About

Building companies and communities with creativity, civility, and longevity is what I'm all about.

A Picture Tells 1000 Words, But A Video...

This video gives you a glimpse of where I came from, how Áegis Living started, and the future we have planned around redefining health and wellness as we age.

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Enjoy!

The Early Years

Raised near the wheat fields of Eastern Washington, the youngest of four children, I was raised by a loving, single mother who worked long, hard hours as a line cook. I grew up poor (very poor) with often not enough money for food. At one point, we had absolutely no money or food, so my mother stole several potatoes from the restaurant she worked at, vowing to return them later, and made potato soup, which I ate for a week.  

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My Mother's Wisdom

My Career Journey

Prior to forming Áegis Living, I was Executive Vice President of Sunrise Senior Living, and spent seven years with Leisure Care. When I started Áegis Living, my mission was to redefine an industry that had great potential but was failing in execution. I studied business models from companies known for world-class innovation, all based in Seattle: Costco, Nordstrom, Amazon, and Starbucks. With the knowledge gained from these companies, I grew Áegis Living from a dream to a company with over 2, 000 staff members and seven projects currently under development in the Seattle Area.

The Details

My Future Focus

One More Thing

Industry Disruptor

As the Founder and CEO of Áegis Living, I'm Championing the Evolution of Senior Care and Innovative Wellness Solutions.

Áegis Living has more than 30 senior living facilities in the Western U.S., employs more than 3,000 staff members, and to date has served more than 60,000 residents. Áegis has been recognized for the excellence of care to seniors and employees alike, receiving a wide variety of awards, includ­ing; 

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• Top 11 Senior Housing Influencer Senior Care 2020

• Top 50 Best Places to Work in 2017 by Glassdoor

• Top 15 Places to Work with the Best Work/Life Balance in 2017 

• Best of Assisted Living Design 2015 from Senior Housing News

• 2014 Family Business Growth Award by Seattle Business Magazine

• Best Retirement Facility by 425 Magazine (three years in a row)

• Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award

• Lifetime Achievement Award from Senior Services.

Changing The Face of Assisted Living

I like to refer to Áegis as the “Four Seasons of Assisted Living.” With beautifully designed buildings, diverse and evolving programs that enhance residents’ longevity, and a devoted staff, Áegis is vastly different than other facilities in this industry. Using innovative methods, I work to inspire employees to strive for and deliver exceptional service. It’s a big mission, and it’s what sets Áegis apart. Company culture is not a buzzword for me–it is the DNA with which I built Áegis Living.

Treat Them Like Family

Longevity Seeker

My focus is changing the perception around getting older - we are defined by our contribution, not our age.  Aging should be a celebration, not a final destination.

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I pursue longevity in my work, my personal health, my mentorship, my writing, and my philanthropy. Join me as a Wellness Warrior and let's Live Long and Live Strong together.

Culture Curator

Philanthropist

At the heart of true leadership Is mentoring and giving back.

I grew up poor; many days with not enough money for food. At our lowest point, my mother stole potatoes from work and said something to me that has stuck with me throughout my life, “Dwayne, no matter what you do, don’t ever forget where you came from and that you had to eat potato soup every day for a week. When you have employees, be there for them, and they will always be there for you.”

I never forgot. Today, I support more than 70 local and global charities and have founded four of my own including The Potato Soup Foundation, The Queen Bee Café, The D1 Foundation, and the Clark Family Foundation.