GARDANT MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Vice President Human Resources
- VP of Human Resources
With twenty-five years of human resource experience, Brenda Asher is the VP of Human Resources. Brenda holds a bachelor's degree in business management from Indiana Wesleyan University and has held the SHRM-SCP certification for fifteen+ years and was a certified Indiana mediator. She has over 5 years of experience with Gardant and has served in the roles of Regional HR Director and Director of HR Operations. Brenda oversees and supports the Regional HR Directors, Payroll and HR Compliance for the Gardant managed communities. She continues to support Gardant's growth and serves on the Community Team.
Job Titles:
- New VP of Clinical Services
- Vice President Clinical Services
With twenty years of post-acute care Nursing leadership experience, Chrisi Karcz is the new VP of Clinical Services. Chrisi has a master's degree in the Science of Nursing with a focus on clinical nursing leadership. In addition, Chrisi has her CRRN, a national certificate in Rehabilitation Nursing. She is a Silver Examiner for the Baldridge Quality Award. Chrisi is also an Ambassador for the Alzheimer's Association which includes advocacy for Alzheimer's care and research at both the State and Federal level. Chrisi joined Gardant in September of 2022, as the leader of Gardant's clinical team, and works directly with our clinical partners including EMR, Therapy, Pharmacy, and Primary Care Providers, as well as specialty healthcare services. In her role, she will continue to encourage professional growth and development of staff and will advocate for innovative and quality care of residents.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President Marketing / Sales / Engagement
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Vice President of Quality and Risk Management
As Vice President of Quality and Risk Management, Deborah oversees the Quality Program and incorporates an Enterprise Risk Management approach to identifying opportunities through claims management, event analysis, and risk mitigation.
Deborah is an experienced leader active in multiple State level Quality and Professional Development committees. Deborah's enthusiasm for finding opportunities through a comprehensive approach to adverse event analysis helps motivate process improvement and change management.
Deborah began her career at the bedside in critical care and emergency/trauma nursing. She then moved to managing the Risk program, Employee Health, and Workers' Compensation for a Hospital system that included a full service hospital, Outpatient Clinics, Provider group, Independent, Assisted, Memory Care, and Skilled Nursing facilities. Moving to Gardant in her leadership role has brought the benefit of thoughtful Enterprise Risk Management as an evolving need for the long-term care industry.
Walking the talk, Deborah lives her passion for professional nursing development, she is a licensed Registered nurse in the state of Illinois, a Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) and Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM) as well as a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP). She is currently the Past President of the Illinois Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ISHRM), was Illinois Risk Manager of the Year in 2016, and is a longtime member of the American Society of Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM). She also enjoys her membership with the Chicago Healthcare Risk Management Society (CHRMS).
Job Titles:
- Director of IT & Business Intelligence
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Development & Advocacy
As the Co-President and Chief Financial Officer, Greg brings more than 30 years of experience in accounting, financial management, real estate development, and the senior housing and care sector. He spent the past five years as the CFO of a Tennessee-based, multi-state operator of independent and assisted living communities affiliated with one of the largest skilled nursing providers in the country.
Strategic and analytical, Greg provides a fresh set of eyes to enhance financial and accounting processes for the company and will lead our efforts to continue positioning Gardant for financial stability and success.
Greg earned his business degree from the University of Tennessee and is a certified public accountant.
Job Titles:
- Vice President Construction Services
Since joining Gardant Management Solutions in 2000, Jamie has provided construction management, oversight and consulting services for more than 70 senior living, assisted living and memory care communities.
During the project development phase, he works with site designers, architects, engineers and builders, providing valuable insights into the design and specifications that enhance quality and generate savings during construction and in physical plant maintenance after construction has been completed.
During construction, he has served as owner's representative.
His experience includes new construction, expansions and renovations.
Jamie has successfully completed AGCA construction management courses in Productivity and Improvement, Planning and Scheduling, and Jobsite Safety and specialty training from OSHA and HILTI in Hazmat/MSDS, Firestop Systems, Safety, Scaffolding Erection and Use.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Co - President
- Officer
A lifelong learner, she continually seeks out trends and insights. As a relator, Julie is sought out by clients needing a new and strategic perspective on growth initiatives and marketing in the service-enriched housing sector. A true achiever, she works with purpose to help clients achieve their goals and thrives when helping others become more productive.
Proven in the industry with more than 30 years of experience in Market Rate and Affordable senior housing, Julie has been a speaker at numerous industry events and served on Argentum's COO and Marketing and Sales Executive Roundtables. Prior to Gardant, she worked in marketing and operations roles for Bickford Senior Living and Provena Senior Services.
Professionally, Julie serves on the Indiana Center for Assisted Living Advisory Council and the Medicaid Waiver Sub-committee for the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL). She also serves on the Indiana Health Care Association/Indiana Centers for Assisted Living (ICHA/INCAL) Board of Directors and is the Indiana State Leader for NCAL.
Julie was selected as a board member of the United Way of Kankakee and Iroquois Counties. She is the chair of the United Way Allocations Committee.
She is formerly a member of Vistage International, a leadership organization.
A Certified Marketing Professional, Julie earned her MBA from Trinity College and University and BA from Governors State University.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President Accounting
As Vice President of People, Lisa is responsible for leading the company's Strategic Human Resources initiatives with a focus on talent management and acquisitions, while enhancing employee engagement. She is certified through the Society of Human Resources program, earning the senior certified professional (SHRM-SCP) certification. She is also a member of the Argentum HR Roundtable and held a position on the HR Advisory Board for SHINE, to enhance Human Resources position in the Seniors Housing industry.
Prior to joining Gardant, Lisa held the Director of HR role for 13 years with Pathway to Living, where she led the team in recruitment and retention, learning and development and the automation of all HRIS initiatives to align with the overall company goals. Lisa has over 25 years of experiences in Human Resources over a few industries from Financial Services with GE and in the Manufacturing with Knight Industries as a VP of Shared services that included Human Resources, Learning and Development and Information Technologies.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Finance & Asset Management
Job Titles:
- Vice President Development & Positioning
Rick leads work in corporate development and strategic positioning for Gardant communities and our clients.
He brings a strategic approach to helping our clients and the communities we manage discover the best path for success. He understands that there is uniqueness to every situation, so individualized rather than cookie-cutter approaches are needed. Rick is a catalyst for making ideas happen and drives projects from inception through execution.
Rick brings more than 40 years of experience in the industry and has worked with senior living, assisted living and memory care communities and with hospitals and health systems throughout the United States. His experience encompasses all aspects of the marketing process, from market research and analysis through product development, pricing, and the development and implementation of strategic marketing and sales plans.
Rick has served as a judge for the National Mature Media Awards and been recognized as a WEGO Health Awards Finalist in the "Best in Show: Twitter" category and a Patient Hero Award nominee.
He currently is Chair of the Board of NorthPointe Resources, an organization that serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and individuals with mental illness. He is a Past Board Member and Board Chair of the Palatine Township Senior Citizens Council.
A member of the American Marketing Association since 1984, he graduated with a BA degree in Media Studies from the University of Detroit.
Rod has been at the helm of Gardant Management Solutions, formerly BMA Management, since the company was founded in 1999, serving as the company's first and only operational leader.
As a lifelong achiever, Rod has a drive to deliver exceptional results and believes success is earned each and every day. Rod has created a dynamic environment at Gardant driven by his inquisitive nature and thirst for learning and continually growing. The Gardant culture is largely defined by Rod's desire for harmony in building consensus and consistency in how every employee is treated with respect.
Through his leadership, Gardant has grown to be the 10th largest provider of assisted living in the nation and the largest provider of Affordable Assisted Living Communities in the State of Illinois. Currently, the Gardant management portfolio consists of more than 60 assisted living properties. These communities have touched the lives of thousands of older adults and their families over the past 20 years.
Prior to Gardant, Rod excelled through a 20-year career in the healthcare management fields of public health, home health, medical clinics, hospitals and nursing homes. During this experience, Rod served as Chief Executive Officer of two hospitals and held the position of Regional Director for a large nursing home ownership chain.
Rod currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Center for Assisted Living. He is the Past President of the Affordable Assisted Living Coalition and has served on the Supportive Living Facility Cabinet for LeadingAge Illinois, the largest elder care association in Illinois, and as a member of Argentum's COO Roundtable.
He earned his MBA through studies at St. Louis University and Eastern Illinois University, and received his undergraduate degree in Community Health from Eastern Illinois University. Rod currently serves on the Kankakee Community College Foundation Board of Directors.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President Accounting
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Operations
Stephen provides management and oversight for all Gardant communities. He supports the overall success of our communities and drives alignment with our mission, vision, and values. Stephen's transparent communicationbuilds trust with key stakeholders including our employees, residents, families, and operational partners.
Stephen has over 25 years of healthcare experience, across the healthcare continuum with a passion for senior living. Stephen's strategic leadership includes expertise in operational excellence, revenue enhancement, quality improvement and organizational programmatic development. Stephen has held multiple leadership positions including both a Skilled Nursing Facility Director of Nursing and Administrator, a Regional Administrator with the Illinois Department of Public Health, a VP of Quality & Compliance, and as an Operational Consultant. He has served on multiple boards and committees including Remedi Senior Care Advisory Board, NCAL National Quality Committee, and Argentum's Executive Roundtable.
Stephen completed his undergraduate degree in nursing at Northern Michigan University and attained his MBA in Healthcare Management in 2005.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President Operations
Teresa provides management and oversight of operations for all Gardant communities.
She helps communities achieve their goals and ensures residents and staff are in the best position to thrive at our properties. Her attention to detail allows her to focus in, bringing context to our strategic planning and looking ahead to make sure our company is a successful model for others in the assisted living industry.
Teresa has 30 years of healthcare experience, including expertise in the areas of clinical social work, acute care, skilled nursing, senior housing and supportive living. She has held positions as both a community administrator and regional director of operations.
She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for LeadingAge Illinois, the largest eldercare association in the state, and was a 2010 Leadership Academy Fellow for the national LeadingAge association. A proponent of growing new leaders in the specialty of geriatrics, she has worked as a practicum instructor at several universities and was a coach for the inaugural Leadership Academy for LeadingAge Illinois.
Teresa earned a master's degree in social work from the University of Iowa and an undergraduate social work degree from the University of Northern Iowa.