K. McKenzie Cardwell
Milledgeville,Georgia
Summary
Self-motivated, dedicated, and goal-driven Licensed Assisted Living Administrator with 14+ years of healthcare experience and nearly 10 years of leadership/management experience. Proven track record of driving sales and census growth while prioritizing building and leading high-performing teams. Skilled in state survey and regulatory management, family/community relationship development, process development, budget management, vendor contract negotiation, legal risk analysis, and HR expertise. Committed to promoting successful day-to-day operations and delivering exceptional care to residents.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Executive Director
Fellowship Home at Meriwether - The Fellowship Family
07.2023 - Current
- Returned census to 91% in less than 6 weeks of opening 23-unit expansion
- Maintained net positive census growth and
- Reduced Dietary PRD by 18% in 4 weeks and returned PRD to budget in 8 weeks by improving menu planning and implementing order guide processes
- Established monthly QA/PI meetings to identify area of opportunity and improvement
- Developed monthly routine maintenance schedule to reduce costly, unexpected expenditures
- Added new staff members to front line team in first 6 weeks to reduce OT hours by 40%
- Created staffing pattern based on annualized budget
- Created a daily reporting system to be utilized for real-time labor, overtime, and allocation management to ensure staffing pattern is followed and labor costs are reduced.
Executive Director
Dublin Place - Enlivant Senior Living
05.2021 - 07.2023
- Eliminated contract labor use from 85% to 0% in less than 12 weeks
- Improved GPTW survey score from 67% to 91% in one year
- Achieved +10% of monthly NOI goals for 15 consecutive months
- Maintained zero deficiency surveys throughout my service
- Strengthened offline/unpaid partnerships resulting in an increase of referrals from approximately 25% to over 75%
- Increased lead to tour and lead to move-in ratios to over 50%
- Ensured a COVID positive rate of less than 1% within the community per year.
Director of Resident Care
Harbor at Harmony Crossing - Royal Senior Care
08.2019 - 05.2021
- Reduced annualized staff turnover from 110% in 2019 to 32% in 2020
- Ensured a COVID positive rate of less than 5% within the community from 03/2020-05/2021
- Created Care Plan Assessment tools and processes to return the community to regulatory compliance
- Hired and trained 12 certified medication aides per state regulations
- Improved resident/family satisfaction through open, truthful, and compassionate communication
- Developed nursing admission assessment to ensure regulatory compliance with new admissions.
Resident Care Coordinator/Nurse Manager
Eatonton Health & Rehabilitation
02.2018 - 08.2019
LPN
Navient Health Baldwin Med/Surg Unit, Emergency Department
03.2017 - 02.2018
LPN
Amedisys Home Health
06.2015 - 03.2017
Resident Care Coordinator/Nurse Manager
Eatonton Health & Rehabilitation Center
07.2013 - 05.2015
Charge Nurse
Eatonton Health & Rehabilitation Center
08.2010 - 07.2013
Education
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Southern New Hampshire University
Hooksett, NH08.2025
Associate of Applied Science - Practical Nursing
Central Georgia Technical College
Macon, GA05.2010
Skills
Strategic Planning & Development
Budget & Financial Management
Culture Development
State Survey & Regulatory Management
Process Development
Sales Strategy Development
Operations Management
Staff Management
Marketing
Human Resources
Certification
- Certified Dementia Practitioner
- BLS Instructor Certification (Exp. 05/2026)
- BLS & First Aide Certification (Exp. 10/2024)
- ServSafe Food Handler Certification (Exp. 03/2026)
- GA License of Practical Nursing, LPN, 03/2025
- GA License for Assisted Living Community Administrator, LALCA, 12/2025
- GA License for Personal Care Home Administrator, LPCHA, 12/2025
Personal Information
Title: LPN, LALCA, LPCHA, CDP
Timeline
Executive Director
Fellowship Home at Meriwether - The Fellowship Family
07.2023 - Current
Executive Director
Dublin Place - Enlivant Senior Living
05.2021 - 07.2023
Director of Resident Care
Harbor at Harmony Crossing - Royal Senior Care
08.2019 - 05.2021
Resident Care Coordinator/Nurse Manager
Eatonton Health & Rehabilitation
02.2018 - 08.2019
LPN
Navient Health Baldwin Med/Surg Unit, Emergency Department
03.2017 - 02.2018
LPN
Amedisys Home Health
06.2015 - 03.2017
Resident Care Coordinator/Nurse Manager
Eatonton Health & Rehabilitation Center
07.2013 - 05.2015
Charge Nurse
Eatonton Health & Rehabilitation Center
08.2010 - 07.2013
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Southern New Hampshire University
Associate of Applied Science - Practical Nursing
Central Georgia Technical College
- Certified Dementia Practitioner
- BLS Instructor Certification (Exp. 05/2026)
- BLS & First Aide Certification (Exp. 10/2024)
- ServSafe Food Handler Certification (Exp. 03/2026)
- GA License of Practical Nursing, LPN, 03/2025
- GA License for Assisted Living Community Administrator, LALCA, 12/2025
- GA License for Personal Care Home Administrator, LPCHA, 12/2025
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