Thirty elite long-term care leaders have been elected to the second annual class of McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards winners, organizers announced Monday.
The sector veterans earned recognition for driving change, setting new standards and inspiring others. They were nominated by peers and selected by an independent, national panel of judges.
Honorees include an array of veteran long-term care operators, caregivers and affiliated professionals who have enjoyed careers of 20 years or longer performing at the highest levels in skilled nursing, senior living and home care.
“This is an incredible collection of veterans who have made lasting marks on their fields. Such a group of outstanding professionals may gather only once a year,” praised McKnight’s Publisher Craig Roth in announcing the winners. “We’re looking forward to seeing them all together in March to honor them in person.”
The Pinnacle Awards are a joint effort of McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and sister media brands McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care.
Winners will be celebrated March 21 at a gala awards ceremony and banquet at the iconic Ivy Room in Chicago. The event is open to all friends, family, colleagues and supporters. Coverage of the industry’s most vaunted independent awards program will appear both online and in print.
Pinnacle honorees are recognized in six categories. Winners were chosen by an independent panel of skilled nursing, senior living and home care leaders who assessed nominees across four major criteria groupings.
As part of the program, organizers will announce in January a Career Achievement Award winner, who also will be feted at the March ceremony.
Please check the program website at mcknightspinnacleawards.com for a gallery of winners and more information about the McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards, including details about the awards ceremony and dinner.
The 2024 McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards winners are:
Agent of Change Award
Vassar Byrd, Incoming CEO, The Kendal Corporation
Deke Cateau, CEO, A.G. Rhodes
Kristen Duell, Executive Vice President of Experience & Innovation, FirstLight Home Care
Phillip Hill, Administrator, Principle Long Term Care
Colleen Kamin, Executive Director, Anthem Memory Care
Marianne Longo, Chief Clinical Officer, Help at Home
David Totaro, Chief Marketing and Government Affairs Officer, BAYADA Home Health Care
Industry Ally Award
Andrew Carle, Lead Faculty, Senior Living Administration, Georgetown University
Clifton Porter II, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living
Inspiration Award
Mark Baiada, Chairman and Founder, BAYADA Home Health Care
Esther Kamara-Conteh, Vice President Care Management Operations, VNS Health
Esmerelda Lee, Chief Operating Officer/EVP, Century Park Associates
Roberto Muñiz, President & CEO, Parker Health Group
Cathy Williams, CEO, Winslow Campus of Care
Setting the Standard Award
Sheila Davis, Senior Executive Vice President, Area Operations, Always Best Care Senior Services
Jamie Dlatt, Chief Operating Officer, Legacy Healthcare
Charles “Chuck” Hastings, CFO/Vice President of Finance and Business Development, Juniper Communities
Kurt Merkelz, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, Compassus
John Swanson, CEO, Willow Valley Development Corp.
Raeann Voorhies, CEO, Vanda Health
Thought Leader Award
Joan DiPaola, Director Dementia Program Development, Harmony Village at CareOne Paramus
Jessica Fear, Senior Vice President, Behavioral Health VNS Health
R. Tamara Konetzka, PhD, Louis Block Professor of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago
E. Joseph “Joe” Steier III, President/CEO, Signature HealthCARE
Unsung Hero Award
Wendy Blackman, Director of Reflections, The Bristal at North Woodmere
Orah Burack, Senior Research Associate, The New Jewish Home
Business Partner Award
Tim Hadley, Former CEO, Evive Brands
Steven Littlehale, Chief Innovation Officer, Zimmet Healthcare Services Group
Cindy Smith, Director, Professional Services, Omnicare
Wendy Strain, Director of Consulting Services, Polaris Group
Editor’s note: This article has been modified from its original version to update the overall number of honorees.
