AHCA/NCAL Names Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson as Next President and CEO

– Long term care veteran to lead prominent national association –

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The nation's largest long term care association, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), today announced that Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson has been selected as its next President and CEO. Governor Parkinson will begin his term with AHCA/NCAL in January following his term in office.

"In this new era of health reform, Governor Parkinson's deep background in this sector coupled with his policy expertise, will serve our members well as we look to future challenges," stated Robert Van Dyk, Chair of AHCA's Board of Governors. "America's long term care needs will only grow in the coming years as Baby Boomers age. A policymaker who knows how Washington works, and as the owner and operator of several skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, Mark will be that measured voice to speak on the elderly's behalf."

"These are indeed challenging times for the health care sector," stated Governor Parkinson. "As a dedicated champion of long term care issues both in the Kansas legislature and as Governor, I look forward to working with new and former colleagues in a bipartisan way to offer the best solutions for Americans in our care."

The nation's leading association representing the long term care profession, Parkinson will be the leader for 11,000 member facilities and the 1.5 million Americans they care for each day. To help member facilities deliver high quality care and services to America's frail, elderly and disabled, AHCA/NCAL advocates for long term care professionals by pursuing a customer focused healthcare system that values both excellence and efficiency.

Parkinson will succeed Bruce Yarwood as President and CEO of AHCA/NCAL at the end of his term as Governor in January.

Biography of Governor Mark Parkinson:

Mark Parkinson has been an owner and operator of long term care facilities for over 15 years both as the Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Development, LLC, in Olathe, Kansas, and as Chairman of the Board, founder, and developer of Allen Park, Inc., Allen Park Two, Inc., and Allen Park Three, Inc. Under his leadership, he has helped develop ten separate facilities in Kansas and Missouri. His facilities include hundreds of rooms for skilled nursing, assisted living and dementia-related care, giving him a broad background in the continuum of care.

Parkinson has a long history of public service to the state of Kansas. Serving as State Representative, State Senator, Lieutenant Governor and now as Governor, he provided leadership to reduce state spending by over $1.5 billion in two years to match reduced revenues caused by the recession and supplied the necessary support and guidance to accelerate statewide alternative energy initiatives as wind farm assets tripled in Kansas over 24 months.

Parkinson functioned as a key figure in helping Kansas to be awarded the designation as the future home of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. In addition, he was recognized by The Topeka Capitol Journal as the "Kansan of the Year" in 2009 for his bipartisan coalition building and moving the state forward in challenging economic times.

A native Kansan who graduated summa cum laude from Wichita State University and first in his class from the University of Kansas School of Law, Parkinson and his wife, Stacy, have been married for 27 years and are the proud parents of three children.

SOURCE American Health Care Association