Send your personnel news to Lois Bowers at [email protected].

The Springs Living names Brenda Connelly president 

Brenda Connelly headshot
Brenda Connelly

Brenda Connelly has been promoted to president of McMinnville, OR-based The Springs Living, which operates 18 senior living communities in Oregon and Montana.

A 2022 inductee into the McKnight’s Women of Distinction Hall of Honor, Connelly has held the role of chief operating officer since August 2020, effectively leading the company-wide COVID-19 response while working closely with statewide organizations. Prior to her tenure as COO, Connelly was the company’s chief quality officer. In that role, she developed and implemented a comprehensive, company-wide quality program that The Springs Living says led to improved clarity of quality standards, resources, compliance and resident satisfaction. 

Connelly started her career in long-term care as a water girl in a skilled nursing facility when she was 16.

Franciscan Ministries appoints Regina Umanskiy new president and CEO

Regina Umanskiy headshot
Regina Umanskiy

Regina Umanskiy has been named president and CEO of Lemont, IL-based Franciscan Ministries. She will oversee all aspects of the ministry, including Franciscan Communities, Franciscan Advisory Services and the philanthropic efforts of Madonna Foundation and St. Jude House.

Umanskiy brings to the position more than two decades of leadership experience in the senior living industry. Most recently, she was vice president of operations and integrated solutions for Senior Lifestyle Corp. in Chicago. There, she oversaw a 2,100-bed portfolio of nine communities across six states, consisting of skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, independent living, assisted living and memory care.

Heritage Ministries names Danielle Bozich chief human resources officer 

Danielle Bozich headshot
Danielle Bozich

Danielle Bozich, SHRM-SCP, MBA, has been named chief human resources officer at Gerry, NY-based Heritage Ministries. She formerly was vice president of human resources.

As CHRO, Danielle will be responsible for oversight and management of the HR structure of the organization, including retention, benefits, recruiting, training, coaching, employee development, policy and developing and executing HR strategy in support of the company’s overall business plan and corporate culture.

Prior to joining Heritage, Bozich worked throughout western New York in human resources administration. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and legal studies at the State University of New York at Fredonia and an MBA at Canisius College. Additionally, she is certified in executive coaching and is a SHRM-SCP senior certified human resources professional. 

Bozich is a board member at the Health Sciences Charter School in Buffalo, NY, and a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and the National Human Resources Association.

American Healthcare REIT promotes Gabriel Willhite to chief operating officer

Gabriel Willhite has been promoted to chief operating officer of Irvine, CA-based American Healthcare REIT, a self-managed, publicly registered real estate investment trust.

His “keen acumen for navigating complex transactional and operational matters for the company” made him “an invaluable member of our executive management team,” over the past six years, President and CEO Danny Prosky said.

Willhite’s skill set includes healthcare real estate operations, real estate transactions and legal judgment. He has been involved in the management and oversight of the company’s largest investments and transactions, including serving on the board of Trilogy Investors since 2020 and negotiating the transaction that formed American Healthcare REIT in 2021.

CareTrust REIT promotes James Callister to executive vice president

James Callister has been promoted to the position of executive vice president of San Clemente, CA-based CareTrust REIT. He has been with the company since 2021, when he joined as general counsel.

Callister’s primary focus is working with the company’s acquisitions team to structure and negotiate new equity and debt investments. The real estate investment trust said he has been an integral part of the company’s legal and corporate functions, asset and portfolio management matters, and tenant relationships.

Since 2008, Callister has worked almost exclusively on healthcare REIT transactions, closing on acquisitions or financings of more than 300 skilled nursing facilities and independent living and other senior living communities. The transactions have involved the investment of more than $2.5 billion across 35 states, CareTrust REIT said. 

Dominion Senior Living welcomes Karole Hamilton as new executive director

Karole Hamilton headshot
Karole Hamilton

Karole Hamilton has joined Dominion Senior Living of Frankfort, Frankfort, KY, as the new executive director. The community offers personal care, memory care and respite care.

Hamilton brings more than 25 years of multi-state experience in healthcare to the role, having served as an executive director and operations consultant for large-scale assisted living communities, continuing care retirement communities and other types of senior living communities.

Before her career in senior living, she worked in healthcare as a radiation therapist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, focusing on lung and breast cancers.

Watercrest Macon names Nat Watkins as executive director

Nat Watkins has been named executive director of Watercrest Macon assisted living and memory care community in Macon, GA, which celebrated its grand opening in January.

Holding titles of business owner, mortgage banker and restaurateur until entering the senior living industry in 2011, Watkins began his career in senior living as a director of food and beverage and marketing director before his move to the executive director position.

Harvest of Roanoke welcomes new executive director, Ruth Cherop

Ruth Cherop headshot
Ruth Cherop

Ruth Cherop has been hired as executive director of Harvest of Roanoke, Civitas Senior Living assisted living and memory care community in Texas. She previously was executive director at a Civitas community in Weatherford, TX. 

Cherop has worked in the senior living industry since 2007. She holds an MBA in healthcare administration and management and is a certified director of assisted living.

Heron’s Key welcomes new executive director, Katelynn Houck 

Katelynn Houck headshot
Katelynn Houck

Katelynn Houck has been selected as the new executive director of Heron’s Key, a life plan community sponsored by Emerald Communities in Gig Harbor, WA.

Houck began her career in senior living in 2008 as a certified nursing assistant. Through the years, she progressed to serve as a licensed nurse, registered nurse team leader, resident care manager, director of nursing services and assistant administrator. 

Not only does she have more than a decade of hands-on experience, Houck also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Western Governors University, and she is a licensed nursing home administrator. 

Nixon Peabody names Deborah VanAmerongen as deputy affordable housing and real estate leader

Deborah VanAmerongen has been named Nixon Peabody LLP’s deputy leader of national affordable housing and real estate practice. She will focus mainly on affordable housing policy and enabling the firm’s clients to have a positive effect in their communities.

VanAmerongen also will navigate transactions that require interaction with several governmental agencies and numerous funding sources. She will introduce clients to new opportunities and markets  that will build partnerships between clients and community groups.

VanAmerongen advises developers, owners, managers and funders, working with them to craft creative solutions for issues related to affordable housing development and preservation. Before joining Nixon Peabody in 2010, she was the commissioner of the New York state Division of Housing and Community Renewal. 

LeadingAge Minnesota welcomes Dan Nelson as director of community engagement

Dan Nelson has joined LeadingAge Minnesota as director of community engagement. He will focus on engaging with members and connecting them to decision-makers.

The director of community engagement is a new role on LeadingAge Minnesota’s advocacy team, designed to foster quality connections with elected officials, candidates for office and the community. Nelson will work to continue LeadingAge’s grassroots advocacy efforts with the goal of expanding its network of advocates.

Previously, Nelson was the director of advancement and community engagement for the Domestic Abuse Project, leading the organization’s fundraising and growth strategy efforts. He has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector and has worked on several local campaigns. He serves on the board of directors for New Vision Foundation, creating pathways for Minnesota youth to build skills and careers in the tech world.

WelcomeHome Software appoints Derek Bambach senior product manager 

Derek Bambach headshot
Derek Bambach

Derek Bambach has been named senior product manager at WelcomeHome Software, a customer relationship management system company for the senior housing industry.

With more than 20 years of experience building technology tools, Bambach held positions at Dell Technologies Virtustream, Incentive Solutions and SunTrust before joining WelcomeHome. His management initiatives, combined with his development skills in UX design and information architecture, have contributed to the alignment of businesses with market needs, new product launches and growth and retention efforts.

PMD Advisory Services promotes Rita Lacy chief operations officer

Rita Lacy has been promoted to chief operating officer of PMD Advisory Services.

Lacy joined PMD in 2015 as a vice president of market analysis. In her new role, she will work to uphold the company’s top priority: to deliver insights and analyses that are actionable, relevant and accurate.

Lacy’s 25 years of experience includes a broad range of management exposure in market feasibility analysis, consumer research, marketing, sales and operations.

PMD provides insight to clients through market feasibility studies, advisory services, consumer research and planning support services.

Lincoln Healthcare announces Jeanette Flom as chief operations officer

Jeanett Flom has joined Lincoln Healthcare as chief operations officer, where she will oversee strategic and operational aspects of the company and serve as managing director for its Senior Living 100 and Home Care 100 conferences. 

Flom has a 20-year background in management and healthcare. Most recently, she was senior vice president at AVIA, where she led a network of C-suite health system executives. Prior to that, she was a division vice president at the American Diabetes Association, where she brought C-suite executives, elected officials and other stakeholders together in an effort to improve the lives of people living with diabetes.

LeadingAge Florida honors Plymouth Harbor CEO Harry Hobson with Lifetime Achievement Award

Harry Hobson accepts award
Harry Hobson, left, receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from LeadingAge Florida Board Chair Bruce Jones.

Harry Hobson, CEO Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay, has been honored by LeadingAge Florida with its Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the association’s most prestigious awards.

The award is presented to an employee whose work and dedication has demonstrated significant and transformative leadership in aging services. The recipient must be someone who has made remarkable contributions and has positively affected the field.

“During his two decades at Plymouth Harbor, he has earned a place among the most revered senior living leaders in Florida, and we are thrilled and honored to recognize him with this award,” LeadingAge Florida President and CEO Steve Bahmer said.

Massachusetts Assisted Living Association honors Nancy E. Moore with Lifetime Achievement Award

Nancy E. Moore has been selected as the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award winner by the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association. She has served the state’s older adults for more than four decades.

Throughout her career, Moore has served in executive leadership roles for multiple major assisted living providers, managing large operating budgets and guiding hundreds of staff members. In 2002, she started her own consulting company, Atlantic Retirement Group, where she helped guide providers in developing and managing senior house communities.  

Moore has been involved in 40 start-up communities and since 2011 has been supporting older adults as executive director of assisted living and adult day programs at Beth Israel Lahey Health Continuing Care.

The award will be presented today at the organization’s annual Excellence Awards Dinner.

Send your personnel news to Lois Bowers at [email protected]. High-quality color headshots are welcome but not required.