Volante Senior Living appoints Jeff Fischer CEO
Jeff Fischer has been appointed CEO of Southlake, TX-based Volante Senior Living. He joins the organization with more than 28 years of experience in the senior living industry, including leadership positions at MBK Senior Living, Sunrise Senior Living, Emeritus Senior Living, LifeTrust America and Integral Senior Living.
As president of MBK Senior Living, Fischer refined acquisition criteria, hired key personnel and executed a business plan aimed at acquiring senior living properties worth $2 billion. At Steadfast Companies, as executive vice president – senior living group, he spearheaded efforts to grow the senior living platform, developing both acquisition and development criteria and overseeing the company’s expansion plans. Similarly, during his tenure at Sunrise, Fischer managed operations across 260 communities in North America, improving operational efficiencies and resident satisfaction.
Fischer has participated in several committees and special interest groups, including grassroots industry advocacy efforts. He also has served on the state boards of directors for Assisted Living Federation of America (now Argentum) affiliates in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. He currently serves on the board of directors for the American Seniors Housing Association.
Volante is a member of the Inspired Healthcare Capital family of companies.
Knollwood names Gary Hibbs president, CEO
Gary Hibbs has been appointed president and CEO at Washington, DC-based continuing care retirement / life plan community Knollwood.
Hibbs previously spent 27 years at Erickson Senior Living, serving as executive director for Riderwood Village as well as northeast regional executive director. He also is an adjunct professor with the Erickson School of Aging at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and has served as a certified coach and speaker on the John Maxwell Leadership Team for seven years.
Hibbs received his juris doctorate degree and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Maryland.
Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living announces Robert Barry as president
Robert Barry has been named president of Somerset, NJ-based Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living’s Wilf Campus.
Barry has been with Oscar and Ella Wilf for 12 years and previously was chief financial officer for nonprofit organizations for more than 23 years.
“In my new role, I am committed to ensuring that The Wilf Campus continues to provide the highest level of care to all who are served by us,” Barry said.
Glades at ChampionsGate appoints Dan Guanio as executive director
Dan Guanio has been hired as executive director at The Glades at ChampionsGate, a Watermark Retirement Communities senior living community in Florida.
Guanio has spent 16 years working in senior living and previously was an executive director at Atria Senior Living, Saber Healthcare and Watercrest Senior Living Group.
He received his undergraduate degree from Florida State University.
Anthem Memory Care promotes Tiffany Bell to executive director in Rochester, MN
Tiffany Bell has been promoted to executive director for Cascade Creek, an Anthem Memory Care community in Rochester, MN. She will oversee all daily operations and care.
Bell, a certified dementia practitioner, brings more than 23 years of senior living experience to her new position. She most recently was life engagement director for Cascade Creek. Previously, she was life enrichment director for Prairie Meadows Senior Living in Kasson, MN.
Bell received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, with a minor in gerontology and family studies, from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
AHEPA Senior Living re-elects Ike Gulas
Attorney Ike Gulas has been re-elected to a three-year term as chairman of the AHEPA Senior Living Board of Directors. Gulas has served on the AHEPA Senior Living board for more than 25 years. He was previously also a partner at Morgan & Morgan and president of the Ike Gulas Law Firm.
“The confidence bestowed on me by my fellow board members is humbling. I consider myself fortunate to work with AHEPA Senior Living as it furthers its mission of providing dignified affordable senior housing and quality aging services to those who need it,” Gulas said.
Mass-ALA honors Paul Casale with Lifetime Achievement Award
Paul Casale Sr., president of Welch Senior Living in Rockland, MA, will be honored July 31 at the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association’s annual Excellence Awards Dinner.
Casale has served as a director on the Mass-ALA board for 23 years, on the governance and nominating committee for 19 years and on the quality committee for 15 years.
Goodwin Living’s Aaron Zajdel wins 40 Under 40 Award
Aaron Zajdel, manager for Alexandria, VA-based Goodwin Living Care Connections, has been recognized by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce with the 40 under 40 Award at a ceremony on July 18.
Zajdel has been with Goodwin Living since 2017, starting as a medical social worker. In 2022, he developed the Goodwin Living Care Connections program that he now manages. The program focuses on person-driven goals for medical and advanced care planning for residents of Goodwin Living communities and patients of Goodwin Home Health.
Zajdel received an undergraduate degree in sociology from Canisius University in Buffalo, NY, and a master’s degree in social work from Florida International University.
BKV Group names Jill Schroeder as senior planner
Jill Schroeder has been hired as senior planner for BKV Group’s Minneapolis practice site.
Schroeder has 27 years of experience in design planning, previously working as a senior planner for Pope Design Group and on a wide range of properties, including senior living communities.
Schroeder serves on FGI’s Healthcare Guidelines Revision Committee and as president of the Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Environments.
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