Watermark Community Hires Leadership Team In Anticipation Of Spring Opening
WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. Preparing for the opening of its newest assisted living and memory care community, The Watermark at Vistawilla, Watermark Retirement Communities has hired Karyn Brinkley as executive director, Debbie Mercadante as sales director and Lisa Celona as community life director. The community, located at 1519 E State Rd 434 in Winter Springs, is scheduled to open in March 2018.
In her role as Executive Director, Brinkley will be responsible for daily operations and financials as well as working closely with Mercadante to promote occupancy, growth, high levels of associate and resident satisfaction and a vibrant lifestyle in accordance with Watermarks vision.
Watermark Retirement Communities brings to Orlando a 30-year track record of creating extraordinary communities where people thrive and Im beyond thrilled to bring this vision to life, said Brinkley. I have never before experienced such a people-first attitude when it comes to both residents and associates.
Brinkley is a licensed Assisted Living Administrator and a Certified Dementia Practitioner with ten years of combined experience in leadership, consulting, relationship management, sales, marketing and startup operations. She has worked in every level of care in the senior living environment, and has served as Assisted Living and Memory Care Administrator as well as Director of Operations.
For more information on The Watermark at Vistawilla, visit vistawilla.watermarkcommunities.com.
A New Vision For Retirement Living
The Newgreens vision was born in a green, protected valley near the Lane Cove River on Sydneys North Shore. A serene oasis with views that seem to stretch forever. And a design philosophy for Watermark Residences retirement community that is based on the desire to look beyond the immediate and explore new possibilities.
David Barnes President/ceo Watermark Retirement
Senior Housing News: How do you think about and define leadership?
Barnes: I think leaders do a really good job of communicating vision, training, acknowledging and coaching associates. They also provide people with the tools in order to execute on that vision.
I think leaders do a really good job of communicating vision, training, acknowledging and coaching associates. They also provide people with the tools in order to execute on that vision. David Barnes
Weve actually developed in-house systems that mirror that very philosophy. We have the ability to see what policies our associates have read and attested to, what training they have taking and how they are engaging in our vision.
In the early part of our career, we were managing by e-mail. We were constantly reacting to whatever was going on. We built a whole leadership platform around this philosophy of setting expectations, training around those expectations and acknowledging and coaching performance. We had to do that because were based in Tucson, Arizona. Were in 21 different states. We figured out pretty early we werent going to be managing from Tucson. We had to create a platform that people can really get to the information they need to be successful.
I dont think people wake up in the morning saying, How can I do a bad job today? People want to do a good job, to be challenged, achieve and make a difference. Its our job as leaders to give them all tools and communicate clearly so they can excel.
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About Watermark Retirement Communities
At Watermark Retirement Communities, our mission is creating extraordinary and innovative communities where people thrive. Over our 30-year history, Watermark has come to enjoy a reputation as a leader in innovation in the senior living industry, providing all levels of care with a holistic approach to independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing/rehab. Our 56 communities are in 21 states across the United States, and we are opening 4,000 units in China in the next 3 years through joint venture partnerships.
The Senior Living Industry is exploding as aging adults are living longer, vibrant lives while engaged in hobbies, travel, families/friends and communities. Watermark Retirement Communities has been out in front for nearly three decades, shaping this growing industry through innovation and a holistic approach to delivering a thrive experience within a genuine sense of community.
Watermark Retirement Communities Community Listings

1615 East Boot Road, West Chester, PA19380
Starting at
Provides: Assisted Living, Memory Care, Independent Living
Bellingham is a senior living community offering independent living, personal care and memory care services to seniors We also offer skilled nursing care at Parklane which is located on our campus. Centered around a quaint 18th century farm, Bellingham retirement community offers a variety of…
I think that it is a great place for seniors on a limited income and still get all the benefits of a more higher end place. Y…
500 Sandy Bank Road, Media, PA19063
Starting at
Provides: Assisted Living, Memory Care
When you think of assisted living and memory care, what do you see? If cookie-cutter apartments, quiet hallways, bland food and stereotypical activities come to mind, then think again. Over twenty years of experience have taught us that today’s seniors want more choices and are leading a more…
The friendliness of the staff members and other residents really stood out to us, everyone is just so down to earth. We absol…
965 N Brighton Circle W, Crystal Lake, IL60012
Starting at
Provides: Assisted Living, Memory Care, Independent Living
I recently moved my Uncle to the Fountains and in the short time that hes been there, he truly is THRIVING! Hes part of a …
5100 Fillmore Ave, Alexandria, VA22311
Starting at
Provides: Assisted Living, Independent Living
Starting at
1-2567
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Watermark Retirement Communities To Spend $4000000000 To Occupy 351140 Square Feet Of New Space In Houston Texas
Craig Etkin
Houston, Texas According to state and localeconomic development sources WatermarkRetirement Communities plans to invest $40,000,000.00to build out 351,140 square feetof new space in Houston. The companyplans to occupy the new space at 1245 W 18thStreet in Houston, on or about August 1, 2021. According to the company websiteAt Watermark, were committed to creatingextraordinary and innovative communities where people thrive. Headquartered inTucson, Arizona, Watermark currently manages 58 communities in 21 states,including CCRCs, standalone independent living, assisted living, and memorycare communities in addition to Medicare-certified rehabilitation and skillednursing neighborhoods. Watermark has ownership interests in many of theseassets, both on its own and through its development arm, The Freshwater Group.
To learn more about Watermark Retirement Communities, visit
Company Contact:
David Freshwater & David Barnes Watermark Retirement Communities
Meet Watermark Retirement Communities Chairman David Freshwater and President/CEO David Barnes. With a background in finance and architecture, Freshwater happened upon senior living development early in his career after starting a market research firm that took a look into the fledging industry and challenged the conventional wisdom. He later teamed with Barnes, and together they have grown the company from one community to more than 50. Today, with communities in 21 states, the Watermark team continues to develop and manage senior housing with specific attention to systems, processes and people.
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A Lifestyle Beyond Compare
Watermark Residences will be a sustainable retirement community where residents are active, happy and connected. There will be tailored wellness programs, exclusive exercise classes and a brand new clubhouse and golf course for Chatswood Golf Course, offering industry leading golfing, dining, recreation and wellness facilities.
Reviews About Operating Principles
Great job! Fun and always busy with creative activities
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Not the best pay but still happy
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Flexible scheduleNice people Good job
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None I love this job
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Everyone is super nice and helpful
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Watermark Takes Action After Data Security Breach Potentially Affects People In 10 States
Tucson, AZ-based Watermark Retirement Communities is the latest victim of a data security breach, in this case one that may have compromised the personal information of 208 residents and others.
The company sent out a notice on Wednesday that it became aware of a cyber intrusion in September. The senior living operator hired an outside cyber forensic firm to investigate the incident and determine what information may have been accessed in the breach.
That investigation, along with a detailed records search, determined in late December that the names, addresses and phone numbers of 192 residents and 16 others may have been accessed, a Watermark spokesperson told McKnights Senior Living. The breach potentially affected Watermark communities in 10 states: Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington.
Watermark, the 11th-largest senior living operator in 2020 according to the American Seniors Housing Association and 13th-largest senior living provider according to Argentum, manages 64 retirement communities across 21 states with more than 6,000 employees and more than 11,500 beds.
Company officials sent notifications to potentially affected individuals to inform them of the incident and to offer complimentary credit monitoring services. The company also established a toll-free call center to answer questions about the incident and to help potentially affected individuals enroll in credit monitoring services.
David Freshwater Chairman Watermark Retirement
Through that first phase of the Fountains era, as you are moving from the third-party management to ownership, can you talk through that process and how you were forging an identity?
Freshwater: We were looking all over for money, because that was the key to our future. This was early 1990s. At that time, my partners role was to help us find money. We literally traveled the world looking for money. When we found George Kaiser, it was interesting because after all the work we did to seek money, we met him just by chance and he said, Yes, Ill invest with you, but I only invest in Oklahoma. This was because he was based in Tulsa.
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Independent Living Your Personal Retreat
At Pacific Regent Bellevue, youll find more than a beautiful, modern, luxurious residence to call your own. Living in the heart of downtown Bellevue means close proximity to everything you want or need whether its elegant dining to lunch on the go, a stroll to the farmers market, or an evening at the theater. A workout never feels like work in our fitness center and you can swim year-round in our heated indoor pool. You wont have to look far to find a good book, a game of cards, a movie or a friend to join you for a sunset drink.
Our professionals are available to help you customize your residence. Whether you choose to live here year round or have your own seasonal retreat, youll find convenient options for joining our community. From one-bedroom apartments to two-bedroom suites with den and private residences up to 1,800 square feet you wont have to look long to find a residence to fit your style. Weve created an extraordinary place filled with abundant options, from expansive residences, to chef-prepared cuisine and a vibrant lifestyle of growth and discovery. And best of all, our monthly service fee covers your enjoyment of all community amenities and services.
Common Questions About Salaries At Watermark Retirement Communities

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More From The Leadership Series
I think at that time, there were maybe a dozen retirement communities in all of Oklahoma. As luck would have it, Citicorp called us about a month later and they had a project in Oklahoma City they wanted us to take over. It was owned by a not-for-profit for which they had provided a big letter of credit supporting a bond issuance. They wanted to know if wed be interested in taking over the management in the hopes of turning around the performance so it could be sold. We said, Yes, but we want an option to buy it. Given that at the time our office was in a two-bedroom apartment in the Tucson retirement community where our copy machine was in the bathroom on a platform over the bathtub, I figure they considered the option a complete throwaway in the deal. They must have thought, how could these guys ever execute on it?
Was George one of your mentors?
Is there a particular leadership lesson that you attribute to George?
Once a year, really?
Good news travels fast, but bad news travels even faster. We let our partners know whats going on and we tell them what were doing about it and how were fixing it, because nothing ever goes perfectly. David Freshwater
Besides that one in-person meeting, was there much communication?
Can you talk about when you sold the portfolio to Sunrise and Arcapita?
As you started building the company again with that one legacy property, can you talk through how the current iteration of Watermark came together?
I play tennis.
Watermark Retirement Communities Acquires Merrill Gardens At Championsgate
Management & OperationsApril 25, 2022
CHAMPIONSGATE, FLWatermark Retirement Communities the nations 9th-leading senior housing operator has taken over operations for Merrill Gardens at ChampionsGate. The acquisition is part of a purchase agreement by Fortress Investment Group, who purchased the community in April. Under the agreement, Watermark will manage all aspects of the communitys operations including care, staffing, and programming.
The community, located at 8400 Champions Gate Blvd. in ChampionsGate, Fla., has been renamed The Glades at ChampionsGate.
Watermark communities are known for highly trained and caring associates, a lifestyle built on choice with a focus on integrative wellness and innovative programs, said David Barnes, CEO and President of Watermark Retirement Communities. We are looking forward to this new chapter at The Glades at ChampionsGate and working with the local team to create an extraordinary and innovative community where residents and associates thrive.
Watermark has more than 30 years of experience in the senior living industry and has been named one of the top 25 Best Workplaces for Aging Services by Fortune.
Fortress Investment Group, a leading global investment manager headquartered in New York, also has a long history in the senior living industry. The company has over two decades of experience in senior living, including 14 years as the owner of Brookdale Senior Living, which manages more than 680 communities in 41 states.
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Reviews For Watermark Retirement Communities
Organized, friendly staff in a cruise ship like living for your folks
The staff at watermark are GREAT! They are easy to work with and are very caring with your love one and easy to talk too. They not only are taking care of our mom they also took care of my grandmother. We are grateful and happy to have chosen Watermark at Vistawilla.
Very friendly and professional staff. Good activities and very interested in the residents well being. and are GREAT! we made the right choose in moving mom into Watermark
We’ve been very satisfied with Blue Bell Place. It has been a very positive experience. Our person has had a little bit of a difficult adjustment, but she does have some memory issues. And the staff have been very able to work with her in terms of those issues. We’re hoping she can stay in personal care as long as possible without having to be moved to memory care. We really enjoyed working with the administration during the process of getting her moved in. That was a very important part of the process – they made her feel welcomed from the beginning and were very helpful in telling us about the community there. The facility is very clean. Her room is very comfortable, and we love the high ceilings. It makes it feel really open. They come in and clean her room every week and do her laundry, and we’re very happy about all those services.
Watermark Introduces New Senior Living Retreat And Care Collaborative
Tucson, Arizona-based Watermark Retirement Communities celebrated the opening of its new community, The Hacienda at the River, with a gathering of friends, stakeholders and partners on April 20, 2017. A former horse property located in Tucsons Catalina Foothills, The Hacienda offers assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation and skilled nursing programs. The community also features on-site equine and horticultural therapeutic programming, plus a spirit of wellness fostered by Nayas . These special caregivers assist in every aspect of a residents day, nurturing deep and warm relationships.
The Springs Courtyard is an inviting space at The Hacienda at the River, Watermarks new senior living retreat in Tucson, Arizona. Collaborations with university-based partners enrich The Springs, the communitys rehabilitation and skilled nursing setting. Image courtesy of Watermark Retirement Communities
Do you have news to share?The ICAA welcomes your news submissions. Please send your press releases to -the ICAA’s email for submissions-and staff will consider your news for possible publication. Newsworthy topics include such things as center/community openings initiative or campaign launches announcements of awards, promotions or grants and other topics of interest to active-aging professionals.
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Watermark Retirement Communities Inc
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