President & Chief Executive Officer

February 12, 2025

Deffet Group, Inc. is pleased to have been retained by Emerald Communities to conduct an executive search for a President & Chief Executive Officer.

Emerald Communities (EC) operates both Life Plan Communities and related senior-focused organizations to meet the needs of seniors in the states of Washington and Hawaii. It is a supporting organization for Emerald Heights and Heron’s Key (existing Life Plan Communities), along with Luana Kai, a Hawaii not-for-profit corporation in search of a site to build a new Life Plan Community. Emerald Heights and Heron’s Key, respectively based in Redmond and Gig Harbor, Washington, serve seniors with an array of living options, such as independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. Emerald Heights contains 492 total living units, while Heron’s Key contains 273 total living units. Of EC’s 353 total employees, 225 serve Emerald Heights and 128 serve Heron’s Key.

The President & CEO will serve as both the Chief Executive Officer of EC and its member communities, Emerald Heights and Heron’s Key. The President & CEO provides visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational oversight to advance EC’s mission and purpose of supporting aging with confidence and aligning EC’s core values of integrity, courage, trust, compassion and respect. The President & CEO works closely with and reports to the Boards of Directors, in order to focus on strategic vision and establish organizational goals and objectives. They collaboratively lead the corporate executive staff to manage resources and maximize the overall performance of the organization. The President & CEO also has direct supervisory responsibility for the Vice-Presidents of Finance/CFO, Marketing & Public Relations, Operations & Risk Management, the Chief HR Officer, and the Executive Assistant to the CEO.

The successful candidate for this position will have a Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred), with an emphasis on health care administration, gerontology, business management or related fields. Ideally, a minimum of ten years’ senior management experience in senior living is preferred, with five years at an executive level. Previous working in a staff role with a volunteer board in a not-for-profit organization is required, and a Nursing Home Administrator license is preferred.

The finalist must demonstrate a strategic vision, comprehensive board relations, strong financial acumen and have proven experience in day-to-day oversight of a multi-site senior living organization. They also must have knowledge of and proven experience with developing and expanding senior living communities. Finally, they will be visible to residents and be an ambassador for EC. 

This is an outstanding leadership opportunity for an individual who wants to lead a forward-looking organization of sophisticated and diverse residents and to continue to build upon its stellar reputation for providing an exceptional lifestyle in a vibrant environment.

Candidate nominations or expressions of personal interest may be directed in confidence to Elizabeth Feltner, Chief Executive Officer, Deffet Group, Inc., via email: info@deffetgroup.com.