Seasoned Executives Join Lifespace Communities Board

Lifespace Communities, the nation’s seventh largest not-for-profit senior living company, appointed three veteran business leaders to its board last month.

The company welcomed Neal Yanofsky, chairman of Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Ana Dutra, CEO of Chicago’s acclaimed Executives’ Club, and Pat Spangler, CFO of VigiLanz Corporation.

Celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year across 12 life care communities in seven states, Lifespace will leverage the three board members’ expertise in corporate finance and business development as the company pursues an ambitious growth strategy.

After visiting two Lifespace campuses, Yanofsky said he was “tremendously impressed with the quality of the services and the appropriate ambition people have to be bigger and better.”

Yanofsky, who was formerly international president of Dunkin’ Brands as well as president of Panera Bread, where he helped double the number of restaurants and triple system-wide sales to $2.5 billion, said he was struck by how Lifespace leaders thought about business and operational trends while being caring and empathetic.

“That says a lot about Lifespace’s culture and its promise,” he said.

Lifespace’s potential attracted Dutra as well. As someone who confers regularly with CEOs in Chicago and around the world, Dutra knows that business leaders are waking to the “tremendous untapped opportunities” presented by an aging market, from focusing on older athletes – Dutra is herself a triathlete – to designing technology for older users. She said Lifespace is well-positioned by having a respected brand and a creative leadership team.

“I came from industries where I was always promoting growth and innovation, and I believe I can add a lot of value to Lifespace,” said Dutra, who turned Korn Ferry International’s leadership and talent consulting business into a $350 million global enterprise in a few years.

Like Yanofsky and Dutra, Spangler sees ways he can help Lifespace grow. “I look forward to helping Lifespace execute the growth strategy it is putting in place,” said Spangler, who brings to the board extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions and propelling high-growth companies.

Spangler also contributes more than 30 years of experience in the health care industry focused on providing better patient outcomes through data and new technologies. He sees Lifespace’s services completing the full continuum of care.

As CFO of VigiLanz, a privately held firm in health care information technology, Spangler executes both domestic and international growth strategies that allow for real-time monitoring of patient outcomes and improved operational performance. Previously, he served as CFO of Healthland, Inc., where he completed a $58 million acquisition that expanded the company’s reach into the long-term care market.

“Serving on the Lifespace board is the natural progression of my career,” he said. “And Lifespace is where baby boomers are heading.”

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