Meadowlark Hills has named Lonnie Baker the Chief Executive Officer.

As the CEO, Baker is responsible for providing visionary, strategic leadership for the organization by working with the Board of Trustees and senior leaders to establish and achieve the short-term and long-range goals.

Dirk Daveline, Board of Trustees Chair, shares the board’s excitement in announcing Baker as the CEO for Meadowlark Hills. “Lonnie is a gifted and effective leader who has a strong understanding of the person-directed care that Meadowlark Hills administers,” Daveline said. “He is a forward-thinking person who will maintain the organization’s status as an industry leader. I am so grateful for the many hours of time put in by the Search Committee, and the patience of residents and staff during our search process. The Board of Trustees is very excited for the next stage of leadership at Meadowlark Hills.”

The nation-wide search began in November 2012. The Meadowlark Hills Board of Trustees appointed a 12-person CEO Search Committee to execute the process. The Search Committee included residents, staff, board and community members. The application deadline was Feb. 1, 2013. Applicants were narrowed down to seven candidates who participated in an initial interview with the committee.

Three candidates were identified as finalists and invited back to Meadowlark Hills for a final interview. The final interview was a full-day schedule consisting of a circle with front-line staff and household leadership, town hall meeting with residents, lunch with senior staff, circle with the Search Committee and the full board. Resident, staff and board participants were given the opportunity to provide written feedback from their time with each candidate.

Annie Peace, Culture Leader at Meadowlark Hills, was the employee representative on the Search Committee. “Through the engagement and commitment of our Board of Trustees, we have been fortunate to conduct a thorough national search and complete an interview process that has involved a great number of stakeholders,” Peace said. “I have appreciated being a part of this process and it is no small task.”

In 2011 Baker joined the Meadowlark Hills team. Previously, he worked in Garden City, Kan. at Garden Valley Retirement Village as the Administrator. Baker began his career in healthcare in 1997 and has held various leadership roles since. He practiced as a chiropractor for over ten years and he transitioned to the world of senior services in 2008.

“Over the last year, I have gained a great understanding of our operation at Meadowlark Hills and have both witnessed the incredible work that is being accomplished and identified opportunities for further advancement,” Baker said.

Baker graduated from Cleveland Chiropractic College with a Doctor of Chiropractic and a bachelor of science in human biology. He is certified as an Eden Associate, a Preceptor for Kansas Administrator in Training and a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (Kansas). Baker is a Kansas native and graduated from Wichita East High School. He and his wife, Karen, were married in 1997 and they live in Manhattan with their three children.

Baker is looking forward to the opportunity of leading Meadowlark Hills as the new CEO. “Few organizations are blessed with the talent and dedication that we have here. I most appreciate the opportunity to interact daily with this very special group of staff and residents.”

Meadowlark Hills is a not-for-profit continuing care retirement community. In 1974, a group of citizens noticed that the city’s retired population was growing smaller and smaller, due to a lack of living options. In an effort to help keep Manhattan’s community thriving and to give older adults more choice in the matter of where they live during retirement, these citizens partnered with six local churches to create Meadowlark Hills. Built on the concepts of continuum care, respect and compassion, Meadowlark Hills opened in 1980.

Since its opening, the organization has undergone great transformations to encompass and honor the household model. Meadowlark Hills is each resident’s home. Staff, residents and board members are committed to enhancing quality of life by nurturing individuality and independence. Meadowlark Hills is growing a value-driven community while leading the way in honoring inherent senior rights and building strong and meaningful relationships with all whose lives are touched. The organization is not only serving its own residents, but we are helping others around the world to change the culture of long-term care.

Baker’s transition into his new position will be completed by June 1, 2013.