Leading Executives in Assisted Living Facilities, Care Homes, Senior Housing
Denise W. Warren
Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Brookdale Senior Living
Interim CEO and board chair since April 2025, Warren is steering the nation’s largest senior living operator through a CEO search and portfolio-ownership push after a leadership transition, with guidance updates signaling improving performance.
Holly Belter‑Chesser
Chief Executive Officer, Atria Senior Living
Appointed CEO in March 2024 after 15 years with Atria, Belter‑Chesser now leads the Atria and Holiday by Atria brands across the U.S. and Canada, focusing on operational excellence and resident experience.
Jack R. Callison, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer, Sunrise Senior Living
Callison, Jr. has led Sunrise since 2021, bringing multi‑brand operating expertise to one of North America’s most recognized assisted living and memory care providers.
Chris Bird
President & Chief Executive Officer, LCS (Life Care Services)
Bird became President & CEO on January 1, 2025, succeeding longtime leader Joel Nelson; he now oversees the LCS Family of Companies, including Life Care Services, a top manager of senior living communities.
Brandon Ribar
President & Chief Executive Officer, Sonida Senior Living
Ribar, appointed CEO in 2022, is driving Sonida’s turnaround and growth strategy as a publicly traded operator of independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities.
Shankh Mitra
Chief Executive Officer, Welltower
Mitra has led the largest healthcare REIT by senior housing exposure since 2020, pairing data‑driven capital allocation with large‑scale operating partnerships across senior housing platforms.
Debra A. Cafaro
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Ventas
Cafaro, CEO since 1999 and chair since 2003, transformed Ventas into a leading S&P 500 healthcare REIT and an influential capital provider to senior housing operators.
Tom Grape
Founder, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Benchmark Senior Living
Founder and industry pioneer, Grape has built Benchmark into one of the Northeast’s largest operators, known for culture, service, and regional scale.
Richard J. Hutchinson
Chief Executive Officer, Discovery Senior Living
Hutchinson leads the largest privately held operator in the U.S. with a multi‑brand platform spanning ~350 communities and a heavy emphasis on analytics, sales enablement, and operational integration.
Paul Boethel
Chief Executive Officer, Watermark Retirement Communities
Named CEO in April 2025 in conjunction with Keppel’s full acquisition of Watermark, Boethel is focused on performance‑driven growth for the national luxury and middle‑market operator.
Dwayne J. Clark
Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman, Aegis Living
Clark, founder and CEO, is widely recognized for innovative design, hospitality‑forward operations, and a people‑first culture across Aegis’ West Coast portfolio.
Jon DeLuca
President & Chief Executive Officer, Senior Lifestyle Corporation
DeLuca, a longtime company leader, serves as President & CEO of the national owner‑operator, guiding growth, asset management, and service innovation across a broad U.S. footprint.
Dale Watchowski
President & Chief Executive Officer, American House Senior Living
Watchowski, also CEO of REDICO, has scaled American House through development and acquisitions, emphasizing hospitality‑driven senior living across the Midwest and beyond.
Tim Buchanan
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Legend Senior Living
Buchanan, an assisted living pioneer, founded Legend and continues to lead strategy alongside President Matt Buchanan, growing via clustered regional management and new development.
Gary Smith
President & Chief Executive Officer, Vi Living
Smith leads Vi’s portfolio of luxury life plan communities, extending the organization’s long track record in premium hospitality, wellness, and resident services.
R. Alan Butler
Chief Executive Officer, Erickson Senior Living
Butler oversees one of the largest U.S. life plan community developers/operators, integrating health care, services, and amenities across large‑scale campuses.
Brenda J. Bacon
President & Chief Executive Officer, Brandywine Living
Co‑founder and CEO, Bacon is a nationally recognized senior living leader known for high‑touch assisted living and memory care communities throughout the Mid‑Atlantic.
Earl Parker
Chief Executive Officer & President, Commonwealth Senior Living
Parker leads the Virginia‑based operator’s growth and operations, bringing decades of hospitality and senior housing experience to a portfolio focused on personalized care.
Chris Hollister
Co‑Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Chair, Pegasus Senior Living
Co‑founder and CEO, Hollister is driving expansion and brand refreshes across Pegasus communities, with a focus on differentiated experiences and regional growth.
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