Building Bridges: MBK Senior Living’s President’s Council

By Kristi Walter | October 14, 2025

Editor’s Note: This article was written and submitted by senior living executive Kristi Walter. If you are a senior living executive at an organization or a community with an idea for an article that you’d like to write and publish in Senior Living News you’re welcome to submit your idea or written article to Jim Nelson at jnelson@seniorlivingnews.com. We welcome all ideas relating to senior living.

The heart of every senior living community lies in its residents — their stories, their experiences, and their voices. At MBK Senior Living, those voices now resonate louder and clearer than ever through the President’s Council, a unique, resident-led forum that connects communities directly with company leadership.

That’s where Alice, Barb, and Harry come in.

Although Harry has since stepped down and passed the baton to Lois Phipps of Citrus Place, this dynamic trio form the leadership panel that meets monthly with MBK’s President, Kevin Bowman, and Senior Vice President of Operations, Andrew Sheppard. In this role, they provide a direct and meaningful connection between community residents and the executive team based in Irvine, California.

Modeled after community-level resident and family councils, this initiative provides residents with the opportunity to meet with leadership, ask questions, and share feedback. It reinforces MBK’s commitment to listening and learning directly from those who call our communities home, while helping us strengthen connection and transparency at the highest levels of the organization.

The idea for the President’s Council grew from a simple but powerful realization by MBK’s Regional Director of Wellness Programming, Donal McGraw.

“There’s this big valley between the communities and home office,” McGraw explained. “After a conversation with one of our community resident council presidents, I asked myself, ‘Why stop at reporting to just the community executive director? Why not create a council that builds a bridge, so our residents are empowered to have a direct line of communication with MBK Leadership?’”

With that vision in mind, McGraw set the wheels in motion.

When the opportunity arose, residents were quick to step forward. Alice Reimche of The Commons on Thornton, who has a history of being involved with city government, was naturally curious.

“I just wanted to be part of that program where we could see what corporate has in mind for us and how we can spread the word to our community so they’re aware of what’s going on,” Alice commented.

For Harry McDonald of Northgate Plaza, the decision was obvious.

“When Donal sent the invitation for the President’s Council,” Harry recalled, “I thought, ‘Why wouldn’t I join that?’ It just seems unfathomable to me that not every [Resident Council] President from every MBK community participates.”

And for Barb Hill Aseo of Dale Commons, joining was about accountability and connection.

“I like to know who I’m dealing with — the people, the movers, the people at the top that dribble down to us,” Barb said. “I want you to know that Harry and Alice and I just meshed on day one. We felt the same, we thought the same, and yet we were different enough that we could voice our opinions.”

Since its creation, the President’s Council has become an invaluable part of community life.

“It’s not just our interaction with Kevin [Bowman] that has been so valuable, but the interaction of the Presidents,” Harry noted. “Having the President’s Council to hash out what’s happening with common issues has been really good.”

Alice agreed, highlighting the value of collaboration. “I love that exchange of ideas. I think it’s benefited all of us.”

“Sometimes just giving residents information helps,” Barb added. “It may not solve the problem, but it gives them relief. For me, that’s important.”

The Council plays an important role in bringing forward the viewpoints of those who call an MBK community home.

“I see myself as an advocate for our residents,” Alice explained. “Administration offers knowledge and expertise, but I bring the lived experience of being part of this community. That perspective allows us to share residents’ voices in a unique and meaningful way.”

“This panel’s ability to meet with Kevin and share with each other is really opening some important avenues of communication,” Harry said.

“The other thing is it feels like [Kevin is] on our team,” added Barb. “You know, it’s not like he’s up here and we’re down there. We feel equal, and I feel equally heard as well.”

Having the opportunity to sit with MBK’s president and senior vice president of operations — knowing they are truly listening, jotting down even the smallest concerns, and then hearing them say, “I’ll bring this up on my next call with our executive directors” — has been invaluable for the council.

Bowman shared that one of the greatest benefits of having a President’s Council is the ability to get a timely pulse on issues that matter most to residents, allowing leadership to respond quickly before they become unresolved or prolonged.

“I am so grateful that we have this program,” Bowman said. “I think it makes MBK a better provider that we set aside time to have meaningful dialogue with the people we are serving.  And selfishly, it fills my bucket to engage with these wonderful people.”

Bowman went on to note that his time with our President’s Club leaders is often the highlight of his month.

“The opportunity to engage with our residents monthly is the ‘chicken soup for my soul,’ even when we have to discuss difficult and challenging topics,” he revealed. “It’s been so many years since I have operated a community, and conversing and building relationships with residents is one of the things I miss the most!”

Looking Ahead

As the President’s Council continues to grow, its members see even greater potential.

“To me, the vision for the future is to get a representative from every community,” Harry shared. “I want everybody represented at the meeting.”

“How many senior communities have something like this?” Barb wondered. “Is this a new idea we can bring to the table for others to adopt and reap the benefits we’ve had? Because there have been a lot of benefits.”

McGraw, who first imagined the council, believes its purpose is clear: “Every community should have a resident representative so residents realize that their voice matters and that we’re listening.”

In many ways, the President’s Council is a living expression of MBK’s values: It encourages “Ageless Exploration” by giving residents a platform to shape their communities; it strengthens our belief in being “Better Together” by uniting voices across locations; and most importantly, it affirms our “Reason for Being”: to ensure every resident knows their life, perspective, and purpose truly matters. With this foundation, the President’s Council is poised not only to grow, but to inspire meaningful change for years to come.

This article has been lightly edited for style and formatting.