Golden Living makes management changes

Dallas-based Golden Living announced Monday (April 11) a management shuffle that will see former Beverly Enterprises execs move back into top leadership positions.

Cindy Susienka will begin April 15 as the new chief operating officer for Golden Living. Susienka, who will be based in the company’s planned new headquarters in Dallas (Plano), will oversee operational management of all Golden Living companies, including the sales, marketing and clinical operations.

Larry Deans has been named chief business development officer, and his job is also effective April 15. Deans, also to be based in Dallas, Previously, Deans was president of Golden LivingCenters. Deans will work to build new business and services and evaluate merger and acquisition opportunities.

The company recently announced a set of growth initiatives that include moving between 10-15 top execs to a new headquarters in Dallas, and consolidating around 200 medical billing jobs to its Fort Smith administrative center. The administrative center, former the headquarters, will within the next 2 years employ close to 875 once the billing jobs are consolidated.
 
SUSIENKA
She comes to the new job after serving since 2006 as president and CEO of Delafield, Wisc.-based Golden Innovations, a subsidiary of Golden Living.

Golden Living subsidiaries include Golden LivingCenters, Aegis Therapies, AseraCare Hospice and Home Health, and 360 Healthcare Staffing. There are more than 300 Golden LivingCenters in 21 states. Golden Living also offers assisted living services at more than 40 locations. In addition, the Golden Innovations companies partner with more than 1,000 nursing homes, hospitals and other health care organizations in 37 states and the District of Columbia. The company has an average of 60,000 patients every day.

“Cindy has an outstanding track record both as an effective clinician and a proven business innovator who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a commitment to advancing quality and business growth,” Dr. Neil Kurtz, president and CEO of Golden Living, said in a statement. “I’m confident that with Cindy in this new role, our company will achieve new levels of operational excellence.

Prior to 2006, Susienka was executive vice president of Beverly Enterprises and COO of Aegis Therapies and AseraCare Hospice and Home Health. Susienka also previously held the positions of senior vice president of Beverly Enterprises, president of Aegis Therapies, and president of AseraCare Hospice and Home Health.
 
According to the Golden Living statement, Susienka worked with NovaCare Inc. for 11 years prior to joining Beverly Enterprises. Her role with NovaCare included responsibility for therapy services at 100 nursing homes and home care agencies. She also has experience as a speech pathologist, including work in programs based in hospitals, outpatient settings and schools.

Susienka earned a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in communicative disorders from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisc.

DEANS
Deans most recently worked as president of Golden LivingCenters — a job he has held since 2008. According to Golden Living, he will initially “focus on building the recently launched Golden Clinical Rx Solutions consulting pharmacy business and the automated in-house pharmacy dispensing business.”

Prior to 2008, Deans was executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Golden Living, where he helped in the transition of Golden Living following the acquisition of Beverly Enterprises in 2006. Deans also worked in 2003 as senior vice president of human resources for Beverly Enterprises.
 
“Larry has been instrumental in helping Golden Living evolve into the organization it is today, with a strong focus on quality and service excellence,” Kurtz said in the statement. “In his new role, Larry will have the opportunity to put his outstanding leadership skills and exceptional healthcare management experience to work in helping to position Golden Living for continued growth and success.

Deans earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Northern Illinois University.

ABOUT GOLDEN LIVING

The healthcare services company, which has more than 42,000 employees and provides nursing, rehab, hospice and other senior-care services, is owned by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems. San Francisco-based Fillmore Capital Partners (Fillmore Strategic Investors) is the managing agent for the retirement system. As of June 30, 2010, the value of the WSDRS investment in Golden Living (Fillmore Strategic Investors) was $1.121 billion, or 1.83% of all investments owned by the system.