About Us
Mission
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.
Core Values
- Client Focused Excellence
- Integrity and Accountability
- Teamwork
- Continuous Improvement
- Confidence Coupled with Humility
Our Leadership Team
Julie Podewitz
CEO & Founder
Julie is considered the leading expert in senior living sales and marketing. She has presented at multiple national and state industry conferences including Argentum, CALA, CHCA, SMASH, FSLA, GALA, KHCA, LALA, TALA, VALA, Michigan, Southeast, and Iowa Leading Age, SMASH and the Senior Housing News Sales Summit. She has also participated in many expert panels.
Julie is the author of three books on: Solving the Occupancy Puzzle: A Senior Living Regional Director Sales and Marketing Playbook; The Grow Your Occupancy Selling Senior Living Workbook; and (Re)Solving the Occupancy Puzzle: A Senior Living Regional, Sales, & Executive Director Playbook.
She and her team are driven by results. During her career, her track record of increased sales and occupancy has resulted in more than $80 million in increased client revenue.
She and her Grow Your Occupancy team are all proven senior living and home care sales specialists who understand not only the sales process, but also the customer journey.
Her company, Grow Your Occupancy, is in the top 1% of consultant startups.
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.
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.
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.
Jim Podewitz
Marketing Director
Jim Podewitz is a marketing director specializing in brand management, digital marketing, traditional marketing, and content creation.
He is a skilled creative writer, editor, graphic designer, audio and video producer, and website manager. He applies these skills to developing and marketing Grow Your Occupancy’s brand and services.
Jim also supports Grow Your Occupancy’s clients by providing marketing services, digital market research, and data analytics.
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.
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!”