Recognized Senior Housing Leaders 2025

I am a life long lover of all things real estate and construction since I was a young man building all kinds of forts. At 53yo, today we specialize in many exit strategies in both residential and commercial real estate investing. I love what I do and sharing the knowledge is my way of paying it forward!

I am the Founder & CEO of K9 Activity Club, a premier pet care facility dedicated to providing safe, enriching, and high-quality boarding, training, and daycare services. With over 10 years of experience in business leadership and operational excellence, I have built a company that prioritizes both the well-being of pets and the trust of their owners. As a PACCC (Professional Animal Care Certification Council) CPACO-certified professional and an AKC CGC Trainer/Evaluator, I am committed to upholding the highest industry standards in pet care. In addition to my work in the pet care industry, I am the co-owner and CFO of NAVI Appliance Repair and Betsy’s Moving, a woman-owned business specializing in senior moving services. My passion lies in creating exceptional experiences for clients—whether it’s in pet care, home services, or business operations—while also supporting local economies through entrepreneurship and small business development.

I'm the Chief Financial Officer of Soba New Jersey, where I manage key areas of the business, including sourcing, market and site feasibility, financial analysis, deal structuring, negotiations, equity raising, investor relations, licensing, rezoning, and collaborating with architects on new construction and renovations. I’ve led complex real estate transactions in prime markets like New York, New Jersey, and South Carolina, with successful projects such as the Coastal Carolina University student housing development, a 60,000 SF industrial warehouse in Wayne, NJ, and multiple community facility daycare leases in NYC. Additionally, I co-launched Soba New Jersey, a luxury detox center dedicated to providing individualized, holistic inpatient and outpatient behavioral health programs. My career has centered on identifying high-growth opportunities, particularly for businesses in transitional phases like M&As and IPOs, and my leadership has been instrumental in Soba New Jersey’s growth and success.

I’m Peter Lai, the Chief Financial Officer at Engage Wellness. I oversee all aspects of the company’s financial management, providing strategic direction to teams in accounting and controls, financial planning, tax, treasury, and investor relations. My role involves partnering with business leaders to execute strategies that drive profitable growth. With over 20 years of financial management experience, I’ve held leadership roles in diverse industries. Before joining Engage Wellness, I served as the CFO for Haven Health Management, specializing in clinical, medical, and psychiatric care for substance use and mental health disorders. I’ve also held financial management positions at Lenovo and ADT Security Services. I earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University.

Over 30 years of hospitality & senior living leadership across Canada & the US. Most recent VP of Operations role - responsible for over $100m in revenue and over 1000 employees. Founded - Retirement Home Insider - which helps families find the best possible retirement home, and provides senior living operators with risk and culture assessments to help improve their community performance. www.retirementhomeinsider.com

Lon Welsh, founder of Ironton Capital, brings over two decades of experience in real estate and consulting. Previously a strategic consultant with Deloitte and Arthur Andersen (Accenture), he went on to build Your Castle Real Estate, managing over 700 Realtors and $2.5 billion in transactions in 2022 alone. At Ironton Capital, his mission is to provide busy professionals with passive, diversified real estate investments to help them grow their wealth and secure a stable financial future. With a focus on high-quality, investment-grade properties, Ironton Capital allows accredited investors to build wealth without the time commitment of managing their own rentals. Lon’s extensive experience, from authoring multiple real estate books to helping create numerous millionaires, drives the firm’s commitment to making a meaningful impact in both investors' lives and communities.

I am a seasoned mental health and addiction specialist, dedicated to the field of treatment and recovery since 2015. I hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in clinical mental health counseling from South University in Royal Palm Beach, FL, and I am credentialed as both a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS). Over the years, I've gained hands-on experience in various areas, including psychiatric acute stabilization, psychiatric partial hospitalization, and both in-patient and out-patient substance use treatment. My journey has taken me through clinical counseling, program development, and organizational leadership. Before joining New Waters, I served as the Clinical Director at Gupta Psychiatry and Wellness in Raleigh, NC, where I helped shape a respected substance abuse partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient program. I am a firm believer in the transformative power of quality clinical programming and its impact on long-term sobriety. With a compassionate approach, I am committed to helping individuals and families overcome substance use disorders, guiding them toward a life free from addiction.

Real Estate Investor | Cash Homebuyer Specialist | Nevada Market Expert Owner of 702 Cash Buyers, I help homeowners sell their houses as-is quickly and stress-free. With over 7 Years of home buying experience, I specialize in foreclosures, probate sales, and inherited properties, offering actionable advice and fast solutions for sellers. Known for my transparency and market expertise, I’m passionate about helping families navigate challenging situations with confidence. I’m always ready to provide insights on real estate trends, the Nevada market, and strategies for hassle-free home sales. 🌟 Outdoor enthusiast | Family man | Advocate for integrity-driven outcomes

Some people list houses. Hilary Schultz builds solutions. With over 20 years in the industry as a licensed Realtor in Texas and Florida, she helps homeowners sell with confidence—whether through a fast and fair cash offer, a carefully structured listing, or a creative financing strategy. She and her husband operate a portfolio of real estate companies that cover every stage of the home-selling process. From acquiring and renovating distressed properties to managing long-term investments, their businesses are designed to create value while giving sellers real options. Hilary understands that no two home sales are alike, which is why she takes a problem-solving approach to every transaction. Her expertise in market trends, negotiations, and deal structuring allows her to help homeowners find the best path forward—quickly, efficiently, and with real financial results.

My name is Taylor Jones. I serve as the Head of Acquisitions for STR Search, where I’ve helped investors acquire over 200 cash-flowing Short Term Rentals across the US in the past three years. With a background as a former baseball player, I bring a unique, data-driven approach to underwriting deals and evaluating numbers daily. I believe that buying top-performing Short Term Rentals is all about the numbers and making smart, data-backed decisions. When I’m not sourcing high-performing properties, you can find me on the golf course or sharing my insights on my podcast, STR Investing, The Podcast.

My name is Rachael O’Bella. I am a top-producing real estate investor and the founder of BlueBerrie Properties, a Houston-based brokerage specializing in high-investment return, off-market real estate. Since 2017, I have been helping investors build wealth by sourcing exclusive, below-market deals designed for maximum ROI. Recognizing that a property's value extends beyond purchase price to presentation, I also launched Refined by Rachael, a boutique design firm dedicated to residential and Airbnb interior design. My expertise combines strategy, design, and investment insights to transform acquisitions into high-performing assets.

Brooke is the Marketing Manager at Spacebase, the lease management platform originally built in collaboration with Airbnb to streamline commercial real estate operations and ensure ASC 842 compliance. With a background in SaaS marketing, commercial real estate residential real estate and business development, Brooke leads strategic initiatives that position Spacebase as a category-defining solution for finance and real estate teams. At Spacebase, Brooke drives campaigns that connect with CFOs, controllers, and asset managers at some of the world’s most recognizable companies. She focuses on developing high-impact messaging, content, and digital strategies that showcase Spacebase’s strengths, powerful software, exceptional support, and intuitive design. Known for a creative yet analytical approach, Brooke helps shape the brand voice and go-to-market strategies that have contributed to Spacebase’s growth and reputation as a trusted solution for complex lease portfolios.