What I know if him I’ve learned from colleagues who are friends and from the media.
A few weeks ago I wrote about the challenges facing many assisted living companies that focused more on acquisition than on servicing the people in their care. Many have now been caught up in bank and mortgage crises, leaving them with little ability to managing the debt that rapid growth bought them.
Of course, hindsight being so clear, we can now see that these companies were over-leveraged and under-managed, in most cases. They banked on a future of free-flowing money, allowing them to continue to build and acquire; and a healthy economy allowing seniors to sell their homes for a profit and continue to fill their new buildings.
For Jon Harder, it has all collapsed around him.
This week’s Oregonian’s front business page posted a brief article, “Jon Harder resigns as Sunwest CEO.”
Jon Harder has resigned as CEO of Sunwest Management. The 41-year-old Salem man, who built Sunwest into one of the largest senior housing companies in the country, agreed to step aside as the controversy and anger swirling around him has become an impediment to the company's reorganization attempts…
This follows Harder’s personal bankruptcy filing on January 1.
It has to be an incredible low point for a man who built one of the largest senior care companies in the U.S.
One of our readers sent me this email last week:
When I was hired, there was a marketing meeting in Oklahoma City, John Harder came and visited, along with Joe Stephenson, his then VP of Marketing. As a seasoned administrator, I was impressed with their aggressive acquisition phase, but nervous as well. One of the managers asked Mr. Harder what his business plan was. He was a little irritated and told us that they (Sunwest) will keep on growing and looking for opportunities for growth and that was about it. I left that meeting feeling hesitant about my job security.
I had a momentary flash on this subject of my own narrow field of vision yesterday, listening to Barak Obama’s inauguration speech when he said,
…We understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom…
It evokes a mental image of the person who determines to make a difference; who takes a risk to create something profound and worthwhile. And perhaps, who does it all without looking for - or achieving - personal glory.
I don’t know Jon Harder. I can only imagine the personal agonies he may be experiencing as he watches the work of his lifetime disintegrate.
What I do know, though, is that our industry will succeed, and will come out of this time of challenge stronger.
Because behind the scenes, every day in every city of our country, men and women “obscure in their labor” work hard to make sure that they are focused on the people in their care – and the people providing that care.
Because in the end, if it isn’t about the people, it isn’t going to stand.
7 comments:
Having worked for Sunwest for almost five years, I can say that it was exciting during those years of acquisitions (2004-2007). However, I shook my head in disbelief often. Many communities worked with skeleton crews using the bare minimum to get buy meanwhile bills not being paid even in the full communities. I have no sympathy at this point for Sunwest and its leaders for they made very poor choices and so many others paid dearly (investors).
Harder and company should face jail time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What they have done is beyond criminal..........
Note to all:
I have worked for Sunwest Management and an associated company for seven years. I know for a fact that Mr. Harder and his partners are driven by the opportunity to provide stellar care for our elderly residents.
The growth of Sunwest was fueled by the corporation and their dedicated professional employees' extraordinary care of people. We should take notice that tens of thousands of well cared for, and thriving residents having chosen Sunwest over our competitors for their new homes.
Look around the business world today... banks collapsing, automobile company failures, insurance and investment company insolvencies. The federal government has pumped tens of billions of dollars into many big businesses, with another 50-100 billion to go. All the while, the largest employers in our nation, small-medium business have been ignored.
Sunwest Management is led by a team of visionary people driven to provide wonderful homes, excellent care, and healthy lifestyles to senior citizens. Each and every resident continues to choose, on a month to month basis, that a Sunwest managed facility is their first choice in a market with many options.
The voices of many thousands of people, support Mr. Harder and Mr. Fisher in their endeavors! This includes investors, the public, suppliers, thousands of employees and most imporantly... our residents.
It is easy in this day and age to take "pot-shots" at successful people, and a measure of satifaction when businesses mis-step or run into and economy that they didn't create.
I for one applaude the dedicated professionals at Sunwest Management for their vision,creating thousands of exciting living wage jobs, opportunity for advancement, and the many blessings they all bring to the lives of countless families.
Reorganize to adapt to the current business climate, grow the business through time and continue to take superb care our residents.
Bless you all!
Wow, that last post was very well scripted
Hi Friends,
Very good way to knowing about the assisted living future. The facilities of assisted living will have been remote sensing and other types of monitoring to help staff ensure that residents are well and that safety is maintained. Thanks a lot...
Jon Harder is a CROOK. He took money that was not his, spent it on a lavish life style and left people broke. The care was BAD, the buildings in bad shape, and has now lied to the judge overseeing his court case. He tried to hide a property in NY. DIRT BAG. We lost a lot. More than just money. Our confidence and belief in our fellow human beings. He sat and LIED to my face. Ripped us off. He belongs in JAIL.
I think Jon Harder is a victim. He built is empire from the ground up and worked hard for what he had. Unfortunatly he had the deep pockets and was a scape goat for the govt. Trying to go after money. Just like the rest of us, govt will take all we will let them get away with. What business stops taking money from investors when trying not to sink when the econamy crashed. I have no doubt that if the would have helped instead of trying to take his business he would have servived and been paying dividends now.
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