Janine Witte promoted to vice president of sales at Senior Lifestyle
Janine Witte has been promoted to vice president of sales at Chicago-based Senior Lifestyle. She joined Senior Lifestyle in 2016 as national director of sales.
“During her tenure, Janine has been highly influential in the creation of sales analytic reports, she has created and developed stronger partnerships with the regionals and vice presidents in order to provide better support to our communities, and she has been instrumental with partnering with our training department on the implementation of the sales training module,” Senior Lifestyle President and Chief Executive Officer Jon DeLuca said. “In her new role, Janine will continue to lead her team and expand her focus on strategic development and initiatives, which will have a favorable impact on the communities’ occupancies and revenue.”
Witte is a former independent insurance agent specializing in annuities and long-term-care insurance. She moved into a sales role in a senior housing community in 2011.
Kevin Pinson named director at Abbott Senior Living
Kevin Pinson has been named the new director at Abbott Senior Living, Zanesville, OH.
A 22-year resident of Zanesville, Pinson is a 1992 graduate of Ohio University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in journalism with a minor in psychology.
Tuscan Gardens of Palm Coast announces two hires
Jennifer Rogers, RN, has been named the community’s health and wellness director, and April Weems has been appointed community relations director at the new Tuscan Gardens of Palm Coast independent living, assisted living and memory care community in Florida.
Weems formerly worked in event-planning and marketing roles for not-for-profit organizations such as Susan G. Komen, Partners in Education and, most recently, Meals on Wheels.
Tuscan Gardens of Palm Coast began accepting residents in December and will host a grand opening celebration Feb. 21.
Misty Brake promoted to corporate sales specialist at Legend Senior Living
Misty Brake has been promoted to corporate sales specialist at Wichita, KS-based Legend Senior Living.
Brake has 15 years of experience in the industry, beginning in life enrichment. She has been with Legend since 2017 as director of sales and marketing for Park West Plaza in Wichita.
In her new role, Brake will develop sales strategy for individual communities; onboard, coach, mentor and train new hires; and work to improve communication and sales processes.
Tia Stokes named director of wellness at Juniper Village at Lebanon
Tia Stokes has been appointed director of wellness at the independent and personal care community of Juniper Village at Lebanon in Lebanon, PA.
In this position, she will oversee clinical and medical programs for the residents, ensure adherence to laws and regulations, and work with the other associates to ensure that Juniper residents receive the highest level of care.
Stokes has many years of experience in elder care, including several years at Juniper Village at Mount Joy, PA. She worked as a certified nursing assistant beginning in 1992 and became a registered nurse in 2018. She is pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing through Millersville University, Millersville, PA. She also has a certificate as a certified dementia care practitioner.
Shannon Rich-Romero named life enrichment / wellness director
Shannon Rich-Romero has been named life enrichment / wellness director at Touchmark at Coffee Creek, Edmond, OK.
In the position, Rich-Romero oversees the Full Life Wellness & Enrichment Program, which uses the seven dimensions of wellness (emotional, environmental, intellectual, occupational, spiritual and social) to help residents identify their strengths, skills, needs and goals for happy, healthy and fulfilling lives through activities and events.
Rich-Romero formerly was a retirement counselor with Touchmark, educating older adults and families about options in retirement living and healthcare. Before joining Touchmark, she worked in a variety of marketing and sales positions with a range of companies.
Irene Gonzalez named social director at Evergreen Woods
Irene Gonzalez has joined Evergreen Woods, a North Branford, CT, retirement community, owned and operated by Senior Living Communities, as social director.
She will create programs designed to bring together residents and their loved ones.
For the past five years, Gonzalez has been an event planner for weddings and corporate events.
Kelly Paxton joins Brightwater as resident care coordinator
Kelly Paxton has joined Brightwater, a Myrtle Beach, SC, retirement community, owned and operated by Senior Living Communities, as a resident care coordinator.
Paxton is a former certified nursing assistant, med tech, memory care manager, assisted living manager and human resources coordinator.
Kathryn Sullivan joins Welltower board; Judith Pelham, Geoffrey Meyers to depart
Kathryn M. Sullivan, CPA, has been appointed to the board of Toledo, OH-based real estate investment trust Welltower. Also, Judith Pelham and Geoffrey Meyers are retiring from the board in May, the REIT announced.
Sullivan was CEO of UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual, Local Markets from 2015 to 2018 and CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Central Region, from 2008 to 2015. Before her tenure at UnitedHealthcare, she was senior vice president and chief financial officer of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
Sullivan spent 22 years at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, where she held several leadership positions, including president and CEO, executive vice president, chief financial officer and chief operations officer. She has an undergraduate degree in business administration from Northeast Louisiana University and an MBA from Louisiana State University.
“I am very excited to bring my extensive health plan payer expertise to Welltower’s innovative approach to delivering efficient, lower-cost sites of care across the healthcare continuum, particularly in view of the aging of our nation’s population,” Sullivan said. “I am energized by the tremendous opportunity for Welltower and its partners to drive the transformation of care across its national and global platform.”
Pelham is president emeritus of Trinity Health and joined the Welltower board in 2012. Meyers formerly served as chief financial officer, executive vice president and treasurer of HCR ManorCare and joined the Welltower board in 2014.
Laca Wong-Hammond joins Lancaster Pollard affiliate as managing director
Laca Wong-Hammond has joined Lancaster Pollard affiliate OREC Securities, which provides mergers and acquisitions services, a managing director.
She will be based in New York, where she will co-lead business development efforts for the firm’s sell-side and buy-side advisory services to owners and operators of seniors housing and care properties, as well as across the healthcare and housing continuums.
Wong-Hammond has closed more than $10 billion of M&A and capital market transactions throughout her career, including acquisition and divestiture of assets, sale/leaseback and capital placement of debt and equity across property types. Before joining Lancaster Pollard, she was a managing director in the corporate finance M&A practice at Duff & Phelps. Before that, she was the head of healthcare real estate at Raymond James.
Wong-Hammond graduated from Cornell University and studied at the London School of Economics and Harvard Law School.
Scott McQuigg joins HealthStream as senior vice president
Scott McQuigg has joined Nashville, TN-based HealthStream, offering workforce and provider solutions, as senior vice president, hStream Solutions.
HealthStream’s SaaS-based platform has more than 4.9 million professional subscribers. Its new platform technology, hStream, was launched nine months ago, and more than 1 million subscribers have upgraded to it. McQuigg will identify, expand and develop new hStream content, applications and partnerships.
McQuigg’s career began as president and publisher of the Nashville Business Journal. He then co-founded HealthLeaders, a media and research business focused on the business of healthcare, and was CEO from 2000 to 2005.
More recently, McQuigg was CEO of GoNoodle, which he also co-founded. The company’s interactive videos are designed to promote physical activity, active learning and enhanced focus for children and are available online and via mobile and connected TV apps. The platform has more than 14 million users each month.
Send personnel news to Senior Editor Lois A. Bowers. Please include a high-quality color photo.
