This week, Josh and Lucas sit down with Lina Ren, an emerging leader in senior living whose journey into the industry has moved at remarkable speed. Lina shares how her graduate studies at USC, a personal family experience with dementia, and a pivotal scholarship opportunity through NIC opened doors she didn’t even realize existed, ultimately connecting her with Cima Senior Living, where she now serves as an analyst. The conversation explores generational misconceptions about senior housing, the power of mentorship and networking, the role of technology in shaping the future of senior living, and the workforce challenges facing the industry.
This week, we share:
The role of NIC scholarships in shaping career pathways
The gaps between public perception and the realities of senior housing
The growing role of AI and emerging technologies in care environments
This episode was recorded at the NIC Fall Conference
Transcripts
Intro
Welcome to season eight of Bridge the Gap, a podcast dedicated to informing, educating, and influencing the future of housing and services for seniors. The BTG network is powered by sponsors, Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, ServiceMaster, The Bridge Group Construction, and Solinty and produced by Solinity Marketing. Bridge the Gap in three, two.
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Lucas McCurdy
Welcome to Bridge the Gap podcast in Senior Living. Podcast with Josh and Lucas. Beautiful day and an exciting interview here with a good friend of ours, Lena Wren. You are, at Cima Senior Living as an analyst. Welcome to the show.
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Lina Ren
Thank you. Thank you for having me.
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Lucas McCurdy
Well, we are so excited to talk to you because, most of the time, Josh, we're talking to seasoned veterans, legacy people in the industry, CEOs, all that kind of stuff. But there's a whole new side to the industry of people who are students, and they're coming into the industry, they're interested in learning about it, and they're bringing their skills to try to track a career in senior housing. And that's Lena's story. Lena, we would love for you to tell our audience how you got here. And, and the connection points between Nick and Bridge the Gap. And now your current role.
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Lina Ren
I was a graduate student from USC Gerontology School. And then I got a wonderful opportunity from Bob Kramer with NIC, and I got scholarships to be able to attend a spring conference place here. And at that time, I realized, wow, this is so, like, such a big more behind scenes.
And it's more of an operation. There are a lot of deals involved. Transactional service. So that was a time I know that bridged the gap. That was the time. And I got a chance to reach out to look at that moment. And Lucas actually helped me connect with my boss, Jonathan Judd, the CEO of Cima Senior Living, and see my investment.
So yeah, we're from that. I got a wonderful job opportunity with this new launch operator in this field. And, just an extremely wonderful experience so far. I got a chance to do the thing I really, really want to do at the first place, because I also have it back when we really stay, not just gerontology. So it's perfect lying both side and, yeah, I learned everything through that experience. So really wonderful.
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Josh Crisp
Yeah, that's super exciting. What a lot of folks, even me. So I've been Kevin and Nick for 20 years. And, you know, I've seen students around at the events. I think we've even interviewed a few, but I didn't realize the investment that many partners to Nick and Nick makes, in sort of growing the future generation of leaders. You know, we've heard of the Future Leaders Council that they have, but I didn't realize that. How many students did you say you were in a cohort with that?
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Lina Ren
I think around 15 people. From, different universities. Nick. Sponsor them. Make them to come to this, I would say most exceptional conference ever and to let them explore winning what to do and connect them with the right industrial professionals so that we'll be able to know what they want to do. And that's kind of my journey as well. After Nick, I know, like there's a really clear career pathway I would like to go for, and I want to work for that. And you may have like a ten year ago, stuff like that,
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Josh Crisp
Wow. Well, you're you're very impressive in the fact that you knew so much about what you wanted to do and how driven you were. Also very fortunate. I heard you say you got to meet Bob Kramer again on our show. Obviously a huge part of why Nick is what it is today. So some, some very fortunate circumstances that you were able to rub shoulders with some, some very important people in our space. But you also touched on that you you are already studying gerontology. So there's a little bit of a backstory there too. What made you want to get into that study to begin with?
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Lina Ren
So I always say at the time when I was filling applications for grad school, my grandfather got dementia and just right before it. And then I started to realize, oh, how important you know and how much effort it actually takes to take care of a, people with dementia, even that's my grandfather. But it took my uncle, like my uncle had to, take care of him like a full time.
It's hard. And I was starting to think, oh, there's some help there, and I really want to learn about it because one day, I will like to be a great resources for my own parents, for my grandparents, for everybody around me to know how to, how to direct yourself to the right way at that moment. Because you were how helpless had I done to time the first know that.
So I got into this gerontology program with USC, and it's like the best program, I would say. And the state because I'm Trojan and, you learn a lot. You learn every perspective, within, you know, how to take care of residents, you know, is there any other options for people to explore? And you saw that huge gap between the public and the actual industry, because a lot of people are just so afraid of going to senior living people just scared.
And you just saw that huge gap there. And that's really what I really want to help people with. To fill that gap, make sure you, if you're not yourself, you're able to, get along with someone through that journey.
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Josh Crisp
Well, I'm interested to know your perspective, and talking about bridging gaps. You know, many years ago, I hate to say how many years ago I was at university in college as well, and going through business school and all the things that I went through. I never heard anything about senior housing. Right. And so I'm wondering, was this something, Nick and senior housing and all that you've got to experience? Is that common knowledge? In the university world now, do you feel like there's enough conversation around that, or is it still somewhat of a mystery how to enter the senior housing marketplace?
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Lina Ren
I would say there's still a little bit of mystery right there, even though people are getting more familiar with senior housing, what are and what kind of option their a loved one or themselves are able to choose, but still people are just scared to just come in. Where are human beings? We got scared in the pod. People who are not ready to make that big stop.
It's because it's kind of changing your life. It's not just about me going to college sitting at a dorm. It's about, that's to be your friend forever home afterwards. And we saw a lot of, house providers like hospice, palliative care. Them not really, really guide what exactly that means and how that will help you and your loved ones.
So and as CMO, where I'm working right now, we're trying to have those educational materials to their families so they would know what exactly we're offering and how their loved one will be looks like in our communities. And, yeah. So there's still some work to do to make sure people trust you, believe in you, that we're going to take care of your loved ones really well. But we're really passionate about, because we want to see people thrive in our communities.
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Josh Crisp
Well, talk about a fast track, Lucas. I mean, in less than a year's time, you have literally gone from first-time neck. Scholarship exploring is this was right to now working with the fast-growing operating platform, to connecting with Lucas. Who helped you get that job? Talk about the senior living fan. We had to come up with a, like, senior living network guy.
And connecting you to this space to now, I mean, you just sit down in this chair and own in it, like, we've had 20, 30-year veterans that are sitting in the same year. Yeah. The seat that you're sitting in, in your you're talking about your experience in senior housing in less than a year's time. So what would you say that you've already learned, that you could take back perhaps, to the university world?
Because one thing I think all of us providers here and operators are thinking about is, this tsunami, this aging tsunami that we have. And we need to recruit workforce into our industry. So what should be our messaging? If you're talking to the thought leaders of the industry of how we should tap into folks like you to attract the talent that we need to.
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Lina Ren
one thing, if I were able to back to USC again, I would say I want to take more classes, more on the financing side of senior housing, because when I start working, I actually see there's a gap between the executive directors of the community and, our people in the Home office as we are more looking to the members to financials, but sometimes they're over here at the community.
They may not have enough knowledge about that. So it's kind of rare to find someone who can provide thorough care. And it's also able to really understand the financials. So and I don't want to say money is everything, but sometimes it has its magic power to make everything looks good, to run away on anything subprime again. So I think that's one thing that maybe I would love to take more classes on. And, yeah, I think that's kind of what I being aware of.
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Josh Crisp
Yeah, well, I think you hit hit a nerve there. And I think that is a big gap that exists because, yes it is. It does have the magic power, as you indicated, because at the end of the day, whether you're a not for profit or a for profit business or community, you still have to pay your bills, right?
What you do with the profits or the excess revenues, that's really another matter. But I do think there is a a gap that often exists between those administrators. The community leaders who are actually, they have budgets, all of them. And then they have to hit these performance indicators not only on quality of care, but on performance financially.
And sometimes they don't understand the big picture of of how you got that budget and why that budget exists. And, and the capital stack, that was required to be put together to require those standards to be in place. So I think that's great insight, from someone right out of the university. And I hope that, you know, those that are listening, can can take that to heart and improve, the trajectory and our space for sure. Lucas. I'm assuming it's a little bit rewarding for you, to see, like someone, like, her to be able to to join the industry in such a short amount of time.
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Lucas McCurdy
Well, she's the impressive one. Obviously, all the dots that she has connected and short very short amount of time, is really remarkable. And, I think it's also very healthy for our industry to know that there are, young professionals like Lina out there that, you know, obviously your personal story really helped drive you, maybe was your kind of starting point, but there are a lot of other people that may not have that exact story, but can still bring their skill sets and their passion to this industry. And so, Lina, I'd love to pick your brain here as we kind of ran out of conversation. How can this industry attract more individuals, younger individuals out of university?
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Lina Ren
Well, you really got me.
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Lucas McCurdy
You mean you don't know the perfect answer to attract all the talent? Because no one really knows, right? Or they would be doing it. I guess just give it your best shot.
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Lina Ren
Yeah.
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Lina Ren
Last night, I been part of a session about what's, what is the next generation product we're going to offer is. And, after I was, I kept thinking about that. What will be. And now I think we got this generation now with really tech-savvy people, with all the AI tools available.
And I think that's really will attract younger people, younger generation to this industry. Because when you think about it in your housing, you may think about, oh, it just so you're living place where my grandfather, my grandmother, mother lives. But now it's totally different because we are able to use most advanced technology, new things, and, communities like all the Cima community has to you.
I fall detection cameras there. The first time I heard about this AI detection cameras, I was like, wow, this is not what I was thinking when I first went to gerontology school. So that's really fascinating. And I really want to see if we are able to, you know, fit more new technology within the community and people will be attracted by that.
And they want to see, oh, how this thing doing with senior living and I think another thing is people, they would love to know what the, how's life looking in senior living? And I saw a lot of TikToks really a lot of people really love those. So it's I think we're getting there with all this new technology, especially here in New York.
We got scholarship programs, and that's how people get to know more about and there's more and more people attending their conference each year. So yeah, I guess that's my answer.
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Lucas McCurdy
That's a it's a great answer. And it's a great point. And those are also things that are attainable. Obviously, social media is a major player in every aspect of life. And it's a major player in senior housing. John, Josh, you and I kind of started, posting, you know, ten years ago and when there was not much on LinkedIn or any of these other channels, probably some of them didn't even exist then.
And now there's a lot there's a big, much bigger conversation around senior housing that takes place on social media. And, that's really great to see. And so I think that your answers are very practical. And so it's it's an exciting time and it's an exciting conversation to have. And, we're we're really glad that you've been able to connect all of these dots here.
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Lina Ren
Thank you.
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Josh Crisp
Well, and I think, just the fact that there is, has to be so many dots to connect is part of the problem. You know, I think, that was one of the reasons why we came up with the name Bridge the Gap. There's a gap that, exists between the reality of what senior living is senior housing, what the aging population needs and the perception of that.
And, candidly, I would say for far too long, our industry has not done a great job at telling our success stories and educating the public on really what we are and, and how we're different than probably what their perception thinks. Right. And, so I am couldn't be more excited, that this new energy, new thought leader, in the space has emerged.
Thankful that you had the opportunity to connect some of those dots that are probably not that easy to connect and find. My friend Lucas here, find bridged the gap. And so good to have you on today. Thanks for taking time. We know you're busy here at your second Nick now working in the industry, that you've sought out. So congratulations to you.
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Lina Ren
Thank you so much. And a really, really one point, I would just say it's just exactly what I was thinking. When I start working, there's a huge gap. And we did not, say enough. Our successful story I think to mid residents, family members, and they're really grateful that we're taking care of their loved ones. But those stories are often behind the scenes so people don't really know they're people are happy. People are being taken great care of in other communities.
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Lucas McCurdy
A great conversation. Lena, thank you so much for your time today.
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Lina Ren
Yeah, thank you so much.
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Lucas McCurdy
All right. For our listeners, thank you so much for your time today here at the Fall NIC Conference. Check out those show notes. And those links. Go to btgvoice.com. Download this content. So much more. And thanks for listening to another great episode of Bridge the Gap.
Outro
Thanks for listening to Bridge the Gap podcast with Josh and Lucas. Connect with the BTG network team and use your voice to influence the industry by connecting with us at btgvoice.com.
