Summercrest expansion announced

NEWPORT — After 16 years at the helm of Summercrest, Steve Gunnerson is stepping aside and the Summercrest crew is welcoming Angela Pelletier as its new Executive Director.

Gunnerson has agreed to stay on in a new position as the CEO of Summercrest. While spending less time at Summercrest, his main objective will be to assist in overseeing the upcoming expansion of Summercrest in which 24 new units will be added to the community, along with other special projects and supporting Pelletier during the transition.

Stepping into the Executive Director position at Summercrest, Pelletier’s, experience and qualifications made her the top choice among a deep pool of candidates to replace Gunnerson. Prior to Pelletier joining Summercrest, she was the Director of Operations of WoodBine Senior Living, LLC. Having worked in the senior living industry for more than 30 years, starting as a caregiver at the age of 15, she went on to create an impressive track record of success in the field over that time.

Some of her greatest accomplishments have been developing many successful leaders at the communities under her management while overseeing the operations of numerous communities for WoodBine Communities. As a key player in developing many of WoodBine’s east coast communities, she has become an expert in opening new communities in various markets and will be a great asset during the expansion of Summercrest.

Pelletier has been a caregiver, a nurse, a clinical director, an executive director and a senior executive director in the senior living industry. She lives with her husband Scott, their seven-year-old daughter Madison and eight pets. They love to be active in the outdoors and enjoy spending time with friends and family. Her diverse talents will be a huge asset to Summercrest, that is proud to welcome Pelletier as its new Executive Director.

 

Prior to working in the senior living industry, Gunnerson spent 14 years in the college administration field. Steve has been known to say that managing a college is much like managing a senior living community. “You need to make sure the residents are safe and well fed,” he said. After moving to New Hampshire with his wife Susan in 2000 Steve worked as the Administrator for several communities in the Upper Valley before finding his niche at Summercrest.

For the past 16 years Gunnerson has overseen the daily operations at Summercrest. Managing the complex programs offered to residents at Summercrest such as the Choices for Independence (CFI) /Medicaid waiver program and The Seasons Memory Care program, in addition to traditional independent and assisted living programs, is no small undertaking. Steve is widely respected in the industry and at the state level as a board member of the industry association and as an active contributor to greater Newport area businesses and professional organizations.