Movers & Shakers: Lifespace Communities, Integrace Institute

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Lifespace Welcomes Two New Leaders to Chicagoland Communities 

Des Moines, Iowa-based Lifespace Communities has named Bridgette Walshe as the new executive director of its independent living community, Beacon Hill, in Lombard, Illinois.

In her new post, Walshe is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the entire senior living community, which features 360 maintenance-free residential living apartment homes, and a variety of services and amenities for its more than 500 residents. As a life care community, Beacon Hill also offers on-site health services, memory support and skilled nursing suites.

Walshe joins Beacon Hill with more than 15 years of leadership experience in senior living and health care. Most recently, she served as executive director at a Dallas-based senior living community, where she oversaw operations and marketing. Additionally, she held director and administrative roles at several other retirement communities throughout Texas.

Lifespace has also named Blaire Goldstein as the new executive director at Oak Trace, a sister community located in Downers Grove, Illinois.

Goldstein will manage the current $150 million redevelopment and expansion of the community, which currently features 247 residential living apartment homes and a variety of services and amenities.

Majid Steps Up to Executive Director Role for Integrace Institute

The Integrace Institute at Copper Ridge, has promoted Tabassum Majid, PhD, to the role of executive director.

The Sykesville, Maryland-based non-profit organization educates and creates evidence-based care practices for families and professionals supporting individuals living with neurocognitive disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Majid joined the Integrace Institute in August 2016 as director of research. During her tenure, she has led and expanded Integrace’s research and educational initiatives in various areas of care practices, technologies, and treatment.

Majid is a member of the Maryland Governor’s Council on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders and contributes to the development and implementation of the Maryland State Plan.

Majid received her bachelor of science degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County concentrating in an interdisciplinary approach to Neurodegenerative Disorders of the Aged.

She then gained expertise in the pathology, imaging, and biology of dementia from both pre-clinical and clinical perspectives in Houston, Texas, where she earned her PhD from Baylor College of Medicine. She returned to Maryland to complete a fellowship at the University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy researching care management decisions with caregivers and individuals with dementia.

Friedman Steps Down as CEO of Gurwin Jewish, Almer Named Successor

Herbert H. Friedman, founder of Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, is resigning from his post as CEO, Newsday reports. The Commack, N.Y.-based community is a non-profit provider of skilled nursing, rehabilitation and assisted living services.

Stuart B. Almer, administrator and chief operating officer, will succeed Friedman, taking on the role of president and CEO on January 1, 2018.

As part of the transition, Friedman will become president and CEO of a newly created parent entity, Gurwin Healthcare System, and of Fountaingate Gardens, Gurwin’s proposed 176-unit independent housing community in Commack. In this post, Friedman will oversee non-operational elements of Gurwin, while Almer runs operations and reports to the board of directors.

The proposed Fountaingate unit is designed as a component of a health-care community that allows residents to move to other areas of the 67-acre Gurwin Jewish campus as their care needs change.

Almer, who joined Gurwin in 2015 from Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation in Queens, has been running operations at Gurwin’s 460-bed nursing and rehabilitation center, and also led the creation of a 60-bed memory-care unit.

Center for Excellence in Assisted Living Announces 2018 Board Officers

The Center for Excellence in Assisted Living (CEAL) recently confirmed its 2018-2019 board officers.

Based in Washington, D.C., CEAL is a consortium of 11 organizations who work to promote excellence in assisted living through practice, public policy, technical expertise and research. Board officers serve a two-year term.

The 2018 Board Officers include:
• Chair: Lindsay Schwartz, NCAL
• Vice Chair: Doug Pace, Alzheimer’s Association
• Treasurer: Steve Maag, LeadingAge
• Secretary: Cathy Lieblich, Pioneer Network
• Immediate Past Chair: Robert Jenkens, NCB

The board officers are tasked with managing CEAL and its initiatives.

Stiner Assumes Director Role for Erickson Living Community

Erickson Living has appointed Pamela Stiner the director of finance for its Charlestown retirement community in Catonsville, Maryland.

In her new role, she will manage the financial needs of Charlestown, including overseeing all fiscal operations, managing the revenue and receivable processes and ensuring the long-term financial stability of the organization.

Stiner is adept with sales, operations and finance, having served previously as assistant director of finance for Ann’s Choice, an Erickson Living community in Warminster, Pennsylvania. She also served as district financial operations director/controller for mailing solutions provider Neopost USA in Norristown, Pennsylvania, and as regional finance director for food services company Aramark in Philadelphia.

Stiner holds a B.S. degree in business administration from Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.

Plummer, San Marco Join Senior Leadership Roster at The Preserve at Clearwater

The Preserve at Clearwater, an assisted living and memory care community located in Clearwater, Florida, has welcomed Niki Plummer and Amanda San Marco to the senior leadership team.

The Preserve at Clearwater is managed by a joint venture between Solera Senior Living, LLC and Elkco Properties, Inc. Solera and Elkco acquired The Preserve on June 30, 2017.

Plummer brings approximately 25 years of experience with operational roles within the senior living industry to her new post as executive director. In her new role, she will oversee the community operations. Prior to joining The Preserve, Plummer served as an executive director at a senior living community located in Pinellas Park, Florida.

San Marco joins The Preserve at Clearwater as director of sales and marketing. In this role, she will be tasked with educating prospective residents, family members and referral partners on the benefits of living at The Preserve at Clearwater.

Mabe Steps Up to Executive Role at Waltonwood Cary Parkway

Waltonwood Cary Parkway, a family-owned senior living community based in Cary, North Carolina, has welcomed Richard Mabe as its new executive director.

He brings more than 10 years of experience in senior living to his role. A licensed nurse, Mabe perviously worked in the emergency department for several years prior to starting a career in the senior living industry.

Within senior living, Mabe held multiple positions, including resident care director and executive director of an assisted living and memory care community.

As executive director at Waltonwood Cary Parkway, he manages the daily operations and future direction of the community.

Mabe has served on the advisory board of directors for the local senior center in Brunswick County, and he has organized several fundraisers for the North Carolina Alzheimer’s Association.

Vellante Appointed Executive Director of Bridges by EPOCH at Andover

EPOCH Senior Living has appointed Beth Vellante executive director of Bridges by EPOCH at Andover, a memory care assisted living community slated to open summer 2018 in Andover, Massachusetts.

As executive director, Vellante will direct operations of the community and lead staff in the daily care of residents living with memory impairment.

Vellante comes to EPOCH with more than 37 years of experience in the senior living industry, and 31 years of experience as an executive director. She most recently served as regional director of operations for a northeast-based senior living group.

The Park Senior Living Communities Welcomes New Dining Services Director 

WoodBine Senior Living, LLC has announced that Chef Brandon Lemieux will be joining the company as senior dining service director,  effective January 4, 2018.

While he will be based at Spring Park in Traveler’s Rest, South Carolina, Lemieux will further develop the culinary experience at all three currently open Greenville area Park Communities as well as a fourth Park Community in the early stages of development.

Prior to joining the Parks, Lemieux led the dining service start-up of Waterstone on Augusta, a 114-unit senior living community located in Greenville, South Carolina.

He began his culinary career at the age of 17 in a small restaurant. He grew in his culinary career at the The Cliffs at Glassy where he was classically trained under the executive chef. He also has experience working at the Hyatt Regency Greenville’s culinary program.

Among his other accolades are Hyatt Hotels Manager of the Year, JHM Hotels Culinarian of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year, varied appearances in media and television culinary programs, and numerous top place finishes in culinary festivals and cooking competitions.

Werner Named Campus Director of Dining Services at Benchmark Community

Benchmark Senior Living has appointed hospitality veteran Uwe Werner as campus director of dining services at its New Pond Village community in Walpole, Massachusetts. He has been with Benchmark for more than 10 years in a number of culinary roles.

Werner is a classically trained European chef who began his culinary career more than 20 years ago in his home country of Germany. At New Pond Village, he leads the 45-person culinary team, serving daily meals to more than 200 residents and guests. He also creates and prepares menus for a variety of social events hosted regularly at this senior living community.

Prior to joining New Pond Village, Werner served as senior dining services director at a sister Benchmark community, The Falls at Cordingly Dam in Newton, Massachusetts, where he developed culinary programs based on the National Wellness Institute’s Six Dimensions of Wellness.

Before Benchmark, Werner worked with Hilton International at restaurants in Berlin, Munich, Brussels and London.

Werner has a bachelor’s degree in international hotel and restaurant management from the Hotel Management School in Heidelberg, Germany. He received his certification in baking and pastry from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and was recognized as a certified chef by Berlin’s Hotel Catering School.

He is active within the industry, holding memberships in Wine Club, Ale & Lager Society and Bakers Club.

Written by Carlo Calma