July 2008

(Kennett Square, PA) John Diffey, President and CEO of The Kendal Corporation, has announced the appointment of Sean Kelly as Director for New Business Development for The Kendal Corporation. Sean will commence work with Kendal on September 1, 2008 and comes to Kendal from serving as Principal of Development for Connecticut-based Retirement Living Services (RLS), a consulting firm providing planning, development, marketing, financing and management services primarily to not-for-profit sponsors of continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). Sean joined RLS in 1998 as Vice President for Development where he was responsible for CCRC development and project management. Over the course of the last 10 years, Sean has directed all aspects of CCRC project development activities from the conceptual stages, including pre-development activities and land acquisition, to marketing, finance, construction, occupancy and project closeout. “We are delighted to welcome Sean to Kendal,” states John Diffey, on this most recent appointment. “Sean’s integrity, values, vitality, experience, skills, and standing in our field made him stand out in our selection process and foretell his being another excellent addition to the Kendal leadership team."

A graduate from Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, Sean began his professional career in construction management and contracting. Sean grew to take a position with a Philadelphia based construction management firm where he was responsible for identifying and securing new business as well as project management oversight. During his tenure there, Sean was exposed to the development and construction of a large CCRC, which prompted him to study and move more deeply into the healthcare and senior living markets for business and development opportunities. While attending an annual meeting of the New Jersey Association of NonProfit Homes for the Aging, Sean was first introduced to the CEO and Co-Founder of RLS. From there his career tightened its focus exclusively in the area of senior housing and development and since then Sean has been closely involved with several notable projects including: Piper Shores in Maine, The Huntington at Nashua in New Hampshire, and The Hill at Whitemarsh and Makemie Ridge both in Pennsylvania.

“Sean’s enthusiasm and total commitment to our client’s needs have been key factors to his success at RLS,” said Avery Rockefeller, Co-Founder and CEO of RLS. “While we will of course miss him, we are pleased to know that he will be joining the Kendal organization whose name is synonymous with quality, innovation and leadership. It is a good fit and we wish him well in his new role.”

In his new capacity at Kendal, Sean will assume responsibility for leading organizational efforts aimed at creating new opportunities for growth in serving existing and new populations of seniors through affiliations, and by developing new communities. Sean will also assist existing Kendal Affiliates in achieving their growth objectives. Commenting on his appointment, Sean says, “Having been fortunate enough to have worked as a developer and consultant for sponsors in all aspects of our business over the last ten years, I am thrilled over the chance to work as a provider with Kendal whose reputation and stature in our field are preeminent and well known. As this transition to a new area of our business may be challenging for me, I know that Kendal fosters the same core values to which I have become accustomed at RLS. Given that these values are all very compatible with my own, I expect we will be able to get right to work on Kendal’s aspirations for growth in existing and new areas of opportunity.”

The Kendal Corporation, a not-for-profit organization with offices in Kennett Square, PA, has been providing housing and services for older adults since the early 1970's. Kendal now serves over 3,000 residents and employs 1,800 people in 14 community and program sites in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Ohio, New York, Virginia and Massachusetts. In addition to developing and operating continuing care and residential retirement communities, many in collaboration with local colleges and universities, Kendal has earned national recognition for its leadership in advocacy, education, and development of standards of accreditation used in the not-for-profit long term care field.