It’s time for long-term care stakeholders to pull together nominations for the 2025 McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards, the premier recognition program for sector veterans.

Top executives, managers and other high-achievers from the ranks of skilled nursing, senior living and home care organizations are eligible for the esteemed honors.

Nominees should have 20 or more years of experience in the field. They will be celebrated for promoting quality outcomes, setting standards and driving change. Providing guidance and inspiring colleagues and clients around them also will be markers of success in this program.

Past winners have included standouts from small and large organizations, as well as from nonprofits, for-profits, associations, academic institutions, top marketplace contributors and other groups.

“Last year’s roster of winners [shown below] was an incredible collection of women and men who have done themselves and their organizations proud for a long time, and continue to do so,” said McKnight’s Publisher Craig Roth. “We look for even more to emerge this year. We encourage all nominations so that others can join this esteemed group.”

Nominations are judged by an independent panel of respected long-term care experts and stakeholders. Multiple winners will be named in each category, as warranted.

The 2025 categories:

  • Agent of Change Award
  • Industry Ally (for elected officials, high-level government administrators, trade group members, analysts and other thought leaders, among others)
  • Inspiration Award
  • Marketplace Influencer Award (for vendors/sponsors who have helped move the sector forward)
  • Setting the Standard Award
  • Thought Leader Award
  • Unsung Hero Award

In addition, one Career Achievement Award will be bestowed, as determined by program organizers.

The standard deadline for nominations is Oct. 16, with an entry fee of $259. Nominations also will be accepted until an extended deadline of Nov. 1 at a rate of $325.

Finalists will be announced Dec. 10, and winners will be recognized at an in-person gala March 20 in Chicago.

Learn more and nominate a deserving candidate here. You also can head to the following pages to read about the 2023 and 2024 winning classes.

Last year’s McKnight’s Pinnacle Awards winners:

Agent of Change Award

Vassar Byrd, CEO, The Kendal Corporation

Deke Cateau, CEO, A.G. Rhodes

Kristen Duell, Executive Vice President of Experience & Innovation, FirstLight Home Care

Phillip Hill, Administrator, Principle Long Term Care

Colleen Kamin, Executive Director, Anthem Memory Care

Marianne Longo, Chief Clinical Officer, Help at Home

David Totaro, Chief Marketing and Government Affairs Officer, BAYADA Home Health Care

Industry Ally Award

Andrew Carle, Lead Faculty, Senior Living Administration, Georgetown University

Clifton Porter II, Senior Vice President of Government Relations, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living

Inspiration Award

Mark Baiada, Chairman and Founder, BAYADA Home Health Care

Esther Kamara-Conteh, Vice President Care Management Operations, VNS Health

Esmerelda Lee, Chief Operating Officer/EVP, Century Park Associates

Roberto Muñiz, President & CEO, Parker Health Group

Cathy Williams, CEO, Winslow Campus of Care

Setting the Standard Award

Sheila Davis, Senior Executive Vice President, Area Operations, Always Best Care Senior Services

Jamie Dlatt, Chief Operating Officer, Legacy Healthcare

Charles “Chuck” Hastings, CFO/Vice President of Finance and Business Development, Juniper Communities

Kurt Merkelz, Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, Compassus

John Swanson, CEO, Willow Valley Development Corp.

Raeann Voorhies, CEO, Vanda Health

Thought Leader Award

Joan DiPaola, Director Dementia Program Development, Harmony Village at CareOne Paramus

Jessica Fear, Senior Vice President, Behavioral Health VNS Health

R. Tamara Konetzka, PhD, Louis Block Professor of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago

E. Joseph “Joe” Steier III, President/CEO, Signature HealthCARE

Unsung Hero Award

Wendy Blackman, Director of Reflections, The Bristal at North Woodmere

Orah Burack, Senior Research Associate, The New Jewish Home

Business Partner Award

Tim Hadley, Former CEO, Evive Brands

Steven Littlehale, Chief Innovation Officer, Zimmet Healthcare Services Group

Cindy Smith, Director, Professional Services, Omnicare

Wendy Strain, Director of Consulting Services, Polaris Group

Lifetime Achievement Award

Mark Parkinson, President and CEO, American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living