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Board of Directors
Non-Executive Chairman
Denise W. Warren joined Brookdale’s Board in October 2018 as an independent director. Ms. Warren brings more than 30 years of operational, financial and healthcare experience. Most recently, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of WakeMed Health & Hospitals from October 2015 through December 2020, where she was responsible for the strategic, financial and operational performance of the organization's network of facilities in the North Carolina Research Triangle area. Prior to that, from 2005 to September 2015, Ms. Warren served as Chief Financial Officer of Capella Healthcare, Inc., an owner and operator of general acute-care hospitals, as well as its Executive Vice President since January 2014, and as its Senior Vice President prior to that. Before joining Capella, she served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gaylord Entertainment Company from 2000 to 2001, as Senior Equity Analyst and Research Director for Avondale Partners LLC and as Senior Equity Analyst for Merrill Lynch & Co. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors of TruBridge, Inc. (formerly known as Computer Programs and Systems, Inc.), where she serves as Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Newport Healthcare, Straive, and Virtusa, Inc. Ms. Warren is National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Directorship Certified(TM) and received a Corporate Directors Certificate from Harvard Business School. Ms. Warren earned a B.S. degree in Economics from Southern Methodist University and an M.B.A. from Harvard University.
Non-Executive Chairman
Denise W. Warren joined Brookdale’s Board in October 2018 as an independent director. Ms. Warren brings more than 30 years of operational, financial and healthcare experience. Most recently, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of WakeMed Health & Hospitals from October 2015 through December 2020, where she was responsible for the strategic, financial and operational performance of the organization's network of facilities in the North Carolina Research Triangle area. Prior to that, from 2005 to September 2015, Ms. Warren served as Chief Financial Officer of Capella Healthcare, Inc., an owner and operator of general acute-care hospitals, as well as its Executive Vice President since January 2014, and as its Senior Vice President prior to that. Before joining Capella, she served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Gaylord Entertainment Company from 2000 to 2001, as Senior Equity Analyst and Research Director for Avondale Partners LLC and as Senior Equity Analyst for Merrill Lynch & Co. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors of TruBridge, Inc. (formerly known as Computer Programs and Systems, Inc.), where she serves as Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Compensation Committee. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Newport Healthcare, Straive, and Virtusa, Inc. Ms. Warren is National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Directorship Certified(TM) and received a Corporate Directors Certificate from Harvard Business School. Ms. Warren earned a B.S. degree in Economics from Southern Methodist University and an M.B.A. from Harvard University.
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Lucinda (“Cindy”) Baier is the President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors of Brookdale Senior Living, the nation's premier operator of senior living communities.
Ms. Baier became Brookdale's President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors on February 28, 2018. From the beginning, she initiated the company's operational turnaround strategy and developed the “Winning Locally” action plan. Within her second year, the company's Net Promoter Score® increased 20%. In her third year as CEO in 2020, J.D. Power recognized the company as #1 in customer satisfaction (in a tie) in assisted living/memory care communities. As CEO, she led the company through the largest public health crisis in 100 years by prioritizing the health and well-being of its residents, patients, and associates. She focused the company’s efforts on increasing diversity, including the Board and executive leadership team approaching gender parity in 2020. Ms. Baier led Brookdale's efforts to negotiate and restructure leases with its largest three REIT partners. She led the company through the sale of assets, including Brookdale's interest in the unconsolidated entry CCRC ventures and the majority share of its home health, hospice, and outpatient therapy business. These deals unlocked significant value for Brookdale and shareholders. In 2022 Baier published her first book Heroes Work Here: An Extraordinary Story of Courage, Resilience, and Hope from the Front Lines of COVID-19 in which she shares how she and her team led Brookdale through the COVID-19 pandemic. Then in late 2022 J.D. Power once again recognized Brookdale as #1 in customer satisfaction (in a tie) in assisted living/memory care communities.
Ms. Baier has served more than a decade as a board member for public and private companies. Currently, she is on the board of directors of the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), where she serves as chair of the Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging Committee, the Nashville Health Care Council, where she serves as Chair, and the Nashville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She is a member of the NYSE Board Advisory Council, which identifies and connects diverse board candidates to NYSE-listed companies seeking new directors, and serves on the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Board, including as Chair of its Quality and Safety Committee and as a member of its Audit and Compliance Committee.
A number of organizations have recognized Ms. Baier, including the CEO Forum Group’s 2021 Top 10 CEOs Transforming Healthcare in America; Nashville Medical News’ Class of 2021 “Women to Watch”; Corporate Citizenship 2020 Award from the Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board; one of McKnight's 2020 "Women of Distinction"; and named to Nashville Business Journal's "Most Admired CEO" list four times.
Before becoming CEO of Brookdale, Ms. Baier was the company's Chief Financial Officer beginning in December 2015. In addition to experience as a seasoned chief financial officer for several companies, she has been responsible for multi-billion-dollar operations, the chief executive officer for a publicly-traded retailer, and served as an executive officer of a Fortune 30 company.
Ms. Baier is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of Illinois State University, with Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Accounting.
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Lucinda (“Cindy”) Baier is the President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors of Brookdale Senior Living, the nation's premier operator of senior living communities.
Ms. Baier became Brookdale's President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors on February 28, 2018. From the beginning, she initiated the company's operational turnaround strategy and developed the “Winning Locally” action plan. Within her second year, the company's Net Promoter Score® increased 20%. In her third year as CEO in 2020, J.D. Power recognized the company as #1 in customer satisfaction (in a tie) in assisted living/memory care communities. As CEO, she led the company through the largest public health crisis in 100 years by prioritizing the health and well-being of its residents, patients, and associates. She focused the company’s efforts on increasing diversity, including the Board and executive leadership team approaching gender parity in 2020. Ms. Baier led Brookdale's efforts to negotiate and restructure leases with its largest three REIT partners. She led the company through the sale of assets, including Brookdale's interest in the unconsolidated entry CCRC ventures and the majority share of its home health, hospice, and outpatient therapy business. These deals unlocked significant value for Brookdale and shareholders. In 2022 Baier published her first book Heroes Work Here: An Extraordinary Story of Courage, Resilience, and Hope from the Front Lines of COVID-19 in which she shares how she and her team led Brookdale through the COVID-19 pandemic. Then in late 2022 J.D. Power once again recognized Brookdale as #1 in customer satisfaction (in a tie) in assisted living/memory care communities.
Ms. Baier has served more than a decade as a board member for public and private companies. Currently, she is on the board of directors of the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), where she serves as chair of the Diversity Equity Inclusion and Belonging Committee, the Nashville Health Care Council, where she serves as Chair, and the Nashville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She is a member of the NYSE Board Advisory Council, which identifies and connects diverse board candidates to NYSE-listed companies seeking new directors, and serves on the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Board, including as Chair of its Quality and Safety Committee and as a member of its Audit and Compliance Committee.
A number of organizations have recognized Ms. Baier, including the CEO Forum Group’s 2021 Top 10 CEOs Transforming Healthcare in America; Nashville Medical News’ Class of 2021 “Women to Watch”; Corporate Citizenship 2020 Award from the Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board; one of McKnight's 2020 "Women of Distinction"; and named to Nashville Business Journal's "Most Admired CEO" list four times.
Before becoming CEO of Brookdale, Ms. Baier was the company's Chief Financial Officer beginning in December 2015. In addition to experience as a seasoned chief financial officer for several companies, she has been responsible for multi-billion-dollar operations, the chief executive officer for a publicly-traded retailer, and served as an executive officer of a Fortune 30 company.
Ms. Baier is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of Illinois State University, with Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Accounting.
Director
Jordan R. Asher, M.D., M.S., joined Brookdale’s Board of Directors in February 2020 as an independent director and brings more than 20 years of expertise and a history of success in large matrixed, mission-based, national healthcare systems. He currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer of Sentara Healthcare, a large integrated delivery health system including a clinically integrated network and insurance company serving Virginia and North Carolina, where he has a wide range of responsibilities, including creating high quality, equitable, and innovative models of care delivery as well as providing national thought leadership directed towards the future of healthcare. From 2018 to 2023, he served as the Chief Physician Executive and Senior Vice President of Sentara. Prior to Sentara, Dr. Asher served in several executive roles with Ascension since 2006, including Chief Clinical Officer of its Ascension Care Management subsidiary from 2016 to 2018 with responsibility for network development and population and risk management, Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Innovation Officer of Ascension’s MissionPoint Health Partners subsidiary from 2015 to 2016, and Chief Medical Officer and Chief Integration Officer of MissionPoint Health Partners from 2011 to 2015. Dr. Asher earned a B.S. in Biology from Emory University, an M.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and an M.S. in Medical Management from the University of Texas at Dallas and Southwestern Medical Center.
Director
Jordan R. Asher, M.D., M.S., joined Brookdale’s Board of Directors in February 2020 as an independent director and brings more than 20 years of expertise and a history of success in large matrixed, mission-based, national healthcare systems. He currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer of Sentara Healthcare, a large integrated delivery health system including a clinically integrated network and insurance company serving Virginia and North Carolina, where he has a wide range of responsibilities, including creating high quality, equitable, and innovative models of care delivery as well as providing national thought leadership directed towards the future of healthcare. From 2018 to 2023, he served as the Chief Physician Executive and Senior Vice President of Sentara. Prior to Sentara, Dr. Asher served in several executive roles with Ascension since 2006, including Chief Clinical Officer of its Ascension Care Management subsidiary from 2016 to 2018 with responsibility for network development and population and risk management, Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Innovation Officer of Ascension’s MissionPoint Health Partners subsidiary from 2015 to 2016, and Chief Medical Officer and Chief Integration Officer of MissionPoint Health Partners from 2011 to 2015. Dr. Asher earned a B.S. in Biology from Emory University, an M.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and an M.S. in Medical Management from the University of Texas at Dallas and Southwestern Medical Center.
Director
Frank M. Bumstead has over 40 years' experience in the field of business and investment management and financial and investment advisory services, including representing buyers and sellers in a number of merger and acquisition transactions. Mr. Bumstead is a principal shareholder of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc., a business management firm that represents artists, songwriters and producers in the music industry as well as athletes and other high net worth clients, and has been with the firm since 1989. From 1993 to December 1998, Mr. Bumstead served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FBMS Financial, Inc., a registered investment advisor. Mr. Bumstead joined Brookdale’s Board of Directors in August 2006 and is an independent director. Prior to Brookdale’s acquisition of American Retirement Corporation (“ARC”), Mr. Bumstead served as the Lead Director of ARC, where he had served as a member of the Board of Directors for 11 years. Mr. Bumstead served on the Board of Directors of Syntroleum Corporation from 1993 to 2014. In addition, he previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Country Music Association, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee of the Memorial Foundation, Inc., a charitable foundation, and as a member of the Board of Advisors of United Supermarkets of Texas, LLC and was Chairman of its Finance and Audit Committee. Mr. Bumstead received a B.B.A. degree from Southern Methodist University and a Masters of Business Management from Vanderbilt University’s Owen School of Management.
Director
Frank M. Bumstead has over 40 years' experience in the field of business and investment management and financial and investment advisory services, including representing buyers and sellers in a number of merger and acquisition transactions. Mr. Bumstead is a principal shareholder of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc., a business management firm that represents artists, songwriters and producers in the music industry as well as athletes and other high net worth clients, and has been with the firm since 1989. From 1993 to December 1998, Mr. Bumstead served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of FBMS Financial, Inc., a registered investment advisor. Mr. Bumstead joined Brookdale’s Board of Directors in August 2006 and is an independent director. Prior to Brookdale’s acquisition of American Retirement Corporation (“ARC”), Mr. Bumstead served as the Lead Director of ARC, where he had served as a member of the Board of Directors for 11 years. Mr. Bumstead served on the Board of Directors of Syntroleum Corporation from 1993 to 2014. In addition, he previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Country Music Association, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Finance and Investment Committee of the Memorial Foundation, Inc., a charitable foundation, and as a member of the Board of Advisors of United Supermarkets of Texas, LLC and was Chairman of its Finance and Audit Committee. Mr. Bumstead received a B.B.A. degree from Southern Methodist University and a Masters of Business Management from Vanderbilt University’s Owen School of Management.
Director
Ms. Drayton brings more than 20 years of operational and financial experience in healthcare and biotech companies. Currently, she serves on the board of 3D Systems Inc. (NYSE: DDD) where she is a member of the Audit Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee. Most recently, she served as the Chief Financial Officer of Quantum-Si Incorporated, a publicly-traded life-sciences company focused on protein sequencing and genomics for the healthcare industry. She held this role from April 2021 until June 2023, and during her tenure she oversaw the company’s successful transition to a publicly traded company. Prior to that Ms. Drayton served as the Chief Financial Officer of Nuwellis, Inc., a publicly-traded medical device company focusing on commercializing ultrafiltration technology for patients with heart failure. Before joining Nuwellis, she spent 15 years at Medtronic, a global leader in medical devices, where she held leadership positions of increasing responsibility in the finance organization. These included Chief Financial Officer for both the Peripheral Vascular and the Integrated Health Solutions business units. She began her career at Arthur Andersen LLP where she was an audit manager. Ms. Drayton received a B.B.A in Accounting from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and an M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
Director
Ms. Drayton brings more than 20 years of operational and financial experience in healthcare and biotech companies. Currently, she serves on the board of 3D Systems Inc. (NYSE: DDD) where she is a member of the Audit Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee. Most recently, she served as the Chief Financial Officer of Quantum-Si Incorporated, a publicly-traded life-sciences company focused on protein sequencing and genomics for the healthcare industry. She held this role from April 2021 until June 2023, and during her tenure she oversaw the company’s successful transition to a publicly traded company. Prior to that Ms. Drayton served as the Chief Financial Officer of Nuwellis, Inc., a publicly-traded medical device company focusing on commercializing ultrafiltration technology for patients with heart failure. Before joining Nuwellis, she spent 15 years at Medtronic, a global leader in medical devices, where she held leadership positions of increasing responsibility in the finance organization. These included Chief Financial Officer for both the Peripheral Vascular and the Integrated Health Solutions business units. She began her career at Arthur Andersen LLP where she was an audit manager. Ms. Drayton received a B.B.A in Accounting from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and an M.B.A. from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
Director
Victoria L. Freed joined Brookdale’s Board in October 2019 and is an independent director. She brings more than 25 years of executive leadership in the areas of sales, customer service and marketing, and has earned numerous awards for outstanding achievement in sales and marketing during her career. Ms. Freed is Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support and Service for Royal Caribbean International, having served in that role since 2008, where she oversees the largest sales team in the cruise line industry and also manages the company’s consumer outreach, reservations, group sales and customer service functions. Prior to her service with Royal Caribbean, Ms. Freed worked for 29 years with Carnival Cruise Lines, where she served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing during the last 15 years of her tenure. Ms. Freed served on the Board of Directors of ILG, Inc. (f/k/a Interval Leisure Group, Inc.) from 2012 until its acquisition by Marriott Vacations Worldwide in 2018. She is a trustee of the United Way of Miami-Dade County and serves as a member of the board of Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options (JAFCO). Ms. Freed earned a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Colorado.
Director
Victoria L. Freed joined Brookdale’s Board in October 2019 and is an independent director. She brings more than 25 years of executive leadership in the areas of sales, customer service and marketing, and has earned numerous awards for outstanding achievement in sales and marketing during her career. Ms. Freed is Senior Vice President of Sales, Trade Support and Service for Royal Caribbean International, having served in that role since 2008, where she oversees the largest sales team in the cruise line industry and also manages the company’s consumer outreach, reservations, group sales and customer service functions. Prior to her service with Royal Caribbean, Ms. Freed worked for 29 years with Carnival Cruise Lines, where she served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing during the last 15 years of her tenure. Ms. Freed served on the Board of Directors of ILG, Inc. (f/k/a Interval Leisure Group, Inc.) from 2012 until its acquisition by Marriott Vacations Worldwide in 2018. She is a trustee of the United Way of Miami-Dade County and serves as a member of the board of Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options (JAFCO). Ms. Freed earned a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in marketing from the University of Colorado.
Director
Ms. Mace has more than 30 years of experience in research, economics, and market analysis. Most recently, she served as the Chief Economist and Director of Research and Analytics at the NIC from 2014 to June 2023. Prior to serving on NIC’s leadership team, she served on the NIC Board of Directors and chaired its Research Committee. She has also previously served as a director at AEW Capital Management and worked in the AEW Research Group for 17 years. Before AEW, she also spent 10 years at Standard & Poor’s DRI/McGraw-Hill as director of its Regional Information Service. Ms. Mace also worked as a regional economist at Crocker Bank, and for the National Commission on Air Quality, the Brookings Institute, and Boston Edison. She is currently a member of the Institutional Real Estate Americas Editorial Board. In 2020, Ms. Mace was inducted into the McKnight’s Women of Distinction Hall of Honor. In 2014, she was appointed a fellow at the Homer Hoyt Institute and was awarded the title of a “Woman of Influence” in commercial real estate by Real Estate Forum Magazine and Globe Street. Ms. Mace received a bachelor’s degree from the Mount Holyoke College and a Master’s of Science in Applied Economics from the University of California. She also earned a Certified Business Economist™ designation from the National Association of Business Economists.
Director
Ms. Mace has more than 30 years of experience in research, economics, and market analysis. Most recently, she served as the Chief Economist and Director of Research and Analytics at the NIC from 2014 to June 2023. Prior to serving on NIC’s leadership team, she served on the NIC Board of Directors and chaired its Research Committee. She has also previously served as a director at AEW Capital Management and worked in the AEW Research Group for 17 years. Before AEW, she also spent 10 years at Standard & Poor’s DRI/McGraw-Hill as director of its Regional Information Service. Ms. Mace also worked as a regional economist at Crocker Bank, and for the National Commission on Air Quality, the Brookings Institute, and Boston Edison. She is currently a member of the Institutional Real Estate Americas Editorial Board. In 2020, Ms. Mace was inducted into the McKnight’s Women of Distinction Hall of Honor. In 2014, she was appointed a fellow at the Homer Hoyt Institute and was awarded the title of a “Woman of Influence” in commercial real estate by Real Estate Forum Magazine and Globe Street. Ms. Mace received a bachelor’s degree from the Mount Holyoke College and a Master’s of Science in Applied Economics from the University of California. She also earned a Certified Business Economist™ designation from the National Association of Business Economists.
Director
Lee S. Wielansky joined Brookdale’s Board in April 2015 as an independent director. Mr. Wielansky has more than 40 years of commercial real estate investment, management and development experience. He currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Opportunistic Equities, which specializes in low-income housing. He has also served as Chairman and CEO of Midland Development Group, Inc., which he re-started in 2003 and focused on the development of retail properties in the mid-west and southeast. Prior to Midland, he served as President and CEO of JDN Development Company, Inc. and as a director of JDN Realty Corporation. Before joining JDN, he served as Managing Director – Investments of Regency Centers Corporation, which in 1998 acquired Midland Development Group, a retail properties development company co-founded by Mr. Wielansky in 1983. Mr. Wielansky served as Brookdale’s Non-Executive Chairman of the Board from February 2018 through December 2019. He is an independent director. He also serves as Lead Trustee of Acadia Realty Trust and served as a director of Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. from 2007 to 2017 and Pulaski Financial Corp. from 2005 to 2016. He also serves as a member of the Board of Clayco Construction Company. Mr. Wielansky received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, with a major in Real Estate and Finance, from the University of Missouri – Columbia, where he is currently a member of the Strategic Development Board of the College of Business. He also serves on the Board of Directors of The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital and on the Finance Committee of both the Foundation and the Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Director
Lee S. Wielansky joined Brookdale’s Board in April 2015 as an independent director. Mr. Wielansky has more than 40 years of commercial real estate investment, management and development experience. He currently serves as Chairman and CEO of Opportunistic Equities, which specializes in low-income housing. He has also served as Chairman and CEO of Midland Development Group, Inc., which he re-started in 2003 and focused on the development of retail properties in the mid-west and southeast. Prior to Midland, he served as President and CEO of JDN Development Company, Inc. and as a director of JDN Realty Corporation. Before joining JDN, he served as Managing Director – Investments of Regency Centers Corporation, which in 1998 acquired Midland Development Group, a retail properties development company co-founded by Mr. Wielansky in 1983. Mr. Wielansky served as Brookdale’s Non-Executive Chairman of the Board from February 2018 through December 2019. He is an independent director. He also serves as Lead Trustee of Acadia Realty Trust and served as a director of Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. from 2007 to 2017 and Pulaski Financial Corp. from 2005 to 2016. He also serves as a member of the Board of Clayco Construction Company. Mr. Wielansky received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, with a major in Real Estate and Finance, from the University of Missouri – Columbia, where he is currently a member of the Strategic Development Board of the College of Business. He also serves on the Board of Directors of The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital and on the Finance Committee of both the Foundation and the Barnes-Jewish Hospital.