Appointments, promotions and other news at Brookdale Senior Living; CareTrust REIT; The Courtyards at Mountain View; Cypress Cove; Juniper Village at Spicewood Summit; Laurel Circle; Morning Pointe Senior Living; The Watermark at Houston Heights; Wedgewood Investment Group; Winchester Gardens
Winchester Gardens announces new assistant executive director and administrator
David Weiner has joined Winchester Gardens, a Springpoint Life Plan Community, as the assistant executive director and administrator. He began this position on Nov. 1.
In this capacity, Weiner assists in the direction of the overall function of the company’s ongoing operations. This consists of planning and development in accordance with federal, state and local standards, buildings and regulations.
Cypress Cove announces promotion
Matt Lessing has been promoted to associate executive director of Cypress Cove, a continuing care retirement community based in Fort Myers, FL.
In this position, Lessig will have direct supervision of operations in the assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing areas. He will also work on projects and other assignments to help the executive director.
This is a newly-made role which Cypress Cove created in response to the company’s growth over the past couple of years.
The Courtyards at Mountain View welcome new memory care director
Michael James Flores has joined The Courtyards at Mountain View, Denver, CO, as the new memory care director, a newly created position.
Flores begins his role with a plethora of experience in senior living and has worked in the field since 2012. Prior to joining the company, he served as resident care coordinator at a Brookdale property. Before that, he was a memory care program coordinator for many years.
The community will reveal its opening date soon.
Juniper Village at Spicewood Summit welcomes Karen Taggert as team leader
Karen Taggert has joined Juniper Village at Spicewood Summit, Austin, TX, to lead the care and associate team.
The Watermark at Houston Heights hires two local culinary experts
The Watermark at Houston Heights, Houston, TX, has hired two local culinary experts for the positions of dining director and executive chef.
The community is projected to be completed in 2022 and is one of the five communities managed by Watermark Retirement Communities in its Élan Collection.
Carlos Sampson joins the company as dining director and Scott Mathes comes aboard as executive chef. Together, they will lead culinary direction across the community’s four on-site, chef-driven dining facilities.
As dining director, Sampson will be responsible for directing all culinary operations. He and Mathes will work together to develop daily and seasonal menus while closely working with nutritionists and dieticians to help create nutritious meal options tailored to each individual’s needs. Sampson will also oversee hiring, onboarding and staff training for the food preparation personnel. Both Sampson and Mathes will also make custom menus for the property opening and other events.
Prior to joining Watermark, Sampson worked for Hilton America Hotels where he oversaw banquet operations. He has over 28 years of food and beverage experience and has also held management positions at places such as Cordua Restaurants, the Pontchartrain Hotel and Harrah’s Casino.
Before he joined Watermark, Mathes served as executive chef at Hotel ICON in downtown Houston, TX. Prior to this, he also held a variety of executive chef roles at Galveston/Houston Archdiocese, Luby’s and Hilton Plaza Houston. He was also a member of the Texas Chefs Association as the certification chair for Houston.
Laurel Circle announces director of food and beverage services and chief of staff
Chester Page, CDM, CFPP, CALA, has been announced as the director of food and beverage services at Laurel Circle, Bridgewater, NJ. Will Patterson has been named executive chef.
Page enters this position with 22 years in the senior living field. Prior to joining the company, he was at Winchester Gardens, Maplewod, NJ, where he served as director and interim director of culinary services. He holds an assisted living administrator certification (CALA) from Longtree & Associates, as well as a dietary manager certification (CDM, CFPP) from Passaic Community College.
Patterson has 37 years of professional culinary experience, including cooking for three former presidents while working at the Hilton Raleigh North Hills.
CareTrust REIT announces that David Sedgwick will succeed Greg Stapley as CEO
On Dec. 10, the board of directors at CareTrust REIT, San Clemente, CA, announced the appointment of David Sedgwick as chief executive officer –– effective Jan. 1, 2022. He will succeed Greg Stapley, founding chairman and CEO. Stapley will continue to serve as the company’s executive chairman during a six-month transition period. The board has also announced the appointment of Diana M. Laing as lead independent director.
Sedgwick has been with the company since 2014 and currently serves as president and chief operating officer. He will retain his title as the company’s president. Before joining the company, Sedgwick served in many operational and leadership roles within The Ensign Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:ENSG), CareTrust’s predecessor, from 2001 to 2014.
Laing has been a member of CareTrust’s board of directors since January 2019 and serves on the audit, compensation and ESG committees of the board.
Morning Pointe Leadership announces 2021 Campus Excellence Awards
Morning Pointe Senior Living, Chattanooga, TN, has announced its 2021 Campus Excellence Awards, where seven of its senior living and Alzheimer’s memory care communities were honored at an annual conference for their dedication to residents and their families. Annually, Morning Pointe acknowledges top performing teams of caregivers, directors and customer service associates from its 35 communities in the Southeast region.
Morning Pointe corporate leadership presented executives from each of the winning communities with a plaque of recognition during this annual conference. The Kentucky-based Morning Pointe of Russell senior living campus was awarded the 2021 Community of the Year award for its leadership in providing phenomenal senior care. This award was accepted by Cheryl Stephens and Tammy Muffley, executive directors of the facility.
Other honors presented:
- The Morning Pointe Foundation Award was presented to Morning Pointe of Athens, TN. Crystal Sutton is the executive director of this facility.
- The Fiscal Responsibility Award was presented to Morning Pointe of Powell, TN, where Leslee Wilkinson serves as the executive director.
- The Associate Satisfaction Award was presented to Morning Pointe of Hixson, TN, where Robin Jackson is the executive director.
- The Operational Achievement Award was presented to The Lantern at Morning Pointe of Spring Hill Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence, TN. Heidi Wolaver serves as the executive director at this community.
- The Chairman’s Award was presented to Morning Pointe of Tuscaloosa, AL, where Kendra Martin serves as executive director.
Nashville Health Care Council chooses Brookdale’s chief nursing officer for its Class of 2022 Fellows Program
Kim Elliott, RN, chief nursing officer at Brookdale Senior Living, Nashville, TN, has been selected as a member of the Nashville Health Care Coucil’s (NHCC) Class of 2022 Fellows Program.
Elliott will join an elite cohort of other senior executives based in Nashville for a five-month intensive program with a customized curriculum created for influential leaders of healthcare as they continue to shape the future of the industry.
Her selection as a member of the NHCC Class of 2022 Fellows Program also increases Brookdale Senior Living’s presence with the NHCC, where Baier serves on the executive committee and board of directors as vice chair.
Elliott is also a 2019 McKnight’s Woman of Distinction Hall of Honor Inductee.
Wedgewood Investment Group platform welcomes Mike Wpirovski as managing director
Mike Spirovski has joined Wedgewood Investment Group platform as the new managing director.
Spirovski has over 15 years of experience and joins the company with structured full capital stack solutions for clients nationwide. This includes acquisitions, construction financing and equity partnerships.
In this position, Spirovski will also have both a local and national focus on tailoring debt and equity solutions.