The Ascent Story

Anthony received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Northern Colorado in the mid-nineties, and then started his career in hospitality as the Night Audit Supervisor for The Peaks Hotel in Telluride. After a year of snowboarding and mountain biking, he moved back to the front range and was the Controller for Mountain Vista Builders. The CEO decided to leave and start a new homebuilding company, and he asked Anthony to join him.

They cofounded the new venture together, which grew from startup to $30 million in annual revenues in 3 years when he lost his business partner to heart disease. At the same time, he got engaged to a British woman, so the business was sold and he moved to England. He then became a Chartered Management Accountant earning the designations ACMA and CGMA and worked as the Finance Director for Challenge Packaging, a corrugated case manufacturer and packaging supplier.

His next role was as the Group Finance Manager for Papergraphics, a group of 9 companies based in multiple countries around Europe that supply the large format digital print industry. Anthony got to a stage in his career where he wanted to help more people, so he founded a company to work with small businesses as their virtual CFO. He since had the opportunity to move back home to Colorado and joined Ascent Living Communities to help him expand on his desire to use his career to help more people.

Beth Williams is the Chief Operating Officer for Ascent. She began her career in senior living thirty years ago as she was perusing her goals to serve the senior population. She has held various roles in the senior living space such as Sales and Marketing Director, Regional Rehab Director and then as an Executive Director for thirteen years.

She later served as a Regional Vice President of Operations for nine communities in the Denver area for seven years, and most recently served as Division Vice President of Operations for 31 communities covering Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Hawaii. During this time Beth has also remained active as Chair for the Quality Initiative Leadership Committee, and has also been active with the Colorado Health Care Association where she has served on the Board of Trustees for 7 years.

She subscribes to the key leadership philosophies of servant leadership, and mission and values driven, all while serving our seniors during their greatest time of need and supporting their families during these transitional phases of life. She received her Bachelors of Science with a major in Psychology from Virginia Tech. Beth is responsible for home office team oversight, working with community leadership teams, optimization of Ascent’s operating model and sales & marketing oversight.

Kim is the Area Director of Sales and Marketing for Ascent. She began her career in senior living in 2010. Since then, she has held various roles in different sales and marketing capacities including Regional Director of Sales and Marketing, and Regional Director of Sales Analytics, Systems, and Initiatives. Kim received her undergraduate degree in Journalism from The University of Kansas and her masters in Aging Services Management from The University of Southern California.

In 2019, Kim was named an Emerging Leader by LeadingAge Colorado. Growing up, Kim often visited her grandmother in her senior living community and believes it had more of an impact on her choice of career than she realized. In her free time, you can find Kim playing Pickleball, going to Pilates, trying a new restaurant, or spending time with her dog, Jack. Kim grew up in Littleton and loves calling Colorado home.

Stacey Johnson is the Area Director of Clinical Services. Stacey began her nursing career while serving in the U.S. Army Reserves. Stacey has been a Registered Nurse for 29 years and a Nursing Home Administrator for 19 years. She has dedicated her entire career to serving seniors in all aspects of senior living and post-acute care. One of the things she most enjoys is mentoring team members and setting others up for success. Stacey excels in helping teams achieve outstanding results which in turn helps residents gain and maintain healthier, more enjoyable living. Stacey has been married for 28 years and has two grown children. She is originally from Kansas City. Stacey lives on a hobby ranch with horses, donkeys and goats.

Amelia Schafer is the Area Director of Memory Care for Ascent. Amelia spent 24 years working at the Alzheimer’s Association in a variety of roles including leading the professional education division and the Alzheimer’s Learning Institute, a certificate program for health professionals. Most recently, Schafer served as the Executive Director for Colorado and oversaw the 5-state Rocky Mountain region, as well as the Association’s National Senior Director for Growth and Engagement focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. Amelia received a Master’s Degree in Human Development and Family Studies with an emphasis in gerontology. “I believe excellent teams focus on service, humility, integrity, inspiring others, and inclusive decision-making,” Amelia explained. She works with the teams across Ascent to elevate the lives of people living with cognitive impairment. Amelia shares her devotion to serving elders with her wife and two kids, who all work in long-term care.

Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Carlos has a deep appreciation for the outdoors and a passion for travel. His first career—still an important part of his life—was in barbering and hairdressing. During that time, he developed strong skills in customer relations and people management. In 2018, Carlos decided to build on that foundation by pursuing a degree in Human Resource Management. By 2020, he secured his first HR role in a skilled long-term care community. While his primary focus as an HR professional is supporting employees, Carlos developed a special connection with elderly individuals and those in need of memory care.

Cassy brings over 23 years of combined experience in human resources, talent management, training and development, organizational leadership, and relationship building with community and team members to Ascent Living Communities. She is responsible for the oversight, development and strategic direction of Human Resource functions. A Senior Certified Professional with the Society for Human Resource Management with extensive experience in senior management, Cassy has been fortunate to learn and grow professionally, while working with diverse groups of people within industries of staffing, higher education, and health and social services. Her previous roles have included Sales Manager and VP of Sales and Operations with Labor Force Staffing/OfficeSmart Personnel, Owner/Director of HR and Staffing with Link Staffing, Director of Career Services with Alta Colleges, and Director of HR and Business Operations with Sample Supports. Cassy’s leadership philosophy most closely aligns to servant leadership, coaching and equipping others to excel in a culture of accountability. She is dedicated to working with leaders and frontline teams in ensuring they have the support, training, and resources to thrive in their roles as they provide quality services to residents. Cassy earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Idaho and has lived in Colorado for the past 27 years. She and her husband, Matt, love to camp, hike, flyfish, bike and spend time with their four adult kids and two grandkids.

Sumer Carver is a Senior Accountant for Ascent. She began her career and subsequently spent 13 years in the retail home furnishings industry, serving in pivotal roles as the head of accounting, administration, finance, and office management while simultaneously attending school and receiving her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Metro State University. Sumer most recently worked for 10 years as the Director of Administration and Finance for a locally owned, nationally acclaimed furniture store, where she was an integral and senior member of the leadership team, working side-by-side with the store owners until their retirement in late 2022. She enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as her dog Willow, hosting game nights, crafting, and completing expert-level jigsaw puzzles. Sumer is excited to be a part of the Ascent team and looks forward to supporting the communities they serve.

Shreya grew up in India, where she pursued a degree in engineering, driven by her passion for data and problem-solving. Her journey took an exciting turn when she moved to the U.S. to pursue her master’s at Arizona State University. While academics shaped her career, Arizona’s breathtaking landscapes helped her overcome her fear of hiking and trekking, turning it into a passion that now fuels her love for adventure. As a Data Specialist at Ascent Living Communities, Shreya believes that data isn’t just numbers—it tells a story, influences decisions, and improves lives. She takes pride in using analytics to enhance operations and contribute to a better senior living experience. Outside of work, Shreya loves exploring charming cafés, discovering hidden gem restaurants, and traveling to new places. Whether through data or adventure, she is always seeking new perspectives and meaningful experiences.

Rob is the Marketing and Brand Manager at Ascent Living Communities, bringing a wealth of experience from his previous roles in marketing across residential, commercial, and industrial real estate. With degrees in Advertising and Fine Arts from Iowa State University, along with a Graphic Design degree from The Illinois Institute of Art, Rob blends creative expertise with strategic marketing insights. Originally from Iowa, he spent eight years in Chicago before settling in Denver. Outside of work, Rob has a strong passion for giving back—having supported aging services, mentored children, and raised funds for causes like the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and Misericordia. In his free time, Rob enjoys honing his fine art skills, attending live concerts and swimming.

Melissa Ludwig is the Information Technology Manager for Ascent. Her Senior Living career began in 2007 working in front line positions and then moving up to management roles. She has worked in many different areas of the Senior Living Industry and has always been the “go-to” expert for all areas and programs IT related. In this role, Melissa supports all of the communities and home office with programs, integrations, procurement, future planning and overall data security. Melissa is a Colorado native and enjoys spending her free time cooking and in the mountains camping, hiking, and doing other outdoor activities. She has 2 children, a son who is 18 and a daughter who is 20.

Macy Lindsten is the Business Office Area Manager for Ascent. She began her career in Senior Living in 2013 and has held many roles including Health Information Management, Human Resources, Accounting, and Business Operations. During her free time, Macy enjoys spending time with her two dogs, family and friends as well as camping, hiking, cooking and music.

Laura Gasperik is the Talent Acquisition Manager for Ascent. She has 8 years of dedicated recruiting experience in addition to experience in human resources, talent management, and training and development. A Certified Professional with the Society for Human Resource Management Laura has had the opportunity to work in several different industries to learn and grow professionally. She started her career in human rights and global development before transitioning to recruitment and human resources management. Working with several franchise owners of Massage Envy in Colorado, Laura revamped their recruitment processes buy developing relationships with local massage schools to create a candidate pipeline. She also created several training courses to optimize the performance of the front desk and aid in retention. She then moved to Vail Resorts, working as part of a team that hired 10,000 employees for winter operations for all US properties. Finally, she moved to Samples Supports where she spent 4 years driving recruitment, retention, and process development as the Human Resources manager. Laura is passionate about helping people develop and grow with a company to create a vibrant workplace culture. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Illinois State University and has lived in Colorado the last 8 years where she enjoys spending weekends at the barn with her horse, and exploring all Colorado has to offer.

Frank was promoted to Area Director of Environmental Services in December 2024, following his outstanding leadership and performance as the Environmental Services Director at Rosemark at Mayfair Park. With a background in construction, remodeling, renovation, and maintenance dating back to the age of 19, Frank brings a wealth of hands-on experience to his role. Since 2017, he has focused his career in senior living communities, where he finds the work especially rewarding. Frank is dedicated to ensuring the safety, comfort, and well-being of residents across all communities he serves. Outside of work, he enjoys spending quality time with his wife and three children.