April 29, 2020 —Lexington, Virginia (Feb. 24, 2020) — Robert Glidden, Chair of the Board of Directors, has announced that veteran health care administrator Jan E. Bigelow has been selected as Kendal at Lexington’s new CEO. Bigelow’s first day at Kendal at Lexington will be May 4.
Bigelow has extensive experience leading health care organizations. Since 2016 she has served as Executive Director of Westminster Palms, a Life Plan Community (also known as a continuing care retirement community) in St. Petersburg, Florida. In that position, she collaboratively created and implemented a campus strategic development plan, oversaw campus and building renovations, built ties with local colleges and hospitals, achieved strong financial and census results, and successfully led a campus evacuation during Hurricane Irma.
Bigelow previously served for 13 years as Executive Director of Cumberland Crossings Retirement Community in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. During her tenure there, she led the community’s acquisition by Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries, stabilized the community’s finances, launched an electronic health record pilot program, and oversaw strategic planning and campus renovation projects.
“Kendal is an organization with a wonderful reputation,” Bigelow said. “I am excited to join the Kendal at Lexington team and become a part of the greater Lexington community.”
A licensed nursing home administrator, Bigelow has a bachelor’s degree in hearing and speech sciences from the University of Maryland–College Park and a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in health care administration from Penn State University–Harrisburg.
“Jan has an impressive record of achievement in every position she has held, and she comes to us with highest praise from all of her previous employers,” said Board Chair Robert Glidden. “We chose Jan from among three excellent, well-qualified finalists for the position because of her breadth of experience, her love of her work, her values and her ‘fit’ with our Kendal community.”
Bigelow succeeds Mina Tepper, who is retiring after serving as Kendal at Lexington’s Executive Director since December 2012.
About Kendal at Lexington
Kendal at Lexington, a full-service, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community (CCRC) affiliated with The Kendal Corporation, opened in July 2000. The campus is located on 85 acres of rolling farmland in historic Lexington, Virginia. Washington & Lee University, Virginia Military Institute and downtown Lexington all are just a mile away. Kendal at Lexington offers 25 types of independent living residences, from studio apartments to freestanding cottages. The community has a fitness center, indoor pool, large library, restaurant and auditorium. The pet friendly campus includes covered walkways, a historic guest house, landscaped grounds and walking trails. Residents take part in a wide range of recreational, cultural, social and lifelong learning activities.
About Kendal
Kendal at Lexington is part of the Kendal System, which is an affiliation of independent senior living organizations connected by a set of common values and principles operated in accordance with Quaker principles.