FHV names new CEO / executive director

Chiyo Moriuchi

Chiyo Moriuchi has been named the new CEO and executive director of Friends Home & Village in Newtown, PA. She begins her new position Aug. 5.

Moriuchi earned her undergraduate degree from Mount Holyoke College and her MBA and a Master’s of Public Health degree from Columbia University.

Previously, she was the program manager at the Columbia Aging Center. She also has served on the boards of George School, Medford Leas and the Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation. 

Springpoint announces new vice president of sales

James Tavormina

James Tavormina has been named vice president of sales for Springpoint Senior Living

In his new role, he will be responsible for attaining occupancy goals as well as creating effective ways to maximize revenue development.

Tavormina has a background in sales management for life plan communities and assisted living facilities. He previously worked at Benchmark Senior Living and Brookdale Senior Living. He graduated from Seton Hall University.

National Health Investors hires new director of investors relations

Dana Hambly has been hired by National Health Investors to be the new director of investor relations.

His responsibilities will include planning and executing an investor relations program that includes financial result explanations, communicating corporate strategies and describing the company’s advantages and risks to shareholders, analysts and other stakeholders.

Hambly previously served as senior vice president and equity research analyst at Stephens Inc.. He graduated from Georgetown University and received his MBA from Vanderbilt University in 2006.

ADF appoints associate director of operations and technology

Jessica Herpst

Jessica Herpst has been named the associate director of operations and technology for the Army Distaff Foundation. She will serve the foundation and the residents of the Knollwood Military Retirement Community.

Herpst joined the ADF in 2015 as an activities assistant, where her work earned her the CECA (Celebrated Caregivers) Award in June 2016. 

She earned her undergraduate degree in kinesiology and exercise science from Towson University and a Master of Public Health degree from Benedictine University.

Oak Crest announces promotion

Stephanie Taydus

Stephanie Taydus has been promoted to community TV & AV manager at Oak Crest, a retirement community by Erickson Living.

She joined the team in 2018 as a community TV coordinator. Taydus currently serves as co-chair of the My Erickson initiative, an interactive app that provides residents with community news and information on their smartphones and computers. She also is a part of the Welcome Home team that helps new residents have a smooth transition into the community.

Taydus earned an undergraduate degree in electronic media and film from Towson University. 

Elderwood Assisted Living names new administrator

Cheryl Bierma, RN, was named administrator for Elderwood Assisted Living at West Seneca, effective July 1.

She has been with Elderwood for 14 years and was previously the resident care manager and the director of nursing.

Bierma has been serving the senior population for more than three decades. She graduated from Trocaire College.

Walker & Dunlop adds property sales team

Mark Myers, Josh Jandris, Jordyn Berger, Alex Vice and Mike Surak have been hired by Walker & Dunlop to form a property sales team based in Chicago. 

The team will focus on executing on the full continuum of senior housing property sales across the United States. This is the company’s first expansion of property sales into the Midwest.

Before joining Walker & Dunlop, they were part of the Institutional Property Advisors Senior Housing Group at Marcus & Millichap. As a team, they have closed more than $5.3 billion of senior housing transactions.

Senior Sleuths hires new sales manager

Ernie Tompkins is the new sales manager for Senior Sleuths, an immersive group experience for senior communities that focuses on using interactive storytelling to challenge cognitive abilities such as problem-solving, recall, dexterity and fine motor skills. 

He is responsible for building relationships with senior living communities to share the Senior Sleuths experience. Tompkins also will work with Media Star Promotions in his new role.

Tompkins earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Louisiana Technical University and an MBA from the Fordham Gabelli School of Business. He previously worked with Aon Corp., Mid-Atlantic Media and Smart Shopper Magazine. 

Landec Corp. nominates two to board of directors

Craig Barbarosh and Charles Macaluso have been nominated to the board of directors for Landec Corp., a health and wellness company.

Barbarosh has experience on other public company’s boards and works in the healthcare industry. He is currently on the board for NextGen Healthcare and Sabra Health Care REIT. 

Macaluso has experience in the food and financial industries. He currently holds positions on other boards of directors, including Darling Ingredients, Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. and Williams Industrial Services Group.

Asbury Place Maryville administrator wins Excellence in Innovation Award

Carla Rafferty, the assisted living administrator at Asbury Place Maryville, has won the LeadingAge Tennessee 2019 Excellence in Innovation Award.

Rafferty is being recognized for creating and implementing the Reflections memory care program and for helping to establish the community’s new memory care residences, The Beech and The Alpine.

The Reflections program aims to use residents’ history, relationships and accomplishments to create a positive and calming environment for them. 

FSLA presents awards at 2019 Annual Senior Living Conference

The Florida Senior Living Association recognized leaders in senior living at its annual conference on July 15. 

Megan Berhalter of Brookdale Phillippi Creek received the Sales and Marketing of the Year Award. 

Chad Carnes, district director of operations at Brookdale Senior Living, won the Employee of the Year Award.

Mary Schneider of Symphony at Waterways received the Volunteer of the Year Award. At 91, she has been volunteering six days a week for the past three years. She often comes in for five hours or more at a time, according to FSLA.

Lupe Villareal, an employee of Villas at Sunset Bay, received the Caregiver of the Year Award.

Ali Wiggins, director of sales and marketing for Guardian Pharmacy of Northwest Florida, was presented the Distinguished Service Award for helping a community in Marianna after Hurricane Michael.

Veronica Yestrumskas

Veronica Yestrumskas, executive director of HarborChase of Coral Springs, was presented the Executive Director of the Year Award. She has been praised by her peers for her empathetic nature and her innovations in her community. In addition to her role as executive director, she also is the director of hospitality.

Brookmeade Community intern receives Employee of Distinction Award

Ian Cooper, a server and human resource intern with Brookmeade Community, has been recognized with the 2019 Employee of Distinction Award from LeadingAge New York.

Cooper, who also is an assistant scoutmaster of leadership development for Boy Scout Troop 80, is receiving this award for his dedication to service at his community.

The award is presented to winners at their home organizations. Brookmeade’s award ceremony will be held on Aug. 7.

AHCA award winners announced

The American Health Care Association announced the recipients for the 2019 AHCA Awards program. The awards recognize those in the long-term and post-acute care centers, and intellectual and developmental disabilities residences. 

  • The Hero of the Year award went to Barabara Smith of Valley Village in Winnetka, CA.
  • The winner of the Not for Profit Program of the Year was the Good Samaritan Society in New Hope, MN.
  • The Not for Profit Trustee Award went to Dave Gessel of Mission Health Services in West Valley City, UT.
  • Richard Cole won the Adult Volunteer of the Year for his work with LACOBA Homes in Monett, MO.
  • Friends of Good Samaritan Society in Scotland, SD, won the award for Group Volunteer of the Year.
  • The Young Adult Volunteer of the Year went to Railey Connor for her work at Crestview Health & Rehabilitation in Crestview, FL.

The recipients will be honored at the AHCA / NCAL 70th Convention on Oct. 16 in Orlando. 

Leisure Care partner and senior vice president wins two awards

Bre Grubbs
Bre Grubbs

Bre Grubbs, a partner and the senior vice president of new business at Leisure Care, recently was recognized as one of the Puget Sound Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” honorees.

With Grubbs’ oversight, Leisure Care’s new development has been growing, with 10 new communities set to open this year — among them, Murano Senior Living, a 24-story luxury high-rise in Seattle.

Grubbs will be honored at an annual luncheon in Seattle on Sept.r 27. She also will be profiled in an edition of the Puget Sound Business Journal to come out that same day.

She was one of the McKnight’s Women of Distinction award recipients honored in May; a profile about her was published in July.

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