Darin Leonardson, formerly of Google, takes over culinary operations at Blake Management Group
Former Google General Manager and Executive Chef Darin Leonardson has joined Blake Management Group as the company’s new vice president of culinary operations, bringing with him 25 years in the hospitality industry.
The independently owned senior living operator has a total of 14 communities in seven states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. BMG primarily focuses on assisted living and memory care but also manages approximately 300 independent living units.
At Google, Leonardson spent four years managing more than 60 employees and running kitchens in five different buildings across the corporate campus. Prior to his time at Google, Leonardson was vice president of Rapid Recovery Centers, focusing on the healing aspects of food for multiple post-acute transitional care facilities throughout Texas.
Leonardson’s career also has included positions as director of hospitality at Golden Living Centers, overseeing more than 300 properties and serving more than 60,000 meals daily; corporate food and beverage manager at One Eighty, a Leisure Care company with 38 properties around the world; and executive chef at The Bellettini, a Leisure Care property in Bellevue, WA.
He also was executive chef for a variety of restaurants in Washington state, including Toi, The Bellevue Club Hotel and Elliott’s Oyster House. Additionally, Leonardson has been featured as a celebrity guest chef on several voyages for Holland America’s Cruise Line.
Leonardson is a graduate of South Seattle Community College’s culinary and applied science program and earned an undergraduate degree in organizational management from Ashford University.
Paul Hansen named director of marketing at Legend Senior Living
Paul Hansen has been hired as director of marketing for Wichita, KS-based Legend Senior Living. He will oversee all marketing functions for the organization, including developing, implementing and managing marketing initiatives; providing marketing direction to local communities to build sales locally; and driving the marketing strategy.
The marketing department is tasked with building and maintaining the Legend brand in local markets and nationally, improving Legend’s digital presence and supporting the sales function. The privately held senior housing and services company owns and operates 40 residences, spanning independent living, assisted living, memory care and personal care in six states: Florida, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.
Hansen has more two decades of experience in marketing, advertising, corporate communication and branding in multiple sectors. Before joining Legend, he was global marketing director for Bunting Magnetics, an industrial equipment manufacturer based in Newton, KS. Prior to that, he was director of marketing for capital enterprises, leading marketing efforts for franchised restaurant brands, and marketing director for Big Dog Motorcycles, which specializes in high-performance, on-road cruisers.
Frank Beech named executive director at Ingleside at Rock Creek
Frank Beech has been named the new executive director at Ingleside at Rock Creek, a continuing care retirement community in Washington, D.C., and one of the three not-for-profit communities operated by Ingleside.
Before joining Ingleside, Beech served as executive director at Dunwoody Village for seven years. There, he was responsible for the strategic management of all medical and facilities operations, including more than 300 employees and 10 departments with an annual operating budget of $20 million. He also has experience serving as an administrator for Audubon Villa, The Middletown Home and Waverly Heights.
Beech is an honorably discharged veteran who served more than nine years in the U.S. Air Force. He holds a master’s degree in organizational development and leadership from Saint Joseph’s University and an undergraduate degree from Temple University.
His has certifications as a facilities management professional, senior certified professional in human resources, healthcare compliance, certified compliance and an ethics professional. Additionally, he has a nursing home administrator license and a personal care/assisted living operator qualification.
Nicole Eison named fitness manager at Highland Springs
Nicole Eison has been hired as fitness manager at Highland Springs, an Erickson Living continuing care retirement community in Dallas.
In her new role, Eison will oversee individual and group instruction in the community’s on-site fitness and aquatics centers. The fitness center staff, part of the Resident Life Department, also conducts wellness programs for employees throughout the year.
Eison brings 10 years of experience in the fitness and wellness field to her new role. She has an undergraduate degree in applied exercise science from Springfield College in Massachusetts.
A member of the American College of Sports Medicine, Eison is a certified personal trainer. She also is also a certified spinning instructor through Spinning and is certified by the Athletics and Fitness Association of America in primary group exercise.
Barbara Wolf named vice president, philanthropy, at the NHP Foundation
Barbara W. Wolf has been named vice president, philanthropy, at the NHP Foundation. She will lead fundraising efforts for the foundation and its affiliate, Operation Pathways.
Headquartered in New York City with offices in Washington, D.C., and Chicago, The NHP Foundation is not-for-profit real estate corporation is dedicated to preserving and creating sustainable, service-enriched multifamily housing that is both affordable to low and moderate income families and seniors, and beneficial to their communities.
Wolf brings more 25 years of fundraising, program management and advocacy experience to the new role. Former positions include vice president of development for the National Apartment Association Education Institute, vice president of advancement for the MedicAlert Foundation, senior vice president for United Way National Capital Area, and senior vice president of jobs for America’s Graduates.
Wolf is a graduate of Virginia Tech.
Vince Naughton joins Eldermark as director of digital strategy and insights
Vince Naughton has been named director of digital strategy and insights at Minnetonka, MN-based senior housing software company Eldermark. Naughton will be responsible for driving the customer experience strategy and business intelligence reporting and analytics.
Naughton joins Eldermark with more than 25 years of experience in digital marketing and marketing technology, including work for organizations such as Oracle and E2 Communications.
Chip Angenendt appointed as principal in charge of senior living projects at Current Builders
Chip Angenendt has been hired as the principal in charge of key senior living projects, including Allegro Senior Living in Parkland, FL, and Sunrise Senior Living in Boynton Beach, FL, for general contractor Current Builders, based in Pompano Beach, FL.
Angenendt, who has 43 years of experience in the industry, also has been selected to coordinate the firm’s expansion to the west coast of Florida, which will begin late this year.
Angenendt was a vice president/district manager for Current Builders from 2004 to 2011 before moving to Jacksonville, FL, where he held the position of director of construction management for Sauer Inc.
2018 Influencers in Aging list contains familiar faces
Next Avenue, a nonprofit journalism outfit supported by Twin Cities PBS, has named 12 Influencers in Aging for 2018, and some named may be familiar to readers of McKnight’s Senior Living:
- Anne Tumlinson, founder of Daughterhood and Anne Tumlinson Innovations, a frequent speaker at senior housing and care meetings and McKnight’s Senior Living contributor.
- Sara Zeff Geber, retirement adviser and author of “Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers.” Read the guest column she wrote for McKnight’s Senior Living: “Are you ready for the Solo Agers?”
- Catherine Collinson, CEO and president of the Transamerica Institute and its Center for Retirement Studies. See the McKnight’s Senior Living article about her testimony before the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
- Dominic Campbell, co-founder of Creative Aging International.
- Peter Gosselin, investigative reporter at ProPublica.
- Tom Kamber, founder and executive director of Older Adults Technology Services/Senior Planet.
- Jeanne Kelly, founder and artistic director at Encore.
- Rajiv Mehta, founder and CEO of Atlas of Caregiving.
- Jamie Mitchell, assistant professor of social work at the University of Michigan.
- Janet Oh, director of the Gen2Gen Encore Prize.
- Christina Soriano, director of the dance program at Wake Forest University.
- Rudy Tanzi, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School.
See the above link for additional information on the honorees.
Dora Howard named Oregon Health Care Association’s Administrator of the Year
Dora Howard, executive director for Pioneer Village, a Radiant Senior Living community in Jacksonville, OR, has been named the Administrator of the Year for Community Based Care by the Oregon Health Care Association. She will receive the award today during the Oregon Health Care Association’s annual convention.
The awards recognize the achievements and commitments of facility administrators and executive directors whose leadership has improved their facilities overall and who demonstrate outstanding innovation, achievement and a high standard of ethical behavior in their provision of high-quality person-centered care.
Over the course of eight years at Pioneer Village, Howard has gained experienced in several areas of community-based care, working as a caregiver, med tech, activities director, dining room supervisor, assistant administrator and executive director. She was honored with the 2017 Radiance Award from parent company Radiant Senior Living for her dedication to care and excellence in exhibiting the shared values of the company and its communities.
Send personnel news to Senior Editor Lois A. Bowers. Please include a high-quality color photo.
