Twenty-four top women executives have been named 2024 inductees into the McKnight’s Women of Distinction Hall of Honor, organizers announced Thursday.

 in the annual McKnight’s Women of Distinction awards program, a joint effort 

They will be celebrated May 14 in Chicago at the McKnight’s Women of Distinction and Forum. The programs are a joint effort of McKnight’s Long-Term Care News  and sister media brands McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. 

The Hall of Honor category honors women working in senior living, skilled nursing or home care who are at a level equivalent to vice president or higher and who have had a significant effect on their organization or industry.

“Long-term care faces many challenges today, and the women we are announcing today are at the forefront of addressing those challenges,” said McKnight’s Editorial Director, Vice President and Associate Publisher John O’Connor. “They are having a positive impact within their organizations and within the industry, benefiting colleagues, residents, patients and clients. We are delighted to recognize their accomplishments today and look forward to honoring them in person soon.”

The Hall of Honor inductees for 2024 are:

Jennifer Bartscht, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, ThriveMore, Winston-Salem, NC

Becky Bodie, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Diversicare Healthcare Services, Brentwood, TN

Lorraine Breuer, Senior Vice President for Research and Grants, Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, New Hyde Park, NY

Lisa Eckley, Co-Founder, The LTM Group, Dayton, OH

Sharon Eyster, VP of Operations/Chief Operating Office (COO), United Church of Christ Homes, Camp Hill, PA

Kathy Gallin, Vice President of Legislative Affairs and Health Policy, Signature Healthcare, Louisville, KY

Gabrielle Genauer, Vice President and General Counsel, The New Jewish Home, New York, NY

Ruth Katz, Incoming President/CEO, Association of Jewish Aging Services, Rockville, MD

Lisa King, Regional Vice President, All Ways Caring HomeCare, Louisville, KY

Nancy Koha, Chief Process Officer, Principle Long Term Care, Kinston, NC

Cathy Krege, Vice President of Clinical Solutions and Compliance, Provision Living, St, Louis, MO

Jane Mack, President and CEO, Friends Services Alliance, Blue Bell, PA

Sharon Roth Maguire, Senior Vice President/Chief Health and Wellness/Resident Experience Officer, LCS, Des Moines, IA

Robin Mitchell, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Diversicare Health Services, Nashville, TN

Lauren Murray, Senior Vice President of Operations and Process Improvement, Genesis Healthcare, Kennett Square, PA

Kristen Palumbo, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, Innovive Health, Medford, MA

Danielle Parker, Chief Operations Officer, GenCare Lifestyle, Seattle

Karen Peck, Vice President, Clinical Services – East Division, Brookdale Senior Living, Brentwood, TN

Annie Pineda-Eiland, Regional Director of Clinical Service, Legacy Healthcare, Skokie, IL

Eileen Rainer, Chief Financial Officer, Ultimate Care Assisted Living Management, LLC – Managers of The Bristal Assisted Living, Ronkonkoma, NY

Rachel Shearer, Senior Vice President of Operations, Ignite Medical Resorts, Park Ridge, IL

Melinda Skirvin, Vice President – Chief Wellness Officer – Clinical, Five Star Senior Living, Newton, MA

Amanda Tilton, Chief Nursing Officer, BAYADA Home Health Care, Pennsauken, NJ

Sharon Wilson, Chief Clinical and Compliance Officer, Cassia, Edina, MN

Additional awards

Winners in the McKnight’s Women of Distinction awards program were determined by a national, independent panel of judges.

Fifteen Rising Stars awards were announced Tuesday, recognizing women who are either aged fewer than 40 years or have fewer than 15 years of experience in the senior living, skilled nursing or home care fields. Additionally, 16 Veteran VIPs were announced Wednesday,  honoring women who have more than 15 years of experience and have made an impact on the senior living, skilled nursing or home care fields, typically at a level lower than vice president or its equivalent.

The 2024 program, as in years past, also will bestow a Lifetime Achievement Award; the recipient of that award, as well as the recipients of the Spirit Award, recognizing inspiring women who provide care and services, will be announced later.

In-person celebration set for May 14

All of this year’s honorees will be celebrated Tuesday, May 14, during an in-person cocktail reception, dinner and awards presentation at the JW Marriott in Chicago. The presentation of awards will be preceded by the fifth annual McKnight’s Women of Distinction Forum, offering educational sessions featuring industry thought leaders discussing important topics. All events are open to the entire long-term care industry, family members and friends of winners, and anyone else interested in attending.

For more information and to register for either or both events, visit https://www.mcknightswomenofdistinction.com/. Those with questions about the events should contact Anna Naumoski, senior event manager at the parent company of the McKnight’s brands, Haymarket Media, at [email protected].

Keep up to date with McKnight’s Women of Distinction news and past articles at this mcknights.com tab.  See a list of previously honored women at mcknightswomenofdistinction.com (click on “Past Honorees” at the top of the page).

Healthcare Services Group is the Platinum sponsor of this year’s event. PointClickCare is the Gold sponsor. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include HER Stories, Curana Health, DirecTV for Business, ShiftKey and Sentrics.