Lidia Panayotova joins Cadence Living as assistant controller

Lidia Panayotova has joined Scottsdale, AZ-based Cadence Living as assistant controller. In this role, she will oversee the accounting and financial reporting functions for several of Cadence’s communities as well as work on general corporate accounting matters.  

Before joining Cadence, Panayotova was a senior finance accountant for Kitchell Corp., a Phoenix-based general contractor and property manager, was a senior project finance accountant with Walton Development and Management, and also worked in the accounting department for KB Homes.

A licensed CPA, she earned her undergraduate degree in global business and a certificate in accountancy from Arizona State University.

Cadence Living develops, owns and/or operates independent living, assisted living and memory care communities in California, Arizona and Colorado and is expanding in the South and West.

Adam Manchester named campus executive director at Benchmark’s New Pond Village

Adam Manchester has been appointed campus executive director at Benchmark Senior Living’s New Pond Village in Walpole, MA. He will oversee day-to-day operations.

Manchester has served the senior living industry his entire career since completing an undergraduate degree in business management at Westfield State University in 2000. In 2017, he earned the certified director of assisted living credential from the Senior Living Certification Commission.

Chris Golen, Benchmark’s regional director of operations, said the timing of Manchester joining the New Pond Village team is perfect.

“Adam comes to New Pond Village with an extensive background in senior living. He has been with Benchmark for several years,” Golen said. “We look forward to having Adam lead the New Pond Village team at this exciting time; the renovations are complete, and the new memory care neighborhood featuring Benchmark’s Mind and Memory approach programming has been open for a few months.”

Construction of the memory care neighborhood was part of Benchmark’s $8 million investment in New Pond Village, which also included an expansion of its independent and assisted living services.

Annika DiNovi named executive director at Parkshore

Annika DiNovi has been named executive director at Parkshore, a 15-story continuing care retirement community in Seattle that was the first community developed by Transforming Age (formerly Presbyterian Retirement Communities Northwest).

DiNovi has more than 10 years of nonprofit senior living leadership experience. Most recently, she was the director of operations for Crista Senior Living, a multi-site CCRC in Shoreline and Silverdale, WA.

She earned an undergraduate degree in psychology from Trinity Western University and a Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology from Northwest University. Her work in the field of aging began 10 years ago as a social worker supporting older adults who were facing difficult life transitions.

DiNovi is coming aboard at an integral moment in Parkshore’s history. The 55-year old high-rise is undergoing a $30 million renovation designed to upgrade common areas and create new amenities that are important to current residents and older adults of the future.

Joseph Ferraro joins Watercrest St. Lucie West as executive chef

Joseph Ferraro is now executive chef at Watercrest St. Lucie West, a Watercrest Senior Living Group assisted living and memory care community in Port St. Lucie, FL.

Ferraro brings more than 13 years of diverse culinary experience in restaurants, hotels, private club and healthcare venues to his new position. He is a graduate of Western Connecticut State University and the Culinary Institute of America.

“I joined Watercrest to make a difference in the lives of our elders and to be part of a team revolutionizing the senior living industry with exceptional standards of care,” Ferraro said. “I’m passionate about creating recipes which spark memories for our residents: the sizzling of eggs on the flattop, the aroma of sautéed bacon and the familiarity of Mom’s meatballs in fresh tomato sauce — these simple actions in cuisine can transport our elders back to special moments in time.”

Robert Atchley joins Golden West’s board of directors

Robert Atchley recently joined the board of directors at Golden West, a nonprofit independent and assisted senior living community in Boulder, CO.

Atchley has studied retirement and aging since the 1960s, when he earned a doctorate in sociology from American University in Washington, D.C. He is a professor emeritus of gerontology at Miami University in Oxford, OH, where he directed the Scripps Gerontology Center for 24 years, as well as the former gerontology department chairman at Naropa University in Boulder.

“I understand the financial and social sides of retirement, and I joined the Golden West board of directors so I could utilize my talents while serving seniors,” he said. “I want to do some good for my community.”

Also an author, Atchley’s recent works include “Social Forces and Aging” and “Spirituality and Aging,” which received a Richard Kalish Innovation Publication Award from the Gerontological Society of America. His current works focus on spiritual development, wisdom and service as vital frontiers of personal growth in the second half of life.

Atchley is a member of the Gerontological Society of America and was named fellow of the society in 1974. He also is a member of the American Society on Aging, where he previously served as president.

Golden West owns and operates The Towers, independent apartments and The Mezzanine, an assisted living community. Golden West is home to more than 360 seniors of various income levels.

“I’m interested in the future of Golden West,” Atchley said. “They are doing exciting things in how they finance low-income housing for seniors, and I want to make Golden West a more viable organization that can serve as a case study of sorts. There are a lot of nonprofit communities that could learn from Golden West.”

Jacques Rebibo joins Envoy America as vice president of sales

Jacques Rebibo has joined Envoy America, a national ride-sharing service for seniors and the infirm, as vice president of sales. In this newly created position, he will be responsible for operationalizing the company’s vision, guiding current and new market expansion, and maintaining the company’s customer service.

Envoy America offers door-to-door service, wherein drivers transport and also provide assistance at all points along the older adult’s journey, from pushing a grocery cart to escorting clients to and from medical appointments. All drivers undergo specialized training. The Dementia Society of America has awarded Envoy America the distinctive Dementia SMART Award.

The company currently serves older adults in states, 12 major cities and 68 other cities.

“The addition of a VP of sales at this stage in our company’s journey is indicative of how fast we’ve grown, and I’m energized by all of the opportunities that lie ahead for us to innovate, forge partnerships and make inroads into new markets,” Envoy America CEO K. C. Kanaan said. “Jacques is a thoughtful, focused and hands-on leader, and we look forward to his guidance as we continue to scale our business.”

Rebibo brings to his new role experience in sales and marketing and operations improvement. He joins Envoy America after serving as CEO for TCCIT Solutions, an IT solutions provider. Before that, he was CEO of Aquodet, where he led all corporate functions of the company’s startup financial business segment. Before Aquodet, Rebibo worked in business development for ClosingGuard.com, where he handled all elements of the sales cycle for the mortgage origination internet startup.

Rebibo earned an MBA from Boston University.

Envoy America is partners with Surpass Senior Living, the American Cancer Society, American Medical Response/Access 2 Care. The company welcomes inquiries from assisted living communities and other organizations.

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