Randall Slikkers, MBA

Slikkers named CEAL executive director

Randall G. Slikkers, MBA, has been named executive director of the Center for Excellence in Assisted Living, a collaboration of national provider, consumer and advocacy organizations focused on enhancing care in assisted living.

CEAL’s current projects focus on shaping potential measures for the profession, including sponsoring research conducted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The coalition is planning additional research on minimum wage increases and the impact on cost of assisted living.

Slikkers has held leadership positions in the nonprofit sector for more than three decades. As a consultant for nonprofit management and boards, he specializes in strategic planning and execution, public policy and board development. He earned his MBA and undergraduate degree in psychology from California Coast University. He also holds certificates in board development, experiential learning and project management.

Andrews named CEO of LeadingAge Virginia

Melissa Andrews has been named president and CEO of LeadingAge Virginia. She currently is vice president of member relations and board development at the national LeadingAge organization and will begin her new role in July.

In her 14 year tenure at LeadingAge, Andrews has worked closely with state partners, corporate sponsors, and members to further both their and LeadingAge’s missions. Through her board development role, she has focused on helping organizations think and plan strategically to support their mission and achieve their ultimate vision.

“I am ready to embrace my new role with LeadingAge Virginia and I am honored to be a part of the organization’s continued transformation as we positively impact the way individuals age in Virginia,” she said.

Mallad named president of Presbyterian Communities and Services

Tim Mallad has been named president of Dallas-based Presbyterian Communities and Services after a national search that took almost a year to complete. The not-for-profit organization operates the continuing care retirement communities Presbyterian Village North and Grace Presbyterian Village as well as Faith Presbyterian Hospice and the T. Boone Pickens Hospice and Palliative Care Center.

Mallad brings almost 30 years of senior living experience to the organization, including experience as a chief operating officer, executive director, associate administrator and sales and marketing professional. He joins Presbyterian Communities and Services from Irving, TX-based Greystone Communities, where most recently he was first vice president.   

Herzog named EVP, CFO of HCP

Tom Herzog will return to HCP to become executive vice president and chief financial officer effective June 27. He previously served as CFO of HCP from 2009 to 2011. Herzog will replace HCP’s outgoing EVP and CFO, Tim Schoen.

Herzog has been senior vice president and CFO of UDR, a multifamily real estate investment trust listed on the New York Stock Exchange, since January 2013. From 2011 until he joined UDR, he was the CFO at Amstar, a Denver-based real estate investment company. Herzog’s experience in the public real estate investment trust sector also includes serving as CFO for two Standard & Poor 500 companies, HCP (2009-2011) and Apartment Investment and Management Co., an NYSE-listed company (2004-2009). Herzog also was an executive with GE Capital Real Estate for four years and spent a decade at the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche.

Herrick, Hill receive AHCA/NCAL awards

Richard Herrick and Robert Hills were presented with 2016 Joe Warner Patient Advocacy Awards at the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living’s recent Congressional Briefing event. The awards, named for the former president and CEO of Illinois-based Heritage Enterprises, are given to association members who have worked directly to educate members of Congress about the needs of long-term and post-acute care patients and to advance quality care.

Herrick is president and CEO of the New York State Health Facilities Association and the New York State Center for Assisted Living, and Hills is president and CEO of Direct Supply, one of the nation’s largest “virtual distributors” of equipment and furnishings for senior living since 1985.

DeRosa honored by Alzheimer’s Association

Tom DeRosa, the CEO and director of Welltower and a board member of Argentum, was the national honoree at the Alzheimer’s Association’s Brain Ball on May 6.

The event raises funds for research and support services for individuals, families and caregivers. Welltower and its partners and operators have raised more than $3 million for the Alzheimer’s Association, including more than $250,000 from Welltower employees and a $250,000 grant from the Welltower Foundation. DeRosa’s father died of complications from Alzheimer’s.

Shepherd named VP at Watercrest

Chris Shepherd has been promoted to vice president of creative program development at Watercrest Senior Living, based in Vero Beach, FL.

He previously was director of creative programming for Watercrest, a position in which he created educational initiatives with Rollins College STARS program and the Baptist Theological Seminary. He also initiated a partnership with Central Florida Community Arts in establishing the Musical Minds Choir, the first Florida-based community-wide performance group designed for individuals experiencing early memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s, and their care partners.

In his new role, Shepherd will continue to develop community partnerships and programs across all communities operated by Watercrest Senior Living.

Ziegler’s Chamberlain named to American Telemedicine Association Board

Grant Chamberlain, managing director in Ziegler’s corporate finance healthcare practice, has been elected to the board of directors of the American Telemedicine Association.

Established in 1993, the ATA advocates for the use of advanced remote medical technologies to improve the quality, equity and affordability of healthcare throughout the world.

Chamberlain has more than 20 years of investment banking experience. He has advised several mHealth companies, including AirStrip, MDLive and Voalte, along with healthcare systems including Baylor Health, Cedars-Sinai and Sharp Healthcare. Prior to Ziegler, Chamberlain led the mHealth sector coverage at Raymond James — which included telehealth, remote monitoring and wireless healthcare solutions — after spending 15 years advising healthcare information technoloby and tech-enabled outsource services companies on a broad variety of merger and acquisition, joint venture/partnerships and private financings.

Ecumen CIO Larry Jorgensen named LeadingAge CAST commissioner

Larry Jorgensen, vice president and chief information officer at Ecumen, has been named a commissioner for the LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies, which has the  mission of advancing the development of emerging technologies that can improve the aging experience.

At Ecumen, Jorgensen leads Ecumen’s information systems and technology function, putting technology in the hands of frontline caregivers, applying mobile technology across the organization, introducing sensor technology and implementing the first phases of health information exchanges with some of Ecumen’s partners.

Prior to his career with Ecumen, Jorgensen worked in the financial services industry for Green Tree Servicing (now ditech), where he served as vice president of application development and support with responsibility for the organization’s technology strategy and services. He also worked at Safetran Systems in manufacturing, where he was the information technology leader.

van Sant named to SQLC board

Jan van Sant, Ph.D., is the newest member of the board of directors for Dallas-based senior living community developer Senior Quality Lifestyles Corp.

van Sant, who is president of the Resident Council at The Buckingham, the SQLC community in Houston, is the first resident to hold a full voting membership at the SQLC board level.

van Sant is a 34-year oil industry veteran with particular experience in the areas of exploration and production research and technology. After retiring, he was the executive director of the American Geological Institute Foundation and now is associate director of the Foundation. van Sant also served as assistant to the vice president for research at the University of Houston and was a member of advisory committees at various times including the University of South Carolina, University of Utah, University of Kansas and Rice University.

Swiatkiewicz named Century Park sales and marketing director

Dan Swiatkiewicz has been named national director of sales and marketing for Cleveland, TN-based Century Park Associates, which has more than 35 senior living communities in 20 states. He currently is working out of Denver and travels to the company’s communities across the country.

Swiatkiewicz most recently served as director of sales and marketing for Century Park’s mountain region. Before that appointment, he was regional director of sales and marketing for Life Care Centers of America’s Pikes Peak region for five years. He is a licensed nursing home administrator and served as an interim executive director for several buildings in the Pikes Peak region.

Swiatkiewicz has more than 14 years of experience in the industry, having started his career in senior living as a social worker in Castle Rock, CO.

Ramamrutham named Sun Health at Home medical director

Radha Ramamrutham, M.D., has been hired as the medical director for Sun Health at Home, a nonprofit “continuing care at home” program for Phoenix-area residents aged at least 55 years who want to stay in their homes as they age.

Ramamrutham, who is board-certified in internal medicine and geriatrics, oversees the medical side of the program. She assesses applicants to determine their medical eligibility, provides guidance on long-term support and services for clients and manages the program’s quality assurance.

Sun Health launched Sun Health at Home in January and says that it is the first program of its kind in the Southwest. Staff members help coordinate medical and nonmedical care for members in an effort to help them maintain independence as long as possible. Each member is paired with a personal wellness coordinator who is tasked with learning the member’s likes, dislikes and care preferences and to looks out for his or her well-being.

Nield named executive director at The Waterford

Scott Nield has been named executive director of The Waterford, a Juno Beach, FL, retirement community owned and operated by Lifespace.

Nield, a Scotland native, has almost 15 years of experience in general management at luxury golf clubs and country club resorts, including Stowe Mountain Club, Inverness Golf Club, Hudson National Golf Club and Hamilton Farm Golf Club. At The Waterford, he will oversee the day-to-day operations at the community, which features nearly 300 apartments and villas, a variety of amenities and access to on-site healthcare services.

Solsbery named director of The Crest

Tanya Solsbery has been named director at The Crest at Baptist Retirement Community by Buckner in San Angelo, TX, a small-home model with two new assisted living memory care homes.

She formerly was the company’s administrator of community-based services, where she supervised home health, hospice and personal assistance services. In her new role, Solsbery will oversee The Crest, manage the assisted living memory care team members, ensure that statewide regulations are being met, help residents maintain their independence and see that residents’ everyday needs are met.

Solsbery has been with Baptist Retirement Community for seven years and has more than 15 years of experience serving older adults. Before joining the Baptist Retirement Community team, she was a registered nurse, clinical liaison, branch director and registered nurse case manager.

Francisco directs resident services at U.S. Memory Care of Cedar Park

Melanie Francisco, RN, BSN, has been hired as resident services director for assisted living community US Memory Care of Cedar Park, Austin, TX.

She will manage and mentor the team of assistants who care for residents and also will work closely with the medical and home health professionals who support residents. Additionally, Francisco will direct the community’s new wellness program, which includes approaches to memory care and treatment that include music therapy, essential oils and pet therapy as well as physical well-being classes and other initiatives.

Francisco has almost five years of senior nursing care experience. She joins US Memory Care from Gentiva Hospice, where she managed the medical, pharmaceutical, emotional and spiritual care of hospice patients and provided support to family members.

Watercrest’s Morelli earns nursing degree

Shannon Morelli, director of quality services for Vero Beach, FL-based Watercrest Senior Living, recently earned her registered nurse license and associate nursing degree, graduating with high honors from the Rasmussen College School of Nursing. She was selected as the ADN graduate speaker for the spring commencement ceremony.

Morelli completed the two-year nursing program while working as director of quality services, a position in which she oversees the clinical aspects of all resident care while managing the team of resident wellness directors in each community. She was on the Dean’s List and was vice president of the Rasmussen Student Nurses Association, captain of the Rasmussen Students Relay for Life team and a member of the Rasmussen Leadership Academy.

She is pictured here third from left, with her husband, Mike, and children, Mikey and Ammie.

Wrobbel honored for advocacy efforts

Joel Wrobbel, marketing director for Westminster-Thurber Community, a not-for-profit continuing care retirement / life plan community, received the Charles B. Jenkins Legacy Award from Employment for Seniors on May 25.

The award recognizes those whose service advocating for and serving seniors in central Ohio is deemed to be exemplary. Wrobbel, with Westminster-Thurber Community since 2001, has hosted a weekly radio program, “Journey Through Aging,” since 2011, during which he explores issues that affect older adults and their families.

Westminster-Thurber Community is one of 12 retirement communities owned and operated by OPRS Communities, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services, headquartered in Columbus, OH.