BEAUMONT, Texas — Buckner Retirement Services has named David Ummel as the new executive director of Calder Woods, a seniors housing community in Beaumont.
Ummel joins Buckner Retirement Services, the operator of Calder Woods, after 13 years working for Buckner Children and Family Services and Buckner church/ministry engagement. This position marks Ummel’s first job in the senior living industry.
Calder Woods’ previous executive director, Shane Gabis, stepped down in June 2021 to attend to family matters.
Ummel’s roles with Buckner Children and Family Services also included senior executive director for preservation programs, senior executive director of Northeast Texas, executive director of Longview/Tyler, and ministry engagement director for Houston and Dallas. Before coming to Buckner in 2008, Ummel served as an associate pastor at First Baptist Church in Plano and held various church ministry leadership positions over a 15-year period.
Ummel earned a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Baptist University, master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Doctor of Ministry from B.H. Carroll. He is currently working on a certificate in nonprofit management from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.
Located in Beaumont’s growing west end, Calder Woods is a 17-acre community providing affordable senior living.