Executive Biographies
Dwayne Clark, Chairman and CEO
Dwayne Clark is the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Aegis. With a quarter century of senior housing industry experience, Dwayne is nationally recognized for his innovations, quality care standards and ability to lead Aegis on a path of exceptional growth. Prior to founding Aegis, Dwayne served as executive vice president of operations for Sunrise Assisted Living. He was a key member of the management team that led the company from the private sector to one of the most successful IPOs in long-term care.
Dwayne is a leader in national organizations that contribute to the growth and development of senior living professionals including: the National Investment Conference (NIC), the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) and ALFA's Northwest chapter (NorALFA). In the community, he supports the Seattle’s Fifth Avenue Theatre, American Diabetes Association, Alzheimer’s Association, Rainier Scholars and the Potato Soup Foundation.
David Ford, Vice Chairman
David Ford is Aegis’s Vice Chairman. He is an advisor to, and investor in, businesses ranging from start-ups to privately held industry leaders. David has also served as the COO and General Counsel of a government-contracting firm that provided IT consulting services to defense and other federal agencies.
For the first two decades of his professional life, David was an attorney in private practice in Washington, D.C., where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions in the healthcare, technology and government-contracting industries. He is a member of the Executive Board of the American Seniors Housing Association and the Owner/Operator Advisory Board of the National Investment Conference for Seniors Housing, and is a founder of Kalorama Village, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to helping seniors "age in place." He is a graduate of Rollins College and the University of Virginia School of Law and is a member of the District of Columbia Bar.
Jerry Meyer, President and Chief Operating Officer
Jerry Meyer is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Aegis and is responsible for the operations of all Aegis communities. Prior to joining Aegis, Jerry was the President and CEO of SunBridge, Inc., a senior housing company. During his tenure, he successfully secured more than $200 million in new construction project financing. He was responsible for developing the business plans, pro forma and budget for a 42-building rollout. Prior to his work at SunBridge, Jerry was the Vice President and CEO for the Assisted Living Division of Manor Care, Inc., where he grew revenues from zero to $60 million in only two years.
Jerry was also CEO of the Senior Living Division of Advantage Health Management Corporation, where he was concurrently responsible for successfully forming the company's hotel properties. His hospitality industry experience includes work for Doubletree Hotels and the ownership and management of restaurants in Missouri and Connecticut.
David Eskenazy, Chief Financial Officer
David spearheads Aegis’s financial management and planning responsibilities. His business and financial experience spans 25 years and highlights an impressive history of fiscal planning and management expertise. Prior to joining Aegis, he spent 20 years in the hotel development and management business serving in a variety of roles, including controller, Chief Investment Officer, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at R.C. Hedreen Co. He also served as the Chief Investment Officer and Chief Operating Officer for Investco Financial Corporation, a real estate holding and management company operating primarily in the Puget Sound Region. Since 2000 he has served on the Board of Directors of Coinstar, Inc., where is currently the Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committees and a member of the Nominating and Governance Committee.
Dave is a CPA (inactive) and a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors, Financial Executives International, the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce and other financial trade organizations. He is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno.
Judy Meleliat, Chief Marketing Officer
Judy Meleliat is the Chief Marketing Officer at Aegis and is responsible for the sales and marketing efforts at the company's senior living communities. Her vast experience includes overseeing marketing for all of Starbucks as its Senior Vice President of Marketing. In that leadership role, she directed Starbucks’ corporate brand strategy and product brand positioning. Judy led its first-ever integrated, domestic advertising campaign to improve brand awareness, and executed Starbucks Europe’s market-entry strategy.
Judy spent a number of years in charge of sales and marketing for Egghead Discount Software as well as other technology focused businesses. Recently she held the role of Chief Marketing Officer for In Spa. Judy holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.
Rick Karnofski, Senior Vice-President, Human Resources
Rick Karnofski is the Senior Vice President, Human Resources, at Aegis and is responsible for recruiting, employee relations, benefits, compensation, workers compensation and risk management for all Aegis communities. Rick has 25 years of experience in human resources, with diverse experience in the medical device, pharmaceutical, telecommunications and other high-tech industries.
Throughout his career, Rick’s focus has been on attracting top-level management talent to corporate teams, including those of Physio Control Corporation, NeoPath, nLight Photonics, Microvision and Nastech Pharmaceutical. He was instrumental in developing their cultural identities and the human resources practices necessary for their development into successful companies. Rick received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Psychology from Central Methodist College.