Collington and the Kendal Corporation are pleased to announce the induction of Collington CEO Ann Gillespie into the Continuing Care Hall of Fame. Awarded at the 2025 LeadingAge annual meeting in Boston, this honor represents the totality of a career that spans decades and has had far-reaching and momentous influence on excellence in aging.
An Unexpected Path
Ann’s journey began quite serendipitously as a young college student at Miami University Ohio. Enrolling in an introductory gerontology course simply because it fit her schedule, she subsequently attended a lecture on population aging by a demographer from the acclaimed Miami University’s Scripps Foundation for Gerontology.
“[The presentation] absolutely lit something up in me,” said Ann. “It was one of those rare pivot moments that reshapes your path.”
Originally intending to study journalism, Ann turned instead to Miami’s gerontology program, where a favorite professor and national leader in aging research taught her one of the most important lessons of her life: knowledge becomes meaningful only when you put it into practice.
Heeding her professor’s wisdom, Ann engaged in hands-on internships that “shaped me profoundly,” she said.
“These early experiences grounded me in the reality that leadership in aging requires curiosity, compassion and a willingness to roll up your sleeves.”
Purpose Meets Opportunity
Roll up her sleeves she did, digging into a career shaped by moments where purpose met opportunity, said Ann. The first was on Capitol Hill working for the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. There, she learned how policy is made and how it influences the organizations and processes that serve older adults.
She also met Lloyd Lewis, founding director of the first Kendal community, Kendal at Longwood, and a primary mentor and thought leader who introduced her to the power and promise of the continuing care retirement community (CCRC) model.
“Lloyd modeled what resident-centered purpose truly means. He believed deeply that older adults should define how they want to live, contribute and find meaning. That insight has guided my leadership ever since.”
All Boats Rise
Among her career highlights, Ann has continually shaped stronger, more accountable organizations, work that has influenced the senior sector and purpose-oriented institutions alike.
Entering the senior sector at a time of turbulence and scrutiny, Ann acknowledged, “Instead of shrinking from the challenge, I was fortunate to work with pioneers who believed the field needed a way to define excellence for itself.”
To that end, Ann and her colleagues built an industry-wide accreditation organization, developing standards in the core areas of governance, finance, health care and resident life and guiding the field toward greater accountability and strength.
Another of Ann’s many contributions to the senior sector was co-founding the LeadingAge Leadership Academy for the development of robust organizations comprised of strong individuals committed to elevating their peers.
“This program became a living expression of the idea that when leaders develop together, all boats rise,” said Ann.
At Booz Allen Hamilton, a temporary turn from aging services, Ann served large, mission-driven institutions like the Smithsonian and the National Science Foundation. “I learned lessons that have continued to inform my work in every role since.”
Change and Growth
Far from the sterile “nursing homes” of yore, today’s CCRC’s have grown dramatically in sophistication, professionalism and accountability, according to Ann, who attributes this evolution largely to the accreditation movement. Shared terminology, expectations and financial benchmarks continue to guide the field today.
Opportunity for further change is a breakdown in the silos that keep communities focused inward, according to Ann. “Our true potential lies in connecting more boldly with our surrounding communities. This isn’t about obligation, it’s about possibility. When we lift our gaze beyond our campuses, we can have a far greater impact.”
A Full-Circle Moment
Ann’s arrival at Collington in 2019 was a bit like coming home. Through Lloyd Lewis, who mentored Collington’s first executive director, she got to know the community during its beginnings and watched with excitement as it took shape.
Years later, when her mother-in-law was a resident, her relationship with Collington became deeply personal. That’s when she and her family witnessed firsthand the community’s culture of kindness and meaningful involvement in the community and beyond.
“My children swam in the pool, celebrated holidays here and saw their grandmother continue her curiosity about the world and to thrive among people who cared about her,” said Ann.
“When the opportunity to lead the organization arose, it felt like a full-circle moment.”
Preparing for the Future
Nearly 40 years old, Collington is at a crucial intersection of preserving what endures and reinventing for the future. “We’ve set ambitious goals that strengthen our identity while positioning us for long-term vitality,” Ann said.
Those plans include the expansion of independent living options and, most notably, the construction of a next-generation health center featuring a small-house model for assisted living and memory care.
Beyond Brick and Mortar
This transformation is about more than buildings, however; it’s about programming, culture and the way community is defined, avowed Ann.
“We’re aligning Collington with the expectations of today’s and tomorrow’s residents while protecting the spirit that has made this place special for nearly four decades. We aim to be a best place to work for our team members and a community that empowers residents to define their own purposeful lives.”
As one resident recently said, “We are lifelong learning – teachers and students all at once.”
“This beautifully captures Collington’s spirit,” said Ann. “This is a community of people who remain deeply engaged with the world and with each other, shaping a place where curiosity and connection are part of everyday life.”
Congratulations on your well-earned achievement, Ann! Your pioneering contributions to healthy aging are already transforming lives, and your future endeavors promise even greater impact.
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