For only the third time in its 62-year history, Cedar Community will embrace a new Chief Executive Officer as Steve Jaberg steps down in the coming weeks.
Jaberg joined the West Bend-based organization in 1984 as administrator under founding CEO Rev. Louis Riesch, and was named CEO in 1991 following Riesch’s retirement.
During Jaberg’s tenure, Cedar Community grew from one campus setting to its present six campuses, now serving more than 700 employees and 1,100 residents from skilled nursing and inpatient rehabilitation to assisted living, memory-loss care and independent homes and apartments.
Jaberg oversaw expansion into home-based health care, hospice and supportive care in six southeast Wisconsin counties, as well as home medical equipment.
He has served on state and national boards for LeadingAge, a national association of not-for-profit senior care providers, and has spoken extensively across the country, most recently on Cedar Community’s state-of-the-care memory loss assisted living, the Cottages at Cedar Run.
“What has been so interesting, in my nearly 32 years here, has been both the tremendous amount of change in our organization, and yet how little changed in our mission to meet the needs of our community,” said Jaberg. “We are facing a new wave of seniors who will come to us with great expectations. I believe we are poised to meet the challenges ahead, and will continue to thrive.”
Following a 10-month search, Cedar Community announced Lynn Olson would be stepping in to replace Jaberg. Olson, the former President / CEO of Hannibal Regional Hospital, Hannibal, Mo., will start at Cedar Community on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016.
“I am excited about the opportunity to serve Cedar Community,” Olson said. “Cedar Community has a rich history of providing compassionate, Christian-based, high-quality senior living and related services and I look forward to being part of tradition, and continuing their commitment to excellence”
Olson, who is in his early 50s, was one of 20 highly-qualified candidates that applied for the position.
Joan Adler, president of the Cedar Community Board of Directors, spearheaded the search. “We picked five semi-finalists for face-to-face interviews,” she said. “We were impressed with Lynn’s leadership capabilities and the fact he had experience replacing a legacy leader. He said, ‘It’s very important to honor the legacy you’re inheriting’ so we know he gets the culture of Cedar Community.”
Adler said residents can expect a smooth transition with little change. “As important as a CEO is to the community, at Cedar Community there is a strong executive team that will remain in place,” she said. “The ship will continue to sail; it has a new captain but it has the same crew that residents interact with on a daily basis.”
Olson has more than 28 years’ combined leadership experience in acute care and elder care settings. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Winona State University and a master’s of science in health care administration from the University of St. Francis, Joliet, Ill.
Jaberg’s last day will be Jan. 22, 2016.