Stephen Flatt named next CEO at NHC; Michael Ussery to become president
Stephen F. Flatt, Ph.D., has been named the next CEO of Murfreesboro, TN-based National HealthCare Corp., the country’s oldest publicly traded senior healthcare company. R. Michael Ussery has been named president and chief operating officer. Both appointments will be effective Jan. 1.
Flatt currently is president of NHC. He joined NHC in 2005 as senior vice president of development and was promoted to his current role in 2009. He serves on the executive committee of the Council for Post Acute Care and the boards of directors of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and Nashville Inner City Ministry. Also, he is a member of the Nashville Health Care Council.
Ussery currently is COO of NHC. He has been with the company since 1980 and was promoted to his current position in 2009. During his tenure with NHC, he has served as senior vice president of operations, senior vice president of the Central Tennessee Region, regional vice president and administrator in multiple locations. Ussery won the top honor of NHC Administrator of the Year in 1989. He serves on the board of directors of St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital and its foundation as well as the board of the Christy Houston Foundation.
NHC previously announced that Robert G. Adams will retire as CEO on Dec. 31 but will remain as non-executive chairman of the board.
Elizabeth Spencer promoted to general manager at The Reserve at Thousand Oaks
Elizabeth Spencer has been promoted to general manager at The Reserve at Thousand Oak, a 140-unit WESTliving independent and assisted living community in Thousand Oaks, CA. She previously was assistant general manager.
Spencer succeeds Joey Collado, who has moved to oversee a major renovation at Oakdale of La Mesa in the San Diego market. Before joining The Reserve in 2010, she worked in hospitality sales, public relations and customer service roles for Hilton, Westin and a variety of boutique hotels.
The Reserve was renovated in 2012 and now serves as a model for WESTliving’s eight other senior living communities around California and in Arizona and Washington.
Craig Karczmer named executive director at Ashby Ponds
Craig Karczmer has been named executive director at Ashby Ponds, an Erickson Living community in Ashburn, VA. He formerly was the associate executive director at Cedar Crest, an Erickson Living community in Pompton Plains, NJ.
Karczmer holds an undergraduate degree in communication studies and marketing from the State University of New York at Oswego as well as a master’s of public healthcare administration from Long Island University. Originally working in marketing and publications, he also has experience opening five ManorCare assisted living communities in less than two years. Karczmer went on to work for several more assisted living and continuing care retirement communities before joining Erickson Living.
“I’ve worked in senior living for over 20 years and what always strikes me is how wonderful it is to meet the residents,” he said. “There is something special about learning about a person’s life experiences and what their dreams are as they enter a new phase of life. Trying to match up residents’ dreams with what we do as a community truly energizes me.”
Stephanie Walsh promoted to executive director of Market Street Memory Care Residence
Stephanie Walsh has been promoted to executive director of the new Market Street Memory Care Residence in Viera, FL. The 60-unit community, designed, owned and operated by Watercrest Senior Living Group, is scheduled to open to residents this fall.
A licensed practical nurse with almost a decade of experience in geriatric nursing, Walsh formerly was resident wellness director of Watercrest of Lake Nona Assisted Living and Memory Care Community.
The 44,162 square foot Market Street community will feature natural lighting, internal courtyards with gardens, circular walkways, visual cueing and multiple social gathering places. Market Plaza, a central gathering space for residents, will have fresh flowers, trees and an active streetscape offering interaction at a post office, art gallery, bakery and spa or amidst daily multi-sensory activities.
Barbara Weicherding new housing and marketing manager for KingsPath Senior Living
Barbara Weicherding has been named housing and marketing manager for KingsPath Senior Living, a Lutheran Home Association senior living facility under construction in Belle Plaine, MN.
In this role, she will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the facility, including marketing, finance, administrative duties and maintenance. Weicherding also will continue in her role as property manager at Highland Regency House, a New Ulm, MN, independent living facility managed by The Lutheran Home Association.
Before joining the association, Weicherding worked for the University of Minnesota Extension in Carver County and Sleepy Eye and at the Brown County Courthouse as a county recorder.
KingsPath Senior Living, which will include 55 apartments, a community room, chapel and a pub, is expected to open in late summer or early fall 2017. The facility is part of the existing 22-acre Belle Plaine Campus that includes a skilled nursing facility, independent living, assisted living, memory care and disability housing. KingsPath will be physically connected to the Ridgeview Health Campus, a new health and wellness facility set to open in the spring. The almost 100,000-square-foot campus, owned and operated in partnership by Ridgeview Medical Center and The Lutheran Home Association, also will include a clinic, a pharmacy, exercise and rehabilitation facilities, a community room, outdoor walking paths and more.
Kamilla Thoma named housing and marketing manager at Heritage Homes
Kamilla Thoma has been named housing and marketing manager at Heritages Homes, a Lutheran Home Association senior independent living, assisted living and memory care facility in Watertown, WI. Her responsibilities include marketing, community relations, public relations and property management.
Thoma graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee with a bachelor’s degree in communication and business administration. Before joining Heritage Homes, she worked at the University of Wisconsin extension office in Jefferson.
Elizabeth Earman named executive director of Renaissance Senior Living of Vero Beach
Elizabeth Earman has been named executive director of Renaissance Senior Living of Vero Beach, a Legacy Senior Living assisted living and memory care community that is scheduled to open in Sebastian, FL, this winter.
Earman has several years of experience working in the senior living industry. Before joining Renaissance Senior Living, she was the executive director for a local assisted living community for 12 years.
Equinox Terrace Assisted Living honors volunteer, organization
Equinox Terrace Assisted Living, Manchester Center, VT, is presenting Rev. Jim Gray with its annual Senior Service Award on Friday.
The award is presented each year to a senior volunteer who dedicates his or her time to benefit other local seniors. For the past 18 years, Gray, the minister at the United Church of Dorset and East Rupert, has paid bi-weekly visits to Equinox Terrace Assisted Living to perform religious services and spend time with the residents at the assisted living community.
Gray and the Community Food Cupboard, also being honored by Equinox Terrace Assisted Living, for its commitment to providing nutritious food to people in need, each be awarded a $500 gift.
“It’s our privilege to recognize area individuals and organizations that are dedicated to providing services that focus on the happiness and wellbeing of others, especially seniors, in our local community,” said Ann Bouza, executive director of Equinox Terrace, part of Terrace Communities. “Rev. Gray and the staff and volunteers at the Community Food Cupboard are an inspiration for their willingness to serve others and give back to our community.”
“When I first began my visits to Equinox Terrace, it was to ensure that my parishioners who lived there remained connected to the church and still felt valued within our community,” Gray said. “Since then, it’s become so much more, and I find it difficult to believe it’s been 18 years since my first trip. In addition to my pastoral visits and leading worship, I’ve also established a yearly book study and prayer group, which many residents dearly appreciate. Equinox Terrace is a wonderful place. I’ve really fallen in love with it and the people who live there. I know that for many, moving into an assisted living community can be quite the adjustment, and I want to do what I can to make that change an extension of their lives.”
Resident writes blog about ageism
Ann Mackay, a resident of Charlestown, an Erickson Living retirement community in Catonsville, MD, writes a blog in an effort to help destroy negative stereotypes of aging.
“I am so tired of being called sweetie or honey just because I have gray hair,” said the former geriatric nurse and association manager.
Ageism is noticeable in the jokes told by comedians and talk show hosts, language used by healthcare professionals, impatience shown by younger adults, commercials on television and age discrimination in the workplace, Mackay said.
“An old person is a young person who has just lived longer,” she wrote.
Justin Hill promoted to senior vice president of business development at Welltower
Justin Hill has been promoted to senior vice president of business development at Welltower Inc. In this role, he will focus on the growth and development of Welltower’s West Coast portfolio and will manage the company’s new Beverly Hills, CA, office.
“We’re expanding our presence in the region, given its importance to our strategy today and in the future,” explained Mercedes Kerr, executive vice president of business development, to whom Hill will continue to report. “We own 167 healthcare properties on the West Coast and, upon closing the recently announced $1.15 billion Vintage Senior Living transaction, will be the largest owner of seniors housing properties in Northern and Southern California.”
At Welltower, Hill has served in roles of increasing responsibility with the investment team and most recently was responsible for overseeing outpatient medical investments. Before joining Welltower in 2008, he was a vice president within Bank of America’s global corporate and investment banking division.
Jack W. Bass II named senior managing director at BBG
Jack W. Bass II, MAI, has been named senior managing director–healthcare at Dallas-based commercial real estate valuation, advisory and assessment firm BBG.
Bass has more than 30 years of experience with independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, memory care facilities and other types of healthcare properties. He is certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the senior housing LEAN and MAP programs and also holds other professional certifications.
Before joining BBG, Bass served as director of seniors housing and healthcare of Integra Realty Resources in Houston. Before joining Integra, he was vice president and regional manager for Bank of America’s Commercial Appraisal Group in Houston. Earlier, he was an independent fee appraiser in Houston and Boston.
Paul Carr joins Cushman & Wakefield’s senior housing team
Paul Carr has joined Tampa, FL-based Cushman & Wakefield’s seniors housing team as senior managing director.
Carr is a 12-year capital markets veteran. He previously was a member of Cushman & Wakefield’s Capital Markets Group in Tampa, where he was responsible for representing private, institutional and corporate clients in the acquisition, disposition and analysis of investment properties throughout Florida. His career also has included a similar role with DTZ and Cassidy Turley as well as working as a member of CBRE’s Investment Properties Group and in Trammel Crow Co.’s Capital Markets Group, where he handled office and industrial investment sales throughout Central and North Florida.
During his career, Carr directly has been involved in sales of approximately 15 million square feet totaling more than $1.5 billion.
