LIFESPACE COMMUNITIES APPOINTS THREE SEASONED EXECUTIVES TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DALLAS and WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (Jan. 11, 2022) — Lifespace Communities, the nation’s eighth largest not-for-profit senior living organization, appointed three veteran business leaders to its board of directors.

The company welcomed David S. Williams, III, co-founder and CEO of Care3, Inc.; Gary Blackford, chairman of Avanos Medical, Inc.; and Jonathan Sokeye, chief financial officer of Carolina Complete Health, Inc. as its newest board members.

Celebrating its 45th anniversary this year across 14 life care communities in seven states, Lifespace will leverage the three board members’ expertise in healthcare, corporate finance, data and operations as the organization pursues an ambitious growth strategy.

“We are excited to welcome David, Gary, and Jonathan to the board as each of them brings unique skills and leadership to help us better serve our communities and grow our organization,” said Jesse Jantzen, CEO of Lifespace.

Williams, Blackford, and Sokeye join the Lifespace Communities board as current board members, Paula Shives and Robert Kehm’s terms conclude in April 2022. All three will serve four-year terms.

Williams brings vast experience in developing and launching digital healthcare applications and platforms and hopes to “help make Lifespace a technological innovation leader in the way they deliver their services, both physically and digitally,” Williams said. “There is clearly a cohesion and rallying behind the mission that attracted me and is imperative to Lifespace’s success.”

Blackford transformed Universal Hospital Services, Inc., from a regional medical technology rental company to a national leader in medical technology outsourcing and life cycle solutions. He said: “I believe I can bring value to the organization, and the Lifespace board and management team is a great fit. I am excited about getting to know them to help make Lifespace a better, stronger organization.”

“I’m impressed that Lifespace thinks so highly of residents and their feedback that they saw fit to bring a resident on the board – this was a real gamechanger for me,” Sokeye said. He brings more than 23 years of health care industry leadership experience, including a managed care health plan start up, home health, home infusion and biopharmaceuticals.

 

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