The Beacon team

Beacon Communities management team brings over 100 years combined experience in the senior living industry to your project. Allow us to take a moment to introduce these talented professionals:

David Johnston, the founder of Beacon Communities, is a Certified Public Accountant. He began his career in 1980 as a consultant performing market and feasibility studies for senior housing. In 1988 he joined Laing Properties as Director of Retirement Housing, overseeing the operations of four communities totaling more than 200 employees, serving the needs of 500 seniors.

In 1997, David co-founded EdenCare Senior Living Services. The Atlanta-based company, which began in an associate's basement, became the nation's ninth-largest Alzheimer's/dementia provider and 15th-largest assisted living company in just three years. As Chief Operating Officer, David was responsible for overall management of 39 communities and 2,695 units in seven states. Company revenues were more than $22 million; capital investment of the company tallied more than $300 million. He left EdenCare early in 2000 to create Beacon Communities, Inc.

David's other achievements include founding the Senior Living Association of Georgia in 1988 and co-founding the Assisted Living Association of Georgia in 1996. He is also a co-founder and past president of the Georgia chapter of the Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA).

David was also a top-ranked CPA instructor. From 1982-1995, David was a lead instructor for the Becker CPA Review Course in Atlanta, GA. He continues to focus on superior financial results and first-rate management expertise. But his goal is always focused on customer service: to lead a team that will exceed the expectations of its residents and clients, and inspire and reward its associates.

 

Brad MarkbyBrad Markby, CHA, Vice President of Operations, Sales & Marketing, joined Beacon in 2006. Brad was formerly with Sunrise Senior Living for over six years and served as its Vice President of Operations for the Southern Region. Sunrise is the nation’s largest provider of senior living services and facilities. Brad was responsible for the management of 46 Communities with a resident capacity of 4,432 and a census of 94%. Under his oversight, the Southern Region’s revenues increased by 17% each year, and house profits grew from $17.9 million to $20.7 million. Prior to Brad’s experience in senior housing, he worked in the hospitality industry for over 25 years. Brad was the Vice President of Operations for the Southern Region for Lodgian Hotels and Resorts. Lodgian is on of the largest independent owners and operator of full-service hotels in the United States. Brad managed 26 hotel properties with 4,600 guestrooms. Brad is a Certified Hotel Administrator and currently serves on the Georgia ALFA board as the current president.

 

Chris Smith, BSN, RN, Director of Resident Care and Risk Management, began her career as a nurse in 1977. For over twenty five years, Chris's job responsibilities focused on quality assurance programs and training. In addition, she implemented systems and policy and procedure manuals on providing care to residents. In 2002, Chris joined David and served as an Executive Director for four years in three different assisted living communities. In 2006, Chris became a Vice-President with Beacon in charge of resident care and risk management.

 

Amy BarclayAmy Barclay brings to Beacon a diverse healthcare accounting and consulting background, as well as real estate sales.  She worked for two major national hospital chains:  Tenet Healthcare as a Medicare reimbursement specialist and Magellan Health System as a financial and reimbursement manager. Amy also worked as a Medicare Consultant for a consulting firm and a CPA firm and, prior to moving to Atlanta, worked for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina as a Medicare auditor, auditing hospitals and nursing homes in the state of South Carolina.

Her real estate background working as the lead sales agent The Orchards at Crabapple, a ranch condominium community with a market aimed at the empty nester generation.  In fact, her most memorable contract was a family who had four generations present at the contract signing. Amy’s prior assisted living experience includes working as a business office manager and as an assistant director to the executive director and director of resident care.  She was responsible for touring prospects, signing leases, care plans, initial assessments, as well as being the liaison between family, residents, staff, and pharmacy.

Her main focus at Beacon is the accounting, financial statement preparation, and coordination of payroll at the communities, and the training of new business office managers.

 

Kelly Castleberry has over nine years experience in public accounting. She is involved in all aspects of accounting and works directly with the Executive Directors and Business Office Managers at the communities. Kelly's experience includes general bookkeeping, preparation of financial statements, corporate and individual tax preparation and computer training in both for-profit and non-profit entities.

 

 

John Elliston, Construction and Operational Systems, joined David at EdenCare Senior Living Services in 1998. John served as an Executive Director in three different communities for four years. Prior to this time, John's work experience was primarily in sales of building products. John joined Beacon in 2001 and has served as the Executive Director in various communities, as well as advisor on construction related issues.
 

 

Ann-Margaret Johnston, CPA, Comptroller of Beacon Communities, has more than 18 years experience in the area of public accounting. She has performed tax planning for a wide variety of industries, and specializes in training and support of QuickBooks and Quicken for clients. As founder and president of Johnston & Associates, a certified public accounting firm based in Atlanta, Georgia, she grew the company to more than 350 clients in five years. Ann-Margaret directly manages all accounting functions at Beacon.
 

 

 
 

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Beacon Communities, Inc. 
•  418 Pirkle Ferry Road, Suite 111  •  Cumming, GA 30040
Telephone: 678-947-4423  •  Email: info@beaconcommunities.com

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