Case Studies
Representative senior living leadership searches and the challenges behind them.
CASE STUDY
CEO Search for a Resident-Owned CCRC During the COVID-Era Market
Villa Marin retained LM Hurley & Associates to conduct a Chief Executive Officer search at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, following the early retirement of its longtime CEO.
The ChallengeVilla Marin needed a Chief Executive Officer for one of California’s most distinctive not-for-profit Continuing Care Retirement Communities. Located in Marin County near San Francisco Bay, Villa Marin is a stand-alone CCRC with 224 units, multiple floor plans, and a highly unusual resident HOA-owned and managed governance model.
The previous CEO had served the organization for 18 years and took early retirement. During the transition, the CFO served as interim CEO and reported to the HOA Board, which was led by its President, who also directed the search committee. The search began at the start of the COVID pandemic, creating a difficult leadership market and adding complexity to an already specialized CEO search. The board needed a senior living leader with executive presence, cultural sensitivity, operating experience, and the ability to earn trust within a resident-owned community. This search required more than finding an experienced CEO. Villa Marin needed a leader who could work effectively with a resident board, respect a distinctive community culture, and provide steady leadership during the beginning of the COVID-era market.The SearchLM Hurley & Associates traveled to San Rafael and met with the HOA President and the board members who comprised the search committee to understand the community’s needs, governance structure, and resident culture. The goal was to identify an Executive Director or CEO who had led, or was actively leading, a senior living community with similar care levels, apartment count, and an operating budget of approximately $15 million. The search focused on accomplished senior living executives with high integrity, strategic vision, strong interpersonal skills, and outstanding leadership ability. Candidates were also evaluated for board presence, California licensure or relevant long-term care experience, and their ability to make a strong cultural connection with the board and community. The ResultLM Hurley & Associates contacted and screened 110 prospects and interviewed 18 candidates. We narrowed the field to four top candidates and presented them to the organization. Villa Marin selected three individuals to interview and ultimately chose a candidate who not only met the executive search specifications, but also made a strong cultural connection with the board. An offer was extended and accepted within 67 days of engagement. The selected CEO joined the organization with more than 20 years of senior living operational leadership experience, including experience building high-performing teams, leading CCRCs, managing multi-site senior living operations, and supporting performance-based cultures. |
SEARCH SNAPSHOT CLIENT Villa Marin Search Model Retained Executive Search ROLE Chief Executive Officer TIMELINE Offer accepted within 67 days of engagement SEARCH ACTIVITY 110 prospects contacted and screened; 18 candidates interviewed FINALISTS Four top candidates presented; three interviewed by the client 
What Made It Complex
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Why This Search Mattered
This search helped Villa Marin secure new executive leadership at a critical moment. The organization was navigating the retirement of a longtime CEO while also facing the uncertainty of the emerging COVID-era senior living market.
By identifying and recruiting a CEO with the right combination of senior living experience, board presence, and cultural fit, LM Hurley helped the board bring stability and leadership continuity to one of California’s most distinctive resident-owned CCRCs.
By identifying and recruiting a CEO with the right combination of senior living experience, board presence, and cultural fit, LM Hurley helped the board bring stability and leadership continuity to one of California’s most distinctive resident-owned CCRCs.
