Christian City adds new chief executive officer, Keith Horton
Keith Horton has joined Christian City, an organization that includes active senior living patio homes and apartments, an assisted living center, a skilled nursing and rehab center, memory care, home health and hospice care as well as programs for children and youth, as the new chief executive officer.
He officially will begin his duties on July 17 and will be responsible for implementing all operational strategies on the organization’s campus.
Before joining Christian City, Horton worked at the Department of Juvenile Justice in Atlanta and as the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Services. He also served in the U.S. military for 20 years, including his position as deputy director of the Combat Arms Force Management Division for the Pentagon.
American Health Partners promotes Robin Bradley to COO
Robin Bradley has been announced as the new chief operating officer for Franklin, TN-based American Health Partners, parent company of American Health Communities, Rehab America, Unity Psychiatric Care, Tennessee Quality Care and American Health Plans.
Bradley joined American Health Partners in 2016 as COO of the American Health Plans division, which owns and manages institutional special needs plans (I-SNPs) for older adults living in long-term care facilities. In her new role, she will ensure that the company has proper operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures, and people and systems to optimize efficiencies and ensure financial strength across its divisions.
Before joining American Health Partners, Bradley was vice president of administration for Unity Physician Partners and vice president of administration for Windsor Health Plan and Vanderbilt Health Plans. She received an undergraduate degree in business administration / finance degree from the University of Georgia and her MBA and a master’s degree in health administration from Georgia State University.
The New Jewish Home hires new CFO, Mark Weiss
Mark Weiss has become the new chief financial officer at The New Jewish Home in New York City.
He is responsible for leading financial planning and analysis, accounting and reporting, capital budgeting, revenue cycle management and investments in his new role.
Prior to joining The New Jewish Home, Weiss served as vice president, administrator and CFO at Montefiore in Cleveland. He is a licensed nursing home administrator and a certified public accountant.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Touro College and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, with concentrations in health systems management and finance.
The Springs Living promotes Lisa Maynard to chief people officer
Lisa Maynard has been promoted to chief people officer for The Springs Living. She will develop human resource strategies focused on recruiting, training, developing and retaining employees for the company’s communities throughout Oregon and Montana.
Maynard joined The Springs Living in 2002 and has held different management positions during her time there. Most recently, she was the director of people and processes, a position in which she oversaw the implementation of the Shine Training and Development program.
She is a graduate of Oregon State University’s health administration program and will earn her master’s degree in organizational leadership from Gonzaga University this fall.
Sun Health promotes Jennifer Drago to chief strategy officer
Jennifer Drago, formerly executive vice president of population health for Sun Health, has been named chief strategy officer.
In her expanded role, she is responsible for the organization’s strategic and annual planning as well as identifying and researching new business opportunities and programs. Drago will continue to lead her current team, which includes Sun Health at Home and Sun Health Wellness.
Drago has worked in healthcare for more than 25 years. She began as vice president of planning services for the former Sun Health hospital system and also served as an associate administrator for Boswell Memorial and Del E. Webb Memorial hospitals. She is a fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Sun Health has three life plan communities, a continuing care at home program and a slate of health and wellness programs.
Juniper Communities announces new executive director, Andy Fritz
Andy Fritz has been named the new executive director of Juniper Village at Williamstown, a two-building campus in Williamstown, NJ, consisting of an assisted living and Wellspring memory care facility. In this role, Fritz will be responsible for resident services, programs and care.
He is licensed as a nursing home administrator in New Jersey and has experience in assisted living, dementia care, independent living, sub-acute rehabilitation and skilled nursing.
Fritz received a master’s degree with a focus in healthcare administration from Widener University.
Waltonwood Cary Parkway adds two
Mercedes Richards has been named the new independent living manager, and Matthew VanAuker has been named the new executive director at WaltonWood Cary Parkway, Cary, NC.
Richards will be the first independent living manager for Waltonwood Cary Parkway. In this role, she will work to help create a happy and engaged community through open communication with residents, family members, staff members and the executive director.
VanAuker brings more than five years of senior living experience to his new role as executive director. He previously was a wellness coach, resident services manager, executive director, and most recently associate executive director for Waltonwood Senior Living. In his new position, he will oversee the daily operations and future direction of the community while supporting each department’s needs.
Oak Crest announces new director of sales, Dan Plakatoris
Dan Plakatoris has been promoted to director of sales at Oak Crest, a Parkvilla, MD, continuing care retirement community developed and managed by Erickson Living.
He has been with Oak Crest for more than five years as a sales manager and then as associate director of sales. He previously was a contractor supporting military service member reintegration at the Maryland Air National Guard and a senior customer relations representative at Baltimore Gas and Electric.
During his time at Oak Crest, Plakatoris has received multiple company-based honors, including the Oak Crest Leader of the Quarter Award in 2017 and the Erickson Living Sales, Marketing & Communications Department “Above and Beyond Award” in 2019.
Cadence Millbrae hires new executive director, Kiel Stromgren
Kiel Stromgren has been named the new executive director at Cadence Millbrae in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Stromgren’s experience in senior living includes being the executive director at Atria Burlingame and Atria at Foster Square. He also has worked in the home healthcare industry as an executive director and client relations director.
The Watermark at Vistawilla appoints new executive director
David Goldsmith has joined The Watermark at Vistawilla, Winter Springs, FL, as executive director.
He has more than 25 years of experience as an administrator and an executive director, with six of them with Watermark. Goldsmith was managing director for Watermark’s nine communities in Rochester, NY, as well as executive director of The Fountains at RiverVue.
In his new role, he will oversee product quality, programs, policies, sales, marketing and overall business control for the assisted living and memory care community
Brooksby Village names new director of general services, Charleen Archambault
Charleen Archambault has been named the director of general services at Brooksby Village, an Erickson Living-developed and managed continuing care retirement community in Peabody, MA.
She has been with Brooksby Village for 15 years and served as the director of dining services for the past 11 years. In her new role, Archambault will be responsible for the buildings, grounds, transportation and security services that contribute to a safe and healthy living and working environment for residents and staff.
She holds an associate’s degree in dietetic technology from Essex Agricultural and Technical Institute, a bachelor’s degree in English from Salem State University and a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.
Grace Ridge hires new director of dining services, Trudi Nowlin
Trudi Nowlin has been named the new director of dining services at Grace Ridge, a Morganton, NC-based retirement community.
As director of dining services, she will play a role in both day-to-day operations and meal preparation, including cooking. Nowlins is a certified dietary manager and certified food protection professional through the Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals.
Most recently, she managed culinary services for an assisted living community affiliated with Wuesthoff Medical Center in Melbourne, FL.
Age-friendly NYC Commission adds Avenir Healthcare Group CEO Eric Mendel
Eric Mendel, the CEO of Avenir Healthcare Group, has been appointed by New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio to serve on the 2019-2021 Age-friendly NYC Commission.
The commission is working to develop strategies to change the culture of New York City to become more inclusive of older people.
Since 2002, Mendel has served as the CEO of Central Assisted Living in Queens. The community recently was awarded a grant from the state Department of Health to develop the first freestanding dementia assisted living program for individuals receiving Medicaid benefits.
Mendel also is a member of the board of directors of the Empire State Association of Assisted Living and the Maimonides Medical Center Cardiac Advisory Board. He graduated from Boston University with a degree in economics and has a master’s degree in health systems administration.
GlynnDevins welcomes two
Dennis Ehrich Jr. and Paul Hunt have been named the new chief technology officer and chief revenue officer, respectively, at GlynnDevins.
Ehrich will oversee new products and services at the organization. He brings more than 25 years of experience to his new position. Most recently, he was CTO and chief product officer at Service Management Group. He is a graduate of Denison University and he received his MBA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Bloch School of Management.
Hunt has experience as a global sales director and chief revenue officer at multiple firms, including Perceptive Software, SMG and High Q. He received his post-graduate diploma in marketing from the University of Humberside in Lincoln, England, and his bachelor’s degree in economics and government from the University of Essex in Colchester, England.
The Weitz Co. welcomes Nadine De Nicola as business development manager
Nadine De Nicola has joined The Weitz Co. as a business development manager to support the growth of the national general contractor and construction management company’s senior living product line.
She will be based in Weitz’s Phoenix office but will connect with clients nationally.
De Nicola has worked in post-acute care and long-term care for her entire career. She has worked for the Ensign Group and Direct Supply.
Chicago Pacific Founders announces principal, Sameer Mather
Sameer Mather has been named a principal at Chicago Pacific Founders, a private equity firm that specializes in investing in senior living and healthcare services.
Before working at Chicago Pacific Founders, Sameer held positions at DW Healthcare, Francisco Partners and Bain and Co. He received his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and economics from Northwestern University.
Walker & Dunlop welcomes Sean Williams as SVP
Sean Williams has joined Walker & Dunlop Investment Sales as the senior vice president and managing director based out of Tampa, FL.
He is joining the central Florida team and is responsible for originating and executing on multifamily property sales for institutional and private clients throughout the region.
Prior to this position, Williams served as senior vice president with CBRE’s Tampa multi-housing group and as a director of real estate investments at Camden Property Trust.
He has an MBA and an undergraduate degree from the University of Florida.
Kahler Slater welcomes new business development and marketing manager
Devin Sutherland has been added to Kahler Slater’s business environments team as business development and marketing manager.
He has more than 18 years of experience working with developers, designers and government officials to attract and support development. In his new role, he will expand the firm’s work in the senior living, multi-family, hospitality and corporate markets.
Sutherland recently earned a master’s of business design and innovation degree from Carthage College.
Lutheran Services in America adds two board members
Colleen P. Frankenfield and Karen L. Himle have joined Lutheran Services in America’s board of directors. The two will serve until June 30, 2022.
Frankenfield is the president and CEO of Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey, a provider of senior services through three continuing care retirement communities and 16 affordable housing communities, as well as hospice and home care programs. She has more than 30 years of experience in faith-based healthcare and senior services.
She earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Widener University and a master’s degree in healthcare administration from St. Joseph’s University.
Himle is the senior vice president for customer experience and corporate affairs at Thrivent, where she leads the organization’s customer experience, corporate communications, community affairs and public policy efforts. She also has worked in the education and healthcare industries and as a policy adviser for the governor of Nebraska.
Himle earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Nebraska Lincoln and a master’s degree in systematic theology from Luther Seminary.
Kaiser Permanente Northwest names Wendy Watson COO
Wendy Watson has been named chief operating officer for Kaiser Permanente Northwest.
She recently created a population health department that combines home and assisted living care, inpatient and outpatient care management, social work, health education and care navigators with a focus on identifying and serving patients / residents who need more than typically is offered in a clinical office. She also is advancing the use of video appointments and online chat to support health, according to Kaiser.
As COO, she leads all clinical operations, encompassing 36 medical offices, 20 dental offices and two hospitals.
Watson earned a master’s degree in public health from Portland State University and is certified in Lean Six Sigma process improvement methodologies. She completed a fellowship with the Health Care Advisory Board and is a Malcolm Baldrige executive fellow.
MatrixCare appoints Dheeraj Mahajan, M.D., chief medical officer, executive vice president
Dheeraj Mahajan, M.D., MBA, MPH, has joined long-term care software company MatrixCare as chief medical officer and executive vice president.
He joins MatrixCare with more than 15 years of experience as a practicing physician. Mahajan’s areas of research interest include antimicrobial stewardship, quality measures, health information exchange and interoperability.
Mahajan is president and CEO of Chicago Internal Medicine Practice and Research (CIMPAR, SC) and leads its affiliated group of companies. He will remain in those roles.
Mahajan also is a clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago and an attending physician in the Loyola University affiliated geriatrics fellowship program at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital. Board-certified in internal medicine and geriatric medicine, he is a fellow of American College of Physicians, a certified medical director, a certified physician adviser in utilization review and healthcare quality management, and certified in infection control and epidemiology.
Mahajan received his MBA with a concentration in entrepreneurship and his Master of Public Health degree in health policy analysis from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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