Movers & Shakers: Welltower’s New Senior VP of Business Development

Welltower Names New Senior VP of Business Development

Welltower Inc. (NYSE: HCN) promoted Justin Hill to senior vice president of business development.

In the new role, Hill will focus on the growth and development of Welltower’s West Coast portfolio and manage the company’s new Beverly Hills, California, office. Hill began his time at Welltower in 2008, and has since served in various roles with the investment team. Most recently, he was responsible for overseeing outpatient medical investments.

“Over the past eight years, Justin has demonstrated that he is uniquely qualified to lead our strategic initiatives on the West Coast while aligning the work of our investment and real estate services teams,” Mercedes Kerr, executive vice president of business development, said in a news release. “We congratulate Justin and wish him continued success.”

The Toledo, Ohio-based real estate investment trust (REIT) recently agreed to purchase a 19-property portfolio on the West Coast for $1.15 billion, which will make it the largest owner of senior housing in Northern and Southern California.

Cushman & Wakefield Reveals Addition to Tampa Senior Housing Team

Global real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield announced the addition of Senior Managing Director Paul Carr to the firm’s Tampa-based senior housing team.

Carr has spent 12 years in capital markets, most recently serving as a member of Cushman & Wakefield’s capital markets group in Tampa. In that role, he was responsible for representing private, institutional and corporate clients in the acquisitions, disposition and analysis of investment properties across Florida. He worked in similar roles with DTZ and Cassidy Turly.

The Tampa senior housing team also includes Allen McMurtry, executive managing director; Megan Fetter, senior managing director; and David Kliewer, senior managing director.

“I’m extremely honored and excited to team up with Allen, Megan and David,” Carr said in a news release. “They have established themselves as one of the prominent senior housing teams in the U.S., and I look forward to combining our collective skill sets to continue to offer our clients the highest level of service, in addition to growing the senior housing capital markets platform with Cushman & Wakefield.”

BBG Appoints Senior Managing Director of Health Care

National commercial real estate valuation, advisory and assessment firm BBG appointed Jack W. Bass II as senior managing director of health care.

Bass has more than 30 years of experience, having been involved in the appraisal and consultation of real estate and business properties nationally and extensively with health care properties, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities. Before joining Dallas, Texas-based BBG, he served as director of seniors housing and health care at Integra Realty Resources in Houston, Texas.

“We are extremely pleased that Jack has joined our growing team at BBG,” Chris Roach, President of BBG Valuation, said in a news release. “His deep expertise and experience in health care property appraisals will be a tremendous asset for our clients involved in this rapidly expanding area of commercial real estate.”

The Reserve at Thousand Oaks Welcomes New General Manager

Senior living provider WESTliving welcomed Elizabeth Spencer as general manager at The Reserve at Thousand Oaks in Thousand Oaks, California.

Spencer previously served as assistant general manager at the 140-unit independent and assisted living community. She joined the team at The Reserve in 2010, and before that worked in hospitality sales, public relations and customer service roles for Hilton, Westin and several boutique hotels.

“Our residents and staff are like family to one another, so we always seek first to promote from within,” WESTliving COO Patrick Collins said in a news release. “Elizabeth has built close, fulfilling relationships with The Reserve team and residents and will continue to set the bar for service and comfort at The Reserve.”

WESTliving is headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and owns and manages nine senior living communities in California, Arizona, and Washington. Most properties focus on independent living, but all are licensed to provide assisted living and five also include memory care.

SearStone Hires New Executive Chef

The SearStone continuing care retirement community (CCRC) hired Justin Venezia as executive chef.

In the new role, Venezia will oversee menu development and food preparation for SearStone’s main dining room and special events. He has 26 years of cooking experience, working in several hotels, country clubs and fine-dining establishments.

“Justin’s credentials, experience and professionalism are top-notch, and our residents and staff will greatly benefit from his culinary skills,” SearStone Executive Director Chris Romick said in a news release.

SearStone is a not-for-profit CCRC located in Cary, North Carolina.

Erickson Announces Executive Director Promotion at Virginia CCRC

Erickson Living promoted Craig Karczmer to executive direcotr of Ashby Ponds, a CCRC located in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Ashburn.

Before joining Ashby Ponds, Karczmer was the associate executive director at Cedar Crest, another Erickson community in Pompton Plains, New Jersey.

Ashby Ponds is located in a 132-acre campus and houses more than 850 residents. Erickson Living owns and operates 19 retirement communities.

Written by Kourtney Liepelt