Roger W. Paulsberg
President and CEO
Lutheran Life Communities
Arlington Heights, Ill.

Roger Paulsberg has dedicated his life to serving older adults, as did his father, an administrator, and his mother, a director of nursing. When he arrived at the Lutheran Home 18 years ago, it was challenged by a lack of resources and an aging facility. Yet through his leadership in strategic planning and building relationships, he was able to guide the organization through an extraordinary change and growth process that resulted in the creation of Lutheran Life Communities.

Today the original campus is complemented by four other continuing care campuses in Illinois and Indiana. In addition, the organization owns and operates an intergenerational child care center, three adult day care centers and a growing, state-of-the-art home health agency. It has a network of 250 volunteers and provides more than 1,600 meals on wheels. The campus has been totally repositioned to offer a full continuum of memory support services, skilled care, assisted living, and a wide range of therapy services including outpatient services. As a result, Lutheran Life Communities is among the fastest growing systems in the country, according to the AAHSA Ziegler 100, moving up from number 95 in 2005 to number 50 in 2006.

Eighteen years ago, this organization was financially troubled and did not have a development program. Today, the Lutheran Home Foundation has more than $25 million in assets and continues to grow. An exceptional leader, Roger Paulsberg believes such progress would not be possible without the commitment of all stakeholders, and a dedicated staff at all levels. That's why, at every new-staff orientation, he presents his vision for Lutheran Life Communities and emphasizes the importance of having "a passion for compassion."