Rockhill Mennonite Community merges with Community Home Services and announces new CEO
Sellersville, PA – The Boards of Directors of Rockhill Mennonite Community and Community Home Services are delighted to announce a new strategic partnership. Rockhill Mennonite Community is a continuing care retirement community with a long history of providing residential care in Sellersville. Community Home Services of Souderton, established in 1995, is a licensed Home Care provider. Both organizations are Conference Related Ministries of Franconia Conference and are non-profit and faith based, with a like minded vision to provide seniors in this area with quality and compassionate care in a variety of settings.
Therefore, effective July 1, 2013, Community Home Services will become a subsidiary of Rockhill Mennonite Community. The new entity, a registered 501(c)(3) corporation, will be known as RM Home Services but will continue doing business as Community Home Services.
“We are excited about this venture,” affirms Mary Tidey, Executive Director of Community Home Services. “In aligning ourselves with the talent, leadership and resources of Rockhill Mennonite Community, we will continue to build on our reputation for providing the best in home care. This announcement is the culmination of many months of work on the parts of the leaders of both organizations. It represents a new milestone for us as we position ourselves to grow within the changing landscape of healthcare.”
Glenn Bauman, Vice Chairman of the Board of Rockhill Mennonite Community and board member of Community Home Services notes that “it has been exciting to be involved in developing this partnership. It has been a lengthy but rewarding process for us all in getting to this place where we can now publicly announce the merger. We are looking forward to the many ways that we can not only serve in-home care to the elderly here on our campus but also in the surrounding community.”
While leadership of both organizations go about the work of integration in the coming months, operations of the CHS office in Souderton will continue as it has for the foreseeable future.
The Board of Directors of Rockhill Mennonite Community is also delighted to announce the appointment of Ms. Karen Lehman as RMC’s new Chief Executive Officer. Formerly the Executive Director at Pennswood Village, a retirement community in Newtown, Pa, Ms. Lehman will begin on June 17, 2013.
Ron Hertzler, RMC Board Chair, is pleased with the decision. “The Board of Directors is excited to announce that Karen Lehman will be our new Chief Executive Officer. She brings a wealth of experience to this role having served in leadership roles in other CCRC’s. We anticipate her leadership will bring many wonderful possibilities for Rockhill Mennonite Community in the future.”
Ms. Lehman offers over 24 years experience in the health care and retirement industries. She has successfully led several communities – in Indiana, Maryland and Pennsylvania – in new development and construction projects, operational efficiencies, technological advancements and fiscal management. She is a leader in the senior care field, and promises excellent strategic visioning and planning for RMC. Most notably, Lehman was Chief Operating Officer at Greencroft Retirement Community in Goshen, the largest non-profit CCRC in northern Indiana.
“I am happy to join RMC and serve in the CEO position,” states Lehman. “I look forward to helping set a strategy for the future that takes into consideration how RMC has been positioned for today, but also considers the needs and values of those we will be serving tomorrow.” Lehman’s initial focus will be to work closely with the Board of Directors on governance and operations, “not only to strengthen current programming and structures but also to look at opportunities for RMC to further develop leadership that takes into consideration the needs of all those served.”
Ms. Lehman has led communities both large and small to realize their full potential. She has been responsible for communities with as few as 425 residents to as many as 1,200. Operationally, she has directed staff ranging from 100 to 500 employees.
From an Amish and Mennonite family, Ms. Lehman resides in Furlong, Pa with her husband, Kent Beck. She currently serves as the Treasurer for Mennonite Women USA Board of Directors. She is also serving on the Leading Age (formerly American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging) Commission on Ethics. Most recently, she has been appointed to the Board of Resource Partners, a risk-management organization serving nonprofit mission and service agencies within the faith communities of Mennonite, Brethren and Quaker denominations.
In anticipation of joining RMC’s staff and residents, Ms. Lehman states, “Rockhill Mennonite Community is well known for its quality of care and caring, invested employees. I’m excited to be a part of the team that will help guide RMC’s residents and staff into the next chapter of a long and respected story.”
Orville Yoder will continue as Interim CEO until Ms. Lehman assumes her post on June 17th.
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Founded in 1995 by five area retirement communities, Community Home Services of Souderton is a nonprofit ministry serving the Berks, Bucks, Chester, Lehigh and Montgomery Counties of Pennsylvania. Care and Support Services are uniquely designed to meet the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of each client and family. For more information, please call (215) 723-1906 or visit us on the web.
Also located in Pennsylvania, situated on 44 acres in Bucks County, Rockhill Mennonite Community has been providing services for over 75 years. A full continuum of care includes 217 Independent Living residences, 53 Personal Care residences, a 90-bed Healthcare Center and Adult Day Services. All of these services are provided under one roof, which permits changing needs to be met by professional, caring staff. For more information, please call (215) 257-2751.