Erickson Senior Living Names Nicole Rites as 2026 Home Office Leadership Award Winner

Erickson Senior Living, a nation-leading developer and manager of continuing care retirement communities, is proud to announce Nicole Rites, senior director of finance, as its 2026 Home Office Leadership Award Winner.

Rites is honored for her leadership of the Resident Capital Transformation initiative, a multi-year, technology-driven effort that strengthened financial and legal processes supporting billions in entrance fees and positioned the organization for scalable growth, providing deeper visibility and enhanced experiences for residents and team members.

From inception through full implementation, Rites guided the project through significant complexity. She unified cross-functional teams, maintained momentum, and delivered outcomes critical to Erickson Senior Living’s continued growth. 

“Nicole exemplifies what it means to elevate people, shape culture, and inspire excellence,” said Chris Rathmann, vice president, community finance. “Her vision, resilience, and commitment to collaboration have delivered transformative results that will benefit residents, team members, and the enterprise for years to come.”

Rites was recognized at a celebratory luncheon alongside eight other Leadership Award nominees: Patrick Boyle, director, employee health and well-being; Mary Beth Moore, director, education and training; Taneika Herman, director, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; Megan Kennedy, senior manager, market research and consumer insights; Karen Walls, director, enterprise content; Brian Walters, director, health operations; Byron Watson, manager, financial planning and analysis; and Melinda Yongbi, lead business analyst, information technology.

Erickson Senior Living is a nation-leading developer and manager of continuing care retirement communities. Currently, over 32,000 residents reside at Erickson Senior Living communities in 11 states. Additional information about Erickson Senior Living is available at www.ericksonseniorliving.com.