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Former ABHOW CEO David Ferguson passes away
David Ferguson, the long-term leader of American Baptist Homes of the West, died Friday evening. HumanGood President and CEO John Cochrane posted the news on LinkedIn on Sunday.
Cochrane called Ferguson “a literal and figurative giant.”
Ferguson had been with ABHOW for almost 25 years — joining the company in 1992 and becoming CEO in 1995 — when the organization in 2015 announced plans to merge with the be.group, where Cochrane was CEO. At the time, Ferguson told McKnight’s Senior Living that he had approached fellow California nonprofit about a potential affiliation five years earlier.
The merger was completed in 2016, forming a company that served almost 10,000 residents in 84 communities across Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oklahoma and Washington. As planned, Ferguson transitioned into the role of executive adviser and Cochrane became president and CEO of the combined organization. The company’s name change to HumanGood came in 2017.
“Without Dave Ferguson there would not be the organization that is now HumanGood,” Cochrane said Sunday.
“A giant of a man with a giant heart for helping people age well, Dave was not only an accomplished leader for ABHOW, but he was also a pioneering leader for our field as a whole,” he said, noting that Ferguson had been “instrumental” in the founding of LeadingAge and “a strong and tireless advocate for efforts to attract and develop the best team members dedicated to meeting the needs of an aging population.”
Integral Senior Living names Zachary Butcher regional VP
Zachary Butcher has been named regional vice president of operational services at Carlsbad, CA-based Integral Senior Living.
Over the past 12 years, Butcher has held several positions in the senior living industry, including community-based positions, as a sales manager and executive director, as well as regional and corporate roles as a vice president of operations for Brookdale Senior Living and chief operating officer for Novellus Living.
After earning his undergraduate degree at Arizona State University, Butcher went on to obtain his MBA from Western Governors University with a concentration in healthcare management. He also completed Argentum’s Leadership Advancement and Development Program program.
BHI names Kevin Ward senior operations director
Kevin Ward has been named senior operations director at Indianapolis-based BHI Senior Living. In this newly created role, he will bolster operations initiatives for the company.
After several years of working with children with disabilities, Ward began working in senior living as the director of social services at Wesley Manor in Frankfort, IN, in 2000. He earned his health facility administrator license in 2004 and became administrator of record. Following the community’s affiliation with BHI in 2016, he was named executive director of Wesley Manor.
More recently, his work with BHI has included special projects focused on quality initiatives, capital projects and business development in Indiana and Michigan communities. BHI owns and operates nine life plan communities.
Hebrew SeniorLife promotes LuAnn Fitzgerald
LuAnn Fitzgerald has been promoted to senior director of quality, safety and regulatory affairs at Hebrew SeniorLife.
Fitzgerald began her career as a physical therapist in 1984. She earned her undergraduate degree from Boston University and her law degree from Suffolk Law School.
LCB names Jane Kiegel development director
Jane Kiegel has been named development director for The Residence at Bedford, an LCB Senior Living community expected to open this year in Bedford, MA.
Kiegel has 23 years of experience in combined sales, operations and business management within the senior living industry. Previously, she was the general manager for WayForth in Boston.
Kiegel holds an undergraduate degree in healthcare administration from Stonehill College. She is a licensed real estate agent.
Plunkett Raysich Architects promotes Jedd Heap
Jedd Heap has been promoted to partner at Plunkett Raysich Architects, which has offices in Wisconsin, Florida and Texas.
Heap is a licensed Florida architect with almost 25 years of experience serving clients. He has been actively involved in more than 80 projects during his first four years at PRA.
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