Sue Verdegem named CEO at United Zion Retirement Community

Sue Verdegem has been named CEO at United Zion Retirement Community in Lititz, PA.

Verdegem has more than three decades of experience in the non-profit, faith-based, senior-living sector. She previously served as senior executive vice president of finance and administration at Tel Hai Retirement Community.

Verdegem was the 2014 recipient of the Professional Development Award from LeadingAge PA and has served on numerous boards of directors in senior care, including CARE and FTH Services.

She has an MBA degree from Alvernia College, an undergraduate degree in business administration and accounting from Franklin and Marshall College and is a licensed nursing home administrator.

Michael Stoner named director of general services at Integrace Fairhaven

Michael Stoner has been named director of general services at Integrace Fairhaven, an Integrace life plan community in Sykesville, MD.

In his new role, Stoner provides leadership and vision for the community’s maintenance, laundry, housekeeping, transportation, grounds and security departments.

Stoner brings more than 30 years of experience developing buildings and programs in senior living communities to his new position. He most recently was the director of facilities and construction at the United Zion Retirement Community in Lititz, PA, and previously was the corporate director of facilities and construction for SpiriTrust Lutheran in York, PA.

Ke’o Velasquez named director of hospitality at HarborChase of the Park Cities

Ke’o Velasquez has been named director of hospitality at HarborChase of the Park Cities, a new Harbor Retirement Associates community of luxury senior residences in Dallas.

Velasquez brings 18 years of experience to the role, having worked across the country at various restaurants and hotels, including Dallas-based Urbano Café, Hotel ZaZa and most recently the Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas. He has held the title of executive chef at Ferre, Kitchen 1924 and Classic Residence by Hyatt.

Velasquez has an associate degree in applied sciences with an emphasis in culinary studies from Hawaii Community College and is a certified dietary manager.

Tim Murray joins board of directors of Dementia Alliance of North Carolina

Tim Murray has joined the board of directors of Dementia Alliance of North Carolina.

Murray is the president and co-founder of Aware Senior Care, an in-home care services company in Cary, NC.

“I’ve admired the work of the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina for a long time, and I am honored to play a part in bringing greater awareness, support, and resources for families in our community struggling with this disease,” he said.

Murray co-founded Aware Senior Care in 2015. In 2017, Aware Senior Care won both the Cary Chamber of Commerce “Small Business of the Year” award as well as the Cary “Small Business Excellence Award.”

Christopher Utz joins Ziegler’s corporate finance team

National specialty investment bank Ziegler has added Christopher Utz as a director to its corporate finance team specializing in proprietary senior living.

Utz will work in the New York office, focusing on complex structured senior housing transactions, including debt and equity transactions, financial advisory and mergers and acquisitions.

Over the course of his career, Utz has been responsible for a variety of financings and advisory transactions. He has completed more than 30 corporate finance and private equity related transactions totaling more than $3 billion in aggregate deal value.

Before joining Ziegler, he was a managing director at Pinta Capital Partners, where he was responsible for transaction sourcing, deal execution and the monitoring of portfolio companies. Specifically, he managed the firm’s senior housing investment portfolio, with more than 1,400 beds in the Northeast.

In addition, Utz has held corporate finance and banking positions with CIT, Greystone, Fifth Street Finance Corp.’s Healthcare Finance Group, BNY Mellon and Merrill Lynch.

Send personnel news to Senior Editor Lois A. Bowers. Please include a high-quality photo.