NEWS RELEASE

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Heritage Community of Kalamazoo (HCK) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has appointed Grant T. Linacre as chief executive officer, effective August 31, 2026, following an extensive national search.

Linacre brings nearly 20 years of leadership experience in senior living and health care, with a career focused on strengthening operations, advancing strategic initiatives and creating communities where residents, families and employees can thrive. He most recently served as executive director of Emerald Heights, a 535-resident life plan community in Redmond, Washington, where he led a team of 310 employees and oversaw a $42 million operating budget. During his tenure, he increased net operating income by 32% in his first year and maintained growth of more than 10% thereafter.

“Grant brings an exceptional combination of senior living expertise, strategic vision, operational discipline and, perhaps most importantly, a genuine commitment to people,” said Rex Bell, chair of the Heritage Community of Kalamazoo Board of Directors. “His experience leading complex organizations and major strategic initiatives, along with his collaborative leadership style, will serve Heritage well as we build on our strong foundation and look toward the future.”

At Emerald Heights, Linacre has overseen implementation of a five-year, $156 million master plan that includes new independent living and assisted living residences, improvements to existing facilities and redevelopment of skilled nursing and assisted living spaces into private suites. He also partnered with a local hospital system to bring nurse practitioner services to the community.

Previously, Linacre served in a series of operational and executive leadership roles with Life Care Services, including executive director of Greenwood Village South in Des Moines, Iowa. There, he was brought in to improve operational and financial performance and increased net operating income by 55%, while reducing employee turnover by 14%. Earlier in his career, he held administrator positions at senior living communities in Washington and Maryland, where he led efforts to improve operations, occupancy, financial performance and quality outcomes.

Linacre is also an active leader in the senior living industry. He has served in leadership roles with LeadingAge Washington, including chair of its Board of Directors, and has contributed to industry initiatives focused on governance, workforce development, quality improvement and risk management. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University and is a licensed nursing home administrator in Washington.

“I am honored to serve Heritage, a place that embraces individuals, families and the community while celebrating the whole person,” Linacre said. “Creating a community is all about creating a space where individuals can be their true selves and feel not just safe and welcomed but embraced. Continually improving, united in purpose and collaborating to accomplish great things together embodies my personal leadership style, and it is a privilege to lead Heritage into the future.”

Linacre describes his leadership philosophy simply: “It’s not about me, it’s about we.” That philosophy reflects his approach to working with residents, families, employees, boards and community partners to build shared understanding, establish a clear vision and move organizations forward together. His leadership at Emerald Heights has included extensive engagement with residents and resident committees, employee development and board governance. Linacre will relocate to the Kalamazoo area with his wife and two children. A Michigan native by way of Owosso, he says his connection to family and community has been central throughout his life and career. His career in senior living began in social work in a nursing home, where he discovered a profession that allowed him to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

About Heritage Community of Kalamazoo

For nearly 80 years, Heritage Community of Kalamazoo has defined the possibilities of a vital and connected life for older adults and those who love them here in our region. As Kalamazoo’s only locally centered nonprofit Life Plan Community and services provider, our campus has remained an integral thread in the fabric of the city since its founding in 1945, evolving and adapting to embrace each new generation of older adults we serve. Heritage Community has established a benchmark for a progressive vision of aging, setting the stage for the next incarnation of a rich and fulfilling way of life in retirement. For more information about Heritage Community of Kalamazoo, go to www.heritagecommunity.com.

Media queries: Matt Shankle, VP of Business Development & Marketing

(269) 343-4375 mshankle@heritagecommunity.com