BOSTON–Boston Real Estate Times, the region’s largest, fully-integrated online, print and digital real estate magazine, announced that it will host its 10th Annual Senior Living Real Estate Summit on Oct. 16th virtually on Zoom.
Speakers at the Summit will include: Tom Grape, founder and chairman of Benchmark Senior Living; Robert Larkin, founder and CEO of Senior Living Residences; James Coughlin, CEO of Northbridge Companies; and Brian Doherty, president and CEO of Massachusetts Assisted Living Association.
“This was our 10th anniversary of the Senior Housing Real Estate Summit and we wanted to host a big party to celebrate this milestone, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic and our concern for the health and safety of the summit’s attendees, we decided to host it virtually this year,” said Upendra Mishra, publisher of Boston Real Estate Times.
Mr. Mishra also said that on the occasion of the summit’s 10th anniversary, Boston Real Estate Times will honor Mr. Grape of Benchmark for his outstanding contribution and service to the senior housing industry.
“On behalf of our readers, we at the Boston Real Estate Times are honored to recognize the immense contribution of Mr. Grape to independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing care and respite care,” said Mr. Mishra. “Benchmark Mind & Memory Approach recently won a national award for communication and connection with dementia and Alzheimer’s residents. Mr. Grape truly is a pioneer in the elder care housing industry.”
Based in Waltham, Mass., Benchmark Senior Living has 61 communities across Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, Vermont, and Maine. Benchmark employs nearly 6,000 associates within its communities and corporate office.
Founded in 1997 by Mr. Grape, Benchmark offers independent living, assisted living, memory care and continuing care retirement communities that are guided by Benchmark’s core values — Called to Care, Better Together, and Be the Benchmark, and are committed to transforming lives through human connection.
In addition to Mr. Grape, other speakers at the Summit are:
Robert Larkin
Founder & CEO, Senior Living Residences
Mr. Larkin is credited with developing one of the first assisted living communities in Massachusetts.
He started Senior Living Residences (SLR) in 1990, developing one of the first assisted living communities in Massachusetts. He is a leading authority on the design, development and operation of independent senior housing, assisted living, and Alzheimer’s care communities across multiple states, with specific expertise in not-for-profit community operations, and tax-credit and tax-exempt financed projects.
A pioneer and catalyst for assisted living in Massachusetts, Mr. Larkin worked with government officials to draft the legislation and regulations establishing and governing the industry in the state. He was among the original founders/members of the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association (MassALA) and served in numerous leadership roles for the organization, representing and advocating for the industry before various regulatory and legislative forums.
Under Mr. Larkin’s leadership, over the past 30 years SLR developed a proven track record in the development and management of over 40 projects. The company is known for rapid lease-up in new projects, stabilized occupancy rates consistently averaging in the high 90’s across SLR’s portfolio, and cost-effective operations management bringing developments to a position of maximum financial strength. Prior to entering the assisted living industry, Mr. Larkin worked in real estate development and syndication. He also served in state government as Director of the Massachusetts Securities Division, as Massachusetts Deputy Secretary of State, and as an elected representative in the Massachusetts Legislature. Mr. Larkin received his BA from Boston College and law degree from Suffolk University.
James Coughlin
CEO, Northbridge Companies
Mr. Coughlin brings 25 years of experience in the senior housing industry to his role as co-founder and Chief Executive Officer with Northbridge Companies. Previously, he served as a partner and a senior executive with a prominent New England based senior housing company. His focus was on the financing and structuring of new development projects and acquisitions of existing assets which resulted in a 27-asset senior housing portfolio.
As CEO of Northbridge, Mr. Coughlin has facilitated the financing, development, acquisition, asset management, disposition and recapitalization of over $1 Billion in assets. This earned the Northbridge Companies positioning on INC Magazine’s Top 5000 fastest growing companies in 2017, 2018 & 2019 respectively. Mr. Coughlin serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Beth Israel Lahey Health – Needham, serving on its real estate subcommittee and strategic planning subcommittee. He is active with the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association foundation and was former vice-chair of Caritas Communities, a local nonprofit that develops single room occupancy housing for Boston’s homeless population.
Mr. Coughlin is an active industry-wide speaker and member of NIC (National Investment Center for Seniors Housing), Argentum and ASHA.
Brian Doherty
President & CEO, Massachusetts Assisted Living Association
AS the CEO of Massachusetts Assisted Living Association, known as Mass-ALA, Mr. Doherty leads the assisted living organization. Mass-ALA is a not-for-profit organization, dedicated to professionally operated assisted living residences in Massachusetts that provide housing and services for individuals with varied needs and income levels.
Mr. Doherty joined Mass-ALA as CEO in 2018. Previously, he served as Executive Director Massachusetts Psychological Association and CEO Northeast Association of Realtors.
To buy a ticket, please click here.
Here the schedule for the Senior Living Summit:
Date: Oct. 16, 2020
Venue: Virtual on Zoom
8:00 am: Welcome
8:05 am – Honoring Benchmark Senior Living Founder & CEO Tom Grape
8:10 am – 9:15 am: Panel discussion
9:15 am – 10:00 am: Q & A.
