LeadingAge membership offers aging services professionals access to a network of peers. Be sure your colleagues know all your team’s latest additions, promotions, retirements, and honors by including them in LeadingAge’s Colleagues on the Move updates. Use our Member News form to share all the details—and watch LeadingAge’s What’s New page for all the member news you need!

Zehra Abid-Wood Becomes President of Lasell Village

Zehra Abid-Wood has taken over as the new president of Lasell Village, Newton, MA, Lasell University’s on-campus senior living and learning community.

Abid-Wood comes to Lasell Village with more than two decades of leadership experience, most recently as senior vice president of strategy and transformation at AlerisLife. She has been director of project and portfolio management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and has held C-suite leadership roles during pivotal transition periods at other organizations. She will report to the president of Lasell University and serve on the University’s senior management team.

Christopher Golen Joins Carleton-Willard Village as President and CEO

Christopher Golen has been appointed president and chief executive officer of Carleton-Willard Village (CWV), Bedford, MA. He succeeds Barbara Doyle, who retired after 41 years at CWV.

Golen has extensive executive experience in CCRCs in Massachusetts, in all facets of community life and management. He comes to CWV after 17 years at Benchmark Senior Living, where he was a campus director and regional director of operations.

Christopher Caserta is New CEO for Ascension Living

Christopher Caserta has been named chief executive officer for Ascension Living, St. Louis, MO. Caserta has over 20 years’ experience in senior living, health care services, and home and community-based services. Previously, he served as the vice president of strategy and marketing in the Continuing Care division at Trinity Health, and has held executive roles for regional post-acute care organizations and health systems.

Stacey Turner Appointed CFO at CJE SeniorLife

Stacey Turner has been appointed the new chief financial officer for CJE SeniorLife, Chicago, IL.

Turner succeeds the retiring Thomas Lockwood, executive vice president and CFO since 2015. Turner comes to CJE from Chicago Children’s Museum, where she was CFO, following a 30-year corporate finance career with General Electric.

Turner also serves on the board of Lincoln Park Community Services, an organization providing interim shelter and services to people experiencing homelessness.

Kelly McCool is New Senior Director of Admissions & Marketing for Barclay Friends

Kelly McCool has been appointed the new senior director of admissions & marketing for Barclay Friends, West Chester, PA, a Kendal affiliate. McCool brings more than 30 years of administrative experience in health care.

McCool has worked for a national nonprofit serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and behavioral health needs. Most recently she has worked as an admissions and utilization review manager. Her hiring comes on the heels of the retirement of Faith Woodward after nearly 40 years of service to Barclay Friends and the Kendal system.

Felecia Sveda Promoted to COO by Lenbrook

Felecia Sveda has been promoted to chief operating officer at Lenbrook, Atlanta, GA. In her 17 years with the organization, Sveda has advanced from a sales and marketing position to vice president, hospitality services.

Sveda’s new duties will include leading several new workforce initiatives by the organization: establishment of a base living wage and updated compensation studies for all positions; updated benefits to support mental and physical wellness for all staff; a strengthened human resources team; a new quality and performance improvement team; and updated versions of other HR programs.

United Church Homes Restructures Leadership, Forms New Partnership

United Church Homes (UCH), Marion, OH, has announced a leadership restructuring with the establishment of Radiant Alliance, a new partnership with CareSource and Metta Healthcare.

UCH has split the roles of chief executive officer and president. Rev. Dr. Kenneth Daniel, previously president and CEO of UCH, has assumed the role of CEO for both UCH and Radiant Alliance. Kenneth Young, former UCH senior executive vice president and chief development and legal officer, is now president of UCH and reports to Daniel. As part of the restructuring, two UCH executives—Terry Spitznagel, senior executive vice president and chief growth officer and Michael Hughes, senior executive vice president of digital innovation and transformation—will have expanded responsibilities in support of Radiant Alliance projects.

CareSource is a Dayton, OH-based nonprofit managed care organization, and Metta Healthcare is the parent organization of Ohio’s Hospice and Pure Healthcare, both LeadingAge members.

Nicole Breslin Returns to Campion Center as CEO

Nicole Breslin is re-joining Campion Center, Weston, MA, as chief executive officer. Breslin, who was Campion Center’s health care administrator from 2008-2015, returns after filling several roles for Covenant Health, most recently as CEO/president of Youville Assisted Living in Cambridge, MA. Breslin also chairs the LeadingAge Massachusetts Board of Trustees.

Joseph Frias Named President and CEO of North Hill

Joseph Frias, executive director of North Hill, Needham, MA, has been promoted to president and chief executive officer. He succeeds Ted Owens, who has retired.

Frias joined North Hill in 2017 and also has served as administrator and director of health care services. Before then, Frias held various positions at Brookhaven at Lexington, Genesis Health Care, and The German Centre for Extended Care. He also serves on the LeadingAge Massachusetts Board of Trustees.

LeadingAge State Partner News

Debra Williams is New Chair of LeadingAge Gulf States

Debra Williams, president and chief executive officer of The Glen, a Shreveport, LA, life plan community, has been named chair of the LeadingAge Gulf States board for 2023-2024. Williams has served on the board for seven years, previously as secretary/treasurer.

“Serving as Board Chair of LeadingAge Gulf States helps The Glen become more connected with national and regional organizations which help the older population. Our regional affiliation with LeadingAge has widened our network providing great potential,” Williams says.

Share your staff news, affiliations, and recognitions with our Member News form, and watch the What’s New page for the latest from your colleagues. Questions? Email Gene Mitchell or call 202-508-9424.

See previous editions of Colleagues on the Move:

• Colleagues on the Move, May 24, 2023
• Colleagues on the Move, June 7, 2023
• Colleagues on the Move, June 21, 2023