Send your personnel news to Lois Bowers at [email protected].
![Gottfried Ernst headshot](https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/01/Gottfried-Ernst.jpg)
Cogir Senior Living appoints Gottfried Ernst chief operating officer
Gottfried Ernst has been named the new chief operating officer at Sacramento, CA-based Cogir Senior Living.
He joins the Cogir team from Discovery Senior Living Management, bringing more than 20 years of experience within the senior living and hospitality industries. Prior to his tenure at Discovery, he held executive leadership roles at Brookdale Senior Living, Harbor Retirement Associates and Green Courte Partners. Ernst was inducted into Brookdale’s President Circle in 2005.
Cogir develops, owns and/or operates almost 70 senior living communities throughout the United States. Recognized as one of ASHA’s top 25 senior living providers. Ernst is joining the company about a year after its US operations marked a milestone with the acquisition of Cadence Living. The integration of the two entities was fully completed during 2023. The combined company now has more than 8,300 senior living units under management and/or development in the United States and is engaged in six new development projects. Additional growth in the United States is ongoing through management agreements and acquisitions.
![David Mercugliano hedshot](https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/Mercugliano_David_2023Headshot.jpg)
LCS names David Mercugliano VP of business development
David Mercugliano has been named the vice president of business development at Chicago-based LCS. In his new role, he will lead business development initiatives to expand management and development opportunities that grow top-line revenue for the LCS family of companies.
Mercugliano joined LCS in June as the director of business development for Care Purchasing Services. He has experience across the care continuum in executive leadership, operations management, strategy and business development.
![Dawn Wolda headshot](https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/Dawn-Wolda.jpg)
Silverado names Dawn Wolda national VP of sales for hospice, palliative care team
Dawn Wolda has been named the national vice president of sales for Silverado Hospice & Palliative Care, part of Irvine, CA-based memory care community operator Silverado.
Wolda comes to Silverado with a track record in hospice and home healthcare that spans more than 25 years. She previously was the senior vice president of sales at Choice Health at Home.
![Paige Mills-Haag hedshot](https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/Paige-Mills-Haag-e1702928991844.jpg)
Lutheran Social Ministries of Maryland names Paige Mills-Haag VP of philanthropy
Paige Mills-Haag has been named vice president of philanthropy at Lutheran Social Ministries of Maryland. She will spearhead the organization’s philanthropic efforts, including designing strategic and innovative philanthropic initiatives that advance the organization’s mission and overseeing charitable programs and initiatives in its life plan communities, Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster, MD, and Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant in Ellicott City, MD.
With more than 17 years of expertise in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership, Mills-Haag has held executive roles in two senior living communities. She earned an undergraduate degree in organizational leadership from Southern Nazarene University and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Association for Christian Fundraisers, formerly the Association of Lutheran Development Executives.
Watercrest adds Diana Chavis as executive director
Diana Chavis has been appointed executive director of Watercrest Columbia Assisted Living and Memory Care, Columbia, SC.
Chavis brings more than 40 years of healthcare experience to her role, holding a dual license in South Carolina as an assisted living and nursing home administrator as well as being a licensed preceptor for long-term care. She has been an executive director of continuing care retirement communities and was CEO for several inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in Indiana and South Carolina. Additionally, she previously was a director in compliance, skilled nursing, acute care and outpatient rehabilitation for a healthcare system in South Carolina.
![Helayne Scheier headshot](https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/Helayne-Scheier.jpg)
Waterstone of Westchester names Helayne Scheier senior adviser
Helayne Scheier has been named senior adviser at Waterstone of Westchester, White Plains, NY.
She will be responsible for all aspects of internal and external sales and marketing. She also will build relationships with families, clients and prospective families within the community and referral sources.
Scheier has more than 18 years of experience in the senior living industry.
Ageless Innovation hires new chief marketing officer, appoints two more to leadership positions
Ageless Innovation has promoted cofounder Meghan Gamboa to chief marketing officer. Additinally, Celica Costantino has been hired as vice president of retail, and Khadijah Lewis has been named senior director of healthcare.
Gamboa most recently was the company’s senior vice president of marketing and retail sales. Before co-founding Ageless Innovation, she spent 15 years on the marketing team at toy and game company Hasbro.
Constantino has more than two decades of experience in the consumer product goods industry. Most recently, she was senior national sales manager at Funko.
Lewis has more than a decade of experience across home care, business development, operations and product development.
Glenmeadow announces new board leadership, members
Glenmeadow, Longmeadow, MA, recently elected new leadership and new members to its board of directors.
Michael Tremble, chief executive officer of Valley Communications, will serve as chair. Kelly Koch, probate and family law attorney with Raipher, will serve as vice chair. Erin Koebler, executive director of the East Longmeadow Council on Aging, will serve as clerk. Retired banking executive Mary Meehan serves as treasurer.
The board of directors also welcomed three new members: Barbara Buddington, Glenmeadow resident; Rory O’Brien, vice president, chief compliance officer and assistant portfolio manager with Schwerin Boyle Capital Management; and Meredith Wise, retired president of the Employers Association of New England.
![Nick Van Der Linden headshot](https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/Nick-Van-Der-Linden.jpg)
LeadingAge Florida promotes Nick Van Der Linden to senior director of operations
Nick Van Der Linden has been promoted to the position of senior director of operations at LeadingAge Florida.
He also will continue the responsibilities he formerly had as the organization’s director of communications, now overseeing the day-to-day operations and communication functions and collaborating with stakeholders to ensure that the organization’s goals are met.
He earned undergraduate and master’s degrees in communications from Auburn University.
![Kasey Anderson headshot](https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/Kasey-Anderson.jpg)
LeadingAge Florida promotes Kasey Anderson to director of administrative services and executive support
Kasey Anderson has been promoted to the position of director of administrative services and executive support at LeadingAge Florida. She most recently served as the association’s executive assistant.
In her new role, Anderson will oversee administrative services critical to the smooth operation of the association. She also is expected to play a pivotal role in providing executive support, managing key administrative priorities and executing strategic projects.
She is a graduate of Emory University.
ATI Advisory adds Brian Fuller as managing director
Brian Fuller has been named managing director at ATI Advisory. He will lead the firm’s value-based care design and delivery practice.
Enseo announces new Senior Living Advisory Committee
Enseo has formed a Senior Living Advisory Committee to help explore the current technology challenges communities are facing and potential areas of growth where technology can positively influence the resident experience as well as community operations.
The committee will meet regularly to provide feedback on experiences, best practices and future technology needs as communities work to meet expectations of seniors. Committee members:
- Brad Adams, vice president of IT, Merrill Gardens
- Albert Castaneda, chief development officer, Arete Living
- Susie Finley, principal, Ascent Living Communities
- Jon Kelter Gehrig, director, research and analytics, ISL Ventures
- Gary White, president, GCW Consulting
Send your personnel news to Lois Bowers at [email protected]. High-quality color headshots are welcome but not required.