Avanti Senior Living, a revolutionary senior living development, operations and ownership company, is pleased to announce three new hires for its newest community, Avanti Senior Living at Flower Mound. With more than 20 years of experience in healthcare services, Vicki Lee King has been named executive director, where she will serve as the community’s impact maker. With more than 21 years of experience in healthcare services, sales and marketing, Sheila Ricketts has been named community relations director. Bringing 12 plus years of senior living experience, Renee Rachels has been named family and resident advocate. Lee King, Ricketts and Rachels will provide visionary leadership, fulfill administrative and operational duties and help manage community, resident and family outreach. Avanti Senior Living at Flower Mound is currently under construction and expected to open in Fall 2016.
“Vicki’s background in and experience with senior living has been enriched over the years as she has overseen a multitude of responsibilities during the 20 years she has served seniors,” said Tim Hekker, CEO of Avanti Senior Living. “Vicki comes to us with skills pertaining to sales, market research, lead generation, target marketing, negotiating, staff management, fundraising and legal and accounting operations. We are confident in her ability to lead our Flower Mound team in ensuring that Avanti Senior Living at Flower Mound is a lifestyle community in which residents remain active in a safe, invigorating environment. We are pleased to welcome her to our team, as she is a strong female leader who we know will make a positive impact in the lives of our residents and their adult children.”
Lee King will be responsible for daily operations of Avanti Senior Living at Flower Mound. She will oversee the care of each resident, make sure resident needs are met on an individualized basis, maintain health codes and regulations, make managerial decisions, provide leadership for fellow team members and help family members along the way. Previously, Lee King has served as executive director, residence director, marketing director and community relations director among other director and management positions for senior living communities in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Lee King is certified as an assisted living administrator and has her Alzheimer’s Education certification.
“We are excited for Ricketts and Rachels to become a part of Avanti’s revolutionary approach to assisted living and memory care, and know they will support Lee King in her role as executive director,” said Lori Alford, COO of Avanti Senior Living. “These three ladies will help us in our mission to be change agents in senior living by redefining the lifestyle available to residents at Avanti Senior Living at Flower Mound.”
Ricketts brings 21 years of marketing and sales experience in the healthcare and senior living industry to Avanti Senior Living at Flower Mound. She is looking forward to utilizing her strengths in this field to assist Avanti in conducting outreach, building relationships and maintaining positive relations with current and prospective clientele. She has a proven ability to develop sales potential in various market areas with a large network of contacts. This expertise has been developed through years of caring and compassionate interaction in the senior healthcare markets. Prior to joining Avanti, Ricketts served in sales and marketing positions with companies specializing in senior living, hospice, memory care communities, and other healthcare related companies. She graduated from Northshore Community College with an associate of science in gerontology.
Rachels has accumulated 12 years of marketing, sales and relationship building experience in the senior living industry. She is an innovative leader who is eager to build and maintain relationships with residents and their family members. Rachels will be a compassionate and knowledgeable liaison for residents, their family members and Avanti team members, helping to fuse outside-of-the-box ideas and meet the needs of residents.
“Avanti means “forward” in Italian, and we stand dedicated to the belief that we can and will make a difference in every life we touch by being forward-thinking,” said Alford. “We are pleased to welcome both Vicki, Sheila and Renee to our team, as we feel they are change-agents who will assist us in reaching more seniors to let them know about the positive, life-enhancing opportunities that await them at Avanti Senior Living at Flower Mound. Our community has a bright future ahead, and I am excited to see our vision become a reality with the aid of an outstanding team.”
