We are caring and committed to transformation. We are what’s next.
MEET THE possibilities TEAM
Mather Possibilities Team comprises an energetic and pioneering group of professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. The team finds ways to build excitement and enthusiasm for what’s next within the organization, with a cultural commitment to making it a NextraordinaryTM place to work.
Mather Possibilities Team empowers every employee to be confident, creative, and curious in discovering the wonder of what’s next. It’s what we call our “inner orange,” in recognition of Mather’s bold brand color. It’s a fiery passion for service and making a difference that burns within us all—and we’re just getting warmed up!
Mary Leary
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mary brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in senior living, hospitality services, and health care to guide Mather in expanding its leadership presence in senior living, community-based programs, and applied research.
Mary previously served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Classic Residence by Hyatt, the senior living affiliate of Hyatt Corporation, where she oversaw the start-up and day-to-day operations of 18 senior living communities including more than 6,000 residents. She also provided technical assistance services and sales and marketing oversight for communities under development, valued at nearly $1 billion.
Mary is a member of the Executive Board of the American Seniors Housing Association, the Operator Advisory Board of the National Investment Center, the Advisory Board of Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures, the Board of Caring Communities, and Chair of its Risk Committee. She founded and chairs Novare, a national consortium of single-site and small-system Life Plan Community providers.
She earned a master’s degree in health policy and management from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in business/health services administration from Cornell University.
Mary Ages Well by spending time with family, traveling, and experiencing new things.
Meredith Boyle
Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives
Meredith acts as a catalyst for innovation in developing strategic partnerships, collaboration, and alliances that support Mather’s mission, vision, goals, and values. She works to incorporate innovative practices and approaches to senior living, while expanding affiliations and relationships with senior living providers, organizations, and educational institutions to increase Mather’s reach and grow the number of older adults the organization serves.
She brings more than 30 years of strategic and results-driven industry experience, with expertise in marketing, sales, branding, finance and enterprise growth.
Meredith earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Delaware.
She Ages Well by sailing and by traveling with her family.
Yvonne Jung
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Yvonne is responsible for the development and execution of all elements of human resources strategies and programs for Mather, working closely with the Mather leadership. Her many focuses include leading her team in talent acquisition, employee learning and development, employee engagement, and employee rewards and recognition. She leads Mather’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiative, and supports the continued evolution of Novare Leadership Development and Management Essentials Programs.
Yvonne’s background includes 25 years of experience in human resources leadership, most recently as a vice president for Auberge Resorts Collection, and for the America’s region of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Maryland, and a master’s in human resource development from George Washington University.
Yvonne Ages Well by running, biking, and spending time with her husband exploring their passions of food, wine, music, and travel.
Christopher Manella
CPA, Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer
With many years of experience in financial management, Chris is responsible for the integrity of Mather financial statements and accounting operations, as well as budgeting, forecasting, and analysis. He leads the organization’s treasury function, including responsibilities for cash and working capital management, bank relationships, and financing. He also oversees tax reporting and external financial audits.
Before joining Mather, Chris was Director of Accounting for CC Industries Inc. and served as a Division Corporate Controller for Flextronics International.
A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Chris earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Indiana University and his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago.
Chris Ages Well by eating healthy foods and exercising regularly.
Gale Morgan
Senior Vice President of Sales
Gale is responsible for the coordination and oversight of sales and occupancy efforts for Mather senior living residences. She works with sales teams within each residence to guide them in meeting their goals, and has led them to master the art of relationship selling.
Gale has also been instrumental in training management and frontline teams within senior living and community-based initiatives in providing extraordinary customer experiences.
Before joining Mather, Gale served as AVP of Sales & Marketing for Classic Residence by Hyatt and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Retirement Community Specialists.
Gale earned her bachelor of business administration degree in Marketing from the University of Phoenix.
Gale Ages Well by hiking in the lovely Arizona desert.
David Murlette
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SENIOR LIVING
David oversees the operations of all Mather senior living residences, including Mather’s Life Plan Community in Tysons, Virginia, that is projected to open in 2023.
With 30 years’ experience in senior living, David brings a wealth of experience in managing Life Plan Communities across the country. He joined Montereau in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as Chief Operating Officer in 2006, and served as President and Chief Executive Officer for 12 years.
Prior to Montereau, David served as SVP of Operations for CRSA in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was responsible for operational oversight of six Life Plan Communities in five states, and the Corporate Culinary Services division, which provided oversight and programs to 26 communities across 15 states.
David holds a Dietary Manager’s Certification from Midwestern State University.
David Ages Well by walking lots of miles and playing golf.
Brenda Schreiber
Senior Vice President of Marketing
Brenda is responsible for marketing, public relations, and digital efforts for Mather.
She is involved in developing and implementing marketing strategies for our senior living communities, expansion of neighborhood programs, digital marketing initiatives, and employee engagement programs.
Brenda led the naming efforts to make the industry-wide change from Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) to Life Plan Community and guided the recent launch of #AgeWell tips on social media.
Brenda earned her bachelor of arts degree in Communications with an emphasis on public communications and human relations, with a minor in Journalism, from Western Illinois University.
Brenda Ages Well by doing hot yoga, laughing with family and friends, and hitting the beach.
Carol Sussenbach
CPA, CFA, Chief Financial Officer
Carol is responsible for accounting, finance, information technology, and risk management efforts throughout the organization, and oversees more than $450 million in investments as part of Mather Investment Committee.
Carol has more than 30 years of financial management experience and has worked with several Fortune 100 companies, including Swift Independent and Esmark, Inc. Carol began her career in public accounting with Ernst & Young.
Carol earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago.
Carol Ages Well by continually trying to learn new things.
Joe Zajdel
Senior Vice President of Business Development
Joe is responsible for overseeing senior living development efforts, including site acquisition, entitlements and regulatory approvals, and design and construction management—as well as providing ongoing support to existing communities.
He is also responsible for market research, investment modeling, project/business planning, and obtaining equity and construction financing.
Joe has played a major role in more than $300 million of development at Mather, and currently oversees more than $650 million in new development projects. In 2010, he was appointed to the National Investment Center’s Future Leaders Council and serves as Liaison for its Leadership Development group.
In addition to earning his bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Joe earned his master of business administration degree from the University of Chicago with a specialization in finance and a concentration in economics.
Joe Ages Well by playing guitar, listening to music, and enjoying food and wine.
Our Board of Directors
Graham Atkinson Former Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, Walgreen Co.
Timothy Burke Former Partner and Chief Financial Officer, William Blair & Company
Gloria Castillo Associate Vice President, Chicago Community Trust and Director, We Rise Together: For an Equitable and Just Recovery
Jenny Chan Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Jack Chandler Founder, Majesteka Investments Holdings LLC
Michelle L. Collins President, Cambium LLC
Paulette Dodson EVP, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, Alight Solutions
Mary Leary CEO and President, Mather
Michael McGee Former Partner, Chapman and Cutler LLP
Sumati Murli Director of Clinical Research Administration, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
John Phillips Mather Board Chair and Former CEO and Chairman, Corporate Solutions Group, Jones Lang LaSalle
Scott Smith Former Publisher, Chicago Tribune and President, Tribune Publishing
Terence Toth Former President, Northern Trust Global Investments