Brightview Senior Living

Marilynn Duker, CEO, was exploring how to grow the company while maintaining the culture that made it a leader in the field of senior housing. Brightview constructed and operated senior living apartment communities that offered independent living, assisted living, and dementia care services for seniors in northeastern U.S. markets. While Brightview was smaller than the largest senior living firms (it had 42 properties with over 5,600 apartments), it had purposely managed its growth so that it could focus on offering the best work experience for its employees. The executives believed that doing so would lead to the best experience for its residents and, ultimately, the best financial returns for its investors. Its strategy appeared to be working so far and the company had received rewards for being a best place to work. Regardless of market or product, Duker and the executive team recognized that many seniors preferred to live at home and bring in help or could not afford to live in a senior living community.