Editor’s Note: McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News are profiling the McKnight’s 2021 Women of Distinction honorees daily July 6 through Aug. 9. To see the 2021 McKnight’s 2021 Women of Distinction awards ceremony, register for free here. For additional profiles of McKnight’s Women of Distinction, visit this page.
Terri Cunliffe has held various positions across the country in long-term care — all for the same company.
She started out as an administrator of assisted living in Florida for Covenant Living Communities. Now, she is the CEO of the Skokie, IL-based faith-based organization. In between those roles, she served in executive director, executive vice president, chief operating officer and various other vice president positions.
Throughout her career, Cunliffe has contributed numerous innovations to Covenant’s departments in the form of technology and strategy. For example, she created and implemented LifeConnect, an engagement and wellness program. She also implemented SAIDO, a memory care program created by Japan’s Kumon Institute of Education.
Cunliffe also has introduced strategies on the business side. She initiated Inspired to Serve, a customer service program that Senior Vice President of Human Resources Michelle Kozloski called “the definition of what service means to Covenant Living’s employees and residents.”
In addition to providing new ways to put Covenant at the forefront of the long-term care industry, Cunliffe prioritizes leadership development for front-line supervisors and senior-level leaders. She herself serves in multiple long-term care association leadership roles, including the LeadingAge of Florida board and the LeadingAge national board. She also has been featured as a speaker for national conferences held by specialty investment bank Ziegler and LeadingAge national and state associations.
Colleagues of Cunliffe say that her kind heart and strong faith are among her formidable attributes. Her passion for the work is obvious, demonstrated by her ability to personally relate to each resident and employee, they note.
The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. The program’s Diamond sponsor is PointClickCare, and the Roundtable Sponsor is Paycor.
