After conducting an extensive national search, the Board of Directors of Alternative Elder Living, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Christine Szymanski as the Guide for Green House Living for Sheridan as of January 24, 2011.

Most recently, Szymanski served as Administrator for the Good Samaritan Society, a non-profit long-term care campus in Alliance, Nebraska.   This campus included skilled nursing, assisted living, independent living and HUD housing.  Chris holds a Master of Public Administration with a minor in Nonprofit Management from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.  She attended the University of Wyoming and completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Master of Science in Physical and Health Education.  Chris has proven skills in building community partnerships and facilitation and training as well as in developing and overseeing health programs and the regulations that support them.   Her previous positions including serving as Health and Nutrition Manager of the Rocky Mountain SER Head Start in Pueblo, CO and positions as a health counselor, administrator and educator for various health organizations.

Chris will lead the organization in the start up of the first Green House in Wyoming at the Village at Cloud Peak Ranch.  When the cottages open later in the year, her duties will focus on guiding, coaching, directing and monitoring the quality of life of the elders in the Green House homes, as well as overseeing regulatory compliance and operational issues.

Bids for the construction of the four Green House homes and Administration Building will be opened on February 8^th and construction should begin in March of 2011.

We’re fortunate to have someone with Chris’ expertise to lead the organization in this important culture change and to further our important mission of transforming long-term care to the Green House model, where the focus is on elders continuing their life’s journey with dignity and respect.