7:55 AM: Welcome & Summit Kick off
Brett Anderson, Ebenezer
Emcee: Brett Anderson
How do we create, finance, develop, operate, and market the next generation of senior housing?
8:00 AM: Market Forces Reshaping Senior Housing
Kari Thurlow, LeadingAge Minnesota
Mary Bujold, Maxfield Research and Consulting
Kurt Apfelbacher, Colliers Securities
Anita Cornelius, Ebenezer
Erik Hembre, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Moderator: Anita Cornelius
Demand for senior housing continues to grow, but the next generation of residents may not look, think, or buy like previous generations.
This session examines the demographic, economic, and housing trends shaping the future marketplace. Panelists will explore the role senior housing plays in relieving housing shortages, the industry's ongoing challenge of serving middle-income seniors, and the changing expectations of aging baby boomers. Discussion will also examine demographic projections, labor market pressures, and future housing demand over the coming decades. Topics include housing supply, the middle market, future consumer needs, and emerging ownership structures such as cooperatives, condominiums, and co-housing.
Featured Topics
- Unlocking Housing Supply: The Missing Role of Senior Housing
- The Middle Market: The Problem Nobody's Solved
- The Future Market
- Up-and-Coming Baby Boomer Market
- Innovative Home Ownership Models
8:50 AM: Building The Next Generation of Senior Housing
Joyce Stupnik, BDH
Jake Anderson, Senior Living Investment Brokers
Mindy Michael, Kaas Wilson Architects
Emily Weber, Pope Design Group
Jill Nokleby Kaiser, Ebenezer
Jim Gooley, Ebenezer
Grant Warner, BKV Group
Moderator: Jill Nokleby Kaiser
As demographics shift and demand evolves, developers, owners, investors, and operators face critical questions about what to build, where to build it, and how to evaluate opportunities.
Panelists will discuss active adult and IL-lite communities, site selection strategy, market feasibility, community expansion opportunities, and emerging ownership models. Discussion will also focus on acquisition opportunities, strategic growth decisions, and how organizations determine when to pursue projects, expand existing communities, or walk away. Topics include active adult housing, development strategy, location analysis, property optimization, acquisitions, and growth planning.
Featured Topics
- Active Adult / IL Lite Reckoning
- Location. Location. Location.
- Optimizing Existing Properties
- To Fold, Check or Bet: Ownership Opportunities and Investment Decisions
9:30 AM: Break
9:45 AM: Operating Communities For The Next Decade
Kyal Klawitter, Medcraft
Ann Schrempp, Ebenezer
Andy Schultz, Ebenezer
Michael Mireau, The Source Assisted Living Consultants, LLC
Shawn Pierce, Ebenezer
Moderator: Andy Shultz
Meeting tomorrow's resident expectations requires organizations to rethink community operations, capital investment strategies, and design.
This session focuses on the realities of operating senior housing in an increasingly complex environment. Panelists will explore aging infrastructure, capital planning priorities, community modernization, memory care innovation, and resident-centered design. Discussion will also address how organizations can create communities that remain competitive while improving resident outcomes and operational performance. Topics include memory care, design trends, aging infrastructure, management transitions, and capital planning.
Featured Topics
- Aging Infrastructure vs. Resident Expectations
- Design Trends in Senior Housing
- Residential Dining Experience
- Insurance/Risk
10:25 AM: Technology, Policy & Competitive Advantage
Bryanna St. Pierre, Ebenezer
Angi Moore, Ebenezer
Martha Nevanen, Buzz Partners
Tiffany Karlin, Wipfli Advisory LLC
Erin Huppert, LeadingAge Minnesota
Bryan Jarabek, Fairview Health Services
Lisa Lavin, Ōmcare
Moderator: Bryanna St. Pierre
Technology breakthroughs, policy uncertainty, workforce challenges, and changing consumer behavior are creating both opportunity and risk for senior housing organizations.
This forward-looking session examines the forces likely to influence industry success over the next decade. Panelists will discuss technology adoption beyond AI hype, digital health innovations, workforce transformation, reimbursement pressures, regulatory concerns, and evolving marketing strategies. The conversation will also explore how organizations can differentiate themselves in a competitive marketplace and position for long-term success. Topics include policy impacts, digital health technology, AI deployment, workforce implications, and digital marketing strategy.
Featured Topics
- Policy Edge: Medicaid Cliff, Rent and Revenue Controls
- AgeTech & AI Beyond the Buzzwords
- Digital Health Technology
- Best Marketing Strategies in a Changing Digital World
11:05 AM: Executive Leadership Roundtable: What Must The Industry Do Next?
Brett Anderson, Ebenezer
Rajean Moone, University of Minnesota
Joel Theisen, Lifespark
Traci Larson, Guardian Angels Senior Services
Mark Anderson, Vivie
Thomas (Toby) Pearson, Care Providers of Minnesota
Lisa Thomson, Pathway Health
Moderator: Brett Anderson
To close the summit, executive leaders from across the spectrum of organizations gather to discuss the biggest opportunities and challenges ahead.
Moderated discussion will focus on:
- What issue requires immediate action?
- Where is senior housing under-investing?
- What development model holds the most promise?
- What keeps leaders awake at night?
- What opportunities are being overlooked?