We are excited to introduce a new feature in our weekly Monday Morning Report newsletter to showcase our highest-level members. Leaders You Should Know highlights community leaders who are making a notable impact in the Nashville region.
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Meet Cindy Baier | President & CEO of Brookdale Senior Living
Tell us about yourself?
I am currently the President and CEO of Brookdale Senior Living. I have been a caregiver most of my life, and that’s largely why Brookdale Senior Living’s mission resonates so deeply with me.
Tell us about your business/industry?
Brookdale is the largest senior living operator in the nation. We have more than 650 communities in more than 40 states, with the ability to serve approximately 59,000 residents. We operate independent living (IL), assisted living (AL), memory care (MC) and skilled nursing (SNF) communities. Throughout all of our communities, we help seniors and their families manage the challenges of aging. We proudly provide seniors with care, personal connection, and services in an environment that feels like home.
What should we know about you?
I feel fortunate to have found an opportunity to connect my purpose with such a fulfilling mission. We enrich both seniors’ lives and our own. Our business is all about people serving people. The challenges of aging are hard, hard for seniors and often really hard for their adult children who are doing their best to help. Brookdale helps make many of those challenges easier to manage. And a conversation with a Brookdale community will help you feel better about your options and give you confidence to make informed and wise decisions
How did you get to your current position?
I moved to Nashville in November 2015 to join Brookdale Senior Living as CFO. Then in 2018, I became Brookdale’s President, CEO, and a member of the Board of Directors.
What value do you see in Chamber involvement?
Nashville Chamber involvement presents an opportunity to connect with fellow members to best serve our communities and to help serve more seniors in Nashville and across the country.
What is your leadership style? How does that motivate yourself and your team?
As the leader of a large organization, I believe that my people would define my leadership style as firm but fair, clear, and compassionate.
What makes Nashville a great place to do business?
Middle Tennessee is a special place. Not only is it one of the true healthcare capitals of the U.S., it is also alive with music, entertainment, culture, beautiful scenery, amazing food and wonderful people. As it has demonstrated time and time again, Nashville is filled with people who exhibit a caring and collaborative spirit. We enjoy the business synergies and servant spirit that come with being in this vibrant and growing community.
What role does intra-industry collaboration play in your industry?
Collaboration in healthcare is essential, and we are fortunate to be at the center of so much opportunity to work together here in Nashville. For example, I am the Chair of the Nashville HealthCare Council which is a wonderful organization meant to strengthen Nashville as the Healthcare City and provide a foundation for further collaboration.
What is your favorite leadership book?
One of my favorite books is Trillion Dollar Coach. It includes insightful leadership lessons from Bill Campbell who helped tech giants understand how to motivate teams to create unprecedented value for their enterprises.
