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ABOUT US

CORPORATE EXECUTIVE TEAM

Corporate Executive Council
Robert L. Clapp, President & CEO
Peter O. Belval, Administrator, Sharon Health Care Center
Robert B. Congdon, Vice President, Development & Public Relations
Heidi Gil, Executive Director, Wesley Village
Mary Ann Jackson, Director, Executive Services
Stephen W. Kegler, Vice President, New Business Development
David M. Lawlor, Chief Financial Officer
John P. O’Donnell, Director, Food Services
Beth Schave-Bemis, Executive Director, Middlewoods of Farmington/Newington
Mike Myers, Director, Sales and Marketing
Gary T. Will, Director, Human Resources

The Long Hill Company
Robert L. Clapp, Chair
Stephen W. Kegler, President
Mary Ann Jackson, Secretary
David M. Lawlor, Treasurer
John P. O’Donnell, Vice President
Greg Thome, Vice President, Midwest Operations
Gary T. Will, Vice President
Frank L. Pascoe, Senior Operations Consultant
John D. Ritchie, Regional Director
Mike Myers, Vice President of Marketing


Robert L. Clapp
President/CEO, United Methodist Homes
Chairman, The Long Hill Company

Robert L. ClappAt United Methodist Homes and its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Long Hill Company, Robert Clapp directs a team of corporate professionals who specialize in developing contractual relationships and new programs, or affiliations, in order to change the market niche or to make a project ultimately saleable at an improved price. Under Mr. Clapp’s leadership, and with the support of a dedicated executive team, and board of directors, United Methodist Homes has grown and expanded its mission to become the largest not-for-profit organization providing health care and residential services to seniors in Connecticut. United Methodist Homes now owns and/or manages skilled nursing facilities, assisted living residences, and retirement communities in five states.With more than 30 years in the industry, Mr. Clapp brings his vision and experience to UMH to identify the key elements of a rapidly changing health care industry. In 1997, he formed The Long Hill Company and hand picked a team of professionals whose diverse expertise successfully manages, markets, consults within the industry, and executes reorganization plans. The firm not only assists with identification and screening of potential purchasers of troubled properties, but contracts on efficiency management projects as well. In line with his vision, The Long Hill Company seeks rewarding and challenging experiences, and its people bring a wealth of resources and expertise to help insure that its parent organization, United Methodist Homes, remains competitive in the market.Mr. Clapp has had extensive “turnaround” experience during his career in long-term care. He received an appointment from the Trustees to operate several skilled nursing and intermediate care facilities in the single, largest bankruptcy filing in the Boston Federal District Court. Mr. Clapp improved relations with regulatory authorities, developed new vendor relationships, and obtained court approval for implementing renovations based on his comprehensive marketing plan and financial projections. During an 11-year tenure with General Health Management (GHM), Mr. Clapp helped deficiency-laden facilities avoid de-certification and potential revocation of license by developing contractual relationships for both short and long term durations. Prior to GHM, Mr. Clapp served as President of Parkside Senior Services of Illinois, where he implemented the development of projects for seniors and skilled nursing facilities in situations where there was a lack of management experience, or operational ratios or requirements had not been met. Mr. Clapp established his firm on “short-list” of recommended contract management, marketing and consulting sources. Mr. Clapp holds a law degree from Western New England College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from the University of Connecticut.

Peter Belval
Administrator, Sharon Health Care Center
United Methodist Homes

Peter BelvalPeter Belval has an extensive background in health care and health care management spanning twenty-five years. He has six years as a Respiratory Therapist and Supervisor and nineteen years as a licensed Long Term Care Administrator; and since the fall of 1986 has been an administrator exclusively in Connecticut facilities. He has managed facilities that have had a resident population range from 80 to 180, staff levels that have ranged from 100 to 274, and overall facility expenses that have ranged from $4 million to $17 million dollars annually. Mr. Belval has served in his administrative capacity at Sharon Health Care Center for nearly a decade. As Administrator, he is responsible for the financial success of the facility, regulatory compliance issues, and staffing. He also oversees the successful operation of its affiliate, Hospice Volunteers of Northwest Connecticut and the on-site child day care center.Under Mr. Belval's skilled leadership, Sharon Health Care Center received a rarely given deficiency-free survey. In addition, he has implemented innovative award-winning programs.Mr. Belval's education in the field of health care includes an Associate of Science Degree in Respiratory Therapy, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Services Administration, and a Master of Science Degree in Health Care Management. In addition, he is on the Board of Directors of Visiting Nurse and Home Care Northwest located in Litchfield.

Robert B. Congdon
Vice President, Development & Public Relations
United Methodist Homes

Robert B. CongdonRobert Congdon has been instrumental in providing financial resources for United Methodist Homes through a comprehensive development program. He is responsible for all fundraising activity, including annual giving, capital campaigns, grant writing, and planned giving. Since joining United Methodist Homes in 1991, Mr. Congdon has overseen a substantial increase in donations through the Annual Fund campaigns and a planned giving program. He organized United Methodist Homes’ first capital campaign, The Building for 21st Century Care Campaign, which raised $2.3 million to help establish Crosby Commons, the award-winning assisted living residence at Wesley Village in Shelton, Connecticut. He also initiated a gift annuity program that has raised more than $1 million.To set the stage for successful fundraising efforts, Mr. Congdon leads the public communication program, including publishing the corporate newsletter and the Annual Report, and directing the design and upkeep of United Methodist Homes’ web site. Previously, Mr. Congdon served as Director of Annual and Special Gifts for The Masonic Charity Foundation, a large geriatric health care organization based in Wallingford, CT. He was Assistant Director of the South Central CT Agency on Aging, where he directed a grant making process that distributed several million dollars in Older Americans Act funds each year. He began his career coordinating programs for Sage Services, an interfaith senior service agency in New Haven, CT. Mr. Congdon holds a BA from Yale University and a CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Mr. Congdon is a past president of the Planned Giving Group of Connecticut.

Heidi Gil
Executive Director, Wesley Village
Planetree Continuing Care Specialist

Pamela GiblonHeidi Gil was appointed Executive Director of Wesley Village in Shelton, CT in December 2004. She has been with United Methodist Homes since September 2000, previously serving as Administrator of Bishop Wicke Health Center at Wesley Village.

Ms. Gil has 17 years of management experience in long-term and sub-acute operations in both for-profit and not-for-profit settings, successfully improving financial, clinical, and operational performance at Wesley Village. She developed and implemented a performance improvement process that involves staff, residents, families, and volunteers in creating a community vision and solving problems. Under her administration, Wesley Village has received several Best Practices Awards, deficiency-free surveys from the State of Connecticut, and a rarely-given score of 100% following the tri-annual JCAHO inspection.

Since October 2002, Ms. Gil has led the development and implementation of “Planetree Continuing Care: Creating Relationship-Centered Caring Environments,” making Wesley Village the pioneer in adapting the Planetree acute-care model for continuing care. Through the implementation of Planetree, Wesley Village has experienced impressive results in quality measures, employee turnover, net operating income, and overall community satisfaction. She is now leading the expansion of the Planetree Continuing Care network and provides consultation services to Planetree affiliates internationally. As the Planetree Continuing Care Specialist, Ms. Gil focuses on work design modifications, program development, the affiliate designation process, and outcome measurement that supports transformational change.

Mary Ann Jackson
Director, Executive Services, United Methodist Homes
Corporate Secretary, The Long Hill Company

Mary Ann JacksonMary Ann Jackson has had 15 years of service with United Methodist Homes. Her responsibilities include serving as Secretary of the Board of The Long Hill Company and Assistant Secretary to the subsidiary boards of United Methodist Homes. She assists the President in the discharge of his duties and serves as the administrative liaison for the President and other professional staff. She coordinates the board meetings, maintains and records the minutes of said meetings and coordinates the weekly client companies’ conference calls. Ms. Jackson was previously employed as Administrative Assistant to the President of General X-Ray Corporation, a manufacturing company in Norwalk, Connecticut. She is a graduate of St. John’s Commercial Business School, Connecticut.

Stephen W. Kegler
Vice President, Business Development, United Methodist Homes
President, The Long Hill Company

Stephen W. KeglerStephen Kegler has 20 years experience in operations management, construction planning, construction budgeting, and operational programming and financial management planning in the health care industry. As President of The Long Hill Company, Mr. Kegler coordinates all aspects of development for new business ventures and project management: site selection, planning and zoning filings, facility design, construction management oversight, bid specification for design, business development and management. Mr. Kegler is also responsible for the operation of management strategies and consultancy engagements. He has blended his experience with the talents of the professionals of The Long Hill Company to produce a dynamic management team of specialists whose areas of expertise include marketing, finance, and communications. Mr. Kegler oversees the team to manage the continuing operations of The Long Hill Company and its parent company, United Methodist Homes, in Connecticut, New York, Florida, Illinois, and Wisconsin.Mr. Kegler has maximized the potential of the work undertaken by The Long Hill Company and has been key in expanding the portfolio of United Methodist Homes, which has improved the services available to seniors and consequently reduced the strain of increased costs at the home base. The business ventures of The Long Hill Company have helped to strengthen the values of United Methodist Homes. Before joining United Methodist Homes and The Long Hill Company, Mr. Kegler was a consultant for Health Care and Retirement Corporation (HCR), a leading skilled nursing home developer and operator. As a support services consultant, he was responsible for developing and managing capital equipment replacements, renovations, and construction projects. He was responsible for twenty skilled nursing facilities located throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and successfully worked on giving these older facilities major face-lifts in order to bring them back into code compliance. Mr. Kegler has served in similar consulting capacities for New England based health care projects, Care Manors Inc. of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Geri Care Centers of America headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts.A graduate of the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science degree, Mr. Kegler also holds a Certification in Housing Management from the National Center for Housing Management, industry leaders in training and education at the national housing level. His other professional affiliations have included membership in National Fire Protection Association, National Center for Housing Management, Connecticut Hospital Engineers Society, Connecticut Assisted Living Association, and Connecticut Hospital Association.

David M. Lawlor, CPA
Chief Financial Officer, United Methodist Homes
Treasurer, The Long Hill Company

David M. LawlorDavid M. Lawlor is the Chief Financial Officer of United Methodist Homes and Treasurer of Long Hill. Mr. Lawlor’s responsibilities primarily include business planning and evaluation of UMH and all of its affiliates. He works closely with the interdisciplinary on-site team of each affiliate to improve performance and maintain stability.

Mr. Lawlor has a hands-on, cooperative and communicative approach to solving problems. He has been the primary point of contact in representing UMH and affiliates in the negotiation of numerous acquisitions and business ventures. Mr. Lawlor has a proven track record in identifying and realizing business value through acquisitions, green-grass development and operational efficiencies. Through Long Hill, Mr. Lawlor has held the leadership role in many turnaround projects of distressed properties. He has served clients by negotiating business arrangements among debtors and lendors, formulating an achievable business plan and advising stakeholders on investment strategy and recapitalization. He is the point of contact for some of Long Hill’s largest clients, including GE Capital and US Bank.

Prior to joining the organization, Mr. Lawlor was a manager for KPMG, LLP (Peat Marwick) in Harrisburg, PA in the Senior Care Services Practice, a division of KPMG specializing in the long-term care industry. With KPMG he advised clients on a variety of projects, among them transaction negotiation, operational assessments, due diligence and feasibility analyses. His projects ranged in size from $5 million to $350 million. His clients have included Masonic Homes, Integrated Health Services, Trans Health Care, Senior Campus Living (Erickson Communities) and Marriott Senior Living Services.

Over the past 17 years, he has served clients in successful transactions totaling over $1 billion and held responsibility for the business results of combined operations totaling over $150 million annually.

Mr. Lawlor is a member of AAHSA (American Association of Homes and Services for the Aged) and CLTCFM (Connecticut Long Term Care Financial Managers). He has held speaking engagements at national conventions. Mr. Lawlor received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York, and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Jack O’Donnell
Director of Food Service, United Methodist Homes
Vice President of Dining Services, The Long Hill Company

Jack O'DonnellJack O’Donnell is responsible for coordinating all aspects of dietary service development for United Methodist Homes’ projects. His duties include administrative management of operational budgets and meal production to obtain resident satisfaction, staff recruitment and training in various aspects of the food service industry, kitchen design and equipment selection, and menu planning.Mr. O’Donnell has over 30 years experience in food services operations and management with United Methodist Homes. He and his staff of chefs have earned numerous awards for their innovative approaches and programs which enhance and raise quality of life and resident satisfaction. Mr. O’Donnell is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York and holds a degree in Culinary Arts & Food Service Management. He shares his expertise and enthusiasm for the culinary arts and decorative garnish techniques at workshops for staff and residents, and at food and trade shows around the country.

Beth Schave-Bemis
Executive Director of the Middlewoods Communities
Product Line Executive, United Methodist Homes

Beth Schave-BemisBeth Schave-Bemis joined United Methodist Homes in 1998 and has advanced the organization with her enthusiasm and focus. Recognizing that each senior living project is as unique as the people who live there, she successfully started up Middlewoods of Farmington, an assisted living residence and supervised operations during the transition of the United Methodist Homes’ purchase of Middlewoods of Newington, also an assisted living residence.Ms. Schave-Bemis oversees the day-to-day administrative operations of Middlewoods of Farmington and Middlewoods of Newington, both of which are located outside of Hartford, Connecticut.
Under the award winning direction of Ms. Schave-Bemis, Middlewoods of Farmington is the past recipient of multiple “Best Practices” awards from CALA (Connecticut Assisted Living Associate). Ms. Schave-Bemis previously worked as an activities director and marketing director, and has been in the independent living and assisted living health care fields since 1990.Ms. Schave-Bemis earned a Lifetime Administrator certification through the Assisted Living Federation of America. She received her Master’s Degree in Human Development/Gerontology from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, Connecticut, and holds an undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Relations with a concentration in Gerontology from the University of Connecticut.

Gary T. Will
Director of Human Resources, United Methodist Homes
Vice President, Human Resources, The Long Hill Company

Gary T. WillGary Will oversees the various functions of human resources, including executive search and recruitment, federal and state compliance issues, and general labor relation policies, which affect the operations of facilities, owned and operated by United Methodist Homes. He applies sound and current best practices in his capacity as the internal strategic consultant to a number of operations managed by The Long Hill Company.Mr. Will is responsible for the smooth transition of employment programs during the acquisition phase of operations. He establishes quality standards, addresses human resource concerns, and provides input and direction. He has extensive experience in pension product management, retirement planning programs, and deferred contribution plans. When dealing with employee issues, he handles them with care and sensitivity.Mr. Will’s 25 years of management experience in human resources in corporate, higher education and health care industries has been crucial in assisting United Methodist Homes Administrators resolve staffing issues that arise from time to time. His previous experience includes organizational planning, employee relations, staff development, compensation and benefits administration and career and performance management. Mr. Will is a graduate of the University of Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was Vice President of Programs for the Greater Bridgeport Human Resources Association and a member of other professional associations including the Human Resource Association of Greater New Haven, Connecticut.

Gregory S. Thome
Senior Vice President
Midwest Operations, The Long Hill Company

Gregory S. ThomeGregory Thome heads the Midwest operations from Chicago, Illinois, where he has on-site responsibility for existing projects owned and/or managed by The Long Hill Company.Mr. Thome is an operational specialist and a registered nurse. His ongoing emphasis includes serving clients with comprehensive operational reviews and facility management. Before coming to The Long Hill Company, Mr. Thome worked in the administrative, clinical, financial and support service components of operations, and has had the direct responsibility of managing the operational improvements of over fifty senior care facilities throughout the country. Mr. Thome has over twelve years experience in the senior care industry, He has held regional positions with Genesis Health care and as its Director of Clinical Operations oversaw sixteen facilities in the Midwest; with Extendicare as a corporate director, he had national operational responsibilities; and, with KPMG LLP’s (“KPMG”) Senior Care Services Practice, he was a consultant to their national senior care providers. In addition to his long-term care experience, Mr. Thome’s experience includes extensive work in Surgical Intensive Care in an acute care setting. Mr. Thome obtained a nursing and Bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University, Indiana.

Frank L. Pascoe
Senior Operations Consultant
The Long Hill Company

Frank L. PascoeFrank Pascoe has twenty-eight years of experience managing retirement communities and skilled nursing facilities. His charismatic management style builds teamwork, promotes innovations, and motivates others to work toward successful completion of projects. Mr. Pascoe’s previous positions have included regional director overseeing six assisted living communities, licensed nursing home administrator, and executive director of several life care communities. He has successfully started new retirement communities, supervised the redesign and renovation of a 25-year-old community, and designed and opened an assisted living wing in a retirement community. Mr. Pascoe has displayed creativity in turning around distressed facilities while overseeing significant changes in operations and marketing. His efforts have resulted in award-winning resident satisfaction and have produced excellent regulatory compliance.

John D. Ritchie
Regional Director
The Long Hill Company

John D. RitchieMr. Ritchie is a regional director for The Long Hill Company specializing in the areas of project review, operational management, sales, and marketing. Before joining The Long Hill Company, Mr. Ritchie held positions ranging from Executive Director to President/CEO. He has experience throughout the East coast specializing in strategic planning and market repositioning for new developments, acquisitions and distressed properties. Mr. Ritchie has over twenty-eight years experience in the senior care industry. He was Regional Director of Operations for ACTS, Inc., a larger for-profit national CCRC owner/operator; Regional Vice President for National Housing Ministries, Inc. a non-profit regional health care chain; and President/CEO of Bethel Homes, Inc. a local multi-corporate senior housing and health care provider. In addition, Mr. Ritchie advised many health care clients in various capacities over a ten-year period with Senior Services, Inc., a consulting company he formed. His professional memberships include the AAHSA (American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging), the Empire State Association of New York, as well as local business associations. Mr. Ritchie obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, a Master’s Degree in Economics and a Ph.D. in Administration from the University of Nebraska. He resides in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.

Mike Myers
Director, Sales and Marketing, United Methodist Homes
Vice President of Marketing, The Long Hill Company

Mike MeyersMike C. Myers is responsible for the marketing of United Methodist Homes and its affiliates managed by The Long Hill Company. Mr. Myers works closely with the management teams of United Methodist Homes and The Long Hill Company to develop individualized marketing goals to achieve optimum results in each unique and regional business environment. Mr. Myers’ careful attention to resident satisfaction, staff retention, and research of the primary marketing areas of each community has resulted in an increased share of the senior healthcare and residential markets for the organization. Bringing his friendly, easy-going and inspiring style to the senior adult population and their families for two decades, Mr. Myers has worked successfully in both the for-profit and not-for-profit settings. Beginning his career as an activity director of a senior center in Seattle, Washington, Mr. Myers has held multi-facility marketing positions as a consulting administrator and director of several assisted living communities, as well as memory-care units. A specialist in start-up and turn-around projects, Mr. Myers brings a team and goal-orientated spirit to United Methodist Homes and The Long Hill Company. Mr. Myers holds a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Organizational Psychology.

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Page Updated: September 20, 2007