Speakers Announced for the 2010 NIC Regional Symposium

January 13, 2010

Press Release

Press Room – 2010 NIC Press Releases

SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2010 NIC REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM

March 2010 Event to Address ‘Leadership for a Demanding Journey’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 13, 2010
Contact: Renee Tilton, (410) 626-0805 or rtilton@crosbymarketing.com

Annapolis, Md. – The National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry (NIC) announced the top industry executives who will be leading the breakout sessions at the 2010 NIC Regional Symposium. This annual event, created specifically for providers and financiers with local or regional portfolios in the seniors housing and care sector, will provide information and strategies to help them adapt to today’s demanding market and turn obstacles into opportunities. The Symposium will be held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel, San Diego, Calif., on March 9-11, 2010.

In addition to major presentations by Thilo Best, chairman and CEO, Horizon Bay Retirement Living; Sam Chandan, PhD, president & chief economist, Real Estate Econometrics; and Dan B. Madsen, chairman, One Eighty and president/CEO, Leisure Care, breakout sessions will be held to address issues involving access to capital, the impact of the economy and strategies for increasing occupancy and profitability. Led by prominent industry leaders, these topics will deliver on the theme “Leadership for a Demanding Journey: Adapting to Changing Expectations.”

The first round of breakout sessions starts on March 10 at 2:00 p.m.:

  • In “Underwriting & Valuation of Assets: Stabilized Properties,” panelists Doug Bath, group head – healthcare finance, Walker & Dunlop; Michael Gordon, vice president, Harrison Street Real Estate Capital; and Brian Tilton, manager – real estate investments, Ventas Healthcare Properties will discuss how stabilized assets are being underwritten and valued in today’s market. Moderated by Alan Plush, president, HealthTrust, this session will provide insight on market trends and recent transaction activity.
  • Those who want to know “What to Expect When You’re Expecting…a Restructure or Recapitalization” will benefit from the perspectives of panelists Anthony C. Crooks, director, AEW Capital Management; John A. Harris, partner, Quarles & Brady LLP; and Wayne D. Horvath, senior vice president, KeyBank Real Estate Capital, as moderated by Kristen Ahrens, senior vice president, GE Capital, Healthcare Financial Services. These experts will reveal their viewpoints on reworking of debt, as well as techniques for developing exit and restructuring strategies.
  • Moderated by Chip Gabriel, president, Generations LLC, “Overcoming Objections: Creative Ways to Help Seniors to Move Out of their Homes and into Your Communities” will explore innovative approaches for working with seniors who are making the decision to move into a community. Tactics for turning housing challenges into opportunities will be illustrated with real world insights from panelists Richard W. Olson, president/chief executive officer, VibrantLiving Communities & Services; Elias P. Papasavvas, founder & CEO, Elderlife Financial Services LLC; and Patricia G. Will, founder & president, Belmont Village Sr. Living.

Two additional breakout sessions will be offered on March 11 at 9:00 a.m.:

  • Panelists Charles A. Bissell, national practice leader, Integra Realty Resources and Peter J. Kane, managing director, The PrivateBank will reveal techniques for the “Underwriting & Valuation of Assets: Unstabilized Properties” to help all stakeholders in seniors housing learn how to assess unstabilized communities. Moderated by Ryan Frederick, principal, CoastWood Senior Housing Partners, this session will explain which properties have a potential for significant returns and which should be avoided at any cost.
  • Learn “How to use the Best Consumer Research and Sales Practices to Produce Higher Occupancy” in a session moderated by Anthony Mullen, senior fellow, NIC, with panelists Meg Ostrom, SVP of sales & marketing, Classic Residence by Hyatt; David A. Smith, owner, One On One Service to Seniors, The Gatesworth; and Margaret Wylde, president and CEO, ProMatura Group, LLC. Topics will include specific sales techniques and the ways research can improve communications, positioning and lead generation strategies.

The final two breakout sessions will take place on March 11 at 11:00 a.m.:

  • Moderated by Eric Kammerer, managing director, MidCap Financial, LLC, panelists Alec Blanc, sr. vice president, First Bank; Charles J. Herman, Jr., executive V.P. & chief investment officer, Health Care REIT, Inc.; Richard Hubbard, senior vice president, Wells Fargo Bank; and Scott A. Kavel, senior vice president, Grandbridge Real Estate Capital will share their views on the future of seniors housing and care finance – including construction and mini-perm/interim financing, REIT capital, and government sponsored financing – in “Capital in 2010: A Prolonged Odyssey or Return to Normalcy?”
  • Find out which distressed assets have the greatest return potential in “Distressed Property Opportunities, Strategies and Turnarounds,” with panelistFrank J. Haffner, CEO/chairman, ASL Monarch Living, Inc. and moderator Marc Thompson, CRE, FRICS, senior vice president, Bank of the West. This session will use before-and-after pictures of a turn-around property to illustrate the best ways to handle the challenge of transitioning a property from distressed asset to stabilized asset.

In addition, attendees will have many networking opportunities, including multiple coffee and networking breaks and a networking lounge.

New this year, the co-located 2010 National Skilled Nursing Investment Forum, an investment-focused conference for owners, operators, investors, association leaders and government representatives who have specific interest in the skilled nursing sector, will be held immediately prior to the Symposium. A joint reception for attendees of both events will be held on Tuesday, March 9, and will provide an enhanced networking opportunity for everyone involved in seniors housing and long-term care.

The early bird registration rate for the 2010 NIC Regional Symposium is $1000 for general (non-operator) attendees; $1350 after January 15, 2010. The amount includes free admission to the 2010 National Skilled Nursing Investment Forum, which will be held beforehand on March 8-10 at the same location.

For operators, the early bird registration rate for the Symposium is $600; increasing to $750 after January 15. For an additional $350, operators may also attend the National Skilled Nursing Investment Forum.

About NIC

Founded in 1991, the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry is a nonprofit education and research organization providing information about business strategy and capital formation for the senior living industry. NIC is the leading provider of historical and trend data on the industry through its NIC MAP® Data and Analysis Service that tracks properties in the 100 largest metropolitan areas and its Key Financial Indicators™ (KFIs) that report nationwide statistics. Proceeds from its annual conference and other events are used to fund data and research on issues of importance to lenders, investors, developers, operators, and others interested in meeting the housing and care needs of America’s seniors. For more information, visit www.NIC.org or call (410) 267-0504.