Leadership Team

Lucinda (“Cindy”) Baier is the President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors of Brookdale Senior Living, the nation's premier operator of senior living communities. As of year-end 2021, the $2.8 billion company operates nearly 700 senior living communities and has the ability to serve approximately 60,000 residents through its independent living, assisted living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities. The company's 30,000+ employees are taking care of America's seniors.

Ms. Baier became Brookdale's President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors on February 28, 2018. From the beginning, she initiated the company's operational turnaround strategy and developed the “Winning Locally” action plan. Within her second year, the company's Net Promoter Score® increased 20%. In her third year as CEO in 2020, J.D. Power recognized the company as #1 in customer satisfaction (in a tie) in assisted living/memory care communities. As CEO, she led the company through the largest public health crisis in 100 years by prioritizing the health and well-being of its residents, patients, and associates. She focused the company’s efforts on increasing diversity, including the Board and executive leadership team approaching gender parity by 2020. Ms. Baier led Brookdale's efforts to negotiate and restructure leases with its largest three REIT partners. She led the company through the sale of assets, including Brookdale's interest in the unconsolidated entry CCRC ventures and the majority share of its home health, hospice, and outpatient therapy business. These deals unlocked significant value for Brookdale and shareholders. In 2022, Ms. Baier published her first book Heroes Work Here: An Extraordinary Story of Courage, Resilience, and Hope from the Front Lines of COVID-19 in which she shares how she and her team led Brookdale through the COVID-19 pandemic. Then in late 2022 J.D. Power once again recognized Brookdale as #1 in customer satisfaction (in a tie) in assisted living/memory care communities.

Ms. Baier has served more than a decade as a board member for public and private companies. Currently she is on the board of directors of Argentum, the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), and the Nashville Health Care Council, where she serves as Vice-Chair. She is a member of the NYSE Board Advisory Council, which identifies and connects diverse board candidates to NYSE-listed companies seeking new directors, and serves on the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Board.

A number of organizations have recognized Ms. Baier. Some of her awards and honors include Amazon Best Selling Author; named to Nashville Business Journal’s “Most Admired CEO” list in 2022 for the third time; CEO Forum Group’s 2021 Top 10 CEOs Transforming Healthcare in America; Nashville Medical News’ Class of 2021 “Women to Watch ”; and Corporate Citizenship 2020 Award from the Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board; one of McKnight's 2020 "Women of Distinction."

Before becoming CEO of Brookdale, Ms. Baier was the company's Chief Financial Officer beginning in December 2015. In addition to experience as a seasoned chief financial officer for several companies, she has been responsible for multi-billion dollar operations, the chief executive officer for a publicly traded retailer and served as an executive officer of a Fortune 30 company.

Ms. Baier is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of Illinois State University, with Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Accounting.

Laura Fischer joined Brookdale in 2017 and has served as the Divisional Vice President of Operations over the West Division since fall of 2021. She previously served as Regional Vice President from 2019 to 2021 and as District Director of Operations from 2017 – 2019. Ms. Fischer has more than 20 years of experience in operations in the senior living industry beginning her career as an Administrative Director in 2002.

She received a Bachelor’s degree in Business from W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and is currently pursuing her MBA from ASU.

Ms. Fischer serves as a board member for the California Assisted Living Association and was named in the 2021 class of Aging Media Network’s Future Leaders in the Senior Housing Division.

George T. Hicks became our Executive Vice President - Finance in July 2006, and our Treasurer in January 2016. Prior to July 2006, George served as Executive Vice President - Finance and Internal Audit, Secretary and Treasurer of American Retirement Corporation (ARC) since September 1993. George had served in various capacities for ARC’s predecessors since 1985, including Chief Financial Officer from September 1993 to April 2003 and Vice President-Finance and Treasurer from November 1989 to September 1993. George received a bachelor’s degree with distinction in philosophy from Stanford University in 1979 and an MBA in finance from the University of Tennessee in 1982. He also holds an inactive CPA license.

H. Todd Kaestner became our Executive Vice President – Corporate Development and President – CCRCs in August 2021. Prior to that, Mr. Kaestner served as the Company’s Executive Vice President – Asset Management and Divisional President – Entry Fee since June 2019 and Executive Vice President – Corporate Development since July 2006. Prior to joining Brookdale, Mr. Kaestner served as Executive Vice President – Corporate Development of American Retirement Corporation since September 1993 and served in various capacities for ARC’s predecessors since 1985, including Vice President – Development from 1988 to 1993 and Chief Financial Officer from 1985 to 1988.

Todd is an honors graduate of Vanderbilt University, where he studied economics, and holds an MBA in finance and economics from University of Louisville.

Dawn Kussow joined Brookdale in March 2007 and has served as Brookdale’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since February 2023.  Ms. Kussow previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer from January 2016 until January 2023, Vice President and Corporate Controller from February 2014 to January 2016, Senior Director of Financial Reporting from June 2009 until January 2014, and Director of Financial Reporting from March 2007 until May 2009. Ms. Kussow is a Certified Public Accountant.

Before joining Brookdale, Ms. Kussow served as Director of Financial Reporting for AON Hewitt from 2005 until 2007 and practiced nine years at Deloitte & Touche, LLP, including an international assignment.  She received a B.S. in Accounting from Marquette University.  Ms. Kussow also serves as a member of the Finance Committee for the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum.

Jaclyn Pritchett joined Brookdale in 2016 and has served as Executive Vice President–Human Resources since March 2022. She previously served as Senior Vice President–Human Resources since January 2021, Senior Vice President–HR Field Operations and Talent Management from October 2020 until January 2021, Vice President of HR Field Operations from March 2019 until October 2020, and in other human resources management roles from 2016 to February 2019. During her tenure with Brookdale, Ms. Pritchett has made it her mission to impact our People Strategy, with an intentional focus on attracting, engaging, developing and retaining the best associates. Before joining Brookdale, Ms. Pritchett served as Senior Manager of Leadership Development at Bridgestone Americas. Ms. Pritchett received her B.A. in Psychology from Auburn University, as well as a Master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University. She currently serves as on the board of directors for New Frontiers and Executive Sponsor, Leadership Development for Middle Tennessee Society for Human Resource Management.

Ben Ricci joined Brookdale in August, 2013 and has served as Divisional Vice President of Operations for the East Division since July 2021. He previously served as our Senior Regional Vice President of Operations from 2013 until 2018. 

Before joining Brookdale, Mr. Ricci was a Regional Vice President of Operations for the New England Region with Horizon Bay. In 2011, he was part of Brookdale’s Acquisition of Horizon Bay and became the Regional Vice President of Operations for the Northeast Region. Mr. Ricci has more than 30 years of experience in the Senior Living industry.

Mr. Ricci received a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Administration from Providence College.

Mr. Ricci has served as the Board Chair of the Rhode Island Assisted Living Association from 2009 to 2011. He has also served on the board of the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association since 2016.

Chad C. White joined Brookdale in February 2007 and has served as our Executive Vice President since January 2018, our General Counsel since March 2017 and our Secretary since March 2013. He previously served as our Senior Vice President and General Counsel from March 2017 until January 2018, our Senior Vice President and Co-General Counsel from July 2014 to March 2017, our Vice President and Co-General Counsel from March 2013 to July 2014, and our Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary prior to that. Before joining Brookdale, Mr. White served in legal roles with Dollar General Corporation and Bass, Berry & Sims PLC. Mr. White received his law degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Law where he was elected to the Order of the Coif, and a B.S. in Mass Communication and Political Science from Middle Tennessee State University.