Kim Gaskell has been promoted to COO of The RiverWoods Group, Durham, NH, after previously serving as vice president of operations. Gaskell will continue overseeing operations across the organization while expanding her focus on strategic initiatives, partnerships, and future growth opportunities. Gaskell joined The RiverWoods Group in 2018 as executive director of RiverWoods Durham, where she led the community through its opening. She was promoted to vice president of operations in 2022 and assumed responsibility for operational leadership across the organization. Beyond her work at RiverWoods, Gaskell is active in aging services leadership. In 2025, she received the LeadingAge Leadership Award, and was the second recipient of the national honor. She also has served on the Global Ageing Network Board of Directors and LeadingAge’s E2 Advisory Committee.

Heather Parrott Appointed Executive Director of Residences at Vantage Point

Heather Parrott has been appointed executive director of Residences at Vantage Point, Columbia, MD. She joined the community as Broadmead assumed management of Residences at Vantage Point on July 1. Parrott brings experience in senior living and healthcare leadership. Most recently, she served as CEO of Dogwood Village Senior Living and Health and Rehab, where she led initiatives focused on community culture, team development and resident experience.

Ashley Francis has joined Providence Health Care at the Woods, Terre Haute, IN, as director of human resources (HR). Prior to joining Providence Health Care at the Woods, Francis worked for more than two years at North American Lighting, Inc. Most recently, she served as HR generalist II. Francis earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in human capital management from Indiana State University in 2024.

Austin Locklear has joined The Village at Brookwood, Burlington, NC, a Kintura community, as associate executive director. In this role, he oversees healthcare operations and works closely with nursing leadership and clinical teams to support resident care. Most recently, he served as executive director of GlenFlora, where he worked for eight years. His interest in aging services began while attending East Carolina University, where he worked as a server at Cypress Glen, a life plan community (LPC) in Greenville. Locklear holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public health from East Carolina University, with a concentration in healthcare administration.

Susan DeMarois has been selected as the next president and CEO of LeadingAge California, effective October 2026. She succeeds Jeannee Parker Martin, who has led the organization for the past decade. DeMarois currently serves as director of the California Department of Aging, where she oversees statewide efforts supporting older adults, people with disabilities, family caregivers and local aging networks. In that role, she helped guide implementation of California’s Master Plan for Aging. Her previous experience includes serving as Western regional director of government affairs for the Alzheimer’s Association, assistant director of government and community relations at UC Davis Health System, and associate director of public policy at LeadingAge California.