FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 15, 2006
Contact: Sam Planta
Director of Growth and Development
Touchstone Communities
210.828.5686
INTEGRATION OF BABY BOOMERS INTO RETIREMENT HOMES,SUSTAINED COMPANY GROWTH DICTATES EXPANSION OF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR TOUCHSTONE COMMUNITIES
New COO, CFO focus on preparing for most discerning generation of elders yet
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – June 15, 2006 – In anticipated continuation of the upward growth cycle being experienced by the company, Touchstone Communities, a provider of skilled healthcare facilities in Texas, today added two new positions to its executive leadership team. Britta Strickland has been named chief operating officer and Lynnea Castillo becomes chief financial officer.
“Due to the large population of Baby Boomers who’ll begin to take advantage of retirement communities in the next few years, the landscape for skilled nursing and assisted living is evolving at an unprecedented pace,” said Carl Fellbaum, president of Touchstone Communities. “The combination of our company’s financial performance and the expected arrival of the Boomers into our communities necessitate the addition of these strategic positions to our executive leadership team. Britta and Lynnea have deep experience in the industry and a thorough familiarity with Touchstone’s operations and goals.”
“As Baby Boomers mature, we’ll want to provide them additional options in their retirement years -- for instance, they’re more physically active and technologically advanced than previous generations,” noted Strickland. “We’re creating more and more ways to enhance how we serve our elders. We’ll extend those services to our Texas communities and beyond.”
Strickland will be responsible for recruiting qualified teams, training and development of team members, and the oversight of the day-to-day operations for each of Touchstone’s 10 communities serving elders. She previously supervised management of the three Texas state veterans homes in the Touchstone service network and acted as Touchstone’s liaison to the Texas Veterans Land Board. She will retain those roles in addition to her expanded responsibilities as COO.
“Our executive leadership team is expanding its focus, planning different ways than before so that Touchstone will meet the unprecedented expectations of this incoming Boomer generation,” said Castillo. “Because of our strong financial foundation, we’re in a position to acquire or build additional facilities and extend our influence to more elders and employees.”
Castillo will be responsible for strategic alignment of the financial and business development aspects of the Touchstone network. Her role will include evaluation of prospective acquisitions for the company. Castillo previously served as controller for Touchstone, focusing on daily accounting, taxes, audits and financial reporting for the company.
As owner/operators of skilled-care communities in Texas and Arizona, and managers of multiple Texas state veterans homes, Touchstone Communities plans to acquire, develop and manage other premier communities that offer a range of Alzheimer’s care, assisted living and skilled-nursing care in rural and urban markets. This growth strategy, which Touchstone leadership describes as “caring for families, one generation at a time,” is designed to provide the top-quality service and long-term stability that many families, caregivers and skilled healthcare workers seek.
ABOUT TOUCHSTONE COMMUNITIES
Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, Touchstone Communities provides the aging population with extensive health care services, including skilled-nursing care, assisted living, Alzheimer’s care and rehabilitative services. With nearly 1,000 employees, Touchstone Communities independently owns five communities in Texas at Brenham, Del Rio, LaVernia, Rockdale and Snyder, and two in Arizona, both in Prescott. Touchstone also manages Texas state veterans homes in Temple, Floresville and Bonham, Texas. For more information, visit www.Touchstone-Communities.com