About Brenda Abbott-Shultz

Brenda Abbott-Shultz is the Vice President of Customer Experience at Benchmark Senior Living. She is responsible for developing and executing long-term strategies to enhance the customer experience and drive business performance. She has been with Benchmark Senior Living for seven years, and has worked in the industry for over 25 years. Her areas of expertise include, Assisted Living Dementia Care, Geriatric Nursing, Caregiver Support, Strategic Planning and Program and Systems Development.

Brenda attended Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio where she earned her BS in Nursing. From there she went on to Strayer University in Washington, DC where she earned her MBA, concentration in Management.

Brenda’s Professional Activities include:
•    Clinical Quality Round Table for the ALFA 2006-Present
•    Member of MASS ALFA – Massachusetts Assisted Living Association
•    Member of RIALA – Rhode Island Assisted Living Association
•    Member of CALA – Connecticut Assisted Living Association
•    Member of AALNC – American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants
•    Member of ICAA – International Counsel on Active Aging
•    Board Member for Benchmark Senior Living One Company Fund
•    Public speaking engagements on topics related to seniors and for persons taking care of seniors
•    Senior Social Network
•    Support group leader for Alzheimer’s Association

Question: Why you are committed to assisted living and senior housing?

Answer: I have always had such wonderful experiences in the assisted living environment. I have gotten very rich advice, trusted guidance and wisdom from my residents over the years. I have appreciated their stories, their history as well as their thoughts on aging. So my goal is to be an aging advocate. I want for our seniors exactly what I want for myself- to live my life in MY environment of choice; to be happy and healthy and make wonderful friends with whom I can have shared experiences.

Question: Why do you work at Benchmark?

Answer: I enjoy working for a visionary, entrepreneur, a senior advocate—Tom Grape.  I love our mission to creatively improve the experience of aging.  I like that the organization continuously strives to offer world class senior living experiences as defined by the senior and their support network of friends and family members.

Question: What is Benchmark’s competitive advantage?

Answer: Benchmark’s competitive advantage is the caring and nurturing associates- from our front line associates to Tom Grape.  I think our culture of supporting our customers, both residents and their families, is also a competitive advantage. This is demonstrated by having a VP of Customer Experience—someone who is exclusively dedicated to supporting our customers.

Brenda lives in Boylston, MA, where she is married to her husband, John, who is also a nurse in the senior care industry.  They have 3 children: Elena (8), Devin (6), and Drew (4).  Her other interests include: Girl Scout Leader; reading and writing poetry; traveling, interior decorating and design; gardening and landscaping, yoga; and, of course, blogging!!