The Admiral at the Lake Selects Nadia Geigler as its New Executive Director

CHICAGO, May 30, 2017—The Admiral at the Lake’s Board of Directors announced Tuesday that it has selected Nadia Geigler to become Executive Director of the 31-story continuing care retirement community on Chicago’s North Side, a block from Foster Avenue Beach. With 200 residential living apartments, the not-for-profit Admiral at the Lake—a Kendal affiliate— also provides a full continuum of on-site, long-term health care.

”For the last few years, The Admiral at the Lake has been in the rare position of blending a new and vivacious community of residents and staff with a time-tested and honorable mission of serving older adults in the city of Chicago,” Geigler said. “Five years later, we are at the point at which we can take a step back from what has been created and consider what could be. These are exciting times for anyone who is part of The Admiral, and I am thrilled to lead our community through this next phase.”

Geigler, who joined The Admiral at the Lake as chief operating officer in April 2016, has worked in the aging services field since 1999. She has a master’s degree in nonprofit administration and is a licensed nursing home administrator in Illinois and Minnesota. She graduated from the national LeadingAge Leadership Academy in 2012 and now serves as facilitator of the LeadingAge Illinois Leadership Academy. Geigler and her husband, Paul, and their two daughters, Aubrey and Fiona, live in the Jefferson Park neighborhood in Chicago.

Geigler has acted as The Admiral’s interim executive director since Jan. 27, when Glenn Brichacek stepped down after 15 years with The Admiral to lead Lake Forest Place, a life plan community in Lake Forest, Illinois. During this transition period, Geigler worked closely with The Admiral’s staff, residents, board members and Kendal Corporate staff to strengthen operations and enhance services.

The Admiral at the Lake’s Board of Directors established a Search Committee to assist the board in identifying a new executive director. The Search Committee represented all Admiral constituencies, including residents. Admiral Board Chair Charles F. Clarke III — principal of Kinzie Realty, a redeveloper of Chicago-area apartment communities — led the Search Committee. Wanda Whitted-Smith, Kendal’s senior vice president, human resources, provided critical staff support.

“We are fortunate to have found a new executive director with Nadia’s outlook and energy,” Clarke said. “Her extensive experience in senior living combined with an authentic and deep sense for The Admiral’s and Kendal’s values is a great match indeed. Nadia will be a terrific new leader for The Admiral at the Lake, and we look forward to working with her to ensure that The Admiral grows ever stronger in every way.”

Before coming to The Admiral at the Lake, Geigler worked in a wide range of assignments with Covenant Retirement Communities (CRC), the nation’s fifth largest system of nonprofit continuing care retirement communities. She began her career there in 1999 as a receptionist and eventually became the administrator with joint responsibility for a continuing care retirement community as well as a nursing home and helped lead the start-up of a home care and home health agency, all in Minnesota.  Geigler moved into the role of associate executive director of a CRC community in Illinois. From 2014 to 2015, she served as CRC’s director of administrative services, reporting directly to the president and CEO.

“Beyond the excitement that I have for The Admiral at the Lake over Nadia’s new role, I’m doubly excited for Kendal,” said Sean Kelly, Kendal’s President and CEO. “I know that Nadia brings fresh ideas, ample energy, a thirst for engagement and a mind for innovation that speaks so well to who we are, and who we hope to be as a larger organization.”

About The Admiral at the Lake

The Admiral at the Lake is a nonprofit, full-service lifecare community affiliated with Kendal. Founded in 1858, The Admiral at the Lake is Chicago’s oldest nonprofit organization dedicated to creating senior living with innovative, responsive solutions to address the needs of older adults in the Chicago area. The Admiral moved into a new 31-story building in July 2012 and welcomed new and returning residents. Located on 2.8 acres at the corner of Foster Avenue and Marine Drive, on the North shore of Lake Michigan, The Admiral is just 400 steps from the beach and approximately 10 minutes from Chicago’s Loop.

The Admiral at the Lake offers independent living including one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, assisted living apartments, memory support residences and private skilled nursing suites, including short-term rehabilitation. Most apartments include balconies or patios, many with breathtaking views of the lake and city. The Admiral is convenient to public transportation, including a bus stop just outside the front door. Community spaces include a wellness center, cardio and weights room and fitness studio, swimming pool, library, woodworking shop, beauty salon, movie theater, large gathering room with a stage and dance floor and several terraces with magnificent views.