John C. Erickson
Chairman
John Erickson is convinced that America needs to change how it views the aging process. With unmatched understanding and dedication to retired people, Erickson's privately held company, Erickson Retirement Communities, is the fastest-growing developer and manager of full-service, campus-style communities in the country. Erickson communities are known for their enviable lifestyle, services, and health care, all at prices that are affordable for middle-income Americans as they enter the second phase of their retirement—when access to services becomes more important than recreation.
His company's health care advantages are unique:
- Erickson Advantage® has been approved by Medicare as a first-of-its-kind supplemental health insurance plan aimed at serving beneficiaries living in continuing care retirement communities under the government’s Medicare Advantage program.
- Erickson Health®, which is the nation's largest private health and wellness system for people over age 70, has costs that are 50% lower than what the government pays. In addition, the health system has demonstrated 50% lower acute care utilization than what the government typically experiences.
Mr. Erickson established perhaps the first health-and-wellness-oriented research institution to evolve from the U.S. retirement housing industry. Under his direction, the Erickson Foundation has invested millions in research to improve the lives of people around the world. Active aging research is one area that receives strong support. In addition, the Foundation works to help inner city children develop into leaders. The Foundation’s NorthBay camp, located on the Chesapeake Bay, is a unique educational retreat with a state-of-the-art environmental education center, focused on teaching and experiencing real environmental science in the field. Serving more than 12,000 students each school year in a five-day, four-night experience, the $33 million learning, living, and group activity center was designed to minimize impact on the land and enhance the existing features of the property.
In April 2004 John helped establish the Erickson School of Aging, Management and Policy, which is located at the University of Maryland in Baltimore County (UMBC). The goal of the school is to become the preeminent resource for education, research, and policy on services for the mid-life and older populations. With an explicit focus on preparing leaders for the 21st century within aging services, housing, and care, the Erickson School offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, professional certificate programs, professional and executive development, as well as cutting-edge policy and applied research.
Mr. Erickson’s company is also expanding into the world of media with the credo Inform · Inspire · Involve sm.
With Retirement Living TV, Erickson introduced its unique TV programming in October 2006. The new voice of a generation largely ignored by the television industry, Retirement Living will not only change the way you watch TV, it will change the way you perceive retired life.
The Erickson Tribune, a rapidly growing monthly newspaper, is read by more than three million people throughout the country. The Erickson Tribune and its website, www.EricksonTribune.com, combine inspiring stories, cutting-edge medical news, and in-depth coverage on topics of extreme value to readers trying to make the most out of their retirement.
John Erickson's Story: One Man's Vision Speaks to Many
Rick Grindrod
Chief Executive Officer
Rick Grindrod serves as Chief Executive Officer and oversees the operations of our core senior housing business and related entities of Erickson. “Erickson’s priority is to build and maintain communities where seniors can live a quality life to the fullest. Our mission is to promote successful aging and bring this lifestyle to as many seniors as possible. People recognize that Erickson is a smart financial decision for the security and assurance we give in our 100 percent refundable deposit and the predictability we provide in fixed monthly service fees.”
Grindrod served most recently as president of Developing Enterprises. In this capacity, he led new business opportunities for Erickson Retirement Communities, including the Erickson School, as well as John Erickson’s major philanthropic initiative, the Erickson Foundation. He also served as President of Erickson Health® and Operations, leading operations management and growth of our communities with more than 20,000 residents and 10,000 employees. He also led the largest geriatric physician practice and the only Medicare C Demonstration project within continuing care retirement communities. He began his career in management administration in the flagship community, Charlestown, and progressively moved through community management to his most recent role.
Mr. Grindrod is credited for establishing the Erickson Way culture and the company’s strategies relating to high resident satisfaction, extraordinary quality, exemplary employee commitment, and strong operating financial results. Mr. Grindrod has been employed by Erickson Retirement Communities for nearly 25 years and previously served as Executive Vice President of Operations and Executive Director of Erickson Retirement Communities’ Charlestown community and Henry Ford Village. He holds an M.B.A. from Loyola College and a B.S. from Bucknell University.
Mark R. Erickson
Chief Operating Officer
Mark Erickson is the Chief Operating Officer/President of Health and Operations for Erickson Retirement Communities with responsibility for the operations and development of the core senior housing business. He oversees the operations of a billion-dollar business that serves over 22,000 seniors and 11,000 employees at 18 continuing care retirement communities across the country.
Previously Mark served as the Chief Strategy Officer with responsibility for Strategy and Business Process Improvement, as well as several administrative functions including Government and Community Relations, Human Resources, Information Technology, Procurement, and Compliance. From 2002 through 2005 Mark served as Executive Director and Associate Executive Director at Oak Crest, a 1,500-unit continuing care retirement community that serves 2,000 seniors in Parkville, Maryland.
Before re-joining Erickson in 2000, Mark spent five years with American Express Consulting Services based in Europe and Asia. He completed a bachelor of arts in English literature at Vanderbilt University and earned an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.
Currently Mark serves as a board member or trustee for the following organizations: the Institute of Notre Dame, Leadership Baltimore County, the executive committee of the American Senior Housing Association, and Catholic Charities.
Thomas L. Brod
Executive Vice President of Finance
Thomas L. Brod is Executive Vice President of Finance and joined the company in 2008. He is responsible for the company’s capital formation and oversees the financial planning and analysis department and tax department.
Before joining the company, Mr. Brod served as an investment banker at Ziegler Capital Markets where he worked with not-for-profit and for-profit senior living clients throughout the mid-Atlantic region. During his tenure at Ziegler, Mr. Brod was responsible for over $3 billion in financings and was lead investment banker for 15 financings for projects developed by the company and three financings for the company.
Before joining Ziegler Capital Markets, Mr. Brod worked as a retirement community executive and as a developer. Mr. Brod holds a B.A. from the College of Wooster and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Gerald F. Doherty
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Mr. Doherty is the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Erickson Retirement Communities. He joined the company in 1995 as counsel.
Previously he worked at Frank, Bernstein, Conaway & Goldman and at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP.
Mr. Doherty received a B.A. in law from the University of Maryland and a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law.
Debra B. Doyle
Executive Vice President of Health and Operations
Ms. Doyle is the Executive Vice President of Health and Operations for Erickson Retirement Communities. She is responsible for managing and defining standards for new program initiatives, productivity and process improvements, and development of operation standards for all campuses.
Previous positions at Erickson include Vice President of Operations and Associate Executive Director of Oak Crest in Parkville, Maryland. She also served as Senior Regional Health Services Director for the following Erickson communities: Oak Crest, Charlestown, Riderwood, and Greenspring.
Before coming to Erickson, Ms. Doyle was vice president of nursing and executive director of medical services for the Greater Baltimore Medical Center.
Ms. Doyle earned an M.B.A. and a B.S. in business administration from Loyola College. She received her R.N. from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing, and she received a certification in senior living care from Johns Hopkins University. She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and the American Nurses Association.
Ms. Doyle also serves on the following boards of directors: Franklin Square Hospital Center, Community College of Baltimore Foundation, and the University of Maryland School of Nursing (Board of Visitors).
Jeffrey A. Jacobson
Managing Director of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
A certified public accountant and attorney, Mr. Jacobson is the Managing Director of Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Erickson Retirement Communities. He is responsible for spearheading a variety of special projects pertaining to both new and existing Erickson communities.
Before joining Erickson, he served as a tax manager for Coopers & Lybrand. He began his professional career with the Internal Revenue Service, where he served as a corporate tax revenue agent.
Mr. Jacobson received a B.S. in accounting and finance from Penn State and a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Brad Knight
President of Retirement Living TV
Brad Knight is the President of Retirement Living TV for Erickson Retirement Communities. He is responsible for leading Erickson’s efforts to launch a national television network targeting the over 40 million Americans age 60 -plus.
Before joining Erickson, Mr. Knight was the executive vice president of operations for Adaptix, a manufacturing company specializing in hardware systems for wireless broadband service. He also spent several years at Flextronics—a leading electronics manufacturing services provider with annual revenues of over $15 billion—serving as general manager and vice president of operations in Mexico, Texas, and Malaysia.
Mr. Knight is a member of both the board of directors and the compensation and audit committee for 1-800 Contacts.
Matthew J. Narrett, M.D.
Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Narrett is the Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Erickson Retirement Communities. He is responsible for directing the strategy and provision of healthcare for the 23,000 seniors who reside at Erickson Communities nationwide. Over the past two decades, Erickson has developed and implemented a successful comprehensive healthcare model focusing on access, social engagement, coordination of care across the continuum, chronic disease management and prevention. Erickson’s model is built upon an interdisciplinary care team with strong physician involvement, an emphasis on health information technology and an aligned payor in Erickson Advantage, their unique Medicare Advantage Demonstration Project.
Prior to joining Erickson in 1993, Dr. Narrett was in private practice in Derry, N.H., where he also served as director of medical quality assurance at Parkland Medical Center. Dr. Narrett received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School’s Harvard-M.I.T. Division of Health Sciences and Technology and completed his internship and residency at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. He currently serves on the Clinical Practice and Models of Care Committee for the American Geriatric Society and the Advisory Board of the Practice Change Fellows Program supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies and the John A. Hartford Foundation.
Tom Neubauer
Executive Vice President, Sales
Tom Neubauer serves as Erickson’s Executive Vice President of Sales, overseeing all sales activities throughout the country. He is responsible for the development and implementation of sales strategies and tactics, training and development for all sales office personnel, and consistent tracking of all sales results.
Before joining Erickson, Tom spent the first 14 years of his career at Xerox Corporation. During his time with Xerox, Tom held various sales management and product specialist roles in the Baltimore – Washington marketplace.
Tom graduated from Bucknell University with a degree in business and marketing.
Scott Gensler
Senior Vice President of Marketing Operations and Planning
Mr. Gensler is the Senior Vice President of Marketing Operations and Planning for Erickson Retirement Communities. He is responsible for marketing financial planning analysis, print production, and marketing centralized services.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Gensler held various positions in the finance and marketing departments at Erickson. Before joining the company, he served as director of dining services with Aramark Corporation.
Mr. Gensler holds a B.S. in hotel management from Cornell University and an M.B.A.. from Loyola College. He is the treasurer of the Fund For Educational Excellence and is a member of Financial Executives International.
Gary D. Hibbs
Regional Executive Director, Northeast
Erickson Retirement Communities
Gary D. Hibbs, as the Northeast Regional Executive Director, is responsible for the operation of seven Erickson communities in Massachusetts (Brooksby Village and Linden Ponds), New Jersey (Cedar Crest and Seabrook), and Pennsylvania (Ann’s Choice and Maris Grove).
Previously Mr. Hibbs served as the opening Executive Director of Cedar Crest, and before that he was the Executive Director of Henry Ford Village, an Erickson community in Dearborn, Mich., for five years. Mr. Hibbs also served as administrator of Charlestown's Frederick House, a 133-bed assisted living facility. In this capacity he was responsible for the daily operations of the Frederick House, as well as being part of the management team of health care professionals that directed the continuum of care to Charlestown's 2,500 residents.
Mr. Hibbs joined Erickson communities in 1995 after serving as administrator of Wellington Manor, a 284-bed long-term care facility in Clinton, Md. He previously practiced law with the Senior Citizen Law Project in Prince George's County, Md.
Mr. Hibbs has worked with older adults in both the local setting and the national setting, having served with the Area Agency on Aging in both Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland. He also worked with Congressman Claude Pepper in Washington, D.C., serving on the staff of the House Aging Committee’s Subcommittee on Health and Long-Term Care. He is the church chairman for the Sparta Evangelical Free Church and a member of the Board of Directors for Veritas Christian Academy. In addition Mr. Hibbs is a member of the American College of Health Care Administrators, Maryland Bar Association, ASHA, and NJASHA.
Mr. Hibbs, who holds M.S.W. and J.D. degrees from the University of Maryland at Baltimore, is also a certified L.G.S.W. and a member of the Maryland Bar. He received his nursing home administrator’s license while working with Global Health Management in Maryland and is also licensed in the state of Michigan as a long-term care administrator.
Kerry Jones
Senior Vice President of Operations
Mr. Jones joined Erickson in 1992 as the Assistant to the Executive Director at Charlestown in Catonsville, Maryland, the company’s first campus. In 1993 he moved to Dearborn, Michigan, to take on the role of Health Services Director for Henry Ford Village, Erickson’s second campus. In 1997 he returned to the Baltimore area and started the Operations Management function for the company, which focused on supporting the company’s growth. In May of 2000 he became the Associate Executive Director for Riderwood in Silver Spring, Maryland, and later served as the Executive Director.
Before working with Erickson, Mr. Jones worked for Shell Oil Co. in the marketing division for two years. Additionally, he was a youth minister for middle school students at a local Baltimore-area church for two years while attending graduate school. He holds a B.S. in marketing and has an M.B.A. from Loyola College.
Richard Powell
Senior Vice President of Senior Campus Physicians
Mr. Powell is the Vice President of Senior Campus Physicians for Erickson Retirement Communities. He is responsible for providing the Medical Center at each community with administrative support, including provider recruitment and credentialing, medical claims billing, coding and compliance, training, electronic medical record maintenance and support, and reporting.
Before to joining Erickson, Mr. Powell served with several Baltimore hospitals, HMOs, and commercial health care insurers. He brings to his current position over 25 years of senior operations management experience across these diverse industries.
Mr. Powell holds a degree in business management from California Coast University. He enjoys professional sports and is an active volunteer with several civic organizations.
William F. Walker
Senior Vice President of Acquisitions
Mr. Walker is the Senior Vice President of Acquisitions for Erickson Retirement Communities. He is responsible for procurement of suitable sites for Erickson’s expansion into specific cities and the management of the approval process for these sites.
Before joining Erickson, Mr. Walker was vice president and partner of Poffel & Walker, Inc., a real estate development firm in Maryland. He cofounded Daft, McCune, Walker, Inc., a consulting firm in Maryland that specializes in land planning and civil engineering.
Mr. Walker holds a B.S. from West Virginia University. He is an elder at his community church.
Ian Lee Brown
Executive Director of Sedgebrook
Ian Lee Brown is executive director of Sedgebrook. He has been employed with Erickson since 2001 in various capacities including executive director of the company’s Greenspring campus in Northern Virginia and associate executive director of Cedar Crest in northern New Jersey.
Prior to Erickson, Brown served as a vice-president for Collington Life-Care Community, Inc. in Mitchellville, Maryland; as director for program services for a Johns Hopkins HealthCare affiliate in Baltimore; and as director of corporate community affairs for Dimensions Healthcare System, a hospital and long-term care service system also in Maryland.
Brown has a Bachelor of Arts from Brooklyn College in New York City, holds both a Master of Science and a Graduate Certificate in Senior Living & Healthcare from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and has a Master of Liberal Studies from Lake Forest College in Chicago.
Brown is currently a member of the board of the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce. He also chairs Erickson’s Diversity and Inclusion Council.
Chris Emmett
Executive Director of Highland Springs
Mr. Emmett is the Executive Director for Highland Springs in Dallas, Texas. He began his career at Erickson Retirement Communities in 1996. He held several roles in the Health Services Department at Charlestown in Catonsville, Maryland. After obtaining his nursing home administrator’s license, Mr. Emmett served as the Senior Administrator responsible for the nursing, assisted living, and rehab services at Oak Crest in Parkville, Maryland.
Mr. Emmett holds a BS in business administration from Towson University, an MA in management and aging services from University of Maryland Baltimore County — Erickson School of Aging, and is a licensed nursing home administrator.
Craig A. Erickson
Executive Director of Wind Crest
Craig Erickson is the Executive Director of Wind Crest, Erickson’s first community in Denver, Colorado. In this role he is responsible for leading the startup, development, and daily operations for the community.
Before assuming the leadership role in Denver, Mr. Erickson served as Associate Executive Director of Charlestown, located near Baltimore, Maryland. In addition, he has served as Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis for Erickson Retirement Communities. His team was responsible for gathering assumptions and generating financial forecasts for development projects, communities, and Erickson corporate.
Mr. Erickson also served as Chief Information Officer and Assistant Development Director of Seabrook, Erickson’s community in Tinton Falls, New Jersey.
Before joining Erickson, he worked as a project engineer with Whiting-Turner Contracting Company.
Garret Falcone
Executive Director of Charlestown
Garret Falcone has been the Executive Director of Charlestown since February 2007. Garret has been with Erickson Retirement Communities for over five years. He joined the company as the Administrator for Renaissance Gardens at Charlestown and then transferred to Riderwood as Administrator. Garret was promoted to the position of Senior Administrator in 2005, at which time he assumed regional responsibilities for Renaissance Gardens, in addition to his day-to-day focus at the Charlestown and Riderwood communities.
Garret’s prior experience was serving as executive director at several retirement communities including Augsburg Lutheran Home in Baltimore, Ravenwood Lutheran Village in Hagerstown, and Keswick in Baltimore. While at Ravenwood he also had a duel responsibility as the opening executive director for The Village at Robinwood, which was a joint venture with Diakon Lutheran Services and Washington County Hospital. Additionally, Garret has worked in hospital administration as chief operating officer at Laurel Regional Hospital and befrore that at Columbia Greene Medical Center in New York State.
Garret has also been highly involved in the senior housing industry associations. He served as the Chairman of MANPHA/LIFESPAN (Senior Care Association in Maryland) as well as a member of AAHSA’s (National Senior Organization) House of Delegates. He is currently a commissioner with the Maryland Health Care Commission.
He is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University and has a master’s in health services administration from Russell Sage College. Garret lives in Eldersburg with his wife Patricia, and they have three grown sons.
Dan Feirtag
Vice President and Erickson Advantage® Medical Director
As Vice President and Medical Director of Erickson Advantage, Daniel Feirtag, M.D., is responsible for managing health care costs, quality assurance, disease management, and care coordination. Dr. Feirtag has over 25 years of experience in managed care with emphasis on the Medicare population, focusing on the frail and elderly.
Before joining Erickson Advantage, Dr. Feirtag was a vice president and medical director with Elder Health of the Mid Atlantic. Before that he was medical director for Keystone Health Plan Central and Capital Blue Cross of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Feirtag is board cerified by the ABIM and completed fellowships in internal medicine and nephrology at the Johns Hopkins Institutions where he has held a faculty position for over 25 years.
Dr. Feirtag received his B.S. degree with Highest Honors from the University of Maryland and his M.D. degree from State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center.
Diane Flanders
Vice President of Benefits and Compensation
Ms. Flanders is Vice President of Benefits and Compensation in Erickson’s corporate Human Resources Department.
Ms. Flanders began her career with Erickson in 1997 and has built the Benefits and Compensation Department to successfully serve over 10,000 employees.
Most recently, as Senior Director of Benefits and Compensation, she successfully implemented the company’s pay-for-performance programs and continues to lead the design and management of Erickson’s award-winning benefit plans. Under her leadership, the company moved to a self-insured medical plan, which resulted in significant cost savings to both the company and the employees.
In addition to her corporate experience, Ms. Flanders spent a year working as the Human Resources Director for Charlestown in Catonsville, Maryland, to gain a broader perspective of community operations.
She is an active board member of HopeWell Cancer Support and has led their major fundraising efforts over the past two years.
Penny Folden
Vice President of Erickson Advantage® Sales and Marketing
As Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Erickson Advantage, Penny Folden has overall responsibility for its marketing and enrollment activities in Erickson Retirement Communities. Penny has 20 years' experience in the sales and marketing of senior health care services, including Medicare Advantage Plans, adult day care, nursing homes, and hospitals.
Before joining the Erickson Advantage, Penny spent four years as vice president of sales and marketing for Elder Health, a Medicare Advantage Plan headquartered in Baltimore. She also participated in the east coast start-up of the EverCare/United Healthcare CMS Demonstration Project in the 1990s. She has been the executive director of an adult day care center with a focus on dementia-specific programming and services and also worked as vice president of the Better Business Bureau of Greater Maryland for many years.
Penny has a bachelor’s degree from Towson University in Maryland and is a nationally certified health and fitness professional.
David Gallagher
Executive Director of Ashby Ponds
Mr. Gallagher joined Erickson in early 2002 in the corporate Health Services Department. From there he took on the role of Associate Executive Director at Riderwood and in 2004 became the Executive Director for Linden Ponds.
Prior to coming to Erickson, Mr. Gallagher worked for six years for Integrated Health Services (IHS) in both the operation of the IHS nursing homes and as counsel for their in-house legal department. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1989 earning his B.A., and then his J.D. from the same university in 1992. After graduation Mr. Gallagher worked for four years as a law clerk for a federal judge and as an associate at a Washington, D.C. law firm.
Cathy Guttman
Executive Director of Cedar Crest
Cathy Guttman joined Erickson in 2007 and is currently the Executive Director at Cedar Crest in Pompton Plains, New Jersey.
With over 25 years in health care and senior living experience, Cathy has served in various operational roles both regionally and at the community level for Marriott Senior Living Services, Sunrise Senior Living, and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.
Cathy attended the University of Maryland, New Jersey City University, and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and is a registered dietitian and a certified assisted living administrator.
Maureen K. Heckler
Executive Director of Maris Grove
Ms. Maureen K. Heckler is the Executive Director of Maris Grove in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. Previously, she was the Associate Executive Director of Ann’s Choice in Warminster, Pennsylvania.
Ms. Heckler brings 23 years of health care and retirement industry experience to her position. Prior to joining Erickson Retirement Communities, she served in various operations roles. Previous employers include Sunrise Senior Living and Marriott Senior Living Services.
Ms. Heckler holds a B.A. in psychology from Villanova University, an M.B.A. from Pennsylvania State University, and is a licensed nursing home administrator.
Kevin Knopf
Executive Director of Eagle's Trace
Mr. Knopf is the Executive Director of Eagle’s Trace in Houston, Texas.
Joining Erickson with 17 years of prior experience in the industry, Mr. Knopf’s previous positions ranged from senior executive director of communities with Sunrise Senior Living to the director of process innovation and policy at its international headquarters. His background also includes experience in the hospitality, sales and marketing, health care, and information technology sectors.
Mr. Knopf earned his masters of business administration from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has also served as a college-level instructor for several courses on the continuum of senior housing and services and a term as vice president of the Pennsylvania Assisted Living Association.
Joseph P. LoCascio
Executive Director of Ann’s Choice
Mr. LoCascio is the Executive Director for Ann’s Choice in Warminster, Pennsylvania. Previously, he served as the Executive Director of Brooksby in Peabody, Massachusetts.
Before joining Erickson, Mr. LoCascio was an administrator for Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Annapolis, Maryland. He taught math and science in schools in Connecticut, New York, and Maryland. He was tapped for the “Distinguished Educational Leadership Award” by The Washington Post.
Mr. LoCascio received a bachelor’s degree from The Catholic University of America. He received a master’s in administration and supervision from Loyola College.
Mr. LoCascio is also a professional singer and musician. He is an active member of Colonial Players in Annapolis, Maryland, where he won the Best Actor award for his portrayal of John the Baptist and Judas in Godspell.
Colleen LoPresto
Executive Director of Oak Crest
Ms. LoPresto is the Executive Drector for Oak Crest in Parkville, Md. She began her career with Erickson as the Associate Executive Director in 2005. Before that she was a registered nurse at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, holding several positions and completing her tenure as vice president for Patient Care Services. She also worked for MEDEX Assistance, Inc. in Baltimore as chief operating officer, leading the international emergency call centers in Baltimore, Md.; Beijing, China; and Brighton, England.
In addition to her nursing degree, Ms. LoPresto holds a B.S. in business from the University of Baltimore and a masters in business administration from Loyola College in Maryland.
Patricia Carter Luessenhop
Executive Director of Monarch Landing
Ms. Patricia Carter Luessenhop is the Executive Director of Monarch Landing in Naperville, Illinois. With over 20 years' experience in the senior housing and health care industries, she has served in community, regional, and corporate operations roles.
Before joining Erickson, Ms. Luessenhop served as a regional director of operations for Sunrise Senior Living and Marriott Senior Living and was responsible for the operations of over 40 Sunrise and Marriott communities in Illinois and in the northeast United States during her tenure. Previously she was employed by Brookdale Living Communities, based in Chicago, serving as executive director, regional director of operations, director of acquisitions and developments, and director of licensing and state regulations.
A native of Illinois, Ms. Luessenhop received her B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Illinois and is a licensed nursing home administrator in Illinois.
Donna Mason
Executive Director of Riderwood
Ms. Mason is the Executive Director of Riderwood in Silver Spring, Maryland. Previously she served as the Associate Executive Director for Riderwood. Before then she was in the corporate Human Resources Department as Director of Diversity and Communications.
Before joining Erickson, Ms. Mason had an extensive career in the government and nonprofit sector of Maryland, serving as the deputy chief administrative officer to the county executive in Prince George’s County.
Ms. Mason has a B.S. in sociology from Frostburg State University and an M.A. in administrative management from Bowie State University. She chairs the social action ministry at her church.
Michael McCormick
Executive Director of Fox Run
Mr. McCormick is the Executive Director for Fox Run in Novi, Michigan.
Mr. McCormick joined the Fox Run team after serving eight years at two of Erickson’s campuses in Maryland—Oak Crest, where he was the Associate Executive Director, and Charlestown, where he was Director of Health Services.
Before joining Erickson, Mr. McCormick was the executive director for Medical Health Systems, a multidisciplinary health care company in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mr. McCormick holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing and an M.B.A. from Kent State University. He also holds a Certificate in Senior Housing and Care from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Mark McElwee
Vice President of Renaissance Gardens Operations
Mr. McElwee is the Vice President of Renaissance Gardens Operations for Erickson Retirement Communities. He is responsible for clinical services, rehab, admissions, nurse leadership development, and program support in Renaissance Gardens neighborhoods throughout the Erickson network.
Mr. McElwee started his career with Erickson in 1994 as a Health Services Business Manager at Charlestown in Catonsville, Maryland. He then served as Assistant Administrator while completing the Administrator-In-Training Program. Mr. McElwee served as Administrator at Oak Crest in Parkville, Maryland, before accepting a corporate position in Health Services.
He has a B.A. from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and an M.P.A. from the University of Baltimore. He is a licensed nursing home administrator in Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.
Mr. McElwee also serves on the Board of Directors for the Maryland Chapter Alzheimer's Association Board.
Will Nance
Executive Director of Greenspring
Mr. Nance has served as the Executive Director of Greenspring since June 2006. As Executive Director, he is responsible for the overall management of Greenspring, which employs nearly 1,000 staff and provides housing and services for over 2,000 residents.
Mr. Nance joined Erickson Retirement Communities in 1998 in the Marketing Department as the Sales and Information Director. In 2005, he was promoted to Associate Executive Director.
Before joining Erickson, he served as the director of communications for Prison Fellowship Ministries and held several political positions in the first Bush administration.
Born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, Mr. Nance received a B.S. in marketing from Auburn University in Alabama and an M.B.A. from Srathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland.
Marcia Price
Vice President of Operations Analysis
Ms. Price is the Vice President of Operations Analysis for Erickson Retirement Communities. She is responsible for all new site start-ups, project management, operations programming, and operations planning. She is also responsible for the development of operational models and programs to meet the ever-growing needs of Erickson.
Ms. Price started her career with Erickson in 1998 through the Executive Development Program. She served as the Health Services Director, then Regional Health Services Director responsible for all health services at Maryland-based Charlestown and Oak Crest. She became Senior Director of Operations for Renaissance Gardens and was responsible for opening Renaissance Gardens at Seabrook in New Jersey and at Greenspring in Virginia. In her most recent role, Ms. Price served as the Senior Director for Operations Analysis where she played a key role in developing community operational models as well as numerous start-ups.
She has an M.B.A. from the University of Baltimore and a B.S. in statistics and computer science from George Washington University. She is an active board member of the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, a Baltimore city schools program that helps high school students prepare for careers in business and entrepreneurship.
Magnus Rhyu
Vice President of Strategy
Mr. Rhyu is a Vice President with Erickson Retirement Communities and is responsible for Strategic Planning, Business Intelligence, and Internal Communications. He started his career at Erickson as a consultant in 2006 and assumed his current role in 2007.
Before joining Erickson, Mr. Rhyu served as a vice president with Touchstone Consulting Services where he led a practice specializing in strategic planning and performance management working both in the commercial and federal government sectors.
Before joining Touchstone, Mr. Rhyu helped start Online Resources Corporation, a financial services provider that went public in 1999. While at Online Resources, he served as CTO and held a variety of positions in product development, software development, project management, and data center operations.
Mr. Rhyu holds a master of business administration degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton Business School, and a bachelor of science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Wayne Rush
Vice President and Regional Development Director
Mr. Rush is Vice President and Regional Development Director for Erickson Retirement Communities. He is responsible for the mid-atlantic region.
Mr. Rush joined Erickson in 1990 as Director of Engineering. His previous accomplishments with Erickson include management of zoning, land development approvals, and site design for Charlestown in Catonsville, Maryland; Henry Ford Village in Dearborn, Michigan; Oak Crest in Parkville, Maryland; Cedar Crest in Pompton Plains, New Jersey; Fox Run in Novi, Michigan; Sedgebrook in Lincolnshire, Illinois; Ann’s Choice in Warminster, Pennsylvania; and Maris Grove in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania.
Before joining Erickson, he spent ten years in private practice with DeGrace and Salamone, P.A., an engineering and architecture firm in northern New Jersey.
Mr. Rush graduated with a B.S. degree in 1980 from Lehigh University. He is a licensed professional engineer in New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
William Russell
Vice President and Regional Medical Director
Dr. Russell received his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Baltimore City Hospitals and Francis Scott Key Medical Center. Dr. Russell is board certified in internal medicine, with added qualifications in geriatrics.
Ralph Snyder
Vice President of Erickson Advantage® Operations
As Vice President of Operations, Ralph Snyder is responsible for managing the expansion of the Erickson Advantage products and Member Services. Mr. Snyder has over 25 years of experience in operations, finance, and business development in both the provider and insurance segments of the health care industry.
Before joining Erickson Advantage, Mr. Snyder was a vice president and corporate officer of Mamsi Health Plans and United Health Care, where he was responsible for all network development activities for hospitals and ancillary providers for a six-state region with over $2 billion of annual spend.
Mr. Snyder has also held corporate roles in PHO and hospital organizations where he was responsible for business development, financial, operations, and strategic management.
Mr. Snyder received his B.A. degree and his M.B.A. degree from Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland.
Art Sparks
Executive Director of Seabrook
Art Sparks is the Executive Director of Seabrook in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. Previously he served as the Associate Executive Director of the Seabrook campus.
Before joining Erickson, Mr. Sparks was vice president of customer relationship management, for AT&T where he was responsible for an annual budget of $25 million and managed 20 work centers with more than 2,500 employees.
He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from Wittenberg University.
Lawrence A. Vidovic
Executive Director of Henry Ford Village
Mr. Vidovic is the Executive Director of Henry Ford Village in Dearborn, Michigan.
He came to Henry Ford Village in 1998 as the Director of Resident Life, where he created programs that enhanced the quality of life for the residents.
Before joining Erickson, Mr. Vidovic served as key administrator to Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan and taught graduate courses in gerontology at Wayne State University.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from Loyola University and a master’s degree from both Wayne State University and the University of Toronto.
Chip Warner
Vice President of Operations, Resident Life and General Services
As Vice President of Operations, Mr. Warner is responsible for the development, refinement, and successful execution of the Erickson Resident Life and General Services programs. Previously he served as Executive Director of Cedar Crest, located in Pompton Plains, NJ.
Before joining Erickson, Mr. Warner worked for Common Good Ventures, a venture philanthropy organization in Maine. Mr. Warner also served as an officer in the U.S. Navy, including tours of duty as a nuclear engineering officer aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. John C. Stennis and as an instructor of English literature at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Mr. Warner received a B.S. from the U.S. Naval Academy, an M.A. in English from the University of Maryland, and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Jim Wingardner
Executive Director of Brooksby Village
Jim Wingardner is Executive Director at Brooksby Village located in Peabody, Massachusetts. Mr. Wingardner also served as Associate Executive Director at Linden Ponds in Hingham, Massachusetts.
Before joining Erickson, Mr. Wingardner was employed at two area retirement communities for 11 years and also managed ten hotels over a 17-year career in the hospitality industry.
Mr. Wingardner holds a B.S. from Southern New Hampshire University in hotel and restaurant management and an M.S. in eldercare management from Lasell College.
