“BUSINESS AND STRATEGY OF SENIORS HOUSING & CARE”
MARKS START OF ONGOING 2006 SERIES

CONTACT:
Mike Lurie
Office: 410-455-6380
Cellphone: 443-695-0262
mlurie@umbc.edu

BALTIMORE – The Erickson School of Aging Studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) teams once again with the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry (NIC) to offer a set of Executive Development courses. The series begins at UMBC on Feb. 22-25 with a four-day seminar, “The Business and Strategy of Seniors Housing & Care.”

The seminar is the first of seven, four-day Executive Education seminars that the Erickson School at UMBC will host through Nov. 4, 2006. A complete schedule and overview of the full 2006 series is available at the bottom of this advisory.

Although the initial seminar, “The Business and Strategy of Seniors Housing & Care,” can be completed as a non-credit course, industry executives also may utilize two new graduate credit options. Executives can take one course for 3 credits, or they may enroll in the 4-course graduate certificate in Seniors Housing & Care. (Those interested in the graduate-certificate option should contact Dr. Leslie Morgan for further information at 443-543-5622.)

“The Business and Strategy of Seniors Housing & Care” provides historical, philosophical and management overviews of the entire continuum of long-term care, from independent housing to skilled nursing. The course will analyze the strategy and underpinnings of seniors housing and care, including the drivers of success, real demographics of aging, cost of capital and the evolving marketplace.

The course has a major focus on the role of health care delivery within seniors housing. It also explores the current legal, regulatory and public policy environments confronting seniors housing and the challenges they pose for management. “The Business and Strategy of Seniors Housing & Care” will be led by Brian Swinton, retired executive vice president of Sunrise Senior Living. John Erickson, Chairman of the Board and CEO for Erickson Retirement Communities, also will serve as a guest instructor during the course.

NIC, a presenting partner with the Erickson School of Aging Studies at UMBC, brings to this seminar and the rest of the 2006 Executive Education series a legacy of expertise in the field of senior living executive development. The series will be held at the Erickson School, known for training emerging industry leaders in the burgeoning seniors housing and care business.

“NIC is proud to have created with UMBC the premier, advanced-level program for executives in the industry,” says Tony Mullen, Acting Director of Executive Education and the NIC Research Director. “The courses are truly advanced level material with many examples of best practices in the field taught by recognized industry leaders. The sharing among the different companies that attend is exceptional and a unique benefit in and of itself. There is nothing else like the program in the country today.”

About The Erickson School of Aging Studies:

The Erickson School of Aging Studies at UMBC was established in April 2004 with a $5 million commitment from John Erickson, CEO and founder of Erickson. The school focuses on credit and non-credit professional education, research and policy in aging services and care.

The Executive Development Program at the Erickson School of Aging Studies at UMBC is presented in partnership with NIC, a nonprofit organization that has been the leading source of business and financial information for the senior living industry since 1991. For the last six years, NIC has conducted executive development courses in operations, management, sales, marketing, development, finance and service quality for emerging industry leaders.

UMBC, an Honors University in Maryland, is a four-year, public research university that is home to leading experts on aging who are active in research, education and service in the field of gerontology. It is one of a handful of universities in the nation to offer a Ph.D. in Gerontology.

For further details, please call the Erickson School of Aging Studies at UMBC at 443-543-5622.

More information online at:
http://www.umbc.edu/erickson

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Upcoming NIC Executive Development Courses
At the Erickson School of Aging Studies at UMBC

Business and Strategy of Seniors Housing and Care
Led by Brian Swinton, Retired, Executive Vice President, Sunrise Senior Living
February 22-25, 2006

Organizational Excellence and Continuous Quality Improvement
Led by Tony Ingelido, Vice President, Asbury Services, Inc.
March 22-25, 2006

Management and Operations
Led by Chris Hollister, CEO, Southern Assisted Living, Inc.
Date: May 17-20, 2006

Risk Management
Led by Allen Lynch, Partner, Nixon Peabody, LLP
June 7-10, 2006

Sales and Marketing
Led by David Smith, President, One on One, Service to Seniors
September 18-21, 2006

Finance, Underwriting and Investment Analysis
Led by Ray Braun, President, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Financial Officer, Health Care REIT, Inc.
October 24-27, 2006

Development
Led by Phil Golden, President and COO, Shelter Properties
November 1-4, 2006