Transform - Senior Housing News

George Kutnerian, Co-Founder and CEO, Wellpointe Inc.

Chris Hollister, CEO, Pegasus Senior Living

Welcome to the latest episode of TRANSFORM from Senior Housing News! Pegasus Senior Living continues to grow. In 2026, the company surpassed 50 communities under management after taking on a portfolio of 10 communities in Texas. Their expansion aims to use scale as a strategic advantage, preparing for a future in which health care services are more tightly integrated with senior living, and operations center on personalized engagement and lifestyle enrichment. Joining SHN editor Austin Montgomery to discuss the growth strategy is Pegasus CEO Chris Hollister. Tune in now!

Tod Petty, Mainstay Financial, Chief Investment Officer

Middle-market senior living rates are still achievable through disciplined, math-driven operating models to meet rising acuity and affordability needs of older adults. That’s according to Mainstay Financial Services Chief Investment Officer Tod Petty, who rejoined the organization in June of 2025 and is now helping to expand the Lakeland, Florida-based senior living provider in the middle-market sector as demographic demand fuels senior living growth opportunities. Mainstay’s focus on middle-market affordability and secondary and tertiary markets across the Southeast comes as the private-pay senior living industry grapples with the affordability perception of its offerings in 2026. Petty sees middle-market senior living as a structural math problem, not a branding exercise, and says success hinges on aligning cost basis, operations and capital expectations. “For us, the middle market really isn’t a branding category. It’s a math problem, and we’ve structured the platform, the capital, the operations and our geography to solve that,” Petty said on the most recent episode of the SHN Transform podcast. Over the next 24 months, Mainstay is targeting an acquisition pace of two to four properties per year, primarily in the Southeast. The company plans to build clusters in markets where it already operates – such as Lakeland, Florida and larger metropolitan areas like Atlanta – to share resources and operate more efficiently. A key part of the company’s growth strategy is focused on secondary and tertiary markets to expand middle-market options with less competition than primary markets. These markets often have an “exploding” health care presence from regional hospitals, post-acute and urgent care providers that are all chasing the same demographic-driven demand.

Wayne Sanner, CEO Designate, Silverado

Welcome to the latest episode of TRANSFORM from Senior Housing News! In 2026, Silverado is continuing to evolve its operating model with new technology as the company prepares for future growth. Silverado’s Nexus memory care program, which provides early stage dementia care, continues to grow as the company emphasizes leadership development this year. If you ask Silverado CEO Designate Wayne Sanner, 2026 is all about being “bold” in staffing, programming and engagement to adapt memory care for the next generation of senior living residents. Sanner sat down with SHN to talk through the year ahead. Tune in now!

Christopher Metternich, COO, and Heather Terhark, CSO, Viva Senior Living

In 2025, Viva executed on rapid, but planned growth by doubling its management portfolio and taking on communities in new states. Thanks to the company's rapid growth, Viva is scaling systems and building out operations to support its growing base of nearly 2,000 employees. The expansion centers on assisted living and memory care communities, with Viva leaders embracing and preparing for the senior living industry's acuity-driven future as clinical needs become more complex and older adults wait longer to enter communities. In 2026, Viva will continue to integrate its latest communities into the fold and expand the company's leadership development efforts to cultivate talent from within. Senior Housing News reporter Austin Montgomery discusses these changes with Viva's Chief Operating Officer Christopher Metternich and Chief Strategy Officer Heather Terhark in the newest episode of TRANSFORM. Tune in now!

Sean Kelly, CEO, Front Porch Communities

Front Porch has witnessed growth in recent years, moving from post-merger integration into a future of strategic growth and reinvestment. A crucial part of this came earlier this year with the acquisition of Arch Development to bring in-house development management services for the nonprofit senior living provider. Rising demand and rising acuity have led Front Porch to look internally to change operations for current residents and future customers. Tune in now!

Adam Aisen, CEO, ECP

Joining us on today's episode of Transform from Senior Housing News is Adam Aisen, CEO of ECP, which provides a complete web-based software suite for assisted living and long-term care communities. In this interview, Adam and SHN's Jack Silverstein discuss the future of senior living capital, labor, and the impact of AI on both. Don’t miss this exciting episode!

Erin Shvetzoff Hennessey, CEO, Health Dimensions Group

In 2025, Health Dimensions Group has reached the milestone of 50 communities and the company is now looking internally to integrate new communities into its senior living portfolio. Crucial to these transitions are three distinct operations teams tasked with onboarding new properties. Tune in now!

Erin Shadbolt, CEO, Ascension Living

Ascension Living has undergone a strategic transformation in recent years, refining its portfolio to align more closely with its hospital system and expanding programs that support residents across the full continuum of care. The organization is investing in technology upgrades, geriatric care coordination, and staffing improvements to create a more seamless experience for residents and their families.

Lisa Hawthorne, CEO and President, Willow Valley Communities

In 2025, Willow Valley Communities tapped Hawthorne to be the company’s next top leader as the company prepares for continued growth to meet the demands of today’s senior living environment. From new development projects to focusing internally on improving staffing and operations, Willow Valley is prepared for incoming demand now and into the future.