Case Studies
Representative senior living leadership searches and the challenges behind them.
CASE STUDY
CEO Search for a Resident-Owned CCRC
Villa Marin, a distinctive resident HOA-owned CCRC in Marin County, retained LM Hurley & Associates for a second CEO search after the CEO previously placed by LMH was recruited to a larger community.
The ChallengeVilla Marin needed a Chief Executive Officer who could lead one of California’s most distinctive senior living communities. The community is a stand-alone CCRC in Marin County with 224 units, multiple floor plans, and a highly unusual resident HOA-owned and managed governance model.
This was the second CEO search LM Hurley & Associates conducted for Villa Marin. Because we had completed the board’s prior CEO search four years earlier, we already understood the community’s culture, governance structure, and the importance of earning trust with a resident board. The previous CEO had been recruited to a larger community, and the CFO was serving as interim CEO. The board needed a leader with senior living experience, financial awareness, board presence, and the ability to connect with residents while guiding a complex CCRC forward. This was not simply a repeat CEO search. Villa Marin returned to LM Hurley because the board trusted our understanding of its unique resident-owned governance model, culture, and leadership requirements.The SearchLM Hurley & Associates traveled to San Rafael and met again with the HOA President and members of the board search committee to confirm the organization’s current needs. Because we had worked with Villa Marin before, we were able to build on our prior understanding while also reassessing what had changed since the previous CEO search. The board needed a leader who could manage a community with similar care levels, scale, and an operating budget of approximately $18 million. The search focused on senior living executives with strong interpersonal skills, strategic vision, California licensure or relevant long-term care experience, and the ability to lead within a resident-owned CCRC where board alignment and community trust are essential. The ResultLM Hurley & Associates contacted and screened 96 prospects, interviewed 20 candidates, and presented the three strongest candidates to Villa Marin. The client interviewed all three finalists and selected a candidate who met the executive search specifications while also making a strong cultural connection with the resident board. An offer was extended and accepted within 77 days of engagement. The selected CEO brought more than 20 years of experience in senior housing and long-term care, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and CCRCs. Her background included operational and sales support for a senior living portfolio exceeding $275 million. |
SEARCH SNAPSHOT CLIENT Villa Marin Search Model Retained Executive Search ROLE Chief Executive Officer TIMELINE Offer accepted within 77 days of engagement SEARCH ACTIVITY 96 prospects contacted and screened; 20 candidates interviewed FINALISTS Three finalists presented; all three interviewed by the client 
What Made It Complex
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Why This Search Mattered
This search demonstrated the value of a repeat client relationship. Villa Marin returned to LM Hurley for a second CEO search because the board already trusted our understanding of the community’s governance model, culture, and leadership needs.
The completed search helped the board secure a CEO with the senior living experience, financial awareness, and interpersonal credibility needed to lead a distinctive resident-owned CCRC.
The completed search helped the board secure a CEO with the senior living experience, financial awareness, and interpersonal credibility needed to lead a distinctive resident-owned CCRC.
