construction, design and project management. Larson will oversee all development for CCRCs, rental, assisted living and memory care communities.

He serves on the LCS Board of Managers and Life Care Services Board of Directors.

Pendroy joined LCS in 2009, working in finance for Equity Communities. During her time at LCS, she has focused on the company’s senior living real estate portfolio developing financial projections and performance metrics, investment valuations, partner relationship building and securing capital for key projects.

In her new role, Pendroy will oversee the investment management performance of the LCS real estate portfolio.

Lahey joined LCS in 2008, working in the areas of tax and capital markets. In 2010, he accepted the role of finance director/mergers and acquisitions. He has played a key role in the growth of the LCS real estate portfolio and helped identify and negotiate capital sources and joint venture partnerships.

In his new role, Lahey will lead the company’s strategic investment activities, including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and leases.

Covenant Retirement Communities CCRC Names New Health Care Administrator

Todd M. Carsen has been named health care administrator at Minnesota-based Covenant Village of Golden Valley, a faith-based, not-for-profit CCRC operated by Covenant Retirement Communities.

Carsen is responsible for directing and coordinating the daily operations at the senior living community’s higher levels of living, which include 40 assisted living apartments, 16 memory support apartments and an 88-bed skilled nursing center.

Carsen brings to the position 25 years of senior level management experience in senior living. Prior to joining Covenant Village, he was a consultant at Pathway Health in White Bear Lake, Minn., providing interim management services. Before that, he served 15 years as executive director for an Edina, Minnesota-based skilled nursing center operated by Volunteers of America National Services.

Erickson Living Community Welcomes Assistant Director of Finance

Justin G. Reaves has recently been named the assistant director of finance at Greenspring, an Erickson Living retirement community in Springfield, Va.

Reaves brings Greenspring experience in corporate finance, investment banking, consulting and accounting.

Prior to joining Greenspring, Reaves was a finance manager with Towne Park, where he managed a team of financial analysts focused on providing business strategy and financial direction to senior management.

Before working with Towne Park, he was employed as a senior associate at SC&H Capital and as a manager at SC&H Group, LLC.

“We are so pleased to welcome Justin to Greenspring,” said Berwick Drews, director of finance, in a statement.  “His wealth of cross-industry experience and success in optimizing financial strategies and solutions will add tremendous value to the community.”

Former Health Care REIT CEO George Chapman Joins OnShift’s Board of Directors

OnShift, a web-based staff scheduling and labor management software for long0term care and senior living, has announced that George Chapman, retired chairman, CEO and president of Health Care REIT (NYSE: HCN) has been named to OnShift’s board of directors.

Under Chapman’s leadership, HCN became a global leader in senior housing and health care real estate. Chapman drove growth that pushed HCN to become one of the 10 largest publicly traded real estate investment trusts (REITs).

“George joining our board is a big win for OnShift,” said OnShift CEO Mark Woodka, in a statement. “He is one of the most highly respected leaders in healthcare and his track record speaks for itself. His focus on building relationships to drive a successful business will make a significant impact both to OnShift and those we serve in long-term care and senior living.”

Prior to his career at HCN, which began in 1992, Chapman was an attorney focusing on corporate finance. He is a graduate of Cornell University and The University of Chicago Law School. Chapman currently serves as a senior advisor to HCN.

Michael J. Pico Joins Pennrose Management Company

Pennrose Management Company (PMC) announced recently that Michael J. Pico has joined as vice president of learning and employee development.

Pico has more than 15 years of experience leading organizations through critical learning, training and leadership development programs in the U.S. and abroad.

In his new capacity, he leads organizational development for PMC, which includes creating individual career plans with each employee. This is the first position of its type for the company.

Pico comes to PMC after a career at Caesars Entertainment (formerly Harrah’s Entertainment) as vice president of enterprise learning, where he oversaw training for approximately 65,000 domestic and international employees.

Earlier in his career, he was director of training and development at AIG American General.

Written by Emily Study