Argentum, the leading association dedicated to senior living, is proud to announce the participants selected for the Spring 2026 cohort of the Leadership Advancement & Development (LEAD) program, a premier leadership training initiative designed to develop the next generation of senior living leaders.
This competitive program equips emerging leaders with critical skills to successfully navigate the challenges and opportunities of today’s senior living industry. Over the course of 16 weeks, participants will engage in interactive modules, peer-to-peer learning, and mentorship designed to strengthen leadership capacity and drive operational excellence in their organizations.
The Spring 2026 LEAD cohort includes:
- Fawn Bixler, Gardant Management, Vice President of Accounting
- Jessica Brown, Benchmark Senior Living, Executive Director
- Rebecca Catalanotto, Paragon Senior Living, Regional Vice President, Operations
- Amanda Ciak, Priority Life Care, Regional Vice President of Operations
- Kristin Dank, Sunrise Senior Living, Executive Director
- Haylee Everidge, Trilogy Health Services, Executive Director
- Amanda Gosnell, Sunrise Senior Living, Regional Director of Operations
- Barb Graver, Legend Senior Living, Regional Director of Operations
- Leticia Higares, Cogir Senior Living, Regional Vice President of Operations
- Lara Irwin, Commonwealth Senior Living, Regional Director Dining Services
- Mairead Keane , Benchmark Senior Living, Senior Director of Quality Resident Services
- Courtney Lane, Integral Senior Living, Regional Vice President of Operations
- Dominique Martino, Legend Senior Living, Regional Sales Director
- Shelly Mattscheck, Benchmark Senior Living, Executive Director
- Josh Miller, RSF Partners, Vice President
- Jasmine Montgomery, Commonwealth Senior Living, Executive Director
- Jennifer Phillips, Priority Life Care, Regional Vice President of Operations
- Kim Saggese, Legend Senior Living, Area Director of Operations
- Cheryl Zalieckas, Benchmark Senior Living, Executive Director
“These leaders represent the bright future of our industry,” said James Balda, President and CEO of Argentum. “Through the LEAD program, we are committed to supporting their professional growth and empowering them to create meaningful impact for the residents, families, and teams they serve.”
For more information about the LEAD program, including details on future cohorts, visit argentum.org/LEAD
About Argentum:
Argentum is the leading national association exclusively dedicated to supporting companies operating professionally managed, resident-centered senior living communities and the older adults and families they serve. Since 1990, Argentum has advocated for choice, independence, dignity, and quality of life for all older adults.
Argentum member companies operate senior living communities offering assisted living, independent living, continuing care, and memory care services. Along with its state partners, Argentum’s membership represents approximately 75 percent of the senior living industry—an industry with a national economic impact of nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars and responsible for providing over 1.6 million jobs. For more information, visit www.argentum.org.
Media Contact:
Stephanie Robert
Vice President, Marketing and Content
Argentum
20 F Street, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20001
[email protected]