People in the news, April 12 – Companies

Send your personnel news to Lois Bowers at [email protected].

Asbury names new chief human resources officer

Michael J. Bartoszek is the new chief human resources officer for Asbury Communities. 

Bartoszek joins the Frederick, MD-based company with more than 30 years of experience in human resources, including the past 20 years at Sodexo. He will be responsible for Asbury’s workforce strategies; culture, including diversity, equity and inclusion and belonging; and talent management approach, according to the firm. 

Since 2002, Bartoszek had held progressively responsible roles at Sodexo, where his leadership skills helped in developing and driving human resources strategy and solutions to fit within the vision and priorities at the 18th largest employer in the world. He spent many years serving as an HR leader in Sodexo’s senior living segment.

Most recently, Bartoszek led Sodexo’s talent strategy for almost 140,000 employees as senior director of talent and performance, which included stepping in as the interim vice president of learning and development in the company’s North America Health Care segment. During his tenure in those roles, he helped redesign and implement performance management, talent review and succession planning systems and processes that affected 60,000 employees across 80 countries.

Sunrise Retirement Community hires new CEO

Samantha Roth has been hired by the board of directors of Sunrise Retirement Community, Sioux City, IA, as the community’s next CEO and executive director.

Roth, who most recently worked as the regional executive director of Enlivant (in the Iowa/Nebraska region), began her new position Nov. 15. She succeeded Hallie Salmen, who stepped down in September after 20 years with Sunrise.

Roth has a background in accounting and executive level management, having worked as an accountant, controller, chief financial officer and executive director at Bethany Lutheran Services in Council Bluffs, IA, prior to her time with Enlivant. She holds an undergraduate degree from Chapman University and an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Pinnacle Living welcomes new VP of sales and marketing

Laura Jones has joined Pinnacle Living, Richmond, VA, as vice president of sales and marketing.

Jones brings more than 20 years of senior living and marketing expertise to Pinnacle, as well as previous experience working with Pinnacle Living as a senior marketing consultant in 2018. 

In her new position, Jones will oversee sales, marketing, branding, advertising and public relations strategies. Reporting to the chief operating officer, her primary duties will include developing the structure of the marketing departments for Pinnacle Living’s five communities and business segments, developing marketing campaigns in partnership with community sales directors and contractors, and coordinating marketing efforts to align with Pinnacle Living’s financial and strategic goals. 

Jones most recently served as vice president of marketing and communications for the Kendal Corp., a not-for-profit organization of senior communities, programs and services based in Kennett Square, PA.

National Church Residences hires new director of philanthropy and public relations

Beverly Burks has been hired as the new regional director of philanthropy and public relations for National Church Residences’ Atlanta office. In this position, Burks will oversee the organization’s growth in the Atlanta region and provide leadership to National Church Residences’ philanthropy, communication and community engagement.

Burks comes to NCR with more than two decades of experience spanning community outreach and engagement; public affairs and media relations; nonprofit organization management; budget, grant, volunteer and crisis management; and event planning and organization. Over the course of her career, she has served as an executive for community engagement for the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority and owner of Grady Health System, which is the fifth-largest safety net hospital in the nation. Burks also served as the executive director for the National Pan-Hellenic Council, based in Decatur, GA. 

Burks holds an undergraduate degree in computer information systems from Alabama State University and is working on her executive MBA from the University of North Alabama. She also has been serving as the mayor of Clarkston, GA, since November 2020.

Distinctive Living welcomes three new hires

Freehold, NJ-based Distinctive Living announced three news hires this month:

Bridget Carroll joins the team as regional sales director for Fox Trail Senior Living. Carroll has more than 10 years of experience in senior living and senior housing sales. 

Gus Plakiotis is now serving as senior executive director of Silver Comet Village, Powder Springs, GA. Plakiotis brings more than 23 years of senior living experience in all aspects, including administration, vendor relations, event management and staffing, along with 33 years of combined experience in culinary operations. He formerly was a national director of culinary services overseeing 45 units in multiple states. 

Ashley Harker is the new executive director of Fox Trail Senior Living at Deptford, Deptford, NJ. A Temple University graduate and former recreation therapist, Harker has spent the past 17 years serving in the healthcare field.

Solvere Living promotes Kim Horn to senior general manager at The Monarch at Richardson

Kim Horn has been promoted to senior general manager at The Monarch at Richardson, an assisted living and memory care community in Richardson, TX, by St. Petersburg, FL-based Solvere Living.

In this position, Horn will be responsible for supporting new general managers in the company during their first 90 days by providing training, orientation and sharing best practices to ensure that they have the tools they need to be successful.

Horn, who joined the community in 2018 as a general manager, will use the 15 years of leadership experience she’s gained in the education and information technology sectors. She also has experience in caring for family members with dementia. Under her leadership, The Monarch achieved a 95% occupancy rate in February.

Cardinal Ritter Senior Services names new assisted living administrator

Tasanya Johnson has been selected by Cardinal Ritter Senior Services as the new assisted living administrator for its Mary, Queen and Mother Center. The center includes two assisted living communities, St. Elizabeth Hall and Mother of Perpetual Help. Two member care communities, Grace and Faith, opened in 2013 and have 30 studio apartments located within the MOPH assisted living community.

Johnson’s responsibilities will include planning, directing, implementing and evaluating all nursing home activities to ensure high-quality care for residents. Those duties include overall communication, fiscal management, personnel supervision and strategic planning.

Johnson has almost 20 years of healthcare experience. Before joining CRSS, she was the senior executive director for a local skilled nursing and rehabilitation center. She previously worked in numerous administrator and management positions for various healthcare centers. 

Johnson has a Master of Science degree in accounting as well as an MBA from Fontbonne University.

River Ridge at Avon hires Michael Kolesar as director of community relations

Michael Kolesar has been hired as director of community relations for River Ridge at Avon, Avon, CT, by Waltham, MA-based Benchmark Senior Living.

Kolesar brings 25 years of hospitality and healthcare experience to the position, having worked as a regional director for several of the industry’s leading senior living providers. Before working in senior living and care, he spent 15 years in the hospitality industry, managing the likes of the historic Hotel Northampton in Northampton, MA, and the Water’s Edge Resort and Country Club in Westbrook, CT.

Monarch Communities appoints five new executives

As part of its recent expansion, Monarch Communities, White March, MD, has appointed five new executives.

Bryan Burnette has been named vice president of project management. In this position, he will be responsible for overseeing the design and construction management of future developments throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Before his latest role, he was director of project management with Monarch Communities, where he led design and construction of three communities and renovation of four properties. 

Deanna DiStasio has been named vice president of operations. Most recently, she was regional director of operations at communities in New York and Connecticut. DiStasio has worked in the senior living industry for more than 23 years.

Max Ferentinos has been appointed vice president of real estate development. He will be responsible for new development across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. He most recently was vice president of real estate development and acquisitions with Artis Senior Living, where he developed senior communities in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast for more than a decade.

Helen Hames has been named director of marketing and sales enablement. In this position, she will be responsible for sales and marketing support across communities in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Hames previously was area sales director with Benchmark Senior Living for five communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She also was a sales specialist with Charter Senior Living, supporting properties in Missouri and Kentucky. With six years in senior living, Hames brings more than 20 years of marketing experience to her new position.

Johanna Miller has been appointed senior director of finance. She most recently was founder and consultant of MaxPro Consulting in Smithtown, NY, where she offered guidance on business strategies to senior housing providers. For 11 years, she served in many financial roles with Benchmark Senior Living in Waltham, MA, most recently as senior director of finance and strategic planning. In addition, she was a senior financial analyst and director of accounting and analysis with Sunrise Senior Living in McLean, VA. Miller has more than 22 years of experience in senior living finance.

Cypress Cove welcomes new director of facilities

(Raymond) Scott Berry has been welcomed as director of facilities at Fort Myers, FL-based life plan community Cypress Cove following the retirement of Peter Haight. Berry has broad-ranging experience in facility management, including building construction, property maintenance, risk assessment and quality assurance.

As director of facilities, Berry will provide direction and management in all areas of the interior and exterior of Cypress Cove’s facilities and campus. Adhering to all regulatory guidelines, Berry will serve as the campus-wide safety consultant and provide oversight of all maintenance, construction and renovation projects and ensure proper maintenance of budgets.

Berry formerly had worked as director of facilities at Kennebec Behavioral Health since 1996. He holds an undergraduate degree in business management from University of Maine at Augusta and holds International Facility Management Association facilities management certificate.

South Georgia Medical Center promotes Ansley Panizzi to executive director of Langdale Place assisted living community

Ansley Panizzi has been promoted to executive director of Valdosta, GA-based senior living community Langdale Place by South Georgia Medical Center.

She has 24 years of long-term care experience at the community, most recently serving as its assistant director for more than 15 years. In her new position, Panizzi will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of the community.

She holds an associate’s degree in applied science in information services, a Bachelor of Science degree in administrative services, and a Master of Public Administration degree, all from Valdosta State University.  

Trillium Woods hires new director of food and beverage services

Andrew Hall has been appointed director of food and beverage services at Trillium Woods, a life plan community in Plymouth, MN. He brings diverse menus and fine dining experience to the role.

Hall graduated summa cum laude from the California Culinary Academy in 2007 and brings with him 15 years of hands-on culinary expertise. Before his employment at Trillium Woods, Hall was the executive chef at Cocina Del Barrio (Edina, MN) and culinary director of Chandler Place Senior Living (St. Anthony, MN). 

Pat Mulloy appointed CEO of Sharps Compliance

W. Patrick “Pat” Mulloy has been named president and CEO of Sharps Compliance Corp., a full-service national provider of comprehensive waste management solutions including medical, pharmaceutical and hazardous. He succeeds David P. Tusa, who resigned to pursue other endeavors.

Mulloy has been a director of the company since February 2021. His 25-year career in senior living and care has included the top post at three organizations that stretch back to the early days of the sector — Atria Senior Living (1996 to 2000), LifeTrust America (2001 to 2004) and Elmcroft Senior Living (2006 to 2018). He is the current board chair at Argentum and will hold that role until the association’s annual meeting in May. 

Prior to his work in senior living, Mulloy practiced law for almost 20 years and was the secretary of finance to the Governor of Kentucky. He holds undergraduate and law degrees from Vanderbilt University and is licensed to practice law in New York and Kentucky.

Enseo hires Brian Curley as chief financial officer

Brian Curley has joined technology services provider Enseo, Plano, TX, as chief financial officer. In this position, Gurley will lead Enseo’s financial operations worldwide, overseeing the finance strategy to power growth and success.

Curley joins the firm with more than 25 years of financial and operational leadership experience. Most recently, he was CFO of Magnitude Software, a private equity-backed SaaS company, which was acquired in 2021. In addition, Gurley has held positions as a director at CBIZ Private Equity Advisors, where he was interim CFO for several middle-market private equity-backed entities. He began his career in public accounting at KPMG and has worked at a variety of public and private companies in finance roles.

Two new leaders join GMK Associates 

National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ)-certified interior designer Heather Ling has joined Columbia, S.C.-based planning, design and construction services firm GMK Associates as the director of GMK Interiors, the firm’s interior design division focusing on senior living/life plan communities. Lisa Ann Scott has joined the team as a senior interior designer. 

In her role as director, Ling will be responsible for the strategic vision for the division and the day-to-day oversight of the division’s interior design teams and project commissions. Her background includes a 14-year career in the interior design industry, with a primary focus on the national and international hospitality and high-end residential design markets. 

In her role as senior interior designer, Scott will support strategic marketing efforts for the division, streamline and enhance the division’s operational processes and lead individual complex project assignments, in addition to mentoring junior members of GMK’s collaborative design teams. She joins GMK with more than eight years of experience in senior living, hospitality, high-end residential and multi-family design.

Kyle Samuel joins McGriff as chief operating officer

Kyle Samuel has been hired as chief operating officer at Employee benefit and risk management firm McGriff.

Samuel joins McGriff after serving as president of Buffalo, NY-based M&T Insurance Agency, a division of M&T Bank, for the past four years. He previously was managing director for USI Insurance Services and its predecessor, Wells Fargo Insurance Services. Prior to USI, he worked for almost 17 years at Aon Risk Solutions in various sales and operations roles.

As COO, Samuel will be responsible for McGriff’s sales culture and client experience.

He earned his undergraduate degree in economics from Colorado College.

Send your personnel news to Lois Bowers at [email protected].