Longtime visionary and President/CEO of The Legacy Senior Communities, Michael Ellentuck, will take on a new role within the organization this year. Ellentuck is transitioning from President/CEO of the Jewish-sponsored charitable organization to director of project development for The Legacy Midtown Park, the organization’s new not-for-profit continuing care rental retirement community in Dallas set to open in 2019. Ellentuck led The Legacy Senior Communities for 16 years as President/CEO, and he shaped the organization into the success it is today. Ellentuck created the strategic plan and oversaw the sale of Golden Acres; the development of The Legacy Willow Bend; the acquisition, development and sale of The Legacy Preston Hollow; the formation of The Legacy at Home; and the creation of The Legacy Midtown Park.
“Michael has been a true visionary leader for our organization. He took the helm of a nearly bankrupt organization, righted the ship and created enormous value for our community,” said Marc R. Stanley, chair of the Board of Trustees of The Legacy Senior Communities. “We are the envy of most Jewish senior organizations in the country, and we are thrilled that Michael will focus on The Legacy Midtown Park. Brian Barnes, our COO/CFO, agreed to step in as interim President/CEO in January. Brian has deep knowledge of our organization’s mission and goals, and we anticipate a seamless transition.”
As the organization continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of seniors and their families, Ellentuck will ensure that The Legacy Midtown Park fulfills the organization’s vision for a state-of-the-art senior lifestyle and innovative care for Jewish seniors and their families. In his new role, Ellentuck will lead the design and development of the urban, contemporary community that will have all levels of care in a rental environment, including independent living apartments, assisted living apartments, memory care suites and skilled nursing suites, along with a level of sophistication that is the hallmark of The Legacy Senior Communities.
“With the coming together of lay leaders and our professional leadership team, we have accomplished a lot as an organization, and I am proud of how far we have come,” said Ellentuck. “I want to turn all of my attention to building this phenomenal new community, and I know that I am leaving the Jewish community with a successful and dynamic organization with a clear understanding of its future.”
The Legacy Senior Communities formed a committee to conduct a national search, led by Marc R. Stanley, to find Ellentuck’s successor. The organization expects to name a new President/CEO this summer.
“I am honored to serve in the interim role until a new President/CEO is in place,” said Brian Barnes, COO/CFO of The Legacy Senior Communities. “Our organization has a strong partnership between the professional management team and the lay leadership, and I will ensure that we continue on with the same vision and mission we jointly created.”