First it was the Fonz…now Fred Thompson?  These reverse mortgage companies and their celebrity spokespersons…How about your celebrities on your staff or announcements?  Send them our way to be included in Movers & Shakers.  Email us at [email protected].

VENTAS APPOINTS CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD CEO GLENN J. RUFRANO TO BOARD

Ventas, Inc. (NYSE: VTR) recently announced that Cushman & Wakefield President and Chief Executive Officer Glenn J. Rufrano has been appointed to its Board of Directors, effectively immediately.  Rufrano, 60, assumed his position at Cushman & Wakefield, the world’s largest privately held commercial property and real estate services company with 231 offices located around the globe, in March of this year. For two years prior to that, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Centro Properties Group, an Australian-based shopping center company, which he helped to rescue by leading a successful consensual multi-party restructuring. Rufrano previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of New Plan Excel Realty Trust from 2000 until it was acquired by Centro in 2007, and, from 1983 through 2000, he was a co-founder of The O’Connor Group, which invests in international real estate.

Rufrano graduated from Rutgers University and holds a master’s degree in real estate from Florida International University. He currently serves on the Board of New York University’s Real Estate Institute and was previously a director at General Growth Properties Inc. and at Trizec Properties, Inc., both publicly held REITs, and Crimi Mae Inc., a mortgage REIT.

House and Harland Announces Partnership of Cynthia House, ASID, and Lynn Crosby Harland, ASID

Announcing the partnership between Cynthia House, ASID, CID and Lynn Crosby Harland, ASID, CID, of Solana Beach, CA. Both designers have been in the interior design business for over 20 years. Cynthia has been involved in Senior Living including Assisted Living, Independent Living and Alzheimer Facilities. They pride themselves in working within budgets, offering the latest in furniture, lighting, floor coverings, fabrics and Art.  Both designers have been Board members of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers),San Diego Chapter and Lynn is a former President. The firm specializes in common area spaces both inside and outside and travel all over the country to trade shows and health care conferences to continue their health care education and keep abreast of all the latest products available.

Executive Director Hired Stoney Brook in Belton

Veteran senior living professional, Kelli Hudson, has been named Executive Director for Stoney Brook Senior Living of Belton. Most recently Ms. Hudson served as Executive Director of The Conservatory at Wells Branch in Austin.  Her local tenure in senior living also includes experience at Trisun Healthcare, Trinity Campus of Care, and Transition
Health Services. She boasts more than 15 years in the senior living and  healthcare profession.

Eric S. Belsky to Lead Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies

Eric S. Belsky has been appointed Managing Director of Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, effective July 1, 2010.  Belsky has served as Executive Director of the Joint Center for 12 years and has held teaching appointments in Urban Design and Public Policy at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and Harvard Kennedy School. Prior to his Harvard appointments, Belsky led the Housing Finance and Credit Analysis Group at Price Waterhouse LLP and held the positions of Director of Housing Finance Research at Fannie Mae and Senior Economist at the National Association of Home Builders.  In 2001 and 2002, Belsky also served as Research Director for the bipartisan Millennial Housing Commission established by the United States Congress. He received his BA, master’s degree, and PhD from Clark University.

Belsky’s research and writing has focused on housing markets, housing finance, and housing policy.  He has published numerous articles in trade publications and academic journals.  He has co-edited four books: “Low-Income Homeownership: Examining the Unexamined Goal” (2002); “Building Assets, Building Credit: Creating Wealth in Low-Income Communities” (2005); “Revisiting Rental Housing: Policies, Programs, and Priorities” (2008); and “Borrowing to Live: Consumer and Mortgage Credit Revisited” (2008). Belsky currently serves on the editorial boards of Housing Policy Debate and the Journal of Housing Research.

Mullins Names Assistant Manager at Watercrest at Mansfield

Ashley Mullins has been named assistant manager of Watercrest at Mansfield.  Mullins is a Baylor University graduate who joins Watercrest at Mansfield from Nordstrom in Dallas where she served as a department manager.

Martin Named as Health Care Admin at the Buckingham

The Plaza Health Services at The Buckingham has named Barbara Martin as health care administrator.  Martin has a wide-ranging experience in health care services, including providing direction and supervision to multiple senior living communities across Texas and Arkansas, helping achieve higher census and deficiency free surveys. She holds a degree from San Jacinto College and has been licensed as a Health Care Administrator for more than 30 years.

Highland Group Wins Statewide Health Care Award in Colorado

The Highland Group, a market research and planning firm for senior housing owners, operators, lenders and developers in Colorado, was recently awarded the prestigious Quality First Award from the Colorado Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. The Highland Group Principal Elisabeth Borden accepted the award for her company’s outstanding work with Frasier Meadows Retirement Community in Boulder, a CAHSA member and senior health care provider.