Caregiver tip: Take your 'energy temperature'
May 6, 2024
Laura Lamb joined Episcopal Retirement Services in 1994. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Cincinnati in 1991 and received her Master’s degree in Health Administration from Xavier University in 1994. Her thesis on Organizational Design in Healthcare was completed while working as an intern with ERS.
Since beginning her career at ERS, Laura has held multiple roles in operations and support services, most recently as Executive Vice President. After an extensive national search, ERS promoted Laura to the position of President & CEO in January 2017. As CEO, Laura provides strategic and organizational leadership to ensure the delivery of ERS' mission and successful business results. ERS offers residential communities in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana with three life plan communities, 30 affordable living communities, one middle market community, and a host of outreach ministries such as Deupree Meals on Wheels, Parish Health Ministry, Living Well Senior Solutions (ERS’s geriatric care management), and Center for Memory Support and Inclusion. Laura’s passion is to serve help ERS serve the full economic continuum and promote diversity and inclusion among ERS’s leadership team, staff, board, and residents. Laura lives in Cincinnati with her husband, Jeffrey. They have two adult children, Jordan and Jacob.
Dr. James “Jimmy” Wilson has served in the affordable housing industry since 1990. With degrees from the University of Louisville and Spalding University, Jimmy began his career with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) then served in management and executive leadership roles with nonprofit organizations.
Jimmy has extensive experience in managing and developing housing for various populations, including retirement communities for elders. At Christian Care Communities in Louisville, Kentucky, Jimmy was Director of Housing and Assisted Living for 17 years, overseeing the operations of retirement communities across the state. As Housing Vice President at Talbert House, he developed and led the management, programming, and operations of housing programs for persons experiencing homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse issues.
As Vice President of Affordable Living, Jimmy provides leadership to the thirty ERS affordable living communities.
Jimmy is active in his church while serving in senior leadership roles. He lives in northern Kentucky with his wife, Andrea. They are parents of three adult children and three grandchildren.
Before joining as Chief Financial Officer in 2019, Dan served ERS as an external advisor and audit partner since 2015. Dan has nearly 20 years of experience as a certified public accountant (CPA), most recently as an audit partner at RSM US LLP, a national public accounting firm.
From his CPA experience, Dan had a specialized focus in the senior living and affordable housing industries. Dan provides strong financial acumen, leadership skills, and industry best practices to help guide ERS’s financial policies and practices into the future through these experiences.
Dan lives in Lebanon with his wife, Jennifer and their three children. Dan is very involved in youth development programs and supporting his local community. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business from the Farmer School of Business at Miami University with a double major in accountancy and finance.
Beverly Edwards joined ERS in 2016, and she was a member of the ERS Next Generation Leadership Program to prepare her to serve as a candidate for a vice president role. Previously, she served as the Executive Director of the Episcopal Church Home (ECH) community in Louisville, KY, before her promotion to Senior Executive Director. Beverly has been instrumental in the financial turnaround of ECH and the master planning of that campus. Recently, she worked more with the Cincinnati retirement communities, Marjorie P. Lee and Deupree House, and expanded her operational expertise.
Beverly oversees the operations and direction of all three of ERS’s residential healthcare retirement communities. She provides strategic and operational leadership to the organization in residential healthcare and serves as an ERS corporate risk manager.
Beverly graduated from Jackson State University in Jackson, MS, with a bachelor’s degree in health care administration; and later received an Executive Master of Business Administration from Sullivan University in Louisville, KY. Beverly has been a member of the Children Have Options In Choosing Experiences Board of Directors since 2015. She served as the Fund Development Chair for two years and currently serves as Secretary of the Board. Throughout her career, Beverly has been very involved with LeadingAge Kentucky. In 2018, Business First Louisville recognized Beverly as one of the 20 People to Know in Aging Services and the Forty Under 40 Award, Class of 2018.
Joan Wetzel has worked in human resources and organizational leadership for the past 25 years in for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. At ERS, she serves as Vice President of Human Resources and Organizational Development where she provides strategic leadership in the areas of building and maintaining a strong desired culture, human resources management, leadership development, workforce planning, corporate compliance, and more.
Joan enjoys strategizing in the boardroom, but she can often be found working elbow-to-elbow with young leaders, helping them identify their strengths and fine-tune their leadership potential.
Joan grew up volunteering alongside her mother in a retirement community near their home. This experience had a tremendous impact on the way she viewed elders. From that time forward, she has always had her hand in something that impacts the lives of elders in our community. Working at ERS bridges two of her greatest passions: helping elders live on their own terms and organizational leadership.
Joan lives in Cincinnati with her husband, Stephen, and their three children. She is involved in youth character development programs such as Girl Scouts of Western Ohio, YMCA Camp Ernst, and the School for Creative and Performing Arts. She loves all the arts our fine city has to offer and never misses an FC Cincinnati match.
Lauryn Moore brings over 20 years of experience in marketing, public relations, communications, and strategic planning to her role at ERS. Before joining us, Lauryn spent more than 15 years in the healthcare sector, where she demonstrated exceptional servant leadership within hospital systems and physician groups across Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Her work included significant contributions to faith-based organizations, assisted living communities, and memory care.
Lauryn is passionate about serving older adults, their loved ones, caregivers, and clinicians. At ERS, she leads the marketing department and has a collaborative approach to delivering innovative campaigns and communication strategies that enhance brand equity and reputation. Her expertise in fostering meaningful relationships, storytelling, and audience connection aligns perfectly with ERS’s mission and core values.
Lauryn received her Bachelor of Science degree in public relations, mass communication, and journalism, with a minor in marketing from Florida International University. She is a nationally certified ANA Marketing Professional and an active member of several U.S. marketing and public relations councils, societies, and associations. Lauryn lives in Ohio with her husband and son. She and her family are very involved in supporting and volunteering at several non-profit organizations throughout the community.
Megan Bradford joined the ERS team as a Marketing Intern in 2009 while studying at Xavier University. During this time, Megan discovered her passion for a lifelong career in serving older adults. Since then, Megan has held many diverse roles within the ERS organization, including experience as a move-in coordinator, licensed nursing home administrator, and most recently serving as the Director of Strategic Initiatives. Megan is also a proud graduate of the LeadingAge Leadership Academy Class of 2020.
Megan draws on these experiences in her current role as Vice President of Middle Market and Ministry. Megan oversees ERS’ Middle Market growth strategy to serve older adults across the full economic continuum as well as ERS’ outreach ministry teams – the Center for Memory Support and Inclusion, Deupree Meals On Wheels, Living Well Senior Solutions, and Parish Health Ministry.
Megan lives in Lexington, Ohio with her husband, Dan, and daughter, Celia. Megan enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and everything the outdoors has to offer.
Albert Smitherman, Chair
JoAnn Hagopian, Chair
David Brown, Chair
