When Keven J. Bennema launched Charter Senior Living seven years ago, he made a commitment to invest in a more hands-on leadership support team. This approach would allow them to be dedicated to traveling to each community with internal support rather than overseeing operations from a corporate office.
He says this approach has allowed for more consistent communication on every level. “We’re able to stay more connected to associates and identify red flags earlier,” Bennema says. “Because the leadership team is traveling and advising at the actual communities rather than in an office, we’re assured that we’re meeting more of the needs of our residents and the people working within each of our communities.” Because Charter does not have a corporate office, it allows every support team member to visit communities. Even Keven and his wife, Kim, have traveled up to five months out of the year in his Tiffin motorhome to meet with residents and employees and work on the front lines – and even help with day-to-day activities.
Charter Senior Living will continue to keep this approach by restructuring its leadership team and adding additional regional support to continue providing that hands-on approach Bennema is an advocate for and he spoke about in a recent Senior Housing News article and podcast.
The company is announcing senior living veteran and current COO Jayne Sallerson as the new President/COO. Bennema will remain the company’s CEO. Sallerson has worked with Charter for five years. Prior to this, she worked for well-known senior living providers, including Benchmark Senior Living and Emeritus Senior Living.
“Jayne’s commitment to enhancing the human spirit of our residents and our team members is truly inspiring,” says Bennema. “Her extensive experience in the senior living space and her advocacies for improving the lives of older adults are paving the way for future leaders in this industry. We’re fortunate to have her on our team and
are grateful for her service.”
“Charter Senior Living has always been a key contributor in transforming the field of aging, and through our reputation, we’ve been able to grow over the previous seven years,” says Sallerson. “This new structure allows me to focus on achieving our strategic initiatives and continue to strengthen Charter’s strong employee-centric culture. I’m thrilled to continue working with such an enthusiastic team and seeing the operational impact we’ll continue to make at our communities.”
Along with appointing Sallerson as President, the senior living provider has added two new leadership positions to the growing company. Cathy Hampton has been promoted to Vice President of Operations, and Leslie Eldridge has been named Regional Director of New Developments.
Hampton has been with Charter for nearly five years, working as Senior Regional Director of Operations. In her new position, she’ll oversee all Regional Directors of Operations, as well as the Director of Programming and Memory Care and the Director of Dining Services. Eldridge will transition from her previous position as Regional Director of Operations. Her transition will allow the Regional Director of Operations to focus on existing operating communities and have a dedicated resource focusing on new developments. “Our goal is to ensure we can maintain our hands-on approach to operating communities,” states Sallerson.
Today, Charter Senior Living is developing and managing 47 senior living communities in 13 states. More than 2,200 seniors live at these communities at any given time.
About Charter Senior Living
Based in Naperville, Illinois, Charter Senior Living is a caring and compassionate leader within the senior living industry. Whether it’s a new development, expansion, or repositioning of an existing community, Charter specializes in the growth of senior living communities with the depth and breadth of experience to handle the everyday details and nuances of developing, building, and growing occupancy to capacity of a senior living community. Charter owns, develops and manages more than 47 senior living communities, offering Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care services. A family-owned business with an executive team that has more than 100 combined years of experience in the senior housing industry, Charter Senior Living’s mission is “to enhance the human spirit” of residents, families and employees while serving with heart, purpose and courage – and to have fun while serving.