Movers & Shakers: Blake Management Group Names New President

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Blake Management Group Names New President

Blake Management Group has named John Waits as its new president.

In his new role, Waits will help lead the company as it prepares to grow in Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee and Virginia. He comes to Blake from Peterbilt Truck Centers, where he served as COO and CFO. During that time, Waits helped the company expand from one dealership in Mississippi to having 12 locations in the Southeast U.S.

Currently, Blake Management Group has approximately 800 employees and 14 communities.

Life Care Services Hires Former Brookdale, A Place for Mom Leaders

Life Care Services is bolstering its rental portfolio by adding two new senior living industry leaders.

The company recently hired Rick Westermann, who previously worked for A Place for Mom; and GeLynna Shaw, who previously worked for Brookdale Senior Living. The new hires will help LCS expand its presence in the rental sector.

Westermann will look after the sales force, marketing and lead acquisition and sales process for LCS rental communities as vice president and senior director of marketing and sales. Shaw, meanwhile, will assume the title of senior vice president and senior director of operations in order to oversee day-to-day operations at all LCS rental communities, which includes directors of operations management and regional operations managers.

Integral Senior Living Names Director of Resident Programming

Integral Senior Living has promoted Kristen Curran-Brookham to the role of director of resident programming.

In this newly created corporate support position, Curran-Brookham will oversee the implementation of Integral’s programs, including Vibrant Life, Elevate culinary and Generations memory care.

Curran-Brookham has over 10 years of experience in the senior living community industry, and first joined Integral in 2012. Previously, she worked with the senior living provider as an executive director, regional director of sales and marketing and regional director of resident care.

Cadence Living Adds Assistant Controller

Lidia Panayotova has joined Cadence Living’s corporate team as assistant controller.

In her new role, Panayotova will take over accounting and financial reporting functions for several of Cadence’s communities and help with the company’s accounting matters.

Prior to joining Cadence, Lidia served as a senior finance accountant for general contractor and property manager Kitchell Corporation.

WoodBine Senior Living Names Director of Operations

WoodBine Senior Living has promoted Chris Behm to director of operations for the company’s Northern region.

In his new role, Behm is tasked with looking after WoodBine communities in Dover, New Hampshire; Galloway, New Jersey; East Stroudburg and Phoenixville, Pennsylvania; and a soon-to-be-announced community in Connecticut.

In addition to those duties, Behm also will help WoodBine develop new venture opportunities and cultivate talent from within the company.

Chris began his senior living career with WoodBine as a dining service coordinator. Before taking his most recent role, Behm was a senior executive director with the company.

Watercrest Welcomes Executive Chef at Florida Community

Watercrest Senior Living has hired Joseph Ferraro as the executive chef of its St. Lucie West Assisted Living and Memory Care Community in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Ferraro brings to his new role more than 13 years of culinary experience in restaurants, hotels, private clubs and health care venues.

Watercrest St. Lucie West is a 112,000-square foot community with 102 assisted living and 26 memory care apartments.

Written by Tim Regan