VERO BEACH, Fla.—Watercrest Senior Living Group celebrates the growth of their leadership team with Shannan Rhodes as sales specialist, supporting sales and marketing leadership for all senior living communities owned and operated by Watercrest Senior Living Group.
Rhodes initially joined the Watercrest family in February of 2020, but the following year of pandemic-related travel regulations and healthcare restrictions created barriers to impactful in-person leadership trainings and relationship building in sales. With continued improvements in 2021, Rhodes has strengthened the Watercrest leadership team in the focused growth and development of their senior living communities across the southeast.
As sales specialist for Watercrest, Rhodes utilizes her expertise in marketing strategy, partnership development, and census management to drive the communities’ sales efforts and ensure successful openings for new Watercrest communities.
“Shannan is such an asset to our Watercrest leadership team,” says Angela Bowden, regional director of operations for Watercrest Senior Living Group. “She is a dynamic leader who can enter a community and quickly identify opportunities for growth while building trust through collaboration.
Rhodes entered the senior living industry more than 20 years ago as community development director at an assisted living community in Tennessee. She immediately fell in love with the industry, quickly advancing into census development of multiple communities, and traveling to support the turn-around of communities within their organization. Her career expanded into hospice marketing, and sales roles focused on leadership and development in multiple industries.
“Joining the Watercrest family felt like the answer to everything I’ve been looking for,” says Rhodes. “Watercrest is a unique organization of servant leaders where I feel encouraged to combine my love for serving others with my passion for senior living.”
In addition, Watercrest has named Alexander Powell as executive director of Market Street Memory Care Residence East Lake, near Tampa, Fla. Market Street East Lake is a 64-unit, state-of-the-art, all memory-care community offering exceptional amenities, multi-sensory programming, innovative training, and world-class care for seniors living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Powell has dedicated his professional career to honoring seniors, having served as a sales director and executive director in the renowned The Villages in central Florida. Powell calls his experience at The Villages, “life-changing,” as he focused on cohesive planning to support seniors through changing stages of life and care needs in a large environment.
With an MBA from Saint Leo University, Powell had plans to pursue a legal career, but as the eldest son of a pastor and nurse, he felt a passion for community service. After caring for his great-grandmother, Powell realized his unique calling to support seniors in transition to new adventures in life. His senior living career began as a community administrator in his hometown, where he learned that despite individual differences, each senior had similar needs: to be heard and understood at that point in their lives.
Powell has served the Alzheimer’s Family Organization since 2018, joining the board of directors and strengthening resources available for those caring for loved ones in the disease process.
“So many families suffer silently due to a lack of education surrounding daily aspects of care,” says Powell. “Joining the AFO was eye-opening for me in the ways we can bring change to our own communities in actively fighting dementia one day at a time.”
“Alexander is an outstanding addition to our Watercrest team,” says regional director Bowen. “His compassionate and approachable nature gives our families and residents a sense of comfort, while he simultaneously leads his team at Market Street East Lake as a problem-solver and positive role model.”
Market Street Memory Care Residences are artfully designed memory care communities developed, owned, and operated by Watercrest Senior Living Group. Market Street Communities connect the hearts and minds of residents by stimulating their senses with the goal of re-experiencing memories.
“I truly believe that the right senior living community can create an atmosphere where seniors are able to thrive, even with memory loss,” Powell says.
“I joined the Watercrest family because of their mission to honor our seniors with the best care and the lifestyle they deserve. I look forward to strengthening our reputation as the leader in Alzheimer’s and dementia care.”
Architected by LifeBuilt Architecture, Market Street Memory Care Residence East Lake features an inviting and purposeful design, including spacious accommodations, abundant natural lighting, internal courtyards with lush gardens, circular walkways, and visual cueing. This specialized care community boasts extraordinary central gathering spaces in Market Plaza, an active, “outdoor” streetscape complete with newsstand, art gallery, bakery, salon and spa, and post office caringly designed to welcome family and friends.
For information, contact the community at 727-202-9314 or visit marketstreetresidence.com.
About Watercrest Senior Living Group
Watercrest Senior Living Group was founded to honor our mothers and fathers, aspiring to become a beacon for quality in senior living by surpassing standards of care, service and associate training. Watercrest senior living communities are recognized for their luxury aesthetic, exceptional amenities, world-class care, and innovative memory care programming offering unparalleled service to seniors living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. A certified Great Place to Work, Watercrest specializes in the development and operations of assisted living and memory care communities and the growth of servant leaders. For information, visit watercrestseniorliving.com.
