Amy Silva-Magalhaes

Editor’s Note: We are profiling the McKnight’s 2020 Women of Distinction honorees daily through the program’s July 28 online awards ceremony. To register or learn more about this digital celebration, the Forum the next day (which offers three free continuing education credits July 29) and the program in general, visit this website.

Amy Silva-Magalhaes’ extensive experience in senior living has earned a lot of respect and credibility from colleagues throughout the industry. So much so that she now is the first woman and the youngest person ever to serve as senior vice president of community operations with Maplewood Senior Living. 

Silva-Magalhaes’ career in the hospitality industry started in 2005 as a front office revenue manager. She was promoted several times before moving to assisted living. By 2007, she was an executive director at Benchmark Senior Living, and by 2010, she joined Sunrise Senior Living in the same role. 

Under Silva-Magalhaes’ leadership, Sunrise was able to increase its occupancy and revenue. She also received company-wide recognition during her four years with the organization. 

She experienced similar success after joining Maplewood as an executive director in 2014. She was a key figure in the company increasing its revenue and maintaining occupancy. The 84-unit community at which she worked consistently maintained an average occupancy of 99% to 100% on a monthly basis while also consistently increasing resident satisfaction. 

Her role with the company also has expanded over the years. She was promoted to senior regional executive director and then corporate director of resident services before earning her current role — senior vice president of community operations — in January 2019 at just 37 years old. 

She supports 14 communities across three states and recently led the opening of Maplewood at Southport in Connecticut. She also is playing a key role in the company’s upcoming opening of a $300 million, 215-unit luxury senior living community in Manhattan, Inspīr Carnegie Hill, which is set to open this year, and another construction project in New Jersey opening in 2021.

Outside of work, Silva-Magalhaes serves on the board of directors for the Connecticut Assisted Living Association and is involved in both education and statewide senior living employee functions. 

Her compassion and dedication to the success of residents, company and overall organization is why her colleagues believe she “embodies” everything people want from a leader in senior living. 

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. The program’s Diamond sponsor is PointClickCare. Silver sponsors are OnShift and PharMerica, and the Signature sponsors are Acadia Pharmaceuticals and Enquire.