Movers & Shakers: Spectrum Retirement’s New President, COO

Spectrum Retirement Names New President, COO

Spectrum Retirement named Bradley Kraus as president and COO, effective immediately.

Kraus has worked for Spectrum for four years, most recently serving as senior vice president of business development. Before joining Spectrum, he was a senior associate in the real estate practice of Cerberus Capital Management. He began his career as an analyst at Morgan Stanley, working in the real estate investment banking and real estate private equity groups.

In his new role, Kraus will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Denver, Colorado-based company’s day-to-day operations including at its 33 senior living communities in 12 states. Co-founders John Sevo and Kraus’ father, Jeffrey Kraus, will continue to serve in their dual roles of managing directors and CEOs of Spectrum Retirement and its development arm, Spectrum Acquisition Partners, respectively.

“Brad is an experienced investor and manager who shares our vision and will provide dynamic leadership both now and in the future,” Sevo said in a news release.

NHC Appoints New Chief Information Officer

National HealthCare Corporation (NYSE: NHC) appointed B. Anderson Flatt has the company’s senior vice president and chief information officer.

Flatt brings more than 32 years of experience in health care technology to NHC. He comes to the company from Corizon Health, where he served as senior vice president and chief information officer. He also previously worked at Cigna-HealthSpring and AIM Healthcare Services (now Optum). Before that, he served in technology management positions at Hospital Corporation of America and Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. Additionally, Flatt co-founded MIQS, Inc., an EMR company, after launching his career as a software developer for Dialysis Clinic, Inc.

“Andy has established an outstanding reputation for innovation and results in the realm of information technology, an area that will continue to be a critical part of the effective delivery of care for our patients,” NHC CEO Steve Flatt said in a news release. “We are pleased to add him to our NHC team. His knowledge and experience will benefit all of our operations.”

NHC affiliates operate for themselves and third parties 74 long-term health care centers, 36 home care programs, five independent living centers and 21 assisted living communities. Other services include memory care, long-term care pharmacies, hospice, a rehabilitation services company and management and accounting for third parties.

Juniper Communities Welcomes Regional Director of Operations

Juniper Communities announced that Doug Vocelle rejoined the company’s leadership team as regional director of operations after an eight-year departure due to a family relocation. He will now be in charge of the Florida senior living communities located in Naples and Cape Coral.

Vocelle previously oversaw marketing at the corporate level. He will also be responsible for implementing components of Juniper’s Connect4Life program, which makes onsite medical care available to residents. He will assist with developing the relationship and work flow between the two Juniper properties and Redwood Health Partners.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to rejoin a company and culture I believe in—a company that nurtures the spirit of each individual we serve,” Vocelle said in a news release.

Juniper Communities is a privately held, New Jersey-based company that owns and operates independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing facilities in New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Colorado.

Highland Springs Picks New Director of Sales

Highland Springs, an Erickson Living continuing care retirement community (CCRC) located in Dallas, Texas, promoted Christina Christie to director of sales.

Christie has more than 15 years of experience in the senior living industry with Erickson Living. In 2002, she began her career as a sales counselor with a sister community, Brooksby Village, in Boston. She transferred to Dallas in 2005 and played a key role in launching the sales program at Highland Springs. She has served as sales counselor since that time.

As director of sales, Christie will work to achieve an exceptional customer experience for future residents, plan for continued strategic growth of the 89-acre campus, maintain budgeted occupancy and oversee the seven-member sales team.

“We are extremely proud to promote Christina to the leadership position of director of sales,” Highland Springs Executive Director Matt Neville said in a news release. “She has literally grown with the community, meeting our very first residents in a temporary sales trailer as the campus was under construction 12 years ago. Christina has extensive knowledge of our full continuum of care, a deep investment in the local community and a commitment to living our mission. Those qualities make Christina a natural fit to broaden her role as we serve our residents and meet the demand for the unique lifestyle offered by Highland Springs.”

Highland Springs is one of 19 CCRCs managed by Erickson Living.

Wingate Healthcare Selects Spa and Fitness Director, Rehab Medical Director

Wingate Healthcare, a provider of senior living communities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York, selected Nicolette Starnella as spa and fitness director at One Wingate Way in Needham, Massachusetts, a 65+ community for independent living, and Razib Khaund as rehab medical director at Wingate on Blackstone Boulevard in Providence, Rhode Island.

Starnella will be responsible for designing and managing programming at Aqua by Wingate, the new fitness and spa lifestyle experience at One Wingate Way. She most recently served as the spa and leisure director for WTS International, where she led programming at several luxury resorts. Before that, she was the area manager and corporate wellness coach for Fitlife Foods in Tampa, Florida.

“Nicolette’s background in both fitness and health programming is a wonderful balance for leading Aqua by Wingate,” Wingate Healthcare President Scott Schuster said in a news release. “Her passion, innovative thinking and dedication to exceptional service aligns with our vision to create an unmatched lifestyle experience for our residents at One Wingate Way.”

Khaund will be responsible for overseeing the care provided to individuals staying in the short-term rehabilitation center. He has nearly 25 years of experience in the health care industry, and worked for 20 years in sports medicine. He also spent 15 years as a hospitalist and four years providing internal medicine as part of a private practice.

Wingate on Blackstone Boulevard is part of a campus that provides a full spectrum of care.

Roland Park Place Announces Promotions

Roland Park Place, a nonprofit CCRC in Baltimore City, Maryland, announced the promotions of several longtime staff members.

Becki Bees has been promoted to vice president of marketing and community life. She has been with the organization for 12 years, and most recently served as director of marketing. She will now oversee marketing and sales, dining services, public relations, independent living programs, fitness and chaplaincy.

Trisha Heil has been promoted to senior executive assistant and will provide organization-wide support for communications as well as supervising the CCRC’s administration office. She formerly served as executive assistant.

Bill O’Brien has been promoted to director of finance and will oversee the finance department and medical billing process. He has over 30 years of experience in financial management, and previously served as the company’s controller.

Darren McDonnell was promoted to marketing associate, where he will assist in the sales and promotion of Roland Park Place. He has 10 years of experience in senior living, and is a former marketing assistant at the CCRC.

Jamie Ujvari is now an account manager, after serving as a senior accountant. She has been with Roland Park Place for nine years, working on the organization’s payroll, accounts payable and financial reporting processes.

The Ambassador of Scarsdale Unveils VP Announcement

The Ambassador of Scarsdale appointed Geri Brooks as vice president of integrated health care systems.

Brooks is a New York licensed nurse practitioner with over 25 years of experience in the health care field. She was formerly director of senior services at White Plains Hospitals, where she was employed for over 30 years. She is a board member of The Alzheimer’s Association of Hudson Valley.

“Geri’s role will enable us to coalesce the team around quality and continuous process improvement initiatives that will build on our current success,” President Jean Dunphy said in a news release. “Brooks will also collaborate with other organizations in order to most effectively meet community needs. …The Ambassador of Scarsdale is privileged to have her on board.”

The Ambassador of Scarsdale is located in White Plains, New York, and offers assisted living and memory care.

Breslin, Young & Slaughter, LLC Chooses New Director

Breslin, Young & Slaughter, LLC (BY&S) chose Clayton Kloehr as director of the firm.

Kloehr will work directly with the firm’s partners to expand services offered to health care lenders and equity firms by providing clients quality of earnings reports on health care companies. Before joining BY&S, he was the manager of financial due diligence for Welltower, Inc. (NYSE: HCN), and also served as an officer for Merrill Lynch Capital in the health care finance group.

“Having worked with Clayton previously and knowing the experience and expertise he will bring to BY&S makes us very excited to have him,” Brian Young, a partner with BY&S, said in a news release. “He is a valuable addition to the firm and will allow us to better support clients involved in acquisitions and health care real estate transactions.”

BY&S is a niche consulting firm providing field exams, quality of earnings reviews, portfolio servicing, part-time and interim management and work out services to health care lenders and investors.

Written by Kourtney Liepelt