Asbury Communities Names Ann E. Gillespie Chief Strategy Officer

GERMANTOWN, Md., Jan. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Asbury Communities, a not-for-profit organization that manages five continuing care retirement communities in three states, announces the appointment of Ann E. Gillespie to the position of Chief Strategy Officer. The announcement was made by Ed Thomas, President & CEO of Asbury Communities, and became effective January 1, 2012.

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In her new position, Gillespie will oversee the Germantown, MD-based organization's strategic goals and transitions in the health care reform environment, as well as the expansion of programs that include home- and community-based services.

Gillespie brings more than 25 years of professional experience in the aging field across the government, private and civil sectors, and is recognized for leading and growing large scale efforts focused on transformational change for social good.

Prior to joining Asbury, she worked for the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, established and led the first national accrediting body for senior living, the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CCAC), and served with AAHSA (now named LeadingAge) as its Senior Vice President for Education and Leadership Development. Most recently, she served as Senior Associate with Booz Allen Hamilton where she led major engagements with not-for-profit and government clients and established the firm's cross sector collaboration service offering.  Gillespie has also held positions on the Asbury Communities Board as a member of the Executive Committee and the Asbury Atlantic operating Board.

"Ann has been a force for excellence in service and quality in senior living for 20 years," stated Thomas. "She is deeply committed to the success of our not-for-profit mission to create services that value the entire length of life. She will focus on renewing and expanding our continuum of services for the 21^st century and help lead our transition into the new health care reform environment. We are all very pleased she is joining our team of outstanding associates."

Gillespie is a graduate of the Miami University of Ohio with a degree in Gerontology and was the recipient of the Miami University and Scripps Gerontology Center's 2008 Cottrell Distinguished Award for Scholarship, Leadership and Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Aging.  She and her husband Ellis, an architect, reside in Chevy Chase, Md., with their two children.

Asbury Communities, Inc. provides management and support services for a system of continuing care retirement communities for older adults. Asbury Communities is ranked by the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) and Ziegler Capital Markets Group's AZ 100 as the 15th largest not-for-profit multi-site senior living organization in the country.

SOURCE Asbury Communities