Senior Living Leadership
About Us
Our Mission
Our Vision
To be the leading provider of sales and marketing solutions for the senior living industry, empowering operators and investors to achieve and sustain high occupancy rates.
Our Core Values
Client-Centered Excellence
We prioritize the unique needs and goals of our clients, delivering tailored, innovative services that drive sales growth and enhance client satisfaction.
Integrity and Accountability
We uphold the highest ethical standards, take ownership of outcomes, honor commitments, and focus on delivering measurable, lasting results.
Teamwork and Empowerment
We foster a culture of collaboration, empowering both our clients and team members to achieve shared goals through trust and mutual respect.
Innovation and Relentless Improvement
We are determined to set the standard for quality and service, forward-thinking strategies, and the pursuit of ongoing growth.
Inclusive and Responsible Stewardship
We value diverse perspectives, engage thoughtfully with stakeholders, and manage resources wisely to create sustainable value for clients and us.
Confidence Coupled with Humility
We embrace a culture of confidence coupled with humility.
Our Leadership Team
Julie Podewitz
CEO & Founder
Julie is a senior living sales expert with many years’ experience and a proven track record. Senior Living sales is her passion. She is successful in team building and development – coaching at all levels, including executive, sales and marketing teams, management, and regional and divisional directors.
Julie has spent time on both the provider and consultant side, all focused on sales and marketing. Julie began her career as a community sales director and quickly filled census-challenged buildings. Her experience as a teacher, trainer and coach gave her great insight to consult with hundreds of communities across 46 states. She has spent the past eight years in the VP Sales and CMO roles on the provider side.
All along, she kept her foot on the ground, never losing the “here and now” experience of the customer – the prospects, families, community, executive and ownership entities she serves.
She and her team have walked the walk, have grown with the business, know what works, what to do, and how to do it. Many consider her the “go to” resource; heck, she wrote the book! By starting her business, Julie expands her passion for sales, teaching, and seeing others succeed and grow their occupancy.
Julie and her husband Jim share a passion for their daughter Ava, their two dogs, Winston Churchill and Maggie, music trivia, and enjoying their Tennessee farm.
“The senior living space needs to acknowledge the need for top sales talent, to invest in training and development of this talent. Selling senior living requires advanced skills. We need to commit to what we know works – sales fundamentals – and pivot to meet the demands of the ever-changing world of digital marketing as well as the needs and desires of our customers. Customer-focused sales is never more relevant than in senior living.”
Lori Jordan
Vice President of Operations
As a dynamic operations executive with nearly 20 years of experience in senior living and healthcare management, Lori is recognized for her ability to align organizational strategies with actionable initiatives that foster growth, efficiency, and client satisfaction. Her extensive expertise in stakeholder engagement, project management, and team leadership has positioned her as a driving force in operational excellence within the sales and marketing sector of senior housing.
In her current role as Vice President of Operations at Grow Your Occupancy, Lori drives operational excellence within the sales and marketing domain of senior housing. She leads initiatives to enhance sales performance, streamline operational workflows, and align marketing strategies with client acquisition and retention goals. Lori’s focus on optimizing processes and fostering collaboration across teams ensures sustained growth and measurable results.
Previously, Lori served as Vice President of Ancillary Services at Charter Senior Living, where she successfully streamlined operations across various departments, including environmental services, facility management, IT, compliance, and utility administration. She led acquisitions, community renovations, and project management for new developments while optimizing resources through strategic capital budgeting. Lori’s experience also includes leadership roles at Vitality Senior Living, Brookdale Senior Living, and Horizon Bay, where she further honed her expertise in senior living operations and business administration.
A seasoned strategist, Lori specializes in optimizing operational workflows to drive client success and retention. She fosters a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, empowering teams to exceed performance metrics while championing client-centric solutions. Her areas of expertise include sales strategy, strategic planning, and employee engagement, ensuring the alignment of marketing initiatives with operational goals, making her a pivotal leader in the senior housing industry.
Lori holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Management and a Master of Business Administration. Her dedication to excellence and her passion for the senior housing sector underscores her commitment to delivering results that benefit both clients and stakeholders.
Melinda Haney
Vice President of Administration
and Sales Success Specialist
Melinda’s passion for helping older adults has fueled her 20+ years in the senior living space. She has assisted residents and families with all levels of senior living and has held 98+% occupancy in her communities for years. Her communities are often voted “Best of” in their local markets.
Melinda has experience in many levels of senior living sales: Community Relations Director, Admissions Director, Director of Sales & Marketing and Regional Director of Sales and Marketing. Melinda trains Executive Directors & RDOs and leads new associate onboarding. She is also a CRM and data analytics expert.
Melinda understands the sales position uniquely well; as a self-starter, influencer, party-planner, educator, community volunteer, jugger, leader and importantly as a team player. She also has experience as a family member, advocate, and caregiver.
Melinda has two sons who are University of South Florida Bulls. The boys might say, so to not have an empty house, Melinda and her spouse keep busy by breeding Black Miniature Schnauzers. We might tell you a different story.
Lori Vernier
Senior Sales Strategist
Lori Vernier is a dynamic and results-driven Senior Sales Strategist at Grow Your Occupancy, bringing over 20 years of expertise in sales leadership, business development, and high-impact coaching. She is deeply committed to transforming sales teams by elevating individual performance, fostering accountability, and developing confident, capable leaders in the senior living space.
Lori’s coaching style is hands-on, strategic, and deeply personalized—focused on identifying strengths, closing skill gaps, and empowering sales professionals to exceed their goals. Her mentorship has consistently led to measurable gains in occupancy, team engagement, and overall sales effectiveness.
At Grow Your Occupancy, Lori plays a vital role in supporting communities through comprehensive market analysis, in-depth SWOT assessments, sales coaching, and ongoing professional development. She also drives strategic database management and streamlines the sales process to optimize the buyer’s journey from first contact to move-in.
Lori is an advocate of a consultative sales approach that prioritizes trust, empathy, and value creation. Her background includes serving as an Advisory Council Member and Vice Chair for the Area Agency on Aging, where she championed initiatives focused on improving the lives of older adults. Known for her strategic insight, positive energy, consistent five-star client reviews and unwavering dedication to excellence, Lori continues to be a powerful force in helping senior living teams grow, lead, and succeed.
Jennifer Ptacek
Senior Sales Specialist
Jennifer is a results-oriented Director of Marketing and Sales, boasting over 11 years of extensive experience within the senior living industry. Her journey into this field was sparked by a genuine passion for seniors, initially working as a Certified Nursing Assistant in skilled nursing facilities. Over time, she discovered her calling as a Sales Director, where her skills became instrumental in helping seniors and their families navigate the complex decision of transitioning to a senior living community.
Jennifer’s success story revolves around the establishment of trust and the nurturing of relationships with prospective residents and their families. Her knack for crafting effective marketing strategies has positioned communities for unparalleled growth. She is adept at developing comprehensive marketing plans that pave the way for communities to thrive.
In addition to her accomplishments in senior living, Jennifer boasts a remarkable background in advertising. She once spearheaded her own agency, overseeing advertising placements totaling an impressive $1.8 million annually. Her expertise spans across various media channels, including television, radio, newspaper, direct mail, and digital marketing.
Jennifer’s specialized skill set encompasses strategic marketing campaigns, competitive analysis,
CRM (Customer Relationship Management) management, and assisting underperforming communities in achieving higher occupancy rates. Her career journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment to enhancing the senior living industry and her ability to drive results. Jennifer is the epitome of a strategic and accomplished marketing and sales professional, making her an invaluable asset in any senior living community’s pursuit of excellence and growth.
“Having Jennifer as a Grow Virtual Sales Specialist at 6 of our communities was a game changer for us. Our goal was to get databases cleaned up as well as connect with older leads. The results exceeded our expectations with the volume of calls and tours scheduled. I highly recommend the VSS service at Grow Your Occupancy!”