Meet Our Team
Community Leadership
Click the location drop-down below to learn more about each location’s leadership team. Then, click on an individual’s picture to read their bio.
Ross Jaeger
Sales Director
Ross joined the New Perspective Team in September 2014 as the Sales Director of Cloquet/Barnum. Born and raised in Paynesville, MN, he moved to Duluth in 2004. He attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth where he received his Bachelor’s degree. What he enjoys most about working for New Perspective is being able to help older adults enjoy life to the fullest. In his free time, Ross enjoys going on hikes with his wife and dog.
New Perspective Leadership Team
Click an image below to learn more about each member of the New Perspective Leadership Team.
Ryan Novaczyk
co-CEO
Ryan Novaczyk is the co-chief executive officer of New Perspective. Since joining New Perspective, Ryan has focused the company on serving its residents and team members (creating opportunities to live life on purpose), growing the people in the organization, and building out the platform capabilities to achieve our goal of serving 10,000 seniors by 2025. Ryan has worked side by side with his partners and senior leadership team to build and expand our servant leadership culture and commitment to collaboration.
Prior to joining New Perspective, Ryan served as Vice President of Equity Research for two multi-billion-dollar financial services firms in located in New York and Minnesota. Previously Ryan was engaged in equity research and investment banking, and mergers and acquisitions at Piper Jaffray in Minnesota. While at Piper he was involved in closing over one billion dollars of IPO and M&A-related financing.
Ryan graduated from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota with a Bachelor-of-Arts Degree, majoring in Finance with a minor in Economics. Ryan holds professional certificates from the Erickson School at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) in the following disciplines of the Seniors Housing & Care executive education program: Seniors Housing Executive, Finance, and Sales/Marketing. Ryan is active with industry associations and is a member of the Assisted Living Federation of America, CFO Executive Roundtable and sits on the Operator Advisory Board for the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing.
Ryan and his wife Courtney live in Minneapolis, MN with their son Callan and daughter Frankie. Ryan is a skiing and golfing enthusiast and enjoys family outings, hiking, biking, running, and trips to the cabin. Although not a fan of swimming, his arm has been twisted into doing triathlons from time to time.
Chris Hyatt
co-CEO
Chris has served residents, patients, family members, associates, shareholders and suppliers for more than 20 years. Most recently, Chris was employed at Brookdale Senior Living (BSL), the nation’s largest senior living solutions provider, as Executive Vice President, Operations Support. BSL served approximately 1,140 communities, with the capacity to serve over 110,000 residents, led by approximately 80,000 associates, which reside within 46 states. Prior to joining BSL, via merger in 2014, Chris served as Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Emeritus Senior Living (ESL), once the nation’s largest assisted living provider. ESL was a publicly traded seniors housing and healthcare organization that operated approximately 515 communities, in 46 states, serving up to 50,000 residents and employing approximately 30,000 dedicated team members. Chris embarked on his journey into seniors housing with ESL in the latter part of 1998. Throughout his 16 years with ESL, he held a variety of servant leadership roles including; operations, wellness, administration, procurement, sales, marketing, resident engagement, dining, memory care, owner relations, new development and asset management. Prior to ESL, Chris thoroughly enjoyed his professional tenure at Mary Black Memorial Hospital, where he held various positions within the clinical realm.
Chris graduated from Spartanburg College and the University of South Carolina Upstate. Over the years, he successfully attained licenses in; Residential Care Home Administration, State & Federal Nursing Home Administration and from the Board of Nursing. Chris also served on the Board of Directors for Argentum (formerly ALFA), and currently serves as Secretary & Treasurer on the Argentum Senior Living Certification Commission (SLCC) Board of Commissioners. He is also an active member of American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) and the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing (NIC).
Lore Brownson
Chief Clinical and Compliance Officer
Lore is responsible for clinical programs and quality assurance initiatives, as well as the development and implementation of resident programs for our Betty’s Harbor memory care and Vivid Living assisted living neighborhoods. In her role as Chief Compliance Officer, Lore will be responsible for ongoing development and oversight of our Corporate Compliance Program.
Lore formerly served for 14 years as corporate counsel, most recently as vice president and chief counsel for a Fortune 500, long-term health care provider. In this role she was responsible for providing guidance on diverse health care regulatory and compliance matters. Prior to obtaining her law degree in 1997, she worked as a registered nurse for 10 years.
Lore received her Juris Doctor from the University of Toledo College of Law, in Toledo, Ohio, graduating first in her class, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. In addition to her legal and nursing background, Lore is certified in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) by the Health Care Compliance Association.
Janet Lillevold
SVP, Transformation Office
Janet is responsible for driving a different view, pace, and delivery culture to set the stage for enhancing NPSL growth, excellence in value delivery to residents, and team member engagement. In doing so, Janet is responsible for oversight of technology and infrastructure, program management, and enabling business transformation.
For more than 20 years, Janet has worked in customer centric industries, including health care, driving growth and transformation through focus on customer value as defined in the customers’ own words. She is very excited to be part of excellence in delivery to the senior living community. Janet has held roles of Senior Vice President of Services and Operations at several national and international corporations.
Janet earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from the University of Michigan, a Master’s of Science in Technical & Science Communication from Drexel University, and a Master’s in Business Administration (Management and Organizational Behavior) from New York University.
Pam Engle
Chief People Officer
Pam is responsible for shaping and co-leading the Human Resources and Administration department. Her primary objective is to build a best-in-class seniors housing people platform that will support and transform recruitment, retention, and growth. Pam will also run point on insurance, benefits and licensure.
Pam brings twenty years’ experience in the senior housing industry, including roles in operations, finance and human resources. Most recently she served as the VP of Total Rewards at Brookdale Senior Living and prior to that she served as Senior VP of Benefits, Compensation, and Risk Management at Emeritus Senior Living.
Pam earned an MBA from Southern Oregon University and a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Stanislaus and Biola University. She is a Certified Benefits Professional (CBP) and a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP). She has served as a member of the Argentum HR Executive Roundtable and as a Board Trustee for the Council on Employee Benefits.
Alex Massopust
Chief Accounting Officer
Alex Massopust is responsible for shaping and leading the accounting team, along with treasury management duties and managing the various monthly, quarterly and annual financial reporting requirements. Since joining the seniors housing industry in 2012, Alex has gained extensive knowledge and experience within budgeting, forecasting and staffing tools for this sector.
Alex is an active member of the Future Leaders Council for the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing (NIC) and is the current Treasurer for Care Providers of MN and the Team Member Helping Hand Fund.
Prior to joining New Perspective, Alex was a Financial Consultant for Merrill Corporation and started his career as an auditor with Baker Tilly Virchow Krause. Alex is a CPA (inactive) and a graduate of the University of Kansas.
Doug Anderson
SVP of Marketing & Culinary
Doug Anderson oversees the day-to-day marketing and branding functions for New Perspective Senior Living. He began his career as a news anchor and reporter for KTTC-TV in Rochester, Minnesota. Since that time, he has developed a 30-year career in marketing that has included senior marketing leadership working on or for some of the best brands in the world: Country Inns & Suites, Famous Dave’s Restaurants, Carlson Hospitality, Jenny-O/Turkey Store, Hormel, General Mills and Polaris to name a few. As CMO for Famous Dave’s of America, he was instrumental in leading the growth from 20 locations to over 75 when he left. As VP of Marketing for Carlson Companies, he led brand turnarounds that drove incremental ROI gains of 20%. Over the last 10 years, Doug has led a boutique marketing consultancy that focused on driving success for clients with multiple locations. His experience in senior housing dates to 1998 as an on-going strategic and marketing consultant to New Perspective.
Applying his MBA from University of St. Thomas Opus School of Business, Doug has also taught future business leaders marketing concepts and theory as a professor at his business school alma mater. He is an avid student of all the new methods to reach and capture new customers and prospects.
David Kieffer
SVP of Sales
With over 20 years of experience in the senior living sector, David offers a track record of success with both large companies and local startups across the country. From community development to stabilization, David implements proven sales systems and solutions that bring predictable results and burgeoning occupancy growth.
David is passionate about teaching the fundamentals of building strong relationships and thoughtful follow-up. He truly believes that prospects make their buying decision based on the relationships built with the team and their experience walking community halls and feeling the energy at the communities they visit.
Majoring in Geriatrics, he received his BA degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and completed the Marketing of Senior Housing Care Executive Course at the University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus (UMBC).
Vince Beckel
District Director of Operations
Vince has been in multi-unit operations management for over 30 years with some of the biggest and best companies in the country. His resume includes Target, Best Buy, Office Max and Kohl’s. Vince finally got to apply his degree in social work from St. Cloud State University when he joined New Perspective as Executive Director of the Waconia community. He took that community from 75% occupied when he joined to over 90% occupied for 36 consecutive months up to the time he was promoted to District Director of Operations.
Vince has been married to his wife, Kari, for over 30 years, and has wonderful children and grandchildren. He loves outdoors, sports and has multiple grills on his deck.
Beth Landers
Senior Director, Operations Transition
Beth’s 30-year career in senior care developed out of a passion for helping the elderly at an early age. Her mother and grandmother coped with the effects of dementia, so she is familiar with the disease and losses it brings. That experience fuels her daily drive to help as many seniors as she can live lives of purpose and fulfillment. Beth has held a variety of positions in the senior care industry from Executive Director to District Director of Sales for a variety of companies including Brookdale. In New Perspective, though, she feels she has found her forever home.
Beth is a proud wife and mother of three active boys.
Brian Jennings
District Director of Operations
Brian serves as District Director of Operations for Wisconsin and Illinois and is accountable for the day-to day operation of these communities. Brian serves as a resource by providing coaching, support and guidance to each community.
After a career in catalog retailing, Brian changed direction in 2009 and entered senior housing as an Executive Director for a large memory care community near Madison, WI. He most recently served as the Wisconsin Regional Director of Operations for Capital Senior Living.
Brian grew up in the Chicago area and graduated from Millikin University in Decatur, IL with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing – subsequently moving to Madison WI with his family over 20 years ago where he still resides today.
Adam Cozine
SVP of Real Estate/Development
As Vice President of Development and Acquisition Adam is responsible for executing the overall growth strategy for New Perspective Senior Living. From site selection and initial feasibility through to stabilization, he is involved in every aspect of the development process. He is also an integral part of the acquisition team, working with the Company’s capital partners in evaluating investment opportunities. As Adam leads efforts to expand New Perspective geographic footprint, he will continue to build New Perspective relationships and partnerships in the Seniors Housing space.
Adam’s background includes several real estate disciplines, having previously worked for Welsh and Colliers out of Minnetonka, MN for 10 years. As head of business development at Welsh, Adam worked as a liaison between multiple divisions including construction, architecture, development, finance, brokerage and property management, helping guide clients’ real estate interests. He also helped create the Seniors Housing practice team which was responsible for the development and construction of over 1,500 senior homes.
Adam is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN and holds a Bachelor in Arts degree from the School of Entrepreneurship and a minor in Computer Science. Adam is active or has been a member of the NIC, LeadingAge and Care Providers.
Danika Menard
District Director of Operations
Danika has been blessed to work with New Perspective Senior Living since 2013. During that time, she has put “Residents First” through a multitude of roles, including Caregiver, Vivid Living Coordinator, Business Office Coordinator, Sales Director and Executive Director.
Danika holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from Gustavus Adolphus College. In Danika’s free time, you can find her at the dog park with her rescue Levi, camping, traveling and spending time with her family.
Kelly Hoffner
Area Director of Operations
Kelly’s career in the senior living industry began in 2001. Prior to working in senior living, she was working for an electrical contractor who specialized in building skilled nursing, personal care homes, assisted living, and secured dementia units. Kelly has her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Clarion University in Pennsylvania. As Area Director of Operations, she loves providing leadership and knowledge to staff to ensure that every senior is being cared for correctly, as well as treated with respect and dignity!
Rene Owens
Area Director of Operations
Rene has been working in the senior living industry for over 36 years and has held many different positions. She started out as a caregiver, transitioned to human resources, to business office management, then executive director, regional sales, and regional operations. Helping residents live life on purpose and ensuring they receive quality service and care is of the utmost importance to Rene. She is also passionate about leadership, growth, and development within her team. Outside of New Perspective, Rene loves to travel with her husband and their 2 dogs, Jax and Bella. As well as spend time with their 3 adult children and their families.
It started as a simple mission by founders Todd and Sherry Novaczyk. A quest to find the very best senior living experience for Sherry’s mother, Betty. It has morphed into something bigger. A company committed to making a difference in the lives of our team members and residents.
This is a job where you can make a difference in the lives of so many people. Step up and be a part of something bigger. Join us on our quest to help 10,000 seniors live life on purpose by 2025. What’s the best way to ensure that every moment matters in the lives of our residents? Create an environment that is fun, inspiring and purposeful for every team member. To guide us, we use the following values: Bring Laughter, love and happiness every day! Work hard, play hard and have a blast while serving those in our senior communities. Always do the right thing.
At New Perspective, we strive to empower our team members to always make sure our communities are cared for- in the right way. Keep it simple- no need to over-complicate day to day activities in our senior communities. The simple choice is always the right choice! Finally, our Team strives to wow everyone with hospitality. A New Perspective senior community is welcoming and our Team Members strive to make sure that they are as welcoming to you in “our home” as you would be to someone visiting your home. In order to keep Todd and Sherry’s vision thriving for all those who choose to make a New Perspectives Senior Living Community their home, every team member who comes to work at New Perspective, believes in the vision and mission. For example, Beth Landers is one of our Director District Operations has spent 30 years in the field of senior care. This developed out of a passion for helping the elderly at an early age. Her mother and grandmother coped with the effects of dementia, so she is familiar with the disease and losses it brings. That experience fuels her daily drive to help as many seniors as she can live lives of purpose and fulfillment. You will find stories like Beth’s common with New Perspective Team Members and one of the great reasons you will want to make our community, your community. Afterall, a New Perspective is a great place to call home.