2022 Judges

Joe has devoted his career to transforming and redefining environments for living. Engaged in all phases of his projects as a Senior Living practice leader, Joe understands the importance of balancing design, operational, marketing, and financial concerns in order to achieve success.

Blending the best of residential and hospitality design to create authentic experiences for tomorrow’s consumers, Joe is focused on the development of holistic wellness environments and transforming the culinary experience.

A contributing author to the Wiley textbook, Building Type Basics for Senior Living, Joe continues to publish articles and has been a product designer and advisor to senior living manufacturer representatives. Joe serves on panels and speaks at many national forums, including the LeadingAge, Cornell College, Senior Housing News, and Interface. Joe’s work has been honored with national awards including AIA, Design for Aging Review, Environments for Aging, and the National Association of Home Builders.

Melissa C. Pritchard is a Managing Melissa C. Pritchard is a Managing Principal at SFCS Architects. Inspired by personal experiences and the passion to positively impact our elders, Melissa leads the design for major SFCS projects across the country and is dedicated to the design of innovative environments for seniors that support independence. and provide a high quality of life. She is focused on elevating all levels of care including independent living, memory care, resident-directed care, and culture change households.

Thomas Levi is an Architect & Urban Designer with over 40 years of experience in design and planning. He currently serves as the Senior Principal-in-Charge of all healthcare and senior living projects in Levi + Wong Design Associates Portfolio. Thomas speaks nationally on Patient-Centered Care, the Continuum of Care, technology integration with all levels of care, and the use of Virtual Design/BIM in the design and client communication processes.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from North Dakota State University and a master’s of architecture in urban design from Harvard University.

Steven Levin has been involved in real estate development, design & construction for 40 years, working on senior living communities & campuses in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island & New York. Mr. Levin attended Bentley College & The Boston Architectural Center.

Cynthia has 29 years of professional experience spanning 3 continents. As Director of Hord Coplan Macht’s Senior Living practice, she is principal-in-charge of multiple senior living, multi-family & affordable housing projects across the US including the SHN Best Assisted Living Design of 2018 Brightview West End.

Chris Frommell is a Managing Partner at the Milwaukee-based Aptura, Direct Supply Inc. Chris holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in architectural studies from the University of Illinois.

LuAnn’s passion for senior living interior design spans over 25 years & inspired her to launch a company exclusively dedicated to improving the quality of life for the aging population. Before founding Thoma-Holec Design, she held senior roles at MGA Interiors, Arizona AFLA, & Leading Age & holds a Bachelor’s degree in interior design from the University of WI-Madison & a certificate in gerontology from Arizona State University.

Manny Gonzalez is the managing principal for KTGY’s Los Angeles office. He is responsible for the design, land planning, and production of residential and mixed-use developments throughout the United States. He holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of California-Berkeley and earned his master’s in architecture from The University of Southern California.

Eric Krull is a Principal and Executive Director of THW Design. Eric has worked with more than 50 national senior living organizations, associations, and development groups throughout his 25-year career. Eric is a frequent presenter and panelist at national, regional, and state association meetings regarding design awareness for senior living environments.

Ward Isaacson is a Principal with Pope Architects, in charge of the firm’s housing practice, Ward applies experiences from his 30-year architecture career to create environments that enhance the lives of people residing in the spaces. Ward holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Iowa State University.

Dean Maddalena is President of StudioSIX5, a licensed architect & a member of the American Institute of Architects, NCARB, IIDA, and ASID. Dean has dedicated a large part of his 32-yr career to the research and design of senior living environments. Dean has worked in all facets of senior design and for all levels of care throughout the United States. Dean holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Notre Dame, as well as a Masters’s in architecture from the University of Michigan.

John brings over 34 years of experience to the design of senior living communities, large-scale housing developments, assisted living and memory care households as well as mixed-use projects. As principal and senior design architect, he develops thoughtful architectural solutions that reinforce a sense of community and mentors emerging professionals on creating contextual concepts. John’s design approach strives to achieve an environment that is well-designed and well-thought-out. In the words of a client, “John is never satisfied with just an acceptable outcome; he pushes the envelope to achieve a superior solution.”

Gracyn Robinson is an interior designer with strong business development channels driven by gathering market intelligence within the SH&C, Healthcare, and Mixed-Use markets as healthcare and technology increasingly blend within models of living.

Gracyn is passionate about the convergence of AgeTech (gerontechnology) with building systems PropTech. Gracyn is focused on the increasing hybrid relationship within Sr. Living/LTC ecosystems; especially as they morph into general living, integrated health and WellCare delivery spaces, given shifting population demographics, economies of scale, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility (CSR). Gracyn received her BA from Middlebury College and Interior Design degree from NESAD, Suffolk University.

David Dillard is a Senior Living Practice Leader with HKS Inc. David is a frequent panelist and presenter at industry forums and conventions including Leading Age, AIA, ULI, APA, and Environments for Aging. David holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Texas at Austin.

Champion of new thinking and pushing the envelope of design with ideas that create thoughtful, livable & economically viable communities, John paced himself early to lead design excellence into the future.

He is a passionate creative who thrives on the opportunity to design at a variety of scales for a variety of project types.

He is known for challenging project teams to develop the most innovative and economically viable solutions, engaging frequently in design brainstorms. John often gains inspiration for design through travel and walking (or sometimes jogging) the great cities of the world—Paris, Philadelphia, Beijing—always with an eye on its detail. He leads the direction in each of his projects by guiding his team through an understanding of the context and essence of the place. He is a veteran judge of design competitions and a sought-after speaker at national conferences on such topics as active adult communities, urban design emerging markets & trends in community design.

Ric D’Amico is an experienced Senior Living Developer who helps Organizations deliver dynamic environments, that transform the way Residents experience and thrive in their communities. Through meaningful programs and purpose-driven amenities, he supports design practices that maximize universal design, implements the best in health care trends and technology, and facilitate multi-generational activities. Throughout his career, his projects have aligned with Owners’ Mission, elevated their market relevancy, and strengthened the brand identity of his clients.

Bruce is President of the Philadelphia-based Interior Architecture & Design firm. MDP has been a leader in the design of senior environments for over 45 years. Hurowitz joined the firm in 1988 and has led this company for the past two decades. He holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Boston University, Environmental Design from Art Institute, and a Masters’s in Architecture from SFIA.