CHICAGO—Waterton, a national real estate investor and operator, today announced changes to the leadership team of its seniors housing arm, Pathway to Living. The changes reflect a strategic plan to position the firm for long-term growth in light of the planned retirements of Pathway to Living CEO, Jerry Finis and COO, Maria Oliva.
“I want to thank Jerry and Maria for their years of leadership, passion and dedication to Pathway to Living,” said David Schwartz, CEO, co-founder and chairman of Waterton. “We look forward to continuing the work they have done and upholding the traditions and cultural groundwork they have set in place. With our team of experienced professionals dedicated to carrying on their vision, we are confident that we are well-positioned for the future. ”
Justin Dickinson, executive vice president—senior living, will assume the day-to-day responsibility and leadership of Pathway to Living, in anticipation of the planned semi-retirement of CEO and founding member, Jerry Finis. Finis is currently serving in a full-time capacity to ensure a smooth transition and will move to a semi-retirement role in the coming months, after which he will remain a senior advisor and partner in the firm. Dickinson was hired in August of 2021 to oversee the overall investment strategy for Pathway to living with plans to expand his role over time.
Seniors housing veteran Jeff Floyd has also joined the firm as senior vice president, senior living operations, who will succeed Maria Oliva, retiring after 17 years as the firm’s chief operating officer. With more than 35 years of experience in the senior living sector, Floyd will be responsible for leading the firm’s operations team and driving the overall operations strategy for the firm’s growing national senior living portfolio.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jeff to the team,” said Dickinson. “With his impressive track record across the sub-sectors of senior living, he will be a valuable addition to our executive team while serving as a leader and mentor to our associates. He is a strong steward of culture and operational growth and shares our vision for the future of Pathway to Living and our mission to transform the way society thinks about aging and senior living. ”
Floyd added, “I look forward to collaborating with the dedicated and talented teams at Waterton and Pathway to Living. I am honored and excited to represent and carry on the Viva! culture and related brands, helping to grow and maintain an already robust senior living platform.”
Finis co-founded Pathway to Living in 1997 and has served as CEO for the past 25 years, spearheading the company’s growth into a leading operator of supportive living facilities. Over his nearly 30 years in the industry, Finis has been a respected industry leader and is the current president and a board member of the Affordable Assisted Living Coalition. He sits on the executive board of the American Seniors Housing Association and Government Affairs Roundtable of Argentum and is a member of Senior Living 100 Intelligence Group.
Oliva’s retirement comes at the end of a distinguished career of over 30 years in the senior living industry. She is the architect of Pathway to Living’s Viva! programming, a holistic cultural approach to senior living focused on wellness and personal growth. In her tenure with the firm, she managed operations for more than 4,000 senior living units as well as the lease-up of over 25 properties. She has held board positions on the Operations Executive Roundtable for Argentum, the Advisory Board for Senior Living 100 and Leading Age Illinois.
About Waterton
Waterton is a real estate investor and operator with a focus on U.S. multifamily, senior living and hospitality properties. Founded in 1995, Waterton executes value add strategies and manages a national portfolio of multifamily, senior living and hospitality properties on behalf of institutional investors, family offices and financial institutions. Waterton is privately held and is headquartered in Chicago with regional teams throughout the United States. As of September 30, 2021, Waterton’s portfolio includes approximately $8.6 billion in real estate assets. Visit Waterton’s website: waterton.com.
