DES MOINES, Iowa — LCS has promoted Joel Nelson to the positions of CEO and president, effective Jan. 1, 2018. Ed Kenny, the company’s current CEO, will stay on as chairman of the board of Life Care Companies LLC and LCS Holdings Inc.
In his role as chairman, Kenny will continue to participate in corporate strategic planning discussions with the board of managers. He will also continue his endeavors in public policy issues on both the federal and state levels, and serve as the president on the board of the LCS Foundation.
“After 38 wonderful years with LCS, it was time that I put in place a planned retirement strategy for my role within the company,” says Kenny. “I know Joel will do a great job in his new role and we are confident about the future of LCS under his leadership.”
Nelson has been with LCS over 30 years, and has served as president and chief operating officer since 2015. He has held multiple executive level positions including chief development officer and director of operations, where he was responsible for the oversight of more than 30,000 seniors in 100 communities.
Currently, Nelson serves on the board of managers for Life Care Companies LLC and LCS Holdings Inc.
Outside of LCS, Nelson serves on multiple nonprofit boards including Simpson College Health Services Leadership Advisory Board, National Investment Center (NIC) Advisory Board, Greater Iowa Chapter Alzheimer’s Association Board and ChildServe, a Des Moines-based organization serving children.
Based in Des Moines and established in 1971, The LCS Family of Companies focuses on development, operations, marketing and strategic planning for seniors housing communities throughout the United States. The company is the third-largest operator of seniors housing in the country with 141 properties and 34,400 units, according to the American Seniors Housing Association’s 2017 numbers.