John C. Erickson

Chairman and CEO

John Erickson is convinced that America needs to change how it views the aging process. With unmatched understanding and dedication to retired people, Erickson's privately held company, Erickson Retirement Communities, is the fastest-growing developer and manager of full-service, campus-style communities in the country. Erickson communities are known for their enviable lifestyle, services, and health care, all at prices that are affordable for middle-income Americans as they enter the second phase of their retirement—when access to services becomes more important than recreation.

His company's health care advantages are unique:

1. Erickson Advantage^® has been approved by Medicare as a first-of-its-kind supplemental health insurance plan aimed at serving beneficiaries living in continuing care retirement communities under the government’s Medicare Advantage program.
2. Erickson Health^SM, which is the nation's largest private health and wellness system for people over age 70, has costs that are 50% lower than what the government pays. In addition, the health system has demonstrated 50% lower acute care utilization than what the government typically experiences.

Mr. Erickson established perhaps the first health-and-wellness-oriented research institution to evolve from the U.S. retirement housing industry. Under his direction, the Erickson Foundation has invested millions in research to improve the lives of people around the world. Active aging research is one area that receives strong support. In addition, the Foundation works to develop inner city children into leaders. The Foundation’s NorthBay camp, located on the Chesapeake Bay, is a unique educational retreat with a state-of-the-art environmental education center, focused on teaching and experiencing real environmental science in the field. Serving more than12,000 students each school year in a five-day, four-night experience, the $33-million learning, living, and group activity center was designed to minimize impact on the land and enhance the existing features of the property.

In April 2004, John helped establish the Erickson School—Aging, Management and Policy, which is located at the University of Maryland in Baltimore County (UMBC). The goal of the school is to become the preeminent resource for education, research, and policy on services for the mid-life and older populations. With an explicit focus on preparing leaders for the twenty-first century within aging services, housing, and care, the Erickson School offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, professional certificate programs, professional and executive development, as well as cutting-edge policy and applied research.

Mr. Erickson’s company is also expanding into the world of media with the credo Inform · Inspire · Involve^SM.

With Retirement Living TV, Erickson introduced its unique TV programming in October 2006. The new voice of a generation largely ignored by the television industry, Retirement Living will not only change the way you watch TV, it will change the way you perceive retired life.

The Erickson Tribune, a rapidly growing monthly newspaper, is read by more than six million people throughout the country. The Erickson Tribune and its website, www.EricksonTribune.com, combine inspiring stories, cutting-edge medical news, and in-depth coverage on topics of extreme value to readers trying to make the most out of their retirement.

John Erickson's Story: One Man's Vision Speaks to Many

Mark R. Erickson

Chief Operating Officer

Mark Erickson is the Chief Operating Officer/ President of Health and Operations for Erickson Retirement Communities with responsibility for the operations and development of the core senior housing business. He oversees the operations of a billion-dollar business that serves over 22,000 seniors and 11,000 employees at 18 continuing care retirement communities across the country.

Previously, Mark served as the Chief Strategy Officer with responsibility for Strategy and Business Process Improvement, as well as several administrative functions including Government and Community Relations, Human Resources, Information Technology, Procurement, and Compliance.  From 2002 through 2005, Mark served as Executive Director and Associate Executive Director at Oak Crest Village, a 1,500-unit continuing care retirement community that serves 2,000 seniors in Parkville, Maryland.

Before re-joining Erickson in 2000, Mark spent five years with American Express Consulting Services based in Europe and Asia.  He completed a bachelor of arts in English Literature at Vanderbilt University and earned an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania.

Currently, Mark serves as a board member or trustee for the following organizations—the Institute of Notre Dame, Leadership Baltimore County, the executive committee of the American Senior Housing Association, and Catholic Charities.  

Joseph E. Foss

Chief Administrative Officer

Joseph E. Foss is the Chief Administrative Officer of Erickson Retirement Communities and is responsible, along with Chief Operating Officer Mark Erickson, for overseeing the day to day operations of the company. Specifically, Mr. Foss is responsible for Finance, Legal, IT, Development, Construction, Sales, and Marketing.

Prior to joining Erickson, Mr. Foss served as Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of the Baltimore Orioles. Most recently he led the creation of a new regional television network, the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, which is co-owned by the Orioles and the Washington Nationals. Mr. Foss also served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at First American Bank, and as Senior Vice President at Norwest Bank of Minneapolis. He holds an M.B.A from Minnesota State University and a B.A. from St. Thomas University.

Currently, Mr. Foss serves as a board member or trustee for the following organizations: Kennedy Krieger Institute, The Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins, Maryland Special Olympics, Constellation Energy Golf Classic, and the University of Maryland Hospital for Children.

Donna Samulowitz

Chief Marketing Officer

Donna Samulowitz is the Chief Marketing Officer for Erickson Retirement Communities and is responsible for the marketing and sales organization serving Erickson’s growing communities.

Donna most recently served as Executive Vice President—Chief Marketing Officer for Cardinal Health’s Integrated Provider Solutions, the 22-billion-dollar organization serving the hospital market. In this role, she was accountable for the strategic planning, innovation portfolio development, integrated marketing execution and strategic customer intelligence.

Before joining Cardinal Health, she held the position of Vice President of Customer Loyalty for Whirlpool Corporation. In this role, she led the enterprise-wide Customer Loyalty strategic initiative. Previous to this position, Samulowitz managed KitchenAid brand’s integrated marketing and communication functions and led the Whirlpool brand’s laundry and dishwasher management teams.

Before joining Whirlpool, Samulowitz managed the global Marketing department for the consumer diabetes business at Roche Diagnostics, building the global brand, Accu-Chek Advantage, through innovative product development and the execution of a global brand strategy and consumer segmentation approach. She also spent three years at Anheuser-Busch developing consumer and trade promotions.

Peter B. McMillan

President of Acquisitions and Development

Mr. McMillan is President of Acquisitions and Development. He oversees the acquisitions and development for all new and existing campuses for Erickson Retirement Communities.

Prior to joining Erickson, he was the president and chief operating officer/board member of The Mills Corporation (NYSE). He successfully secured over $3.7 billion of debt and equity capital for new development projects. While at The Mills Corporation, he restructured, redirected, and managed a small project-by-project real estate development company into the largest-volume, fully integrated real estate development company in the industry.

Before joining The Mills Corporation, he was executive vice president/CFO with CenterMark Properties, Inc. in St. Louis, Mo. He was successful in acquiring more than $300 million of additional property/partnership interests. Assets exceeded $1 billion, including 25 shopping malls and other retail properties.

Mr. McMillan holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing, real estate, and business administration, as well as an M.B.A. with a concentration in marketing, finance, and accounting, from East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C.

Bruce R. "Rick" Grindrod, Jr.

President, Developing Enterprises

Rick Grindrod is responsible for the success and viability of new business ventures for Erickson Retirement Communities. Some of these ventures include Erickson Health Beyond the Gates, Erickson Advantage, National Electronic Medical Records, Point Lookout, and Low Income Senior Housing. In addition, Rick provides executive oversight for Erickson’s investments and philanthropy to the Erickson Foundation, NorthBay, and the UMBC Erickson School—Aging, Management and Policy.

Mr. Grindrod is also credited for establishing the Erickson Way culture, and the company’s strategies relating to high resident satisfaction, extraordinary quality, exemplary employee commitment, and strong operating financial results. Mr. Grindrod has been employed by Erickson Retirement Communities for 22 years and previously served as Executive Vice President of Operations and Executive Director of Erickson Retirement Communities’ Charlestown Community and Henry Ford Village. He holds an M.B.A. from Loyola College and a B.S. from Bucknell University.