WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Lifespace Communities, a nonprofit operator based in West Des Moines, has appointed three veteran business leaders to its board of directors.
The company added David S. Williams III, co-founder and CEO of Care3 Inc.; Gary Blackford, chairman of Avanos Medical Inc.; and Jonathan Sokeye, chief financial officer of Carolina Complete Health Inc.
Celebrating its 45th anniversary this year across 14 continuing care retirement communities in seven states, Lifespace will leverage the three board members’ expertise in healthcare, corporate finance, data and operations as the organization pursues a growth strategy.
Williams, Blackford, and Sokeye join the Lifespace Communities board as the terms current board members Paula Shives and Robert Kehm conclude in April 2022. All three will serve four-year terms.
Williams brings experience in developing and launching digital healthcare applications and platforms and hopes to “help make Lifespace a technological innovation leader in the way they deliver their services, both physically and digitally,” says Williams.
Blackford transformed Universal Hospital Services Inc. from a regional medical technology rental company to a national leader in medical technology outsourcing and life-cycle solutions.
“I’m impressed that Lifespace thinks so highly of residents and their feedback that they saw fit to bring a resident on the board,” says Sokeye. He brings more than 23 years of health are industry leadership experience, including a managed care health plan start up, home health, home infusion and biopharmaceuticals.