Company Profile

The Arbor Company - Key Personnel

M.E. Costello - Chairman
Mr. Costello, who is personally involved in all Arbor projects, has extensive experience in the fields of real estate development, management and finance. Prior to joining The Arbor Company, he has been a senior executive with firms responsible for the development, management, and marketing of numerous apartment and condominium projects in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. He has also served as Vice President and Assistant to the President of the North Carolina National Bank (Bank of America). Mr. Costello received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and an MBA (Finance) from the University of Virginia.

Mr. Costello has been a past president of the Georgia ALFA chapter and a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Health Strategies Council for the State Health Planning Agency. He was also a member of the Adult Residential Task Force for the Department of Human Resources, which revised the Rules and Regulations for personal care homes in the State of Georgia, and the Long Term Care Project Advisory Committee of the Georgia Health Policy Center.

Ellison Thomas – President
Mr. Thomas has had extensive experience in the areas of residential real estate construction and finance. His responsibilities have included the market analysis, financial structuring, and acquisition of apartment properties and senior living facilities, the design and implementation of computer based management systems, and the supervision of project construction. In addition, he has expertise in obtaining and administering HUD and conventional financing for senior living projects. He has served as a Director of Atlanta Senior Care, Inc., an alliance of senior care providers affiliated with Wesley Woods Geriatric Center, a subsidiary of Emory University. Mr. Thomas is a graduate of the University of Virginia.

Judd Harper – Chief Operating Officer
Mr. Harper, who worked with a national assisted living operator prior to joining The Arbor Company, is in charge of the properties’ day-to-day operations. He has strong financial skills as well as in-depth knowledge of senior housing marketing and operations. Mr. Harper is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and has been with The Arbor Company since 1997.

Shirley Paulk, RN – Vice President
Ms. Paulk has over 25 years experience in healthcare, including long term care facility administration, rehabilitation services marketing, and marketing of senior living communities. She has been vice president of sales for a national rehabilitation services company and divisional marketing director for a national assisted living operator. Ms. Paulk has been with The Arbor Company since 1999, using her industry knowledge and experience as Vice President of Marketing.

Mary Campbell Jenkins – Vice President of Quality
Ms. Jenkins oversees The Arbor Company’s risk management as well as development and implementation of corporate policies and procedures and staff training programs. She has been with The Arbor Company since 1996 and has served as a Regional Director for a national assisted living operator.

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Senior Site Managers

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Distinctive Management Programs used by The Arbor Company

On-line, Real-time Lead Tracking and Care Management System

A customized version of Move-N lead tracking and care management software helps local Marketing Directors manage leads and provides senior management with web-based, real-time information from communities. Resident assessments and related care information is efficiently managed and monitored with this state-of-the-art software

Access to Certified Senior Advisors

A distinctive feature of an Arbor Company community is access to a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA). This advisor has been credentialed by the Society of Certified Senior Advisors through an extensive, national certification program in all areas of senior aging issues. The value this brings to our families, residents and local communities is a better understanding of key health, social and financial factors that are important to seniors-and how these factors work together. This unique Arbor Advantage encourages seniors understand all of their options in the aging process and to make the best decisions for their personal needs. CSA website: www.society-csa.com

Arbor Company CSAs:

Lee Mohler, CSA - Marketing Director at Arbor Terrace of Decatur -
Caroll Sparks, CSA - Marketing Director at Eden Terrace of Spartanburg -
Elma Forest, CSA - Marketing Director at Arbor Terrace at Cascade -
Kathy Coffey, CSA - Marketing Director at Arbor Terrace of Knoxville -
B.J. Burns, CSA - Marketing Director at The Gardens at Eastside -

Nationally Recognized Alzheimer's Expert Serves as Advisor to Arbor Company Memory Care Program

Teepa Snow (MS, OTR/L, FAOTA), a nationally recognized educator on issues related to dementia care, has helped The Arbor Company deepen its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for residents throughout our assisted living communities.

Originally trained as an Occupational Therapist, Teepa has worked at the Alzheimer's Association of Eastern North Carolina, the Duke University School of Nursing and the UNC School of Medicine during her more than 25 years in geriatrics. She is the recipient of numerous national awards and is a highly engaging and sought-after presenter at national conferences. She has worked in all aspects of geriatric care, from research studies to the training of direct care staff and has published extensively on the subjects of aging and dementia care.

Teepa is deeply committed to providing the highest quality of care to residents with dementia and to individualizing that care for each resident. Her training focuses on preserving the functional abilities of residents in a supportive and compassionate setting and to a heightened level of resident engagement with meaningful activities. She has been an invaluable resource to many Arbor families, helping them to better understand Alzheimer's disease and the specific challenges faced by their loved ones.

Resident Care Quality Assurance Program

Regularly scheduled on-site care audits of each community by corporate staff review compliance with corporate policies, state regulations, and safety practices

Risk Management Program

Comprehensive oversight of risk management initiatives for residents and staff helps reduce exposure for injury, litigation, and worker's compensation claims

Employee Recognition and Appreciation Program

Employees are recognized through monthly or quarterly awards programs and receive incentives and recognition for levels of service. Turnover within properties managed by The Arbor Company is currently at half the national average

CyberSeniors Email Program

Residents are assisted in using email and digital photo programs to communicate with families, who in turn share news via email with residents

Family Survey Program

Families are surveyed at move-in, annually thereafter, and at move-out to gauge satisfaction and address concerns. All families returning surveys receive a personalized letter from the president of The Arbor Company

Mystery Shopping Program

Communities receive routine mystery shopping calls to determine the quality of inquiry handling. Follow-up training is provided as necessary

Affiliation with Premier Geriatric Specialists

In most markets, Arbor communities are aligned with geriatric specialists such as The Center of Health in Aging at Emory University. These alliances provide residents and families with a variety of resources and enhance the Arbor staff training program

Affiliation with Rehabilitation Specialists

By contracting with high quality providers, Arbor communities offer on-site rehabilitation services to residents in need of physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy

Access to VA Benefits Program

Arbor has relationships with experts who can assist veterans who meet certain criteria in qualifying for and obtaining financial VA benefits, which can substantially offset the cost of residing in an Arbor home. This program can greatly expand the qualified pool of prospects.

Partnership with The Gallup Organization

Arbor has partnered with the Gallup Organization to measure its staff members' engagement and overall satisfaction.

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