July 9, 2026 —I want to take a moment to share the progress we’re making at TKC, and the direction we’re heading, thanks to your support and collaboration.
This quarter has brought several important moments of connection and growth. In June, Affiliate CEOs and TKC leadership gathered at LeadingAge in Washington, D.C., to consider how artificial intelligence can better serve our mission. We walked through 50 years of computing history to ask the question: not “what can AI do?” but “how can we use it in ways that honor who we are?” It was a dynamic and creative day spent exploring bothhow to use Claude Enterprise effectively and safely and also what amazing work we may be able to do with this tool, together.
In April, we brought Affiliate marketing and sales professionals together at Enso Village in Healdsburg for our annual Marketing Gathering. Peer group gatherings are the secret sauce of the Kendal network because teams closest to residents – the work of welcoming and serving – understand what innovation looks like in practice. This year, that included hands-on work with AI, strategies for strengthening local communications, and the chance to experience Enso Village’s unique ethos firsthand. These gatherings build something intangible but essential: shared understanding. I’m looking forward to participating in the HR and Finance gatherings coming up in July.
We’ve also welcomed Lauryn Moore and Brenda Mahan to our marketing team. Both bring deep healthcare and nonprofit expertise and come with a genuine commitment to supporting older adults. Their arrival reflects what Affiliates asked us to do: be easier to reach, faster to respond, and a true partner.
The stories in this issue reflect a recommitment to our shared mission to transform the experience of aging – the deliberate way we’re approaching AI, the power of bringing people together to learn and innovate, the talent coming into our organization and yours, and the recognition Affiliates are receiving for excellence in design, programming, and leadership.
I feel real momentum. A huge part of that is our authentic connection and communication together— being awake to what residents are saying, to what the field is discovering, to what talents and ideas each part of the system is developing. That connection shapes the direction we’re heading, together.
With excitement for our future,
Vassar Byrd, CEO
Message for Forefront Newsletter Summer 2026