Riderwood Appoints Jeff Kimbell as Director of Dining Services
Silver Spring, Maryland-based Riderwood, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) managed by Erickson Living, has appointed Jeff Kimbell as director of dining services.
Kimbell brings more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry to this leadership position, 14 of which are with Erickson Living.
He has served the past nine years as a regional director of dining, supporting sister communities in Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Texas and Colorado. Prior to his employment with Erickson Living, he worked for the Walt Disney Company as the General Manager for a prestigious restaurant.
As director of dining services for Riderwood, he will oversee the operation of six restaurants in the independent living neighborhoods and 12 dining rooms in the extended care neighborhood.
Riderwood serves approximately 3,500 meals per day to residents, employees and guests. The Dining Services Department also includes the catering event team and carry-out and delivery service for residents.
Doug Leidig named President, CEO of Asbury Communities
Asbury Communities, Inc., announced recently that Doug Leidig has been named president and CEO of Asbury Communities, Inc., effective June 1, 2015.
Leidig has served as the chief operating officer of Asbury Communities since 2004, and has more than 25 years of experience providing services to help older adults lead fulfilling lives. In addition, he has also served as president of The Asbury Group (TAG) since 2012, leading the for-profit division of Asbury Communities, Inc. that provides management, marketing and integrated technology consulting services on a contract basis to for-profit and not-for-profit senior living entities.
“As our new CEO, Doug is well-prepared to lead the large, growing organization that is Asbury today,” said Carolyn Stamatakis, chair of the Asbury Communities, Inc., Board. “He has promoted a culture of collaboration, relationship-building, innovation and results achievement, and I am fully confident that Asbury is well-positioned for success in the future.”
Leidig succeeds Edwin C. Thomas III, who served as Asbury’s president and CEO since 1987 before announcing his retirement this year.
“It is a great honor to lead Asbury, and I am excited about our future,” said Leidig, who has spent nearly 17 years with the organization. “We have a strong foundation, a forward-thinking leadership team and associates who live out our mission to do all the good we can by providing exceptional lifestyle opportunities to those we serve. Together, we will continue to engage Asbury residents and associates to seek new and innovative ways to position Asbury for the future.”
Leidig began his career with Asbury in 1994, when he was hired as an administrator at Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, Md. Since joining the Asbury management team, he has overseen the operations of Asbury’s senior living communities and implemented numerous advancements in care and wellness for residents and associates within those communities.
In January 2015, Leidig was elected Board chair of LeadingAge Maryland. Most recently, he was selected to join the advisory board for Senior Living 100, a leadership event for C-level executives from the nation’s largest, most progressive assisted living, independent living and continuing care providers. Leidig also serves on the Kairos Health Systems Board of Directors.
CCRC Adds Culinary Veterans to Dining Services Department
The Estates at Carpenters, a not-for-profit CCRC in Lakeland, Fla., announced recently that it has selected Kyle Bateman as executive chef and James Brooks as sous chef.
As executive chef, Bateman will manage day-to-day food operations for the senior living community, including its casual and formal dining venues. He will also be responsible for managing and training the dining services staff, managing the community’s catering services and creating innovative and healthy menus.
With more than 10 years of experience, Bateman brings with him knowledge of working in a fast-paced kitchen environment that demands high standards in both food quality and presentation. He previously held positions at Good Samaritan Society and Merrill Gardens/Horizon Bay where he created menus to meet specific dietary needs and gained management experience.
In the sous chef position, Brooks will be responsible for cooking foods according to menus, and adhering to the special dietary or nutritional restrictions of The Estates at Carpenters residents. He will also be responsible for complying to state and county regulations regarding the cleanliness and sanitation of the senior living community’s kitchen. Additionally, Brooks will provide staff with direction in regards to meal preparation, plating and serving.
The 10-year culinary veteran has held positions at Stonewall Jackson Hotel and Conference Center and Keswick Country Club.
The Samarkand Appoints Jessica Briceño Dining Services Director
Jessica Briceño was named dining services director at Santa Barbara, California-based The Samarkand, a faith-based, not-for-profit CCRC operated by Covenant Retirement Communities.
She is employed by The Samarkand’s dining services provider Sodexo and will report to executive director Ruth Grande.
As dining services director, Briceño will oversee all food and beverage operations at the senior living community, including casual and formal settings in the residential community and dining operations in assisted living, memory support and health care. She will also manage the community’s catering.
Briceño has worked in the hospitality industry for more than a decade. Before joining The Samarkand, she was food and beverage manager at Ojai Valley Inn and Spa, Ojai, Calif. While there, she was recognized as manager of the year.
She also worked for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts at several locations, including Venezuela, Texas and Hawaii, and was general manager of Pangea Bistro in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Abbey Chase Named Concierge at Bridges by EPOCH at Westwood
EPOCH Senior Living has named Abbey Chase concierge at Bridges by EPOCH at Westwood, a memory care-assisted living community opening in summer 2015 in Westwood, Mass.
Chase will serve as the face of the community, frequently acting as the first contact for potential new residents, guests and family members.
Previously, Chase worked for EPOCH Senior Living, starting her senior care career at Waterstone at Wellesley, where Bridges by EPOCH at Westwood Executive Director Kristen Kenney worked as well.
Chase has a varied background that allows her to fulfill many duties as a concierge, including overseas studies in London. She also attended Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts where she earned a certificate in baking and patisserie.
Lisa M. Pflaumer Joins Philadelphia CCRC as Director of Sales
The Hill at Whitemarsh, a Philadelphia CCRC, has hired sales and marketing professional Lisa M. Pflaumer as director of sales.
Pflaumer’s experience crosses a wide variety of industries, including senior living, military logistics, and cause-marketing and consumer packaged goods startups.
“Lisa Pflaumer’s career has been marked by identifying what buyers need and connecting them to the right solutions,” said Judy McGruther, president and CEO of The Hill at Whitemarsh. “We are excited that she will be applying her talents in customer service and product development, helping future residents of The Hill at Whitemarsh discover our active and enriching lifestyle.”
Pflaumer joins The Hill at Whitemarsh from Atria Senior Living, where she served as sales director for their Atria Center City senior living community. Prior to that she was a senior manager for Dove Chocolate Discoveries, a startup venture of Mars, Inc. Under her leadership, the team experienced 3100% sales growth in the first four years.
Pflaumer was the chair of the Board of Supervisors for the Township of Middletown in Bucks County, and began her career at the Naval Air Systems Command in Arlington, Va.
Presbyterian Home of Maryland Appoints Becky Long Director of Nursing
Presbyterian Home of Maryland, a faith-based not-for-profit headquartered in Towson, Md., has appointed Rebecca “Becky” Long as its new director of nursing.
Long has worked at the Presbyterian Home of Maryland since 2011 as a technology nurse, and in her new role will oversee all nursing care for the assisted living and long-term care community.
Long’s past experience includes serving as a registered nurse in the Orthopedics and Rheumatology units at Good Samaritan Hospital and the Intensive Care Unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Eventually, Long became a member of the hospital’s quality assurance and utilization review team.
Long has held other positions in the nursing field which include care manager, lead clinical coordinator, endoscopy nurse and director of nursing for a large retirement community in the Baltimore area.
Erickson Living Community Welcomes Associate Executive Director
Brian Marandola was recently named as the associate executive director at Greenspring, a Springfield, Virginia-based retirement community managed by Erickson Living.
Since 2013, Marandola has served as the director of dining services at Greenspring. He has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry working for both corporate and independent organizations.
Prior to joining Greenspring, Marandola was the acting director of food and beverage at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor, Md.
He has held director-level positions for more than 20 years including 10 years with Marriott International and nine years with Disney in both Florida and California.
“During his tenure at Greenspring, Brian has been instrumental in helping to ensure strong resident satisfaction, employee engagement, and financial results,” said Ben Cornthwaite, Greenspring’s executive director. “As he expands his leadership responsibilities as associate executive director at Greenspring, I look forward to the positive impact he will continue to generate at the community.”
As the associate executive director at Greenspring, Marandola will assist the executive director in all facets of community management including, but not limited to, providing vision and leadership for the community and achieving company-wide objectives for quality care and services.
North Carolina CCRC Names New Executive Director
Zane Bennett has joined nonprofit CCRC Plantation Village, based in Wilmington, N.C., as its new executive director, according to local reports.
As executive director, Bennett oversees all aspects of Plantation Village’s operations, resident services and management. Prior to joining the community, Bennett was administrator at Newcastle Place, a CCRC near Milwaukee, Wis.
Bennett has been with Life Care Services, the management company of Plantation Village, since 2012, according to Port City Daily.
New VP of Health Services Named at Wisconsin Community
Kay Kopenski has been hired as the new vice president of health services at Manitowoc, Wisconsin-based Felician Village, according to reports.
In addition to serving as the nursing home administrator, Kopenski will be responsible for the clinical operations of St. Mary’s Home and the assisted living program, development of new programs and advocacy for seniors at the local and state levels.
Kopenski has more than 25 years of experience in long-term care, rehab and assisted living. She most recently spent 15 years with Extendicare Health Services Inc. in a variety of roles, including administrator and regional director of operations.
As regional director of operations in Wisconsin since 2004, Kopenski provided oversight to 11 skilled nursing centers and an assisted living campus, HTR News reports.
NCAL Names Scott Tittle as New Executive Director
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) recently named Scott Tittle as the new executive director of NCAL.
Tittle joins the center from the Indiana Health Care Association – a state affiliate of AHCA – where he served as president for both the skilled nursing profession in the state as well as assisted living.
Tittle served as president of the Indiana Health Care Association and Indiana Center for Assisted Living since 2010. Formerly health care policy director to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, Tittle dealt closely with the issues surrounding assisted living, long-term care services, as well as other policies pertaining to caring for older Americans.
An attorney by background, Tittle is a former member of the Indianapolis law firm of Krieg DeVault, where he practiced in the firm’s Health Care, Governmental Affairs, and Business Practices groups.
As health policy director in the Indiana governor’s office, Tittle was responsible for executing Gov. Daniels’ health care initiatives through the legislative process as well as the state’s health-related agencies, including the Family and Social Services Administration, the State Department of Health, the Department of Child Services, and the Department of Insurance.
Tittle is expected to assume the role this summer. He succeeds David Kyllo, who will become vice president of AHCA/NCAL insurance and member programs.
Maxwell Group Promotes Ben Thompson to Vice President of Development
Maxwell Group, Inc., a retirement management group based in Charlotte, N.C., has announced the promotion of Ben Thompson to vice president of development.
Maxwell Group is the parent company of Senior Living Communities, owner and operator of nine retirement communities in the Southeast and Midwest; Live Long Well Care, a private-duty care service provider for seniors; and Wellmore, a new line of premier health care and wellness retirement communities.
In his new role, Thompson will manage all Maxwell Group development including expansions and renovations to existing communities and the construction of new communities. He will provide oversight in all phases of development including pre-construction, land development and vertical construction.
Additionally, he will continue to foster relationships with general contractors, architects and engineers and provide intermediary assistance with regulatory agencies.
Among the projects Thompson will oversee are the completion of Wellmore of Tega Cay opening in June 2015, the completion of Homestead Hills’ apartment expansion opening in fall 2015, and the construction of Cascades Verdae’s apartment expansion with expected completion in summer 2016.
Leslie Young Joins Tutera Senior Living & Health Care
Tutera Senior Living & Health Care has hired Leslie Young as director of human resources operations. Young will lead Tutera’s expansion of human resource initiatives to better understand and respond to the distinct needs of its employees serving residents and families in Tutera’s 47 communities in 13 states across the country.
“As we intensify our focus to provide the highest levels of personalized support to our residents, we are making it an equal priority to provide the highest levels of personalized support to our staff,” said Randy Bloom, president and chief operating officer for Tutera Senior Living & Health Care. “Leslie Young has the ideal combination of human resources expertise, industry experience and profound respect for the work our staff performs every day to guide Tutera in becoming an employer of choice.”
Young brings more than 20 years of human resource management leadership to Tutera with expertise in senior living. Prior to joining Tutera, Young was director of training and development for Skilled HealthCare, LLC (now Genesis HealthCare), where she oversaw training, recruitment and retention programs for 15,000-plus long-term care, home heath, hospice, rehabilitation and corporate employees.
As director of human resources for Skilled HealthCare from 2007 to 2011, Young provided HR management consultation to support 40 division locations. Previously, Young was a recruiting manager for A Place for Mom, Inc., where she managed recruiting and exceeded company retention goals by 50% by refining hiring processes and procedures.
“I’m proud to join a company that is growing steadily while ensuring that it is dedicated to continuously asking and responding to the diverse needs of its staff,” Young said.
Written by Emily Study
Companies featured in this article:
AHCA, Asbury Communities, Covenant Retirement Communities, EPOCH, Erickson Living, Felician Village, Maxwell Group, NCAL, Plantation Village, Presbyterian Home of Maryland, The Estates at Carpenters, The Hill at Whitemarsh, The Samarkand, Tutera Senior Living & Health Care