NIC Chats

In this first episode in NIC's Active Adult podcast series, host Caroline Clapp sits down with Ben Burke, Managing Partner of Headwaters Group, a Denver-based developer and operator of active adult 55+ rental communities, to share insights on why active adult has become one of the most compelling investment theses in real estate today. Burke draws on his background in traditional senior housi...

Host Lisa McCracken sits down with Julie Robinson and Andrew Wantoch of Clarion Partners — a roughly $70 billion private investment manager — to talk about their growing commitment to senior housing. The duo shares how Clarion approaches the sector with intention: from market-level labor analysis and purpose-built, private-pay asset selection to the "yellow flag" philosophy that guides t...

Live from the NIC Spring Conference in Nashville, this episode of NIC Chats brings together Procare HR founder and CEO, Brett Landrum, and Go Icon CEO, Ryan Galea, to explore how aligning staff and resident engagement can transform outcomes in senior living communities. Host Lisa McCracken, NIC’s head of research & analytics, moderates a candid conversation about rethinking turnover as an enga...

Host Lisa McCracken welcomes Courtney Nickels, managing director and COO of healthcare at Artemis Real Estate Partners, for a candid conversation about why senior housing is now center stage for investors heading into 2026. Drawing on her career-long focus in healthcare real estate, Nickels discusses how accelerating demand and historically low new supply are driving strong rent growth, occupancy...

Senior housing lending may be experiencing significant momentum, but seasoned lender and NIC Board member, Imran Javaid, brings a disciplined perspective to today’s capital markets. In this episode, Head of Research & Analytics, Lisa McCracken, talks with Javaid, Managing Director for BMO’s U.S. for-profit healthcare team, about the sector’s sharp turnaround from the COVID doldrums, why robust...

Vikas Gupta, chief investment officer of Omega Healthcare Investors, joins the NIC Chats podcast to explore why he believes it “feels like one of the best times” for skilled nursing and senior housing. Drawing on more than two decades in the industry, Gupta discusses occupancy and reimbursement tailwinds, lingering labor and staffing mandate pressures, and why it’s a good—if still challenging—time...

Explore how active adult rental communities are evolving and filling the needs for both older adults and investors in this episode of NIC Chats. NIC Senior Principal, Caroline Clapp, speaks with Zach Bowyer, head of living sectors at Cushman & Wakefield about today's growth of active adult rental properties — a sector that combines the lifestyle-driven amenities of modern multifamily with...

In this episode of NIC Chats, recorded live at the 2025 NIC Fall Conference, David Sawyer, founder and CEO of TSO Life joins host Lisa McCracken to share the origins and evolution of TSO Life—a resident insight and experience platform reshaping senior living.  Learn about the innovative AI behind TSO Life, built on over 150,000 interviews, and how its personalized approach helps staff better under...

NIC Chats was live at the 2025 NIC Fall Conference in Austin as Lisa McCracken, Head of Research & Analytics at NIC sat down with Brett Landrum, CEO of Procare HR, for a candid conversation on growth, innovation, and the future of HR in senior care. Hear pivotal moments from Procare’s ten-year journey, lessons learned, and the evolving landscape of workforce management in the industry.  Gain i...

Host Lisa McCracken welcomes Lynn Jerath, founder and president of Citrine Investment Group and a Forbes 50 Over 50 honoree, for an engaging conversation about the role of family offices in senior housing investment .  Lynn shares her 30-year career journey—from major real estate funds to launching Citrine—and offers an insider’s perspective on what family offices are, how to build relationships w...

Rounding out NIC Chats' value-based care series, Lynne Katzmann, founder and CEO of Juniper Communities, joins host Lisa McCracken for an insightful discussion on one operator’s journey successfully implementing outcomes-driven care models in senior living . Juniper's experience with integrated care offers actionable lessons for other senior living providers seeking to improve outcomes,...

Continuing the NIC Chats series focused on value-based care, host Lisa McCracken welcomes Sarah Thomas — AgeTech advisor, and global innovator — for an illuminating deep dive into the transformative role of data and technology in senior living .  Hear why value-based care demands a culture shift where data becomes a strategic asset, not just a compliance tool, and why embracing technology is an en...

In this first episode in the NIC Chats series on value-based care, host Lisa McCracken, Head of Research & Analytics at NIC, sits down with Anne Tumlinson, CEO and founder of ATI Advisory, to demystify value-based care in the senior living sector . Together, they break down what value-based care really means and why it matters for operators and residents alike.   Tumlinson explains how senior...

In this episode of NIC Chats, host Lisa McCracken sits down with Eric Winograd, Chief Economist at AllianceBernstein, to unpack the economic turbulence shaking markets, businesses, and households across the U.S. and beyond. From dramatic policy shifts and new tariffs to the ripple effects on inflation, growth, and consumer confidence, Winograd offers a candid, data-driven look at what’s driving to...

What does the future of senior living look like when real estate trends intersect with the needs of a new generation? Host Lisa McCracken sits down with real estate researcher John Burns, CEO of John Burns Research and Consulting, to uncover the surprising ways baby boomers are rewriting the rules of retirement living. Learn why most retirees choose to age in place, the rise of multi-generational...

Is the caregiver shortage keeping you up at night? You're not alone—and there's a solution. In this episode of NIC Chats , recorded live at the 2025 NIC Spring Conference in San Diego, Lisa McCracken, Head of Research & Analytics at NIC, sits down with Jennifer Adams of Smartlinx to explore how innovative workforce technology is transforming post-acute care. With over 25 years in the...

The traditional HR department is undergoing a transformation in senior care. What was once a siloed administrative function is now emerging as a strategic driver of business outcomes—when implemented correctly. This eye-opening conversation with Paul Jarvis from Procare HR explores how senior living and skilled nursing organizations can reimagine their HR functions to directly support broader busi...

In this episode of NIC Chats, Lisa McCracken sits down with Ryan Novaczyk, CEO of New Perspective Senior Living, to explore his insights as an operator in the senior living industry pursuing a growth strategy.  Novaczyk shares a personal story of how his grandmother's struggle with Alzheimer's inspired him and his father to create a better living environment for seniors. He discusses how...

Is the aging population a golden opportunity for entrepreneurs? Hear from an expert in the world of AgeTech and longevity investing, Abby Miller Levy, managing partner and founder of Primetime Partners, a venture fund focused on aging and longevity. In this illuminating episode of NIC Chats, host Lisa McCracken unlocks the secrets of what investors look for in companies and products focused on the...

Sean Kelly, President and CEO of Front Porch, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit senior living providers, joins the NIC Chats podcast to discuss the evolving landscape of senior living. Sean shares his unique journey into the industry, reflecting on childhood experiences that shaped his perspective on community and intergenerational connections. He offers insights into the changing needs a...

In this episode of NIC Chats, host Lisa McCracken welcomes Jim Lydiard, Chief Strategic Advisor for Pine Park Health, to discuss value-based care in senior living. Jim shares his journey from a personal connection with senior care to becoming a leader in healthcare innovation. The conversation delves into the complexities of value-based care, comparing ACO and Medicare Advantage models, and explor...

How can senior housing operators position themselves for success in the evolving healthcare landscape? Hear insights on this and more from Dianne Munevar, Vice President of Healthcare Strategy at NORC at the University of Chicago. In conversation with Lisa McCracken, Dianne shares her professional journey and her passion for developing public policies that improve the lives of vulnerable populatio...

In this episode of NIC Chats, recorded live at the NIC Fall Conference in Washington DC, host Lisa McCracken interviews ProCare HR’s Brett Landrum, founder and co-CEO, and Paul Jarvis, head of sales and marketing. The conversation explores ProCare's evolution from a foundational HR services provider to a data-driven solutions company for HR in the senior care industry. Landrum and Jarvis disc...

Has the labor market reached a tipping point? And, why is healthcare one of the few sectors with employment numbers still below pre-pandemic peaks? Listen in as Paul Ashworth, Chief North America Economist for Capital Economics joins Lisa McCracken on the NIC Chats podcast to answer these questions and more. As they discuss current economic trends, learn why Ashworth thinks the U.S. economy is in...

Fresh off the release of his new book, A Culture of Promise, Fee Stubblefield, Founder and CEO of The Springs Living, joins Lisa McCracken on a new episode of the NIC Chats podcast. Listen in as Fee shares his motivation for writing the book and what he’s learned about the importance of culture in an organization. Want to join the conversation? Follow NIC on LinkedIn . We want to hear from you! Le...