BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.—Discovery Senior Living has further bolstered its executive leadership team, appointing Timothy Cesar as the company’s new general counsel and Gottfried Ernst as the company’s second vice president of operations.
Cesar formerly served as vice president of legal for Brookdale Senior Living, where he worked for the last 20 years.
A career healthcare law specialist and popular presenter at national healthcare seminars, Cesar will now act as general counsel for the Discovery Senior Living organization and its multi-brand portfolio of current and future communities. In this role, he’ll manage legal and regulatory issues, licensing, employment and contract law, corporate compliance and other, key responsibilities.
Cesar received his Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School in 1994 prior to entering practice and later joined the healthcare and litigation teams at Axley Brynelson, LLP, one of the oldest law practices in his native Wisconsin. In 2003, Cesar earned an MBA from Marquette University School of Management and went on to teach both undergraduate and graduate courses in negotiation at his alma mater.
Throughout his tenure with Brookdale, Cesar was instrumental in the creation and continuing leadership of the company’s legal department. He also managed all litigation and claims, in addition to advising on risk management for the prominent senior living provider.
“I am proud to join Discovery Senior Living and its team of dedicated professionals,” said Cesar. “This is a quality organization with hearts and minds in the right place. I’m excited to be part of the company’s continued growth, knowing the primary mission is to ensure the well-being of all residents and team members.”
An experienced operations leader, Ernst joins Discovery Senior Living after serving as vice president of hospitality for True Connection Communities, a post he occupied since 2018.
The addition of Ernst brings to the Discovery Senior Living organization a 20+-year professional with a broad skill set across key functional areas such as food and beverage, resident experience and wellness, facility maintenance, and others. Throughout his career, Ernst has earned a reputation for innovation and designing cutting-edge programs that enhance the prospect and resident experience.
Born and raised in Austria, Ernst received a degree in hospitality management and tourism from HLT Semmering and subsequently assumed management roles at 5-star hotels in Austria, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. He joined Brookdale Senior Living in 2001, and throughout a 15-year tenure, designed and deployed award-winning dining service programs across a nationwide network of more than 600 communities. Ernst also played a lead role in Brookdale’s successful systems integration of former Horizon Bay and Emeritus Senior Living communities.
Those prior experiences will be integral as Ernst joins the fast-growing Discovery enterprise, where he will help solve critical operations challenges including technology and systems integrations, local, state and federal regulatory compliance, budgeting and forecasting and managing operating costs. Ernst will also help steward the company’s proprietary “Experiential Living” operating model and maximize its impact across a fast-growing, multi-brand community portfolio.
“I am so proud to be joining this winning team that shares my passion for excellence,” said Ernst. “Discovery Senior Living is a company that looks to the future with innovation and fresh ideas that will significantly enhance our residents’ lives.”
Now one of the nation’s 10 largest senior living providers, Discovery Senior Living currently owns and operates a portfolio of 67 communities in 15 states.
About Discovery Senior Living
Discovery Senior Living is a family of companies which includes: Discovery Management Group, Morada Senior Living, Spring Arbor Senior Living, Discovery Development Group, Discovery Design Concepts, Discovery Marketing Group, and Discovery At Home, a Medicare-certified home healthcare company. With almost three decades of experience, the award-winning management group has been developing, building, marketing, and operating upscale senior-living communities across the United States. By integrating the company’s highly innovative and successful “Experiential Living” philosophy across its flourishing portfolio of almost 14,000 existing homes or homes under development, Discovery Senior Living has become a recognized industry leader in creating world-class, customized experiences at its communities.
