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Leadership
Executive Leadership
Executive Leadership

Jeff Branch
President and Chief Executive Officer

JANET BUCHANAN, D.MIN.
Vice President of Philanthropy

KEN CONNELLY
Vice President of Operations

SUZY DYER-GEAR
Vice President of Human Resources

ANNE KEMPSELL
Vice President of Sales and Marketing

STEVE POWELL
Vice President of Finance and Technology

MICHELLE ROSENHEIM
Executive Director of Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant

Jeff Branch
President and Chief Executive Officer
Jeff Branch joined LSMMD in July 2019. As president and CEO, he oversees the strategic direction of Lutheran Social Ministries of Maryland and its communities, including setting the course for investing in team members and culture. The recipient of a master’s degree in Public Administration from Virginia Polytechnic & State University, he has spent the majority of his career serving seniors and in health care administration. Prior to joining LSMMD, he was senior vice president and managing director at Mather in Evanston, IL, where he managed senior living operations and guided the Mather Institute team in their mission to share innovations and next practices with the goal of improving aging services. Previous experience includes regional and division leadership roles at Sunrise Senior Living, one of the largest senior living organizations in the country, as vice president of operations serving 37 communities.

KEN CONNELLY
Vice President of Operations
Ken Connelly works closely with the executive leadership team and provides strategic direction and leadership to the communities’ executive directors and 600-plus team members. He oversees all aspects of operations, including financial oversight, culinary and building services, health care and capital projects. For 20 years, he has served in various leadership roles in operations, sales, marketing and business development of national senior living and health care organizations, including HCR ManorCare and Sunrise Senior Living. Connelly has a bachelor’s degree in marketing communications from Salisbury University, MD, and is a licensed nursing home administrator. He is the board president for Insight Memory Care, a day program that serves individuals with dementia located in Fairfax. VA.

SUZY DYER-GEAR
Vice President of Human Resources
Suzy Dyer-Gear leads a team of HR and talent acquisition professionals in providing a full range of HR services to almost 600 team members. She also serves as compliance official, a liaison role with a contracted compliance officer and firm. Dyer-Gear has more than 30 years’ experience in HR and organizational development. She earned a Master of Administrative Science Degree in Management from Johns Hopkins University, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee. She is certified as a senior professional in human resources (SPHR) by the Human Resource Certification Institute, and as a senior certified professional in human resources (SHRMSCP) by the Society for Human Resource Management. Additionally, for over 20 years Dyer-Gear has taught graduate level courses in business and HR as an adjunct instructor at local colleges and universities.

STEVE POWELL
Vice President of Finance and Technology
Steve Powell oversees the finance services for LSMMD and its communities and works closely with the executive leadership team. Prior to joining, he served Carroll County government for 30 years where his roles included chief of staff and director of management and budget. During his time there, he instituted both a risk management and a grants management program to control costs and seek alternative funding opportunities. Powell holds a bachelor’s degree in political science/economics from Salem College in WV and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Virginia.

Pete Bolt
Executive Director of Carroll Lutheran Village
Pete Bolt oversees the daily operations of independent living, assisted living and health care at Carroll Lutheran Village, which includes facilities, dining, resident life, social work, chaplaincy, skilled nursing, assisted living and rehabilitation. Having worked in senior living for over 25 years, his experience includes business process improvement, operations and financial management, quality assurance, talent management and leadership. He holds a master’s degree in economics from Western Illinois University and bachelor’s degree in health care service management from University of Missouri.

MICHELLE ROSENHEIM
Executive Director of Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant
Michelle Rosenheim oversees the daily operations of independent living, assisted living and health care of Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant, which includes facilities, dining, resident life, social work, chaplaincy, skilled nursing, assisted living and rehabilitation. Rosenheim, who has two decades of experience in senior living management, serves on the State Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators and Howard County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She is a certified preceptor of the nursing home Administrator-in Training Program and holds a bachelor’s degree in health care management with a minor in business administration from Towson University.
Lutheran Social Ministries of Maryland serves older adults in the Lutheran tradition of social ministry and service.
Board of Trustees
Victoria Hathaway
Board Chair
Keller Williams Lucido Agency
Keller Williams Lucido Agency
Dave Bond
CCRC Actuaries
Chris Borcik
Continuing Care Actuaries
Dave Bowersox
Hoffman, Comfort, Offutt, Scott & Halstad
Vic Broccolino
Semi Retired Hospital Executive
Rev. Christopher Frigm
Trinity Lutheran Church Taneytown
Ananta Hejeebu
Thrive
Joe Hikel
Shelter Systems, Inc.
Steve Lambertson
The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company (retired)
Lindsay Moss
Elville and Associates, PC
Rev. David Schafer
St. Benjamin's Lutheran Church
Jay Zumbrun
Community Colleges of Baltimore County
Jeff Branch
President/CEO
Ex Officio Board Member
Ex Officio Board Member