HOLLAND The leader of the Ottawa County Department of Public Health is planning to retire in the spring.

Lisa Stefanovsky, who has been the OCDPH health officer since 2006, has submitted a plan to retire to the county board, effective March 31, 2023.

The news comes just weeks after a successful primary election for members of Ottawa Impact, a far-right group that organized in response to county health orders.

Stefanovskys retirement agreement was approved by the finance and administrative committee of the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 16. It will go before the full board at its Aug. 23 meeting.

A reason for her retirement was not stated during the meeting.

I have been planning to work until next April and am announcing my retirement now to allow time to recruit and hire a new health officer and to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of public health operations, Stefanovsky said in the statement.

Signs are held protesting a local K-6 mask mandate during the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting on Aug. 24, 2021, in West Olive.

Part of Ottawa Impacts campaign platform was fighting against COVID-19 orders from the health department, the last of which expired in February.

According to several officials who spoke to The Holland Sentinel earlier this year, the groups agenda includes, among other things, eliminating the countys DEI office, firing the countys public health officer, drastically reducing the health departments budget and having more oversight over the county clerks office specifically how elections are conducted.

Eight candidates endorsed by the group won their primary election for the board of commissioners, which oversees the health department and its funding. Due to a lack of primary challengers, at least six will win a spot on the board, enough for a majority on the 11-member commission.

County Administrator John Shay told the board hiring a health officer can be a lengthy process. Any hire must be approved by the state.

The county will look to post the position immediately upon official approval, Shay said. If a new health officer is hired prior to Stefanovskys retirement, she would remain on staff in an administrative role through March 31.

If the board were to fire Stefanovsky prior to March 31, she would receive a severance of three months salary. By the time Ottawa Impact candidates are on the board, there will be less than three months left of Stefanovskys employment with the county.

Ottawa Impact has been linked to lawsuits against the county regarding the mask mandate, most notably one seeking an injunction to suspend Stefanovskys August 2021 mask mandate for pre-K-6 classrooms and challenging the board of commissioners position that it didnt have the authority to undo the mandate.

The case was dismissed in December 2021, and is currently pending appeal.

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County health officer announces retirement weeks after primary - Grand Haven Tribune

Mr. Rubino to join from Edelman Financial Engines to lead the firm's retirement business

Brant Wong appointed as Head of Retirement Platform across product, service and sales

NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- J.P. Morgan Asset Management today announced the appointment of Steve Rubino as Head of Retirement and Chair of the firm's Defined Contribution Operating Committee (DCOC), commencing September 14.

Mr. Rubino brings nearly 30 years of experience in financial services and fintech, having spent the last two decades driving growth & transformation at the helm of workplace retirement & innovation at Edelman Financial Engines.

As Head of Retirement and DCOC Chair, Mr. Rubino will lead J.P. Morgan Asset Management's $255B workplace retirement business, developing and executing the firm's retirement strategy, managing the group's distribution teams, and working closely with investment teams on new product development, including retirement income solutions and next generation target date funds. He will report to Andrea Lisher, Head of Americas, Client, J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

"Retirement is at heart of all we do, and we're firmly committed to driving stronger retirement outcomes for all Americans," saidGeorge Gatch, Chief Executive Officer, J.P. Morgan Asset Management. "We are uniquely positioned to leverage the scale and reach of JPMorgan Chase to help individuals cross the retirement finish line, and we are thrilled to have someone of Steve's caliber head up our retirement efforts."

"Steve's deep passion for workplace retirement, his proven distribution leadership and his differentiated fintech experience are highly complementary to our existing strengths and aligned with changing industry dynamics" said Andrea Lisher, Head of Americas, Client at J.P. Morgan Asset Management. "We have exceptional people, solutions and insights dedicated to helping Americans retire with dignity, and I am thrilled to welcome Steve to lead our next leg of growth."

The firm also announced that Brant Wong will expand his role to lead J.P. Morgan Asset Management's retirement platform businesses, Everyday 401k and Retirement Link, across product, service and sales as Head of Retirement Platform. Mr. Wong will continue to head the firm's Retirement National Accounts efforts, reporting to Steve Rubino and will join the Americas Client Leadership Team. Mr. Wong has been a key member of J.P. Morgan Asset Management's workplace retirement efforts since its inception and responsible for building many foundational aspects of the business.

The appointment of Mr. Rubino and expansion of Mr. Wong's role follows on from the recent appointment of Investment Specialist Daniel Yem to support business & product strategy across the firm's Defined Contribution business, including product innovation across J.P. Morgan's target date and retirement income strategies.

Biography Steve Rubino, Head of Retirement, J.P. Morgan Asset Management

Steve will join J.P. Morgan Asset Management from Edelman Financial Engines (EFE) where his time spans nearly 20 years, most recently as Head of Workplace Distribution and Innovation, responsible for leading direct sales and distribution partnerships, relationship management, consultant and advisor relations, and innovation efforts. In this role, Steve became a key member of the executive leadership team that grew EFE from a start-up to the largest independent Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) in America with over $240 billion in AUM.

Prior to this, he was Head of Distribution and Institutional Services at EFE, leading the overall institutional business. While at EFE, Steve founded the Edelman Financial Engines Client Advisory Council, a board of senior executives representing the largest companies in the U.S. Steve also helped bring to market retirement income solutions deployed by hundreds of leading employers.

Before his time at EFE, Steve held roles in relationship management at Thomson Financial (now Thomson Reuters) and as an analyst at State Street Corporation. Steve has an M.B.A. from Suffolk University and a B.A. in Economics from Denison University. He is a member of the American Benefits Council's Retirement Income Task Force and Defined Contribution Institutional Investment Association.

About J.P. Morgan Asset Management

J.P. Morgan Asset Management, with assets under management of$2.5 trillion(as of 6/30/2022), is a global leader in investment management. J.P. Morgan Asset Management's clients include institutions, retail investors and high net worth individuals in every major market throughout the world. J.P. Morgan Asset Management offers global investment management in equities, fixed income, real estate, hedge funds, private equity and liquidity.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management is the marketing name for the asset management business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates worldwide.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America ("U.S."), with operations worldwide. JPMorgan Chase had $3.8 trillion in assets and $286.1 billion in stockholders' equity as of June 30, 2022. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available atwww.jpmorganchase.com.

SOURCE J.P. Morgan Asset Management

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J.P. Morgan Asset Management Hires Steve Rubino as Head of Retirement - PR Newswire

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You shouldn't just take the money and run.

One of the biggest benefits of working for a company (as opposed to being a freelancer) is getting access to a workplace retirement plan, like a 401(k). Many employers offer workers free matching dollars for those plans, making it easier to build wealth for retirement.

Meanwhile, a lot of people are leaving their jobs these days to seek out better opportunities elsewhere. For some, it's a matter of boosting their earnings. For others, it's a matter of wanting to do more meaningful work, or enjoy more flexibility, like the option to work remotely.

If you're joining in the Great Resignation, you may be eager to pursue a job at a new company. And given the number of available jobs these days, it's a good time to look.

But if you're going to leave a job behind, be very careful in how you treat your 401(k) dollars. If you cash out that account, you could end up facing some pretty costly consequences.

Financial expert Suze Orman knows that workers are resigning in droves these days. But if you're leaving your job and taking a 401(k) with you, Orman insists that cashing it out is a big mistake, as she recently discussed on Twitter.

The money you have in a 401(k) gets to enjoy tax-advantaged treatment. As such, there are strict rules involved.

If you cash out a 401(k) before age 59 1/2 (or age 55, in some cases), you could face a 10% early withdrawal penalty on the sum you remove. So if your 401(k) balance is $20,000 at the time you leave your job, and you cash it out, you could lose $2,000 of that off the bat.

Plus, assuming your money is in a traditional 401(k), cashing out will also mean having to pay taxes on that money. Now your exact tax hit there will hinge on the tax rate you're subject to. But you could easily end up losing 20% of your money or more to the IRS.

Not only that, but if you cash out your 401(k), you could end up short on retirement savings down the line. And that's not a good thing.

If you're leaving a job that sponsored your 401(k), you may have the option to keep your money where it is. And if you have another job lined up that has a 401(k), you may be able to just roll your money from your old plan into a new one.

If not, a good bet is to roll the funds from your 401(k) into an IRA. The beauty of IRAs is that they're not dependent on an employer. If you're self-employed, or if you'll be working for a company that does not offer a retirement plan, you can open an IRA on your own and save for your senior years in that account.

Plus, if you roll your 401(k) funds directly into an IRA, you won't have to worry about facing penalties. You also won't be charged taxes, since you're not taking any money out -- you're just housing it in a different place.

The idea of moving to a new job may be tempting these days, especially if you're less than satisfied with your current employer. But don't make the mistake of cashing out your 401(k). Doing so could backfire on you -- and cause you a world of regret.

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Leaving a Job? Here's Why Cashing Out Your Retirement Savings Is Bad, According to Suze Orman - The Motley Fool

You hear time and time again that its important to stay active after you retire. Were so used to schedules, meetings, and calendars, it can be easy to get out of a routine and out of good health once we stop the 9-to-5.

We wanted to find out what it takes to stay healthy in retirement. What better person to start asking questions than a 97-year-old who seems to be the picture of good health?

Wilbur G. Hudson has maintained an active lifestyle. His daughter-in-law says hes one of the most interesting humans you will ever meet. He grew up on a farm and served in the Army during WWII, Vietnam, and Korea. When he retired, he became an engineer and has multiple patents to his name. He is part of the greatest generation of our time with so much wisdom to share. And we decided to pick his brain.

Wilbur served in the Army during WWII, Vietnam, and Korea.

Wilbur suffered a massive heart attack in 1989 and had a quadruple bypass. Since then, he had one stint put in. His discipline has helped him outlive a surgery that back then was only supposed to be good for 20 years. Immediately, he started walking with two soup cans in his hand around a nearby neighborhood. He was mowing the lawn when he could have been fishing or playing golf. Needless to say, he leads a very active life.

For Wilbur, its also about more than just physical health. Emotional health keeps him strong, too. He constantly sacrifices for his family by spoiling his wife, helping his children, guiding his grandchildren, and taking care of his 97-year-old mother until she passed away.

He never really treated himself to the luxuries of life, except for one thing: chocolate candy. He makes it himself and perfected his own recipe. His family says that once youve tasted his chocolates, youll never be satisfied with another!

Wilbur turns 98 years old in November. So we wanted to know the five things he does in retirement to stay healthy. He took us for a walk in his shoes.

Wilbur makes sure to maintain a schedule that starts in the morning. He wakes up early. By early, he says 6 a.m., but most days hes already up at 5. This allows him to get a head start on his day. By doing this, he says it puts you in control and youll feel like you are ahead instead of behind. He then makes sure hes in bed by 8 or 8:30 p.m.

While staying active and exercising is important, Wilbur says you have to have physical courage to move beyond the pain. To him, that means working through the pain or as he likes to say, just grin and bear it. Hes been bone-on-bone in both knees since he was in his 60s. Since knee surgery wasnt as refined 40 years ago as it is now, he and his doctor made the decision to deal with the pain. Wilbur likes Vicks VapoRub for achy joints and gets an injection twice a year which acts like a lubricant in his knees.

He uses a Nustep to do 2 miles a day before he has breakfast and then another before lunch. If youre not familiar, a Nustep provides low-impact exercise that simulates walking and supports deconditioned users. He also uses an exercise ball for about 30 minutes to keep his core strong.

As an engineer, Wilburs quite the creature of habit.

Wilbur starts his day with two mugs of coffee with fat-free creamer. While it may seem a little tedious, he likes to actually look at total calories on everything packaged he eats. He eats a 60-calorie Activia yogurt and one turkey sausage link every morning after logging his first mile.

For lunch, its anything from spaghetti and meatballs to turkey and dressing, just not pork or fried food.

For an afternoon snack, hell have three to four small squares of 85-percent dark chocolate.

Dinner is similar, usually soup and/or a salad and salmon regularly. His favorite is a good old-fashioned, grilled all-beef hotdog on a bun with ketchup, mustard, and relish.

Hes learned a few dieting tricks along the way. He was told in the army that he needed protein every 4 hours to keep from getting low on sugar and passing out. So, he heavies up on protein. Growing up on a farm, he noticed how pigs get rheumatoid arthritis, so he stays away from pork. The exception is ham on Easter and Thanksgiving. Hell have soup if his blood pressure is low because prepared soup is high in salt.

This is something were told to do our entire lives, and Wilbur swears by it. He drinks close to 64 ounces of water a day. Hes cold all the time, so he keeps his apartment temperature up to anywhere from 7780 degrees and wears a light cashmere sweater. That, plus being an open-mouth breather when he sleeps and getting 2 miles a day of exercise, accounts for a lot of water loss. He wants to stay hydrated to stay healthy.

He allows himself some exceptions. Hell have lemonade or iced tea when he goes out. His special treat? A rootbeer float from Arbys!

Wilbur during Christmastime

Do you know your numbers? Knowing your numbers means to learn your cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, weight, and body mass index (BMI). This can help increase detection of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, encouraging healthier lifestyle choices. This has been important for Wilbur since he suffered a heart attack. Wilbur measures his blood pressure daily using a wrist cuff and checks his weight on the scale. Because he knows his numbers so well, he knows when he is not well and makes adjustments to his diet immediately if he gains even 1 pound.

Faith is also an important part of Wilburs life. He says, after all, the Holy Spirit has kept him safe through three wars. He prays for other people at every meal and lives by the word so that its easier for the Holy Spirit to do its job for everyone else and not worry about him. If the Holy Spirit is with you, you will be fine, says Wilbur.

As an engineer, hes quite the creature of habit. When he finds a formula, he sticks to it. Thats certainly served him well these last 97 trips around the sun.

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5 Things This 97-Year-Old Says To Do Everyday In Retirement To Stay Healthy - TravelAwaits

FOXBOROUGH, MA - OCTOBER 04: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots looks on before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Could Julian Edelman really return to the New England Patriots?

The longtime Patriots star has been retired for a couple of years now, but might the veteran wide receiver be open to a return to New England?

On Monday, Bill Belichick was asked about the possibility. He didn't say no...

Belichick said that he talks with Edelman regularly. However, when it comes to a return, he deflected the question to the wide receiver.

Patriots fans would love it, though they don't think it's going to happen.

"While having Edelman would make Mac Jones a much better quarterback, this is a pipe dream," one fan tweeted.

"Lets Do It," another fan added.

"He's missing a knee," one fan said.

Edelman retired after a lengthy, physical career. While he's surely still in good shape, would he want to put his body through another NFL season?

It seems unlikely, but clearly it's something that is at least a possibility.

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NFL World Reacts To The Julian Edelman Retirement Speculation - The Spun

After being eliminated from the Cincinnati tournament by Croatian player Borna Coric, Rafael Nadal expressed his sadness triggered by having to leave so soon but also left a hopeful message for next year. Thank you Cincinnati for everything.

Sad to leave soon. Hope to see you all next year! Rafael Nadal wrote on Instagram.

The fact that Nadal looks forward to the next years Cincinnati tournament shows that he looks forward to still being competitive in the ATP tour.

This motivation can help him surpass one of Roger Federers age-related records. Related: Rafael Nadal likely to surpass Federer age-related record if he wins US Open Federer is the oldest number one in ATP Tour history because he held the position when he was 36 years and 10 months old.

Yet, if he wins at US Open, Rafael Nadal can increase his chances of stealing this record from Federer. Nevertheless, to achieve the feat, Rafael Nadal needs to be number one beginning with May 2023 because only then the Spaniard will be 36 years and 11 months old.

With him being kicked out of Cincinnati in the first round, its unsure whether Nadal will be in the best shape to win a Grand Slam. The Spaniard experienced an early Cincinnati loss after returning from an abdominal injury, leaving Ohio with no points.

Rafa experienced a 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 loss to Borna Coric in two hours and 51 minutes for his second consecutive defeat at this event following the 2017 quarter-final. Nadal, however, knew that he was going to have a hard time at Cincinnati.

"At the beginning it will be complicated, but it is normal, we have to accept the difficulties. At these levels if you come back after a rather long period of time and an injury it is not always easy to find the rhythm. The level is very high and I hope to be ready for Wednesday," said Nadal.

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Rafael Nadal sends hopeful message on retirement ahead of US Open - Tennis World USA

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FBAR Requirements For US Retirement (IRA) and Foreign Retirement

With theUS governmentstill moving full steam ahead on enforcing matters involvingforeign bank and financial account reporting(FBAR), it is important for taxpayers who may have an FBAR filing requirement to have a basic understanding of what types of foreign financial assets are reportable onFinCEN Form 114(FBAR). One common type of foreign account is a foreign pension/retirement account. For example, a taxpayer may have anAustralian Superannuation, aSingaporean CPFor aHong Kong MPF. Since oftentimes the value of these pension/retirement accounts may be substantial, it is important to understand whether or not these types of retirement accounts are reportable as well as whether US-based retirement accounts such as IRAs (that contain foreign assets) are reportable as well. Lets go through the basics of FBAR reporting for US retirement and foreign retirement accounts.

Foreign Retirement Accounts Are Reportable

The FBAR instructions and the updatedIRS Publication 5569are straightforward when it comes to reporting foreign pension accounts. When a person has a foreign pension account (such as the type of accounts indicated above), then those types of retirement accounts are considered financial accounts that are required to be disclosed on the annual FBAR.

As provided by the IRS:

Canadian Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), Canadian Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA), Mexican individual retirement accounts (Fondos para el Retiro) and Mexican Administradoras de Fondos para el Retiro (AFORE) are foreign financial accounts reportable on the FBAR.

US Retirement Accounts With Foreign Accounts

This is where it can get a bit complicated, due to some of the terminology used in this area of tax law. In general, a qualified retirement account such as an IRA is not reportable for FBAR purposes. This is true, even if the IRA contains foreign financial account as a pooled fund. It is also important to note that a financial account is not limited to bank accounts and can include pooled funds such as ETFs or mutual funds. Thus, if a person owns a foreign mutual fund outside of the US pension plan, then that type of account is reportable, but if the pooled fund is held within a qualified US retirement plan such as an IRA, then it is not reportable. In other words, as long as the foreign account or fund is held within a qualified retirement plan, then the specific foreign asset contained in the qualified plan does not need to be segregated and reported on the FBAR.

As provided by the IRS:

The following persons are excepted from the FBAR filing requirement:

Missed Reporting Retirement Plan on FBAR?

If you missed reporting a foreign retirement plan on the annual FBAR, there are very safe methods for getting into compliance depending on your specific facts and circumstances. This type of reporting of late disclosure is referred to asOffshore Amnestyand you should speak with aBoard-Certified Tax Law Specialistwho specializesexclusivelyin this area of tax law to get an understanding of what your options are.

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Are US and Foreign Retirement Accounts FBAR Reportable? - Lexology

There are a few sacred cows that have unwritten rules to leave alone. One is Social Security benefits. Another is about 401(k)s. Well, the audacity of the current Congress is pushing them to open up one of those cans of worms. Some changes are not bad but aimed at making things better. Like considering raising the age for taking required minimum distributions from 72 to 75. I like that one! Another is enhancing tax credits for small businesses that offer workplace retirement plans. Letting people age 60 and older contribute more to 401(k)s. Another of my favorites to make even better, expanding qualified charitable distributions made directly out of IRAs. Finally, another is letting employers offer student debt relief through workplace retirement plans. Now for the negative changes. Depending on your point of view of course. One is requiring automatic enrollment in workplace plans, but at least giving the employee the option to opt-out. (Currently, its up to the employee to opt-in to a workplace plan.) Another negative being bantered about in the dark halls of Congress reducing the amount of pretax pay-ins to 401(k)s. Specifically, catch-up contributions to workplace qualified retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, to be considered non-deductible ROTH type classifications instead of the current arrangement of being fully deductible against taxable wages. This means the extra up to $6,500 contributed by workers who are 50 or older would automatically go into a ROTH 401(k), thereby NOT reducing taxable wages by that amount contributed. (The good news is when that portion of your 401(k) is withdrawn years later, it will NOT be taxed.) One senator is jealous of folks who paid a high price to save early and invested wisely and grew their ROTH IRA account balance to over $5 million. He wants to prohibit further contributions when the ROTH IRA account goes beyond $5 million. This same senator also wants to block ROTH conversions for high income earners, locking them into tax paying retirement plans and Required Minimum Distributions. Hes a Democrat from Oregon and is the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee (the one that writes tax law). So watch out. Joining this jealous senator are many other Democrats who dont think that is far enough. They want to limit IRA activity for anybody with $5 million or more in their IRA account. Getting back to some positive movement in the retirement plan world, Congress is interested in getting the IRS to spend resources teaching the low-income public about the Savers Credit that pays up to $2,000 for single or $4,000 for married folks with low Adjusted Gross Income (capped out at $33,000 for single and $66,000 for married folks) when they make contributions to a retirement plan arrangement. The credit is as high as 50% of the actual amounts contributed. I wonder how much money the IRS can spend to try to talk folks into doing something they just cannot afford? So, there you have it. This Congress is willing to mess with one of the sacred cows of politics. Maybe it will help them. Time will tell. Have you heard? Deut 32:34 says, Is not this laid up in store with me, sealed up in my treasuries? Kelly Bullis is a certified public accountant in Carson City. Contact him at 882-4459. On the web at BullisAndCo.com. Also on Facebook.

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Kelly Bullis: Congress changing retirement stuff | Serving Carson City for over 150 years - Nevada Appeal

After much prayer and consideration, Ive decided that its time to turn the page on my career in the NFL. It feels surreal to be moving on from this 20-year stint of lacing up the cleats every fall, but Im committed to following the voice of God, and it has become clear that up ahead He has a new and exciting future prepared for my family and me.

(Photo courtesy of Austin Carr)

To all the coaches, staff members and teammates along the way, I hold nothing but gratefulness in my heart for all the ways youve challenged and refined me.

To my agent, Carter, and the team, thank you for believing in and advocating for me from beginning to end.

To my family, words cannot express how grateful I am for your love, sacrifice and support from youth football practices on Springs Road to the Superdome on Sundays.

To my bride, Erica, youve played so many roles and put on so many hats for my sake, Im frequently humbled by how undeserving I am of your love.

And to the Lord, who has protected, guided and loved me all along, You are eternally worthy of all glory, honor and praise from these undeserving lips. Truly, I can sing with the psalmist, Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! (Psalm 115:1).

A wise man once said, If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat. Its not always easy, but its always right for us to put our total trust in Jesus Christ. Heres to the next season of life, stepping out onto the water of His calling.

Best, Austin

Austin Carr is a 27-year-old wide receiver who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2017, when he initially signed with the New England Patriots. He was cut after the preseason and subsequently picked up by the New Orleans Saints, with whom he spent all four seasons of his NFL career. Previously, he was a walk-on standout at Northwestern (2012-16) after becoming the all-time rushing and scoring leader at Benicia (California) High School.

RELATED STORIES: SS PODCAST: Austin Carr, New Orleans Saints Wide Receiver THE INCREASE: When NFL Success Doesnt Make You Happy Austin Carr

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Austin Carr announces retirement from NFL, 'following the voice of God' - sportsspectrum.com

Retirement Unlimited opened two new communities in 2019 and then the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

But the organizations efforts to quickly stabilize occupancy and operations in its lease-up communities laid the foundation for the Roanoke, Virginia-based provider to defend its overall census and position it for success in a post-pandemic environment, President Doris-Ellie Sullivan told Senior Housing News.

Despite securing communities from April to June of last year during the peak of the first wave, as well as losing staff during that period, Retirement Unlimited rebounded and met its 2020 occupancy targets, without needing to readjust lease projections, Sullivan told SHN.

She also credits the companys signature programming with helping to maintain occupancy levels and operations throughout the pandemic.

Now, Retirement Unlimited is focusing on recruiting new talent to the industry, and on growing its portfolio through development and acquisitions. The organizations portfolio currently consists of 10 communities in Virginia, two in Florida, and two under construction set to open in 2023.

The company opened two new communities in the months prior to the pandemic The Wellington in Gainesville, Florida in August 2019, and Woodland Hills in Roanoke in January 2020 and managed to stabilize occupancy at both buildings by the time the first wave of positive Covid-19 cases swept across the country. This helped overall operations when Retirement Unlimited closed its communities to all new move-ins and tours from April 2020 to June 2020.

Sullivan credits strong pre-leasing at both communities with being able to stabilize occupancy in a short period of time, and allowing the operator to focus on keeping residents inside the buildings safe throughout.

Moreover, sales and marketing teams were able to hit the ground running when community restrictions were relaxed, and residents who paid deposits prior to the lockdowns moved into the buildings in short order. Today, The Wellington and Woodland Hills boast a combined 95% occupancy rate.

We were so far ahead of our lease-up [pro formas] that, by the time we opened up the doors, we never missed our targets, she said.

Retirement Unlimited struggled with labor issues during the pandemic, along with the industry at large. Sullivan noted that there was an initial panic among frontline employees during Covid-19s first wave, resulting in a 24% turnover rate by the end of 2020.

But in sharing stories with other industry executives about their pandemic-related struggles, she found that the operator fared better than most, which she attributes to Retirement Unlimiteds family-based ownership structure and hands-on leadership. Staff at its communities were already offered meals during shifts, and the operator held its own with enhanced benefits throughout the pandemic, relative to other companies in its markets.

Compared to the rest of the industry, I think this is excellent, she said.

This year has presented different challenges in two specific areas.

As restrictions on communities are relaxed and normal operations return, Retirement Unlimited finds itself competing with other industries for new talent, particularly in dining operations. Its communities have multiple dining venues, from tablecloth dining service and bistros, to wine clubs and coffee shops, and it is fighting for new workers with restaurants and other foodservice establishments that are resuming normal operations.

The company is addressing this competition by adjusting its culinary budget. It offers shift differentials to frontline staff, implemented a bonus structure in lieu of tips, and is exploring other payroll enhancements to entice new workers to the fold, as well as thank existing employees for their service.

The other pressure point involves staff vaccinations, where employee rates have lagged resident percentages across the industry.

Retirement Unlimited mandated staff vaccinations with the launch of vaccine clinics last January. The mandate did result in some staff resigning, but the operators vaccination rate among its workforce currently stands at 95%. Furthermore, with more providers across the industry mandating vaccinations, the company is finding some workers returning to their old positions.

Despite these challenges, Sullivan credits Retirement Unlimiteds signature lifestyle and wellness programming as an essential component for sailing through choppy waters.

One of its more popular programs, RUI University, experienced an uptick in enrollment over the past 18 months. The program provides free continuing education to residents via partnerships with colleges such as Virginia Tech University and Radford University in Radford, Virginia. Community lockdowns led Retirement Unlimited and its university partners to pivot to virtual courses, which were well-received and attended during lockdowns, via tablets and other hand-held devices.

Another program, Leash on Life, provides pet concierge services at Retirement Unimiteds communities. The Leash on Life program ensured pets received above-and-beyond care throughout the pandemic, particularly for residents with mobility issues. Concierges also made sure that residents pets had ample supplies available.

Covid-19 is not deterring Retirement Unlimited from future growth plans. The operator opened a new community, The Westmont at Short Pump in Glen Allen, Virginia, in May 2021. Two more communities are under development and set to open in 2023, and two of its Roanoke communities are adding cottages in expansion projects.

Retirement Unlimited is also looking to build scale through acquisitions, and is exploring several opportunities. And it is exploring an expansion of Care Impact, a home health and private duty concierge program. The operator recently hired a director of home health, applied for licensure in Virginia for Care Impact, and identified clinics across its portfolio which it will staff with nurse practitioners to work inside its buildings, as well as within the larger community.

All of this is critical to everybodys success, Sullivan said.

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Retirement Unlimited President: With Strong Occupancy, We Are Gaining Scale and Bolstering Operations - Senior Housing News