Frequently Asked Questions

Is there hotel accommodations?
Click HERE to access our discounted room block at Lowes Chicago. Deadline to reserve is 7/25.

What is Executive Connect?
Qualified providers can get a complimentary ticket to the event through our new Executive Connect program. A qualified skilled nursing providers has a VP or higher title, your organization has $5 million or more in revenue annually, and you are willing to take up to four 15-minute meetings with our sponsors at the event, arranged by SNN. 

A $500 deposit is required to register for Executive Connect. $500 refundable, non-transferable ticket to attend and participate ONLY IF you attend the event AND participate with 4 verified meetings in our Executive Connect meetings during the event. No refunds permitted on this program if you are unable to attend or need to cancel your attendance for any reason. No exceptions.

Which ticket type do I purchase?
Provider tickets are for skilled nursing care providers, SNF owners, therapy providers, health systems, administrators, clinicians, nurses, government agencies and other care providers. Vendor tickets are for professionals in finance, technology, staffing, legal, sales, and marketing.

What does my ticket include?
A ticket includes access to all sessions, lunch, refreshments, as well as a networking reception. 

Are there kosher and other dietary options at the event?
Please email [email protected] for more information.

What is the refund policy?
For all tickets, no refunds are available within 45-days of the event. No exceptions.

How do I contact the organizer?
Email us at [email protected].

My company or organization owns or is an active investor in a provider. Which ticket type can I purchase?
If your organization owns or invests in a provider or providers in this space, your firm is classified as a private equity investor. If you wish to get the provider pricing, you would need to use that organization's email system/domain to register for the ticket to qualify as a provider. No exceptions.

Have upcoming event dates been announced?
Click here to see all upcoming SNN Events.

Event Details

Hours
August 18 – 5:00 pm - 7:00 PM CT. Networking Reception
August 19 – 9:00 am - 3:30 PM CT.  Doors open at 8 am
Networking Reception 3:30-5:30 PM CT in the foyer 
August 20 – 9:00 am - 11:30 AM CT. Doors open at 8 am

Location
Lowes Chicago,  455 North Park Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60611

August 18 - 20, 2025 • Chicago, IL

2024 Conference Agenda

9:00-9:10 AM

9:15 - 9:45 AM

9:50 - 10:05 AM

Melissa Powell
President
The Allure Group

Trip Hoffer
CEO
Optum Behavioral Health Solutions

Mark Friedlander
Chief Medical Officer, Behavioral Health 
Universal Health Services

11:00 - 11:15 AM

Shana Hoffman
President & CEO
New Directions

1:30 -2:00 PM

Jeremy Bischoff
Vice President of Reimbursement
Kentucky Association of Healthcare Facilities (KAHCF)
Kentucky Center for Assisted Living (KCAL)

John Mezzullo, DO 
Chief Medical Officer, Behavioral Health 
Eventus Whole Health

Jacob Berelowitz
Program Director
Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities

Sonia Garcia
COO
Amae Health

1:00 - 1:30 PM

J. Mark Traylor
President
Traylor-Porter Healthcare

9:00 - 9:15 AM

Brian Ellsworth
Vice President, Public Policy and
Payment Transformation
Health Dimensions Group (HDG)

9:20 - 9:50 AM

Cynthia Wade
President
Lincoln Health Hospital System

11:30 - 12:00 PM

Titles

CEO
Chief Clinical Officer
Chief Managed Care and Strategy Officer
Chief Government Relations Officer
Director of Clinical Services
Head of Acquisitions
Infection Preventionist
Manager Post Acute SNF Program
SVP Strategic Finance
SVP, Growth & Development
Vice President, Population Health
VP Acquisitions
VP Clinical Operations
VP of Reimbursement

Companies

Advocate Aurora Health
Amedisys
Cambridge Realty Capital
Cascadia Healthcare
Contessa Health 
Encore Rehabilitation
Ignite Medical Resorts
Kwalu
Prestige Healthcare
ProMedica
Sabra Health Care REIT
Sterling Healthcare
Tapestry Health
TridentCare

Accommodations
Click here to access of hotel block at The Blackstone Hotel Chicago. Reservations cut-off date is August 28, 2023. 

12:00 - 1:00 PM

Steve Hart  
COO
Heritage Operations Group

12:00 - 1:00 PM

August 19

Ted LeNeave 
CEO 
Accura

Gary Blake
CEO
Creative Solutions in Health Care

Steve Nee
CEO 
Diversicare

10:05 - 11:00 AM

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Mark Friedlander
Chief Medical Officer, Behavioral Health 
Universal Health Services

3:00 - 3:30 PM

Stephanie Chedid
CEO
Luther Manor

Own Hammond
President and CEO, Principal
Cascadia Healthcare

Heidi Wold
Chief Clinical Officer
Longevity Health Plans

Matthew Maurano 
CEO
Transitions Healthcare

Nicole Kaufman
Chief Transformation Officer
Genesis HealthCare

Kyle Linn
Senior Vice President of Operations
Brickyard Healthcare

Paul Pruitt 
CEO
Majestic Care

Leslie Zimmerman-Black 
Regional Director of Clinical Services, Management Division Mission Health Communities

Donna Farr  
President of Touchpoints Therapy and VP Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement
iCare Health Network

Katie Hughes
Regional Nurse Consultant 
Allure Healthcare Services

Amber Kirwin
SVP of Talent Acquisition & Recruiting
Signature HealthCARE

Nancy Koha 
Chief Process Officer Principle LTC

Dr. Christopher A. Boyle, MD
Chief of Stewardship and Physician Advisor Services
North Region, NorthShore, Edward Elmhurst Health

Austin Steele
Chief Strategy Officer 
Journey Skilled Nursing

Roxy Stennett
VP of Operations 
Avamere

Payment models, resident acuity, staffing stability, tightening regulations, evolving technology and new consumer expectations are just some of the factors that are playing a role in shaping the nursing home of the future. Hear from leaders in the field about their top four priorities that they believe will position nursing homes for the future.

Strapped for cash, struggling to find workers, and contending with a host of other challenges, many nursing home operators have been forced to make difficult decisions in recent years. Hear from leaders with three providers about the pivots that their companies have made, their visions for next steps, and their takes on the future of skilled nursing.

While it’s assumed a Republican administration means lessened regulatory scrutiny, nothing about Trump’s second term has ended up being conventional between a funding freeze, communications halt and unlikely candidates to lead HHS and CMS, not to mention the potential for heavy cuts to Medicaid. Get the latest insights into the action in Washington and how providers can be prepared.

Implementation of survey changes began April 28, after multiple delays at the beginning of the year. Learn how nursing home operators are faring and gain insight into best practices for complying with new guidance on admission agreements, medication management, infection control and health equity considerations.

When the federal staffing mandate dropped in April, one industry leader called it an “extinction event” for some providers. Hear from leading executives about the ongoing fight against the mandate, how they’re preparing should it take effect, and how they believe nursing home providers can survive manifold challenges – including managed care pressures and a changing resident profile – to thrive in the future.

As Medicare Advantage continues to gain ground as a skilled nursing payer, learn how providers are confronting the burdens of managed care while trying to maximize benefits — all against a backdrop of evolving regulations.

Hospitals across the country have been unable to transition patients to post-acute settings, prompting creative new approaches to SNF partnerships.

Toni Headstream
e
Elmbrook Managment Company

Ticket Prices
Early Bird Provider: $675
Early Bird Vendor: $1,525

*Early Bird pricing ends 7/18/25

Toni Headstream 
Dir. of Clinical Education
Elmbrook Management

Patrick Hoertt 
Vice President of Business Development
Theoria Medical

Every nursing home provider is in a constant quest to improve fall prevention and response, and reduce pressure ulcers and nosocomial infections. Gain practical strategies for achieving improvement in these areas through a variety of approaches, including operational practices, staff education, technological assistance and more.

11:00 - 11:30 AM

Kimberly Green 
COO
Diakonos Group

Tim Fields
CEO 
Ignite Medical Resorts

Deke Cateau  
CEO
A.G. Rhodes

10:30 - 11:00 AM

Stephanie Parks
Chief Development Officer
Reliant Rehabilitation

J. Lynn Bauknight
Corporate Dir. of Client Success
Reliant Rehabilitation

Renee Anderson
Chief Operating Officer
Trinity Healthcare

Jennifer Robinson
President
SanStone Health and Rehab

Marybeth O'Connor
VP of Corporate Development American Health Plans

Elizabeth McLaren, Sr.  
Vice President of Revenue-Cycle Reimbursement and HCBS
Covenant Living

2:00 - 2:30 PM

Joseph Zaccaria
VP Strategy & Finance
Neteera

Dr. Jamie Freelin  
National Medical Director of Team ACO
Team Health

Dr. Darren Swenson  
Group President
Team Health

John Calcavecchia MBA, PTA
 Senior Vice President of Sales Tapestry Health

2:30 - 3:00 PM

From the creation of a data-focused “retentionist” role to hyper-personalized approaches to orientation, learn about approaches that nursing home providers are taking to address the most pressing challenge they face: building a strong team with low turnover and high engagement.

3:30 - 5:30 PM

Assisted living is hot among investors, with 50% of respondents to a JLL survey identifying AL as the top senior living opportunity in 2025. Meanwhile, some of the largest recent deals have focused on skilled nursing. Get more perspective on what is driving investor interest in both types of assets and how the demand for higher-acuity care is shaping portfolios and value-creation strategies.

The rise of managed care has put SNFs under financial and operational pressure, with challenging payment rates, mounting denials and appeals, and a host of other challenges. Learn how providers are adapting to secure their margins and keep their operations from being overwhelmed by mounting demands.

11:45 - 12:15 PM

Matt Nieukirk
Director of OSF SNF Practice
OSF HealthCare

Kevin Pascoe
Chief Investment Officer
National Health Investors (NHI)

Despite ongoing operational, regulatory and economic headwinds, real estate investment trusts have expressed bullish outlooks on the skilled nursing sector and are pursuing investments in the space. Hear from REIT leaders about the scope of the SNF opportunity, their investment strategies, and their perspectives on hot-button issues like the staffing mandate, managed care growth, labor pressures, interest rates and more.

The aging population means that demand for post-acute and long-term care is building, but market competition, staffing strains and other challenges can impede efforts to drive census. Learn best practices for creating competitive differentiation, crafting an effective marketing strategy, driving the right payer mix, developing strong referral partnerships, improving the admissions process, and other key factors in building strong, stable occupancy.

Collaboration and interdependency between nursing home operations and clinical partners is fundamental to the collective success moving forward.  Hear from leaders how a suite of data driven clinical and operational programs are delivering improved patient care at a lower cost while raising 5 star quality ratings

9:50 - 10:30 AM

DeeAndra Sandgren 
Chief Nursing Officer
The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

Eric Gillis
SVP, Investments
CareTrust REIT

DeeAndra Sandgren
Chief Nursing Officer
Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society

The RETHINK Conference is the premier skilled nursing event that brings executives together for content and network that addresses trends, challenges, and the future of the nursing home industry. Join skilled nursing, therapy, health system, post-acute care executives, investors and professionals, as well as vendors, developers, and consultants for a one-of-a-kind event.

Topics include:

• C-suite outlook on the future of the industry
• Skilled nursing investment trends
• Regulatory & reimbursement trends
• Staffing challenges and opportunities
• M&A outlook
• Data, analytics and technology
• And more...

Haley F. Paley
Chief Operations Officer
MPAC Healthcare

J. Lynn Bauknight PT, MSPT, CWS, RAC-CTA
Corporate Clinical Consultant 
Caring Healthcare

Stephanie Parks, MBA, MS CCC-SLP
Chief Development Officer
Reliant Rehabilitation

The delivery of higher-acuity care for older adults is transforming. Nursing homes are under intense operational and financial pressure, leading to closures across the country, yet their services remain a crucial part of an increasingly integrated health care continuum. Assisted living, meanwhile, is a hot asset class for investors and a growth sector for many operators, yet they are seeking innovations to deliver more advanced care and participate in new payment models. Hear from leaders who know both the skilled nursing and assisted living markets about their visions for the future and how those visions are translating into business strategies.

Bipartisan legislation underway aims to increase opportunities for home-based care, while studies are beginning to show early signs of success for the SNF-at-home programs. Learn how operators are using this to their advantage in contending with a future where demand for skilled nursing services will only rise, but reimbursement might be a challenge as more older adults want to age in place or opt for a more homelike environment. Also, get insights on whether SNFs can combat this by becoming more homelike.

The complexities of the MDS and PDPM mean that keeping up with best practices is a constant challenge, and every skilled nursing provider can benefit from a review of common errors that can lead to missed reimbursements. This session will cover clinical conditions and operational practices that often are associated with documentation errors, undercoding and other problems, and tips for how to address these challenges to capture proper reimbursement levels.

To meet the demand for higher-acuity care, some senior living operators are putting assisted living at the center of their strategies and are pursuing innovative models to elevate care while maintaining a strong bottom line. Hear from providers about the staffing, technology, referral and payment partnerships and other elements of these strategies.

The rise of value-based models and the growth of MA special needs plans, uncertainty around the future of Medicaid, and opportunities created by enhanced assisted living programs in some states are among the trends reshaping assisted living. Hear about how providers are evaluating these models amid the backdrop of rising acuity and the need to serve the middle market.

A strong tech platform is the backbone of a strong assisted living organization, but the best providers recognize they need to keep pace with rapid advances across a range of technologies. Learn more about how providers are breaking new ground with tech, including harnessing systems to capture a greater array of data around resident health and lifestyle goals, and leveraging the information to drive better outcomes and increased resident engagement.

A strong tech platform is the backbone of a strong assisted living organization, but the best providers recognize they need to keep pace with rapid advances across a range of technologies. Learn more about how providers are breaking new ground with tech, including harnessing systems to capture a greater array of data around resident health and lifestyle goals, and leveraging the information to drive better outcomes and increased resident engagement.

August 20

Traditional ways of operating assisted living are no longer adequate. Hear how leading providers are adopting more sophisticated models to address more complex clinical needs, heightened consumer expectations, pressing workforce challenges, and other trends shaping the future of AL.

Accommodations
Click HERE to access our discounted room block at Lowes Chicago. Deadline to reserve is 7/25.