--- type: AboutPage title: Leadership Team — Áegis Living description: "The executive team leading Áegis Living, founder-led since 1997." resource: "https://www.aegisliving.com/the-aegis-difference/leadership" --- # Leadership Team — Áegis Living > Founder-led since 1997. Executives with deep experience across hospitality, healthcare, finance, technology, and operations. ## Dwayne Clark — Founder, CEO & Chairman Dwayne J. Clark is the Chairman, CEO, and founder of Áegis Living. With nearly 40 years of senior living experience, Clark is nationally known for redefining the industry—from innovative care models and building design to novel approaches to employee engagement and creating an employee-centric culture. When Clark founded Áegis Living in 1997, he recognized an industry that had great potential and intentions but was ultimately failing older adults. He coupled his personal experience with best practices from world-class companies such as Costco, Nordstrom, and Starbucks to create a new model for senior assisted living centered on helping residents live life to the fullest. He grew Áegis Living from a concept to a company that now has 36 communities along the west coast, serving 2,500 residents and employing 2,500 staff, with several additional properties currently in development. Áegis Living has been widely recognized with industry accolades such as: U.S. News and World Report Best Senior Living, Fortune Best Workplaces in Aging Services™, Best Assisted Living by Seattle Business Magazine, Top Corporate Philanthropist by Puget Sound Business Journal, Top 50 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor, among others. Under Clark’s leadership, Áegis Living set new standards for senior living during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues trailblazing new territory today, including sustainable senior living. Prior to forming Áegis Living, Clark worked in several major senior living companies. He has developed more than 250 senior living properties and continues to serve on several industry boards. Clark was named in the “Power 100” people in the Puget Sound region and Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young. He also received King County’s highest honor as Man of the Year and the Mission Award from Bastyr University, among others. Clark has long been a pioneer in the fields of wellness and longevity, having overseen the care of more than 60,000 seniors. With his wife Terese, he has traveled to over 84 countries exploring different healing modalities—from working with doctors and alternative health specialists, to engaging in mind, body, and spirit practices. These discoveries inspired his book and Amazon Best Seller 30 Summers More, which provides longevity and health tips. An experienced author, Clark has also written two books that chronicle his mother and her journey with Alzheimer’s, My Mother, My Son and Saturdays with GG as well as A Big Life, a combination book/game to inspire families to connect and reflect on the powerful wisdom of older generations. My Mother, My Son is currently being considered as a major feature film. He is the founder of True Productions and produced multiple documentaries, including one about NBA legend Spencer Haywood, Full Court: The Spencer Haywood Story. His first play, Seven Ways to Get There, premiered at Seattle’s ACT Theatre. Since 2015, True Productions has been involved in the making of 13 documentary films. Clark comes from humble beginnings and has remained dedicated to helping others throughout his life. He supports more than 70 local and global charities and has founded five of his own including: The Potato Soup Foundation, The Clark Family Foundation, The March for Civility, D-ONE Foundation, and Queen Bee. Queen Bee, a coffee shop with multiple locations in the Puget Sound, was created as a tribute to Clark’s mother and all the proceeds go to charity. Clark is Chairman of the D-ONE Foundation, a mentorship program for Division 1 athletes. Clark also mentors several NFL players. He led the March for Civility in Washington, DC, where he had the honor of speaking on the steps of the Lincoln Monument. He is also involved in Pope Francis’ private foundation, The Galileo Foundation, aiming to end child slavery. In October 2022, he spoke at the Vatican Faith and Philanthropy Summit alongside other renowned business and world leaders. He has two children, Adam and Ashley, who both work for Áegis Living, and nine grandchildren. More information can be found at www.dwaynejclark.com. ## Dirk Burghartz — President With more than 35 years of global experience in luxury hospitality and operations, Dirk Burghartz brings a unique blend of five-star service excellence, cultural leadership, and purpose-driven management to the senior living industry. Before joining Áegis Living, Dirk spent 17 years with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, where he led flagship properties in Houston, Washington, D.C., Palo Alto, and Dallas. He later served as President of Arcis Golf, scaling operations and overseeing a team of more than 6,000. Most recently, he was Executive Vice President of Operations at LIFE Properties International, focused on delivering lifestyle-driven service in high-end residential communities. Known for his people-first leadership, Dirk is committed to building teams that are empowered, emotionally intelligent, and driven by shared values. Now based in the Pacific Northwest with his wife, Kelly, Dirk is bringing his hospitality expertise to Áegis Living’s next era of innovation, blending high-touch service with heartfelt care and a clear vision for legacy and growth. ## Adam Clark — President of Áegis Development LLC Adam Clark is President of Áegis Development LLC. Based on a foundation of award-winning developments, Áegis Development LLC was created to pursue future site development for Áegis Living operations and to leverage our distinct strengths in this area more broadly in the industry. Adam leads the newest endeavor to push Áegis Living forward in innovation and sustainability with our future communities while cementing our position as thought leaders in the industry with a new consulting arm. Adam started his career at Microsoft, working on MSN Advertising as an early pioneer in SEM, and leading MSN France and MSN Entertainment. He joined Áegis Living in September 2003, and has worn many hats since then, working in care at the Kirkland community before serving as General Manager at Northgate, Callahan House, Shoreline, and Redmond. He later moved to the Áegis Living Home Office as Director of Financial Analysis before returning to the field as General Manager of Bothell and then opening the Marymoor community. With his extensive experience in the communities and corporate operations, Adam was promoted to Vice President of Growth Strategies over Áegis Living technologies. Adam and his wife stay busy with five children but manage to schedule time to enjoy their passion for travel, particularly to their favorite destination, France. He is also a huge Seattle sports fan and whether you’re at a Husky, Kraken, Mariners, Seahawks, Storm, or Sounders game you’ll often see him on the sidelines. ## Troy Nelson — Chief Operating Officer As Chief Operating Officer at Áegis Living, Troy provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the company’s expanding community portfolio. With nearly two decades of global operational expertise, Troy excels in driving growth and leading complex businesses. Previously, he oversaw Nike’s Global Store Channels, supporting operations across 8,000 stores worldwide. Troy’s career also includes senior roles at Nordstrom and Claire’s, encompassing operations, strategy, and finance. His career began on Wall Street in investment banking and private equity. Troy holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BBA from the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington. He resides in Seattle with his wife and two sons, where they enjoy attending Husky football games and participating in youth sports. ## Ashleigh Pedersen — VP of Enterprise Culinary Services Ashleigh is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and completed her dietetics training program through Seattle Pacific University and University of Washington. Prior to joining Áegis Living, she worked in acute care settings, including Adventist Health and Legacy Health, as well as at US Foods. Ashleigh is hands-on in our communities and has built a fabulous team of culinary leaders who are passionate about delighting residents with their creations. ## Julie Ambachew — Vice President of Clinical Operations, Continuous Improvement, and Regulatory Julie has been a registered nurse for over 20 years, with her focus over the last 15 being on nursing leadership. She is a strong resident advocate who promotes excellent resident care and outcomes, with a focused passion on supporting those with dementia and mental health needs. Julie received a bachelor’s degree in both illustration and nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Julie’s medical illustrations have been published in radiology journals, and she has published articles on a broad range of topics including support for aging parents, the importance of staying hydrated during summer and winter months, boosting brain health, and how biophilia can be part of a wellness routine. Julie loves being a wife and mother of two amazingly talented, exceptionally bright athletic daughters, and she spends her free time oil painting and taking walks with her rescue dog. Julie is also passionate about education, and she currently serves on the Seattle University College of Nursing Academic Advisory Board, helping grow the number of nurses entering the geriatric field. ## Kristine Schrudder — Vice President of Sales As Vice President of Sales at Áegis Living, Kristine brings nearly 15 years of senior living sales and marketing experience — and a track record of turning strategy into occupancy growth at scale. Most recently, Kristine served as Senior Consultant on Yardi’s Senior CRM team, advising operators across the United States and Canada on sales strategy, CRM optimization, analytics, and AI-enabled transformation. Before that, she served as EVP of Sales and Marketing at Cogir USA, where she was part of the executive team that scaled the company from 17 to nearly 90 communities. Earlier in her career at Seattle-based Merrill Gardens, she rose from community sales director to Regional Director of Sales — achieving record lease-up pace and overseeing the highest-occupied region in the portfolio across California and Nevada. Kristine is known for her collaborative approach, her deep understanding of the senior living customer journey, and her ability to align sales, marketing, and operations around a shared goal. She is an active industry voice, having spoken at national conferences including Argentum SLEC, YASC, and CALA. ## Derek Doke — Chief Financial Officer With over 25 years of expertise in commercial real estate and asset management, Derek Doke leads Áegis Living’s investor relations with a focus on strategic growth and maximizing asset value. His background includes managing large, diverse property portfolios and raising capital through syndications, giving him a comprehensive understanding of market trends and investment dynamics. Derek’s extensive experience spans a range of asset classes, including retail, industrial, office, multifamily, senior living, and hospitality, across key markets nationwide. ## Derek Mullens — Chief People Officer Derek joined Áegis Living as Chief People Officer in 2023 and is responsible for carrying an important legacy into the future. When Dwayne Clark founded Áegis in 1997, he set out to create a people-first culture where team members and residents thrive. Áegis has never lost sight of this vision, and has been voted a great workplace more than a dozen times—from the Top 50 Best Places to Work by Glassdoor to Great Place to Work® certification and recognition on the Fortune Best Workplaces in Aging Services list. As Chief People Officer, Derek champions our mission and culture, and leads talent acquisition, retention, and development of our big-hearted and innovative team. Derek has decades of experience leading HR teams across a range of industries. Prior to Áegis, he spent 11 years as Chief Human Resources Officer at Blue Nile, transforming the HR function from an administrative operation to a strategic business partner focused on attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional talent. Prior to Blue Nile, Derek led Human Resources at Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Wireless Advocates, and Car Toys. He also spent nine years at Linens ‘n Things, overseeing HR for more than 300 stores. ## Steve Geissler — General Counsel With a legal career spanning leading brands like Eddie Bauer, Nintendo, and Hitachi, Steve Geissler brings a wealth of strategic legal expertise to Áegis Living. As General Counsel, Steve ensures the company seamlessly navigates complex regulatory environments easily, mitigating risk and protecting the company’s assets. His extensive experience in acquisitions, development, and corporate governance ensures that Áegis Living operates with full compliance while maintaining the agility to seize new growth opportunities. ## Dr. Raj Dasgupta MD, FACP, FCCP, FAASM — Head Physician As a quadruple board-certified physician, Dr. Raj Dasgupta specializes in internal medicine, pulmonology, critical care, and sleep medicine. Recognized for his exceptional skills and dedication, Dr. Raj has received numerous awards, including resident and fellow of the year. He served at Abington Hospital and the University of Southern California (USC), where he was a celebrated faculty member, winning the faculty teaching award six years in a row. At USC, he also played a pivotal role in program directorship, earning induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Dr. Raj’s contributions to medical education are extensive, teaching USMLE Steps 1, 2, & 3 and board reviews globally for two decades. As a trusted expert in the field, he is a regular in media, appearing on various platforms and television shows such as Chasing the Cure, The Doctors, CNN, ABC News, and Inside Edition, and features tips on his podcast “The Dr. Raj Podcast.” His medical journey began at Michigan State University, followed by advanced fellowships at Columbia University and Henry Ford Hospital. ## Judy Meleliat — President Emeritus Judy Meleliat first joined Áegis Living as Chief Marketing Officer, where she played a pivotal role in strengthening the brand, driving growth, and building high-performing sales and marketing teams. Her impact and leadership led to her promotion to President, where she provided executive oversight for operations, sales, marketing, human resources, clinical services, analytics, legal affairs, and Life Enrichment across all Áegis Living communities. Her tenure was marked by an entrepreneurial approach, a strong commitment to innovation, and a deep understanding of brand-driven strategy. Prior to Áegis Living, Judy held senior executive roles with globally recognized companies, including Starbucks, where she served as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand. She also scaled software company Egghead from pre-IPO to a billion-dollar enterprise and contributed to the early growth of the InSpa franchise. Judy holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Learn more: https://www.aegisliving.com/the-aegis-difference/leadership