Don’t forget to get something for your sweetie for Valentine’s Day. Did you know the average per capita consumption of candy by Americans in 2009 was 24.3 pounds? Maybe just stick with flowers and cards this year? That might get you in the dog house but you can blame us. Got a sweet staffing announcement? Send it to [email protected]
Aberdeen Heights Names Polzin New Executive Director
Aberdeen Heights is pleased to announce Scott Polzin as the new executive director of the senior living community. Prior to joining the Aberdeen Heights team, Polzin spent seven years with Life Care Services, LLC, serving as executive director at University Village Thousand Oaks, located in Thousand Oaks, Calif., and as administrator at Casa de las Campanas in San Diego, Calif. Previously, Polzin held the position of general manager at Brighton Gardens of Carmel Valley in San Diego, Calif. Polzin earned a bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, Kan. He also received a master’s of science in health care administration from California State University, Long Beach, in Long Beach, Calif. In addition, Polzin is a licensed nursing home and residential care administrator.
Governor Corbett to Nominate Brian Duke as Secretary of Aging
Governor Tom Corbett has announced that he intends to nominate Brian Duke, 53, of Washington Crossing, Bucks County, as Secretary of Aging. Duke is currently the director of the Bucks County Area Agency on Aging where he oversees more than 20 programs helping older adults remain as independent as possible, an annual budget of $12 million and a network of neighborhood centers to promote the well-being of older adults. As part of his position, Duke also advocates with local, state and federal legislatures on the formation of policy and legislation.
Before taking his position in Bucks County, Duke was the Executive Director for the New Jersey Foundation for Aging, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for older adults throughout New Jersey. Prior to that, Duke served as a consultant working with the U.S. Administration on Aging and the AARP Foundation in the development of statewide caregiving coalitions in 12 states. He also co-chaired the Caring Community, a coalition of over 100 organizations convened by WHYY, the public broadcaster serving the greater Philadelphia region. Duke received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Scranton, his Master of Health Administration from George Washington University and his MBE in bioethics from the University of Pennsylvania.
Peter S. Rummell Named Incoming Chairman of the Urban Land Institute
Peter S. Rummell, principal of the Rummell Company in Jacksonville, Fla., has been selected as the incoming chairman of the Urban Land Institute (ULI), a global non-profit research and education institute, with nearly 30,000 members worldwide, that is dedicated to responsible land use. Rummell, a longtime ULI trustee and former chairman of the ULI Foundation, will serve on a voluntary basis for a two-year term that begins July 1, 2011 and ends June 30, 2013.
A member of ULI since 1983, Rummell, 65, began his 40-year development career working at the Sea Pines Company in Hilton Head, S.C. for industry legend Charles Fraser, who taught him the value of building in a way that enhances the surrounding environment, and of seeing potential where others cannot. He would later apply these lessons as president of the Disney Development Company and chairman of Walt Disney Imagineering, where he guided major developments including Celebration, Fla., a community widely regarded as exemplary of pedestrian-oriented design and connectivity; and as chairman and chief executive officer of The St. Joe Company, known for its nature-conscious approach to development, including several resort communities along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
The Stratford Hires Gordon Benfield as Director of Member Services
The Stratford has announced the hiring of Gordon Benfield as the community’s new director of member services. In his new role, Benfield will work with a team of professionals to develop and implement a variety of social activities and events for members. He will also oversee the community’s wellness program. Most recently, Benfield served as the activity director for Trilogy at the Silver Oaks Health Campus in Columbus, Ind. He has over 20 years of management experience in activity development and recreational therapy. Benfield graduated from Murray State University as a double major in Organization and Administration of Recreation and Health Education. He is a Certified Recreation Therapist and a certified running coach.
CWCapital Hires Philip Brooks As Senior Vice President
CWCapital announced it has hired Philip Brooks as Senior Vice President in the agency lending group. Mr. Brooks will be responsible for the origination of senior housing and multifamily loans and will report to Donald King, Managing Director and Head of CW’s Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lending platforms. Mr. Brooks will also open a new office for CW in Richmond, VA. Mr. Brooks brings more than 20 years of experience in commercial real estate finance. Prior to joining CW, Mr. Brooks served as Senior Vice President, Mortgage Loan Production, at Berkadia Commercial Mortgage, LLC (formerly Capmark Finance, GMAC Commercial Mortgage), where he produced $4 billion in loans as lead originator. Prior to joining Berkadia, Mr. Brooks served as Director, Multifamily Loan Product Development, at Fannie Mae, where he launched the Seniors Housing Product Line. He also revised the DUS Multifamily Underwriting and Servicing Guide, now considered the basis for standardized multifamily lending. Mr. Brooks began his career at the Mortgage Bankers Association of America where he was Associate Director of Government Affairs before joining B.F. Saul Company as Loan Officer and Assistant Vice President.
WellAWARE Systems Hires New Director of Business Development to Expand Business on the West Coast
WellAWARE Systems has named Scott Eckstein Director of Business Development. Eckstein will be responsible for expanding business for WellAWARE along the West Coast. Eckstein’s experience spans more than 20 years beginning with his involvement with the first purpose-built assisted living development project in Brooklyn, NY to the development of the first purpose-built mature market project built in Spain, Sensara Benalmadena called “the best retirement community in Europe” by the London Daily Telegraph. He also managed operations and sales of assisted living and dementia communities for Sunrise Senior Living and Aegis Living in the position of Executive Director. Eckstein holds a Bachelor’s Degree from The American University in Washington, D.C. and a Masters of Business Administration from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business.
Abe’s Garden Names Sandler Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer
Abe’s Garden has named the appointment of Andrew B. Sandler, Ph.D., as Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. Sandler was previously assisted living director for Weinberg Community for Senior Living, including its dementia unit and adult day program, in Deerfield, Ill. He also served for eight years as administrator of Maison Hospitaliere, a skilled nursing facility inNew Orleans, La. As a medical reviewer for Paradym Professional Systems and Columbia Lakeview Hospital in Covington, La., he had administrative responsibility for Medicare billing and reimbursement of a geriatric partial hospitalization program. He has also managed The Westonian, an assisted living facility in Weston, Mass., and Glen Ridge Nursing Care Center, a 41-bed Alzheimer unit, in Malden Mass.
Sandler holds three graduate degrees, including a Master of Health Administration from Tulane University, a Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of New Orleans, and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Farleigh Dickinson University inTeaneck, N.J. He received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind.
