Sara Marcq

Manager
Baker Tilly
Chicago, IL, United States
  • 34-K. Let’s Talk: Adding Communications to Your Strategic Planning Process

    • Wednesday, October 28, 2026

    10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

    34-K. Let’s Talk: Adding Communications to Your Strategic Planning Process

    Strategic planning often falters when stakeholders don’t understand their role in the process or feel their voices aren’t being heard. This session will propose a powerful yet often-overlooked solution: supporting the strategic planning process with a robust communications plan. Presenters will share case studies of organizations that have led transparent, forward-thinking strategic planning processes by communicating effectively with residents, families, staff, board members, and community partners. You’ll learn how to implement collaborative planning approaches, determine the timing and depth of stakeholder involvement, build trust, and sustain momentum. Whether you’re preparing for your next strategic planning cycle or managing organizational change, this session will help you use clear communication to lead with clarity and confidence.

Melissa Markey

Director of Wellness
Westminster Canterbury Richmond
Richmond, VA, US
  • 49-F. Strategic Success: Engage Stakeholders and Measure Progress

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    49-F. Strategic Success: Engage Stakeholders and Measure Progress

    Westminster Canterbury Richmond took deliberate steps to enhance transparency and collaboration during its 2022 strategic planning process, which laid the groundwork for a major campus expansion. During this session, the organization’s chief executive and director of strategic growth will describe how they engaged workgroups of organizational leaders, board members, residents, and staff to set organizational priorities and identify desired outcomes. Presenters will showcase the accountability tool they used to check in regularly with more than 35 of the organization’s leaders. They’ll also present two case studies detailing the organization’s recommitment to strategic growth and its evolving approach to wellness and fitness. Learn how to implement a strategic planning process that engages stakeholders, measures progress, and ensures accountability.

Adam Marles

President & CEO
EverTrue
Saint Louis, MO, US
  • 55-K. The Growth Imperative: If the Market is Ready, Why Aren’t We?

    • Wednesday, October 28, 2026

    10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

    55-K. The Growth Imperative: If the Market is Ready, Why Aren’t We?

    Independent living occupancy has surpassed 90% nationally, even as inventory growth has reached record lows. With demand projected to accelerate, life plan communities must ask a critical question: If the market is ready for growth, why aren’t we? This session will help you become more comfortable with organizational growth. Presenters will guide you in assessing when to grow, when to wait, and which indicators matter most. They’ll share step-by-step processes to build alignment on growth across your organization and show you how to reduce uncertainty and accelerate progress. Learn to differentiate between healthy risk awareness and counterproductive risk avoidance, and get ready to take meaningful action to grow your organization.

Judy Martin

International Engagement Director
Anchor Excellence
Balmain East, NSW, Australia
  • 112-D. International Perspectives: Challenges, Innovations, and Global Lessons

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    112-D. International Perspectives: Challenges, Innovations, and Global Lessons

    As one of our youngest and fastest-aging continents, Africa has much to teach the world about providing inclusive, rights-based aged care characterized by resilience, strong community traditions, and limited resources. During this session, advocates and practitioners will explore the evolving landscape of aging and caregiving in Africa, including rural caregiving, community-based care, gender-based violence, legal and financial gaps, and elder-led advocacy networks. You’ll engage in a dynamic conversation about the current state of aged care in Africa, the African Union’s mission to integrate aging into law and policy, and the continent’s vision for the future. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover what your region can learn from Africa’s unique approach to aged care.

Travis Masonis

CIO & Vice President of Information Technology
Jewish Home
Rochester, NY, USA
  • 5-E. Maximize the Benefits of Bidirectional Data Exchange

    • Monday, October 26, 2026

    3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

    5-E. Maximize the Benefits of Bidirectional Data Exchange

    Bidirectional data exchange the process of sending and receiving data across organizations and care sectors is increasingly common nationwide thanks to federal interoperability initiatives. This session will show how aging services providers can maximize the benefits of this exchange for care delivery and business operations. Presenters will discuss how their life plan communities use health information exchanges to support coordinated care during care transitions, enhance emergency preparedness, and better serve older adults with multiple chronic conditions. You’ll also learn how data exchange supports health plan contract negotiations, population outcome reporting, and point-of-care interventions.

Michael Matthews

President
Matthews Development Company
Charlottesville, VA, United States
  • 131-K. Acquiring and Repositioning to Meet Consumer Expectations

    • Wednesday, October 28, 2026

    10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

    131-K. Acquiring and Repositioning to Meet Consumer Expectations

    What does it take to successfully acquire, reposition, and transform a senior living community in today’s competitive market? This session will explore how a multisite organization repositioned a fifth campus to meet residents’ evolving needs, promote holistic well-being, and ensure long-term sustainability. Presenters will share how they identified the acquisition opportunity, partnered with a financial services firm to craft the winning bid, and developed a phased master plan that balances innovation, resident appeal, and operational sustainability. They’ll explain why the organization declined to acquire the new campus’s skilled nursing component and how it intentionally designed other parts of the campus to support physical, social, and intellectual wellness.

Matt Mauthe

CEO
Illuminus
Watertown, WI, United States
  • 136-C. Promising Pathways to Aging Services Careers

    • Sunday, October 25, 2026

    4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

    136-C. Promising Pathways to Aging Services Careers

    Young people pursue various pathways to launch careers in aging services. Which of these pathways work well, and where are the gaps? This session will offer evidence-based answers to those questions. Presenters will share findings from new national research on academic programs, internships, mentorships, and Administrator-in-Training (AIT) programs that have helped students pursue careers in aging services and gerontology. They’ll also share strategies and case studies to help you create similar programs. You’ll hear success stories showing how organizations with modest budgets have attracted new talent. You’ll also take home a clear, customizable framework to reduce vacancies, strengthen career pathways, and develop the next generation of aging services leaders.

Jim Maxwell

CEO and CFO
Rockwood Retirement Communities
Spokane, WA, US
  • 38-B. Capital-Efficient Pathways to Meet Needs and Advance Mission

    • Sunday, October 25, 2026

    2:45 – 3:45 p.m.

    38-B. Capital-Efficient Pathways to Meet Needs and Advance Mission

    Nonprofit providers of aging services must scale their organizations to serve an older population that continues to grow each year. But how can growth be achieved when land options are limited, and expansion appears cost-prohibitive? This session will showcase a group of single-site and multisite organizations exploring capital-efficient pathways to meet local needs and advance their missions. Presenters will provide an inside look at how these organizations developed new campuses, implemented phased expansions, engaged in adaptive reuse of existing buildings, and established satellite communities. Learn how successful organizations use disciplined planning and evaluation to identify opportunities and mitigate risk. Get the guidance you need to achieve sustainable growth and capital-efficient expansion in constrained markets.

Dyan McAlister

Chief Financial and Strategy Officer
Presbyterian Senior Living
Dillsburg, PA, US
  • 41-A. The ABCs of Credit Ratings: A Guide for Life Plan Communities

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025

    1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

    41-A. The ABCs of Credit Ratings: A Guide for Life Plan Communities

    Life plan community leaders, financial officers, and strategic planners must have a solid understanding of credit ratings before they can help their organizations secure financing on favorable terms. During this session, Fitch Ratings, along with a diverse panel of providers from multi-site and single-site communities will present an overview of credit ratings, explain how to obtain one, and offer guidance on incorporating credit rating considerations into your strategic planning. You’ll receive tips for aligning capital projects and funding needs with your community’s credit profile, identifying and mitigating risks that could negatively impact your rating, and implementing practices that enhance credit strength. Prepare to improve your community’s credit profile and secure the resources necessary for growth and sustainability.

  • 107-B. Crisis and Issue Management: Best Practices for Senior Living

    • Sunday, November 02, 2025

    2:45 – 3:45 p.m.

    107-B. Crisis and Issue Management: Best Practices for Senior Living

    The dynamic and high-stakes nature of senior living environments requires robust strategies for crisis and issue management. This session, designed for senior living executives and legal compliance professionals, will explore best practices for navigating scenarios that can threaten operational stability, reputational integrity, and regulatory compliance. Presenters will offer practical insights into managing crises, including data privacy breaches and ransomware attacks. Participants will engage in an interactive game-show-like format to address scenarios involving regulatory scrutiny, media pressure, and internal investigations. Learn how to minimize liability and safeguard organizational trust while preserving confidentiality in privileged communications, managing relationships with third-party vendors, and addressing allegations of workplace misconduct.

Lisa McCracken

Head of Research, Analytics
National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry (NIC)
Annapolis, MD, USA
  • 50-G. The Senior Living Imperative: Prepare for Sustained Growth

    • Tuesday, November 04, 2025

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    50-G. The Senior Living Imperative: Prepare for Sustained Growth

    Senior living providers are experiencing unprecedented demand for housing and services from a changing consumer base. Providers can respond most effectively by identifying and capitalizing on new growth opportunities. During this session, experts from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care, NIC MAP, and Greystone will discuss relevant analytics and research findings related to market absorption, occupancy rates, and revenue growth in the senior living sector. Presenters will identify markets poised for expansion, help you assess financial performance and growth opportunities, and show you how to act on data trends and market dynamics to prepare your organization for sustainable growth. You’ll acquire the tools and insights to transform today’s market complexities into tomorrow’s successes.

  • 77-E. Positioning Senior Living in a Value-Based Care Environment

    • Monday, November 03, 2025

    3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

    77-E. Positioning Senior Living in a Value-Based Care Environment

    Recent research suggests that senior living residents experience lower mortality rates and fewer hospitalizations than their peers in the broader community. This session will explore what these research findings suggest about the growing value of the housing and care provided to older adults living in congregate settings. Presenters will discuss the role that senior living organizations play in delivering integrated solutions for chronic disease management and proactive well-care. They will also detail integrated housing and care models that offer preventive services while boosting resident satisfaction, improving healthcare outcomes, and providing financial incentives to senior living providers. You’ll gain insights into the role of data in positioning your community to participate in value-based care.

Sean McMahan

Chief Engineer
Horizon House
Seattle, WA, US
  • 74-A. Electrify Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow

    • Sunday, October 25, 2026

    1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

    74-A. Electrify Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow

    Is your senior living organization feeling pressure from rising utility costs, aging infrastructure, accelerating climate regulations, and residents who expect to live in an environmentally responsible community? It may be time to electrify. This session will share details of a life plan community’s three-year transition from near-total reliance on fossil fuels, such as natural gas and direct steam, to a system that uses electricity to supply 50% of the community’s heat and domestic hot water. Presenters will introduce you to a replicable electrification master plan that organizations of any size can implement, even with aging buildings, limited internal engineering capacity, or constrained capital budgets.

William McMorran

Sr. Partner
Green Oak Consulting Group
Los Angeles, CA, usa
  • 47-G. Fostering a Culture of Philanthropy in Life Plan Communities

    • Tuesday, October 27, 2026

    8:30 – 9:30 a.m.

    47-G. Fostering a Culture of Philanthropy in Life Plan Communities

    Faith-based senior living organizations can no longer rely solely on congregational support for financial sustainability. Instead, they must build internal fundraising capacity by fostering a culture of philanthropy among residents, many of whom don’t realize their monthly fees don’t cover all expenses. During this session, a life plan community’s chief growth officer will share how their organization and its foundation built relationships with key stakeholders and improved donor engagement. Presenters will explain why their fundraising efforts succeeded and how they plan to enhance them. You’ll discover how resident engagement, a strong gift structure, and AI-powered technology boosted their fundraising and could do the same for your organization.