Our Management Team at Juniper Communities

Juniper Communities is staffed by professionals with extensive experience in the health care industry, most of whom share a particular emphasis on long-term care management. Before joining Juniper, each has held a position of responsibility in an operational, financial services or health care management related organization. The selection of key staff people with these backgrounds bring a breadth of expertise which sets the company apart from its competitors.

Donald F. Breneman, Vice President of Risk Management & Business Operations.

Mr. Breneman joined Juniper in 2003 and is responsible for operational analysis, national purchasing, insurance administration and management reporting. In addition, he provides operational oversight in our Pennsylvania region. He previously served as part of the senior-management team with Sharon Regional Health System Behavioral Health Services and was responsible for administrative and clinical program management, consultation, and program development and training.

Before joining Juniper, Mr. Breneman served as a private consultant to numerous agencies providing risk analysis, specialized training, strategic program evaluation, and quality / performance improvement design and implementation.

Mr. Breneman received his BA in Psychology and a Gerontology Certificate from West Virginia University and his Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Slippery Rock University.

Linda Donato, Vice President of Operations and Director of Long-Term Care Accounting and Secretary:

Ms. Donato oversees the company’s Florida, Chatham, NJ and Forest Hills and Huntingdon Ridge, PA operations. She is also responsible for all long-term care accounting.   Prior to joining Juniper, she worked at Hubco Health Care Group from 1988-2002 in various capacities as a Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement and accounting specialist. Prior to her work at Hubco, Ms. Donato served as a Finance Administrator for Meritcare, a regional a long term care owner/operator. She has over 25 years of experience as long term care finance and accounting professional.  

Ms. Donato holds a degree in Applied Sciences from Middlesex County College.

Charles W. Hastings, Jr. , Vice President of Finance and Business Development.

Mr. Hastings joined Juniper in 1996 and is primarily responsible for all finance-related activities of the firm including development and operational budgeting and cash management, tax and audit preparation, proforma development, acquisitions analysis, construction and permanent financing, and investor reporting.   An experienced finance professional, Mr. Hastings worked previously for The Winslow Corporation, a real estate syndicator specializing in structuring and placing tax credit limited partnership interests with corporate investors.   While at the Winslow Corporation, Mr. Hastings responsibilities included proforma development, financial projections, and deal structure and tax credit placement.   Mr. Hastings was also employed in a financial capacity for the Mediplex Group, a national operator of skilled nursing homes, and Marakon Associates, a strategic management consulting firm specializing in helping publicly traded companies manage to enhance shareholder value.

Mr. Hastings received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Princeton University in 1988 and his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1994, graduating with a dual major in Health Care Management and Entrepreneurial Management.

Cindy Longfellow, National Director of Sales and Marketing.

Cindy Longfellow is responsible for providing marketing and sales support for all of our Juniper Communities. She works directly with our community based teams to strengthen our community outreach and promote external business development. Ms. Longfellow joined Juniper Communities in September 2003 as the Director of Community Relations at Juniper Village at Louisville. In March 2008 she began providing sales and marketing assistance at Juniper Village-The Spearly Center. She assumed her current responsibilities in November 2008. She assumed the position of Regional Director of Community Relations for the Colorado communities in November of 2008. In November of 2010, she was promoted to her current position. Her current role has also expanded to include: developing and implementing sales training/coaching programs as well as developing and managing web and social media presence for Juniper Communities. Ms. Longfellow’s goal is to maintain our mission and values within a changing sales and marketing environment.

Ms. Longfellow has over 25 years experience in health care and related services including vocational rehabilitation, cost containment, and most recently 10 plus years experience in specifically in assisted living and skilled nursing communities. Her experience has included work both in marketing and operations within these organizations.

Ms. Longfellow completed the nationally recognized Travelers Insurance sales training program. She is a certified assisted living director in the state of Colorado and has a BA in psychology from the University of Minnesota.

Eileen Howard, National Director of Clinical Services.

Ms. Howard is responsible for overseeing all clinical nursing operations for Juniper Communities. She works directly with all 15 communities to assure continuous quality improvement within our nursing and clinical departments. Ms. Howard has over 25 years experience in long-term care, including assisted living and dementia care communities. She also has a number of years experience within hospital nursing prior to moving into long-term care. Most recently Ms. Howard was the Nursing Administrator of a multi-specialty hospital with over 300 LTC beds; as well as a physical medicine and addiction rehabilitation unit, in- patient hospice unit, and acute psychiatric unit.

Ms. Howard has both a BSN and MSN in nursing and sat on the college nursing advisory boards for New Jersey Community Collage and Seton Hall University. She is a recipient of the NJ State Nurses Association award for excellence in practice. Ms. Howard was a member of the task force for the National Geriatric Nurses Association for Excellence in Nursing Homes. She previously served as a consultant for establishing and monitoring care and quality within sub-acute units.

Richard S. Ottens

Mr. Ottens is an Allied Member of the American Society of Interior Designers, a New Jersey Certified Interior Designer and a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist through the National Association of Home Builders. Mr. Ottens oversees the Juniper Design Group responsible for the interior design, renovation and refurbishment, FF&E purchasing and installation at each Juniper Community and for all outside management contracts. He also assists in the review and awarding of contracts for all capital expense property management items at each community.

Mr. Ottens has pioneered Juniper’s work in creating buildings which are energy efficient, have improved indoor air quality and use products which come from recycled or renewable resources. Mr. Ottens was instrumental in incorporating the USGBC LEED criteria into the construction of Juniper Village at Chatham and the Built Green criteria of Colorado into the construction of Juniper Village at Aurora and Juniper Village at Louisville. He developed and oversees Juniper’s Green Canopy program which implements the Juniper Communities’ commitment to environmental sustainability in operations and maintenance. He coordinates the Culture Change initiatives during the renovations of the Juniper skilled nursing facilities and also assists in the creation and monitoring of all Juniper Brand opportunities in each Juniper Community.

Mr. Ottens was educated at Syracuse University and the Parsons School
of Design in New York.