Continually charting a course toward the future
President and CEO: Jonathan R. Cook
Jonathan R. Cook joined the team of LifeSpire of Virginia as President/CEO on December 3, 2014. Before joining LifeSpire of Virginia, Mr. Cook worked for Life Care Services LLC. During his tenure, he served as both executive director and the regional position of director of operations management. He has more than 19 years of experience in the senior living/eldercare field, including experience in multi-site continuing care retirement communities. He is a graduate of The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Chief Operations Officer: Tracey Jennings
Tracey Jennings joined the LifeSpire of Virginia team as chief operations officer in December 2021. In this role, will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the five LifeSpire of Virginia communities. Additionally, Jennings will oversee community operating budgets, policies and procedures and provide oversight of major vendor relationships.
Jennings brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in senior living and healthcare. Jennings held numerous positions at Centra Health including managing director of senior care. She oversaw long-term care communities; was the chief operating officer of Bedford Memorial Hospital and vice president of care coordination. She led care coordination and case management processes and systems.
Jennings holds a bachelor’s degree from Ferrum College and is a licensed nursing home administrator and preceptor in Virginia.
Vice President of Operations: Michael Williams
Michael brings over 25 years of experience in senior living, having held various leadership roles, including Nursing Home Administrator & Preceptor, Director of Business Development, Executive Director, and Chief Operating Officer.
Most recently, Michael served as the Chief Operating Officer at Williamsburg Landing in Virginia, where he successfully oversaw operational, strategic, and financial aspects of the organization while focusing on resident satisfaction and staff engagement. Michael will play a vital role in LifeSpire’s growth strategy, both internally and externally. His responsibilities will include supporting the implementation of regional support teams, leadership development initiatives, and ongoing process improvements to standardize operations.
Michael holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from James Madison University and resides in New Kent, Virginia, with his wife. Michael joined LifeSpire on September 23rd, working closely with our COO and VP of Clinical as part of our operations team with direct reporting relationship to the COO.
Chief Financial Officer: Erik Mauritsen
Erik Mauritsen joined the LifeSpire of Virginia team as chief financial officer in May 2024. He will be responsible for directing overall financial operations for LifeSpire, its five continuing care retirement communities, foundation offices and AgeSmart.
Mauritsen has more than 20 years’ experience in progressive leadership roles in auditing, finance, corporate compliance programs and regulatory laws for a number of organizations, most recently Covenant Woods. In his role at Covenant Woods, Erik assisted with advancing their mission while enhancing the financial strength of the organization.
Mauritsen, a cum laude graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, earned a bachelor’s degree in business, majoring in accounting. He and his wife, Cassie, have three children and reside in Glen Allen, Virginia.
Chief Strategy and Integration Officer: Lisa Legeer
Lisa Legeer joined the LifeSpire of Virginia team as chief strategy and integration officer in June 2021. She will be responsible for growing top-line revenues and adding other complementary business lines to the organization. She will assist in leading strategic planning efforts and be responsible for the cultivation of acquisition, merger and affiliation opportunities for the organization.
Lisa has more than 20 years of experience serving senior living and healthcare organizations with strategic and development planning, performance improvement and marketing. Before joining the LifeSpire of Virginia team, she served as senior vice president of strategic partnerships for GlynnDevins—a data, analytics and marketing technology company. She also worked for the accounting firm Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP for 14 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in rhetoric and communication studies from the University of Virginia.
Chief Marketing Officer: Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson was promoted to chief marketing officer in May 2021 after serving as LifeSpire of Virginia’s vice president of marketing and public relations since 2011. In this role, he will continue to provide oversight, strategic direction and leadership for the sales and marketing operations. Peter has more than 20 years of experience in the senior living industry. He first worked as a food services assistant at a local retirement community while attending high school and college in Harrisonburg, Va. Upon graduation, Robinson worked as a member of the marketing team at Sunrise Senior Living in various locations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. He first joined the LifeSpire of Virginia team in 2009 as the corporate director of marketing and public relations. Peter is a graduate of James Madison University with a B.A. in History and a graduate of George Mason University with an M.S. in Health Systems Management.
Vice President of Clinical Services: Paula Bolton
Paula, a registered nurse and licensed assisted living administrator and assisted living administrator preceptor, holds the vice president of clinical services for LifeSpire of Virginia. Paula joined the team at The Culpeper, a LifeSpire of Virginia community, in January 1997. While employed at The Culpeper, she held various positions within the nursing department, including the assistant director of nursing for nine years. In 2008, Paula transitioned to the role of assisted living administrator. She was responsible for the daily operations and oversight of delivering care and services to residents at all levels of care within the community. In May 2019, Paula transitioned to the corporate director of clinical services before her promotion to vice president in October 2020. Paula’s career has been dedicated to serving seniors and their families.
Vice President, Virginia Baptist Homes Foundation: Jodi Leonard
Jodi is a native of Long Island, N.Y., and moved to Virginia in 2009. Jodi joined the Virginia Baptist Homes Foundation, LifeSpire of Virginia’s benevolent arm, in 2015, where she leads the annual planning, relationship building, and fundraising administration for the organization. Jodi’s entire career has been committed to serving non-profits and their needs, with more than 25 years’ fundraising experience in Virginia and New York. She attended Nassau College in New York and received fundraising certification from the University of Richmond’s Institute on Philanthropy. Jodi has earned her Certified Fund Raising Executive credential that is recognized worldwide and signifies a confident, ethical fundraising professional.
Jodi keeps busy at home with three young adult children rotating in and out of the house, but she always makes time to join residents and team members in each of our communities for fellowship, conversation and celebration.
Vice President of Human Resources: Laura Wooton
Laura Wooton joined the LifeSpire of Virginia team as vice president of human resources in January 2022. In this role, Wooton will be responsible for workforce development, human resources management and best practices, organizational effectiveness and performance measurement.
She has more than 20 years of experience in talent management and previously served as LifeSpire of Virginia’s corporate human resources director from 2011 to 2015. She rejoins the team from Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen, a Richmond law firm, where she served as human resources director. She also worked as a human resources consultant for Fortis Leadership & HR Business Solutions and corporate human resources director for Ingenco.
Wooton received her bachelor’s in science from Virginia Tech and a master’s in business administration with a concentration in human resources from Virginia Commonwealth University. She holds certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources and SHRM Senior Certified Professional.
Corporate Controller: Christine Moran
Christine Moran leads LifeSpire of Virginia’s accounting team and is responsible for all aspects of accounting information, production, compliance and management of LifeSpire of Virginia and its affiliates. In addition, she monitors and manages the company’s cash position and its nonprofit foundation’s business affairs and serves as a valued accounting and financial consultant to LifeSpire of Virginia’s senior leadership and communities. Christine has more than 25 years of experience in progressive leadership roles in accounting and finance, concentrating on nonprofit organizations. Christine holds a bachelor’s of science in accounting from the State University of New York, College at Brockport. She lives in the Richmond area.
Executive Assistant: Jennifer Cristello
Jennifer Cristello joined LifeSpire of Virginia in October 2019. Before joining LifeSpire of Virginia as Executive Assistant, Jennifer worked for Henrico County Public Schools for four years and spent 11 years at SunTrust in various professional roles. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business. She lives in the Richmond area with her husband, Dominic, and daughter, Kate.
Corporate Director of Construction & Planning: Joseph Maccarone
Joseph Maccarone joined the LifeSpire of Virginia team in August 2024 as Corporate Director of Construction & Planning and will be responsible for planning, design, and construction of projects at the LifeSpire of Virginia five communities. Joe brings 30+ years of progressive leadership in corporate architecture and construction for companies such as Amazon, CarMax, and most recently United Rentals. His background includes national rollout programs, corporate office development, and vendor management. Joe received his degree in Architecture from the University of Miami with a minor in Landscape Architecture and is a licensed Interior Designer in Virginia.
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