2026 Judges

Ali Shivji is a Principal at Optima Living. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from INSEAD and certificates in Value Based Healthcare Delivery from Harvard Business School and Best Practices in Dementia Care from Johns Hopkins University.

Ali is an expert in care, housing, design, and programming for seniors, having worked in strategy and operations in both the public and private health care sectors for over 10 years. He has worked with the National Health Service in the United Kingdom and with McKinsey & Company’s International Health Care practice, primarily focusing on international health care system redesign. He recently served as the Chief Operating Officer for AgeCare, a private senior care and housing company with 10 sites and over 1,800 beds across Canada.

Aneka Kerlin is the Founder and Principal of Aneka Interiors, a firm she established in
1999 with a passion for creating environments that support dignity, comfort, and
connection—especially for older adults. Over the past 25+ years, she has grown the
company into a nationally recognized design and FF&E procurement firm serving Senior
Living communities across the United States.

While she still loves design, Aneka’s greatest passion today is building a strong team and a sustainable business—focusing on leadership, financial stewardship, and creating systems that allow others to thrive. She believes that when people feel supported, both employees and residents can do their best work and live their best lives.

Ben Seager, AIA, LEED AP, has been involved in the design, planning and entitlement of a wide variety of residential, mixed-use and senior housing communities nationwide for over 20 years. In 2017, he was tapped to lead KTGY’s Senior Living Practice Group, and since that time, his sole focus has been on senior living, including Active Adult, Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care.

Ben is a hands-on leader who guides projects from the earliest conceptual design stages through construction. Known as a thought leader within the industry, he has been invited to speak at conferences across the country. Ben also contributes his expertise as a judge for the Senior Housing News Architecture & Design Awards.

Bruce Hurowitz has been a member of the MDP Team for over 34 years. His career path has evolved in step with the growth and success of the firm, from a valued team member to a respected leader.

As president of MDP, Bruce is known for his passion and commitment to inspired senior living design. His industry advocacy and accomplishments have earned him recognition as an EFA Design Champion. As MDP celebrates 50 years of designing senior living environments, Bruce looks forward to continuing to push the envelope on inspired design solutions.

Chris Frommell has over 30 years of experience in the design and construction industry and currently serves as Managing Partner of Milwaukee-based Direct Supply Aptura, an integrated design, procurement, and construction studio. Chris holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in architectural studies from the University of Illinois.

As Chief Design Officer of AG Architecture, Eric Harrmann continues the firm’s long-standing design legacy by leading the AG Team in providing vision, building consensus, and bringing certainty and predictability to the construction process. His 20 years of industry experience include master planning and designing senior living communities, multifamily complexes, and mixed-use developments. Eric guides communities through a collaborative process, using focus groups and design charrettes to generate ideas and uncover the best solutions for a project. He is committed to pushing the boundaries of design to raise the bar on senior living and has shared insights on senior living trends as a speaker, author, and quotable resource. Eric shares his knowledge and expertise with providers across the country, reinforcing AG’s commitment to Bright Vision. Bold Communities.

Eric Krull is a Managing Principal and Executive Vice President at THW Design, a leading Senior Living design firm with 1,000+ worldwide commissions. With over 25 years of dedication to enhancing seniors’ quality of life, Eric specializes in strategic planning, seamlessly integrating architecture, land planning, and interiors. His leadership, honed through collaborations with national senior living organizations, has earned multiple awards and publications. Active in speaking engagements, Eric has contributed significantly to LeadingAge for over 25 years, playing a key role in establishing nationally recognized educational experiences showcasing the latest trends in senior living design.

Gracyn Robinson is a driven entrepreneur dedicated to transforming aging in place through innovative technology. As the Founder of RENOVAHEALTH®, Gracyn has spearheaded the creation of a vertically AI-integrated SaaS platform dedicated to enhancing the safety, independence, and well-being of older adults within the built environment. With a background in interior design, business development, and a Masters in Healthcare Leadership (MHL) from Brown University, Gracyn combines technical expertise with strategic business acumen specializing in healthcare leadership to lead the company forward.

Previously, Gracyn worked as Dir. of Business Development and Sr. Interior Designer at LWDA Design, an architecture, urban planning and interior design firm specializing in senior living and health care. Her experience in interior design, design strategy and systems-thinking has been instrumental in ensuring that the RENOVAHEALTH® platform is both secure and user-friendly. Gracyn is also committed to community service, serving on the board of MA Gerontology Association (MGA) and as an invited jurist on multiple senior living and health care design competitions (SHN BUILD, EFA, HCD). Her dedication to improving the lives of older adults and fostering innovation makes her a respected leader in her field.

Grant Warner is an architect and senior living provider. He is the Senior Housing Practice Leader at BKV Group and part-owner of the Elevate Senior Living Group. Grant is passionate about designing senior living environments where residents and their care partners can thrive. He leads the early planning and design stages of projects, learning from clients and care partners to program and design the best environment for their unique needs. Grant values empathy, creativity and innovation and infuses these values into the firm’s projects. A Board member of SAGE and speaker at national conventions, Grant is a devoted advocate for older adults, enjoys teaching others and loves collaborating with each community to find ways design can help improve quality of life.

Greg Gauthreaux, an Associate Principal with Perkins Eastman, merges his passion for the creative process with a love and curiosity of innovative technology to design spaces that are focused on authentic human experiences. With an expertise in building performance and innovative technologies, Greg leads project teams and stakeholders to understand and navigate the social, economic, and environmental decisions that influence the design of their projects.

Greg brings over 15 years of experience in senior living, residential, mixed use, and hospitality projects. His constant exploration for opportunities to converge elements of these practice areas further enriches the environments for his clients and their end users. As a leader in Perkins Eastman’s senior living practice, Greg develops a foundation of trust, collaboration, and empathy to inform his design approach. He uses these core principles to guide clients through the exciting journey of realizing their vision.

Liz is a principal in the Senior Living & Affordable Housing studio. She brings more than 33 years of award-winning architectural design experience to the project team. Liz shepherds the entitlement process, managing in-house staff, consultants and clients toward project approval. She holds client relationships as a critical factor to her success with a project which she works toward by listening to various design factors such as project timing, program, budget and jurisdiction parameters. As a design leader, she utilizes a holistic approach to design, where site and building complement each other while working together to create energetic and timeless spaces.

LuAnn’s passion for creating exceptional senior living environments led her to establish Thoma-Holec Design in 2006, a firm dedicated exclusively to senior living interior design. Under her leadership, the firm has earned national recognition for designing award-winning communities throughout the U.S. and Canada, known for their warm, meaningful, and thoughtfully curated spaces that elevate the daily experiences of both residents and staff.

A revered expert in senior living interior design, LuAnn has earned numerous national, regional, and local awards. She’s been featured in numerous publications and has served as a judge for industry competitions, including EFA, SAGE, NAHB 55+, Gold Nugget Awards, and more.

LuAnn holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design and Museum Arts from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology from Arizona State University. She is NCIDQ-certified, a Certified Active Adult Specialist in Housing (CAASH), a Fellow of the American Society of Interior Designers (FASID), and a Certified Interior Designer (CID). Licensed in 30 states and an active member of LeadingAge, SAGE, ASID, and AZ ALFA.

After honing her craft at two renowned architectural firms in Atlanta, Melissa Banko founded her own studio in 2014. Senior housing design has always been core to the firm’s mission, with an adamant belief that potential residents in this underserved market should have access to timeless, hyper-local design instead of accepting dated interiors or a one-size-fits-all approach. To deliver best in class design, Banko Design applies best practices from hospitality and multifamily markets.

In recognition of her contributions to senior living design, Melissa was named a “Design Champion” by Environments for Aging in 2021. She credits this success to her talented and passionate team of interior architects, designers, and procurement agents. The firm has won several prestigious awards, most recently the NEWH Georgia Chapter’s “Top ID” award and IIDA Georgia’s “Best of the Best” (B.O.B.) award.

Melissa brings nearly three decades of visionary expertise to the world of senior living design. Her journey began with deeply personal experiences and early work in a nursing home, sparking a lifelong commitment to creating environments that empower older adults to live with independence, dignity, and wellness.

A nationally recognized leader, Melissa guides organizations, clients, and interdisciplinary teams through complex development and strategic growth initiatives. Her work is rooted in a mission to elevate the quality of life for elders – an ethos that has earned her accolades, including the prestigious Design Champions Award from Environments for Aging, honoring those who challenge norms and drive innovation in the field.

Melissa holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and maintains architectural licenses across multiple states. She is an active member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Environments (SAGE), an inaugural member of the Resilient Aging Environments Network (RAEN), and holds certifications with NCARB and GBCI.

Ric D’Amico has been a developer for more than three decades and most recently was a partner with The Belaire Group in Des Moines, Iowa, providing senior living development services to both multi- and single-site operators across the country. Mr. D’Amico serves on the National Board of The Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Environments (SAGE) and chairs the Annual “Remodel / Renovation Competition” for Environments for Aging. He has degrees in both Economics and Architecture from the University of Houston.

Steve Levin started his career in senior housing over 35 years ago. During the course of his career, he designed and built a wide range of assisted living, skilled nursing and senior living communities.

In 2011, Mr. Levin was approached by AVIV REIT in Chicago to help them take the company public. In 2013, AVIV went public, trading on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2015, AVIV was sold to Omega Healthcare Investors, the largest owner of skilled nursing facilities in the U.S. Levin served as their SVP of Real Estate, developing over $2B of real estate, including 15 new developments for Maplewood Senior Living. In late 2019, Levin, a colleague, and the former chairman of AVIV created Hana2.0 Property Group to acquire senior living and skilled nursing facilities and lease to third party operators.

The pandemic forced operations to cease and at the end of 2020, Mr. Levin created CapEX Solutions to provide services to renovate, repurpose and rebuild senior living products. In 2021, he partnered with a few seasoned veterans to form Eagle Capital Health Ventures, an investment company focusing on the full spectrum of healthcare businesses. Eagle has recently transacted in several senior housing, skilled nursing and Medicaid waiver assisted living properties.

Ward Isaacson is the CEO of Pope Design Group. His 30+ year architectural career in senior living is shaped by his passion for the business of architecture, the impact of good design, and the continued growth of Pope Design Group. He is driven by fostering client and industry relationships, and working collaboratively through the unique challenges and opportunities of each project.

Ward has been instrumental in establishing Pope Design Group as a nationally recognized leader in senior living design. He lives Pope’s mission – together, creating environments that enhance lives – and leads by example to continually improves environments for people and communities.

Wendi Stallings is the founder and principal of Private Label International, a full service interior design studio that develops hospitality environments and lifestyle brand experiences for clients worldwide. Founded in Scottsdale in 2008, Private Label expanded to San Francisco in 2012. Under Wendi’s leadership, Private Label has worked on many notable projects with prominent clients such as CBRE, DMB, Greystar, Alliance Residential, Hilton, Marriott, Starwood, Stockbridge, Invesco, The Wolff Companies, among others. Her collection of work focuses on resorts, multifamily, condominiums, master-planned communities, restaurants and retail environments.

Wendi and her team have earned numerous industry awards, including: Gold Nugget, Multi-Housing News, Multi Family Executive, National Association of Home Builders awards, and many more. Wendi is a member of the MHN Executive Council. Wendi graduated from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Ecole Speciale d’Architecture in Paris, earning her degree in interior architecture. She holds a certification from the National Council for Interior Design Qualifications (NCDIQ).