Diversicare | Our Team

Our Team

Diversicare employees are a highly qualified, motivated team guided by professional management. On a daily basis, our staff interact with their residents with compassion, care and a commitment to ensuring their quality of life, safety and well being.

Meet our Management Team

Paul Richardson B.A., C.A.
President
Paul Richardson has occupied the positions of Vice President of Finance, Vice President Canadian Operations, President of Diversicare Canada Management Services Co., Inc., President and Chief Operating Officer Advocat Inc., and President and Chief Operating Officer of Diversicare Canada Management Services Co., Inc. since joining the Company in 1979.

Born in Hull, England, Paul received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Leicester and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in England in 1973. In 1974, he joined Price Waterhouse in Canada and, as well as working in the audit field, became a Licensed Trustee in Bankruptcy in 1978 and obtained his Canadian chartered accountancy designation.

With Diversicare, Paul has been instrumental in the growth of the Company over the last twenty years in both Canada and the United States. Over the last three years he has concentrated on positioning Diversicare as the pre-eminent contract manager in the seniors care field in Canada.

Paul is a member of the Canadian Insolvency Practitioners Association, a member of the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Fellow in the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

ANNE WALTON R.N., B.Adm.
Vice President Operations
Eastern Canada
Anne Walton has been a Vice President, Operations for two different major corporations owning and managing health care facilities since 1985. During that time, she has set up new facilities; integrated newly acquired facilities into an existing organization; developed and implemented successful marketing plans for retirement residences; provided consulting services to receivers, financial institutions and appraisers; provided consulting services to architects planning new facilities, and done operational reviews and due diligence audits for prospective owners.

All of Anne's executive work has been underpinned by a successful prior career in nursing, followed by nursing management in both the public and private sectors.

Anne joined Diversicare in 1995 as a consultant, and became Vice President, Operations in 1996.

ELROY JESPERSEN B.Ed.
Vice President Operations
Western Canada
Elroy Jespersen joined Diversicare in 1989 as the Administrator of a new retirement community under construction in Richmond, B.C. After a successful start-up and achieving full occupancy in less than 18 months, Elroy was promoted to Regional Vice President in 1994. He assumed responsibility for all Diversicare owned and managed operations and new business development in British Columbia.

Prior to joining Diversicare, Elroy spent a number of years in community recreation management, with special emphasis on activities for older adults. Several years as a small business owner also helped develop his entrepreneurial, creative and financial abilities.

During the past two years, Elroy has been extensively involved in the development of two new retirement communities from the planning stage, through construction, marketing and fill-up.

MILLIE CHRISTIE B.Sc., M.B.A.
Regional Manager Eastern Canada
As a Regional Manager in Ontario, Millie Christie has responsibilities for over seeing the operations of both Retirement Residences and Long-Term Care facilities. Duties include all aspects of operation including programs and services, continuous quality improvement, budget, marketing, compliance with legislation and standards of care. Previous positions within the company have included responsibilities for labour relations, human resources, marketing, and Acting Administrator of both long-term care and retirement homes.

Recently, Millie's involvment with the industry includes a seat on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Residential Care Association, and the position of Vice-President of Education and Regional Affairs.

Prior to joining Diversicare, Millie had experience working in both public and private health care settings. Formal education includes a Master's of Business Administration (M.B.A) in health care administration from McMaster University.

ERIC HALL
Regional Manager Eastern Canada
Eric Hall has worked as an administrator with Diversicare since 1995, with increasing responsibilities for overseeing other retirement homes and special projects. He was promoted to Interim Regional Manager in June, 1997 and Regional Manager in March, 1999.

Eric joined the seniors' service industry in 1990 as the administrator of an urban retirement residence, which was under contract management. He was responsible for all aspects of facility operations, as well as management of the complex's large commercial component. He also had responsibility for other retirement homes under contract with the Management Company, and assisted with opening new facilities. Eric has extensive experience in the hospitality industry as general manager of several large, full service hotels. He gained experience in marketing, sales and human resources as Director of Special Projects for a large Canadian hotel chain and Director of Operations for a Canadian hotel management firm.

Eric has successfully completed Long-Term Care Senior Management with the Canadian Healthcare Association, the Advanced Management Program for the Hospitality Industry at the University of Guelph, human resources courses at Ryerson and Athabasca Universities, and sales and marketing courses at Cornell University.

SHELLEY GOULD
Regional Manager
Eastern Canada
Shelley Gould joined Diversicare in 1989 bringing with her an extensive background in customer focused service delivery from many years in the Hospitality Industry.

Since joining Diversicare, Shelley has vast operational experience in management both in long-term care and retirement homes. As a Regional Manager responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of operations in the homes.

Shelley has been actively involved in the Health Care Industry serving on many committees and Boards including hospital, retirement and long-term care sectors.

MARGE KERR R.N.
Regional Manager
Western Canada
Marge Kerr's background includes education in Unit and Business Administration as well as Adult Education. Before joining Diversicare her work included teaching students of nursing and nursing administration positions. She joined the company in 1992 in the capacity of Health Coordinator at Courtyard Gardens Retirement Community in Richmond, British Columbia. In 1994, her role changed to that of General Manager of that residence.

Since her promotion to Regional Manager in 1999, Marge shares in the operational responsibility for the Western Canadian residences, as well as coordination of the Continuous Quality Improvement Program and the Assisted Living Program for the region.

She is a member of the British Columbia Nurses Association and is an alternate Director for the British Columbia Retirement Communities Association.

TAMMY WILLIAMS
Regional Manager
Calgary
Tammy Williams joined Diversicare in 2003 as the General Manager of The Lodge at Valley Ridge in Calgary, Alberta and 2006 Tammy also took on the role of General Manager at Lake Bonavista Village . In late 2007 Tammy was promoted to the newly created position of Regional Manager, Calgary Area where she oversees day to day operations and provides support to the teams at Trinity Lodge, The Lodge at Valley Ridge and Lake Bonavista Village.

Tammy first joined the Senior Living Industry in 1990 when she started working at Trinity Lodge, where she remained for eight years in the capacity of Recreation Coordinator, which is her educational background.

Prior to joining Diversicare Tammy was Regional Manager for the Canadian Diabetes Association in their entrepreneurial venture.

Tammy brings to this position extensive knowledge of operations including human resources and financial management.

KAREN KOTANKO
Consultant, Sales & Marketing
Karen Kotanko's educational background includes Public Relations, Sales, Marketing and Business Development in Hospitality and Health Care. Before joining Diversicare, Karen's twenty years of work experience includes Corporate Sales Executive for a National Hotel Chain, Director of Community Relations for an International Retirement/Assisted Living company and Branch Director for a National Home Care Agency.

In this challenging position, Karen is responsible for overseeing and co-ordination of all marketing, sales and advertising activities for Diversicare Canada. She works closely as a resource to Diversicare managed Long Term Care Homes and Retirement communities.

ELENA RANDALL BASc., BEd., RD
Nutrition & Food Services Consultant
Elena Randall is a Registered Dietitian with her Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Applied Science from Ryerson University. She has a certificate in OANHSS Administration and hold memberships with The College of Dietitians of Ontario & Dietitians of Canada, Gerontology Network and The Ontario College of Teachers..

She is a successful operations/consulting dietitian with extensive management experience in the Nutrition and Hospitality industry. Over the past 28 years Elena has developed training and education programs, policy and procedures and has practices all aspects of food service management within the Long-Term and Acute Care industries. Elena will provide consulting services to all Diversicare Retirement and Long-Term Care Homes.

ALEC E. BELANGER
Co-ordinator
Environmental Services
Alec Belanger joined Diversicare in 1997, bringing with him diversified knowledge and experience in international construction. He worked for many years as a senior project manager for EllisDon Construction with a number of major health care facilities under his supervision, such as Parkwood Hospital Western Counties Wing, London Regional Cancer Centre, Thames Valley Children's Centre and renovations to Campbellford Memorial Hospital. More recently, Alec was the project co-ordinator for St. Joseph's Heath Centre, overseeing all design and construction of the $44 million Mount Hope Long-Term Care Facility in London, Ontario. Alec is a graduate Architectural Technologist from St. Clair College of Windsor and is a Certified Construction Superintendent, registered with the Ontario General Contractors Association of Toronto.

PAIGE W. CHAN B. Comm., C.A.
Director Of Finance
Paige Chan joined Diversicare from Price Waterhouse in 1994. She has a diverse background in auditing, accounting and taxation in a variety of industries, including property management, hospital, retail and investment organizations.

BEVERLY WONG
Divisional Controller
Beverly Wong has been a part of the Diversicare team since 1981. She is responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining accounting and internal audit systems for long-term care and retirement facilities, ensuring first class financial reporting and analysis, and providing support to Facility Controllers, Administrators and Operations personnel.

DONALD JEFFREY
Director Of Employee Relations
Don Jeffrey has been employed since September of 1996 as Director, Employee and Client Relations for Diversicare. Don came to Diversicare with extensive experience at the senior level in the Human Resources function. This includes several years as the Vice President of Human Resources for a major organization in long-term care. It also includes several years service in a municipal government setting. A generalist, his specialty is labour relations, including administration and negotiation of collective agreements.

ELAINE WHITELOCKE
Manager
Employee Relations
Since joining Diversicare in 1985, Elaine Whitelocke has been extensively involved in the corporate administrative field. In 1993, she joined the Employee and Client Relations Department as Co-ordinator, with responsibilities for employee benefits, pensions, compensation, workers' compensation and occupational health and safety. She subsequently became manager in the department and is currently responsible for all aspects of employee relations, including the administration and negotiation of collective agreements, grievances, mediation and rights arbitration.

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