News Summary
Aegis Living has appointed Dirk Burghartz as its new President, effective July 7, 2025. With over 35 years of experience in luxury hospitality, Burghartz intends to innovate in assisted living and memory care. He succeeds Sandra Preyale, reflecting the company’s commitment to quality and compassionate care for seniors. Burghartz will oversee operations and team development while promoting health technology and culinary wellness within Aegis Living’s communities.
Redmond, WA – Aegis Living has announced the appointment of Dirk Burghartz as the new President of the company, effective July 7, 2025. This change comes as part of Aegis Living’s initiative to embrace innovative approaches in the assisted living and memory care sectors.
Dirk Burghartz succeeds Sandra Preyale, who retired after holding the position for seven years. Burghartz was chosen from a competitive pool of over 70 candidates, with the company’s Founder and CEO, Dwayne J. Clark, citing Burghartz’s unique combination of leadership qualities as a factor in his selection.
Burghartz brings a wealth of experience to Aegis Living, with over 35 years in luxury hospitality primarily with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. He has also served as President of Arcis Golf, where he was instrumental in increasing the company’s operations from $300 million to $500 million. His background includes overseeing teams of over 6,000 employees and establishing a reputation as a respected leader amongst colleagues.
In his previous role as Executive Vice President of Operations for LIFE Properties International, Burghartz specialized in private club communities, expanding his experience in managing diverse operations effectively. At Aegis Living, he will have the responsibility of overseeing operations, team development, and driving innovation across 39 existing communities, alongside several new developments in the pipeline.
Aegis Living is committed to enhancing several key areas, including health technology integration, culinary wellness practices, and thoughtful memory care design within its communities. Burghartz aims to foster a company culture that emphasizes a shared vision of compassion and excellence, which is crucial for providing quality care to residents.
Personal experiences have shaped Burghartz’s perspective on assisted living; both of his parents have recently transitioned to a facility in Germany, giving him firsthand insight into the importance of quality support in this sector. His approach merges his extensive hospitality experience with the pressing needs of the assisted living industry.
In his initial months at Aegis Living, Burghartz plans to immerse himself within the communities to gather insights from staff members who are directly involved in resident care. He is relocating from Dallas to the Pacific Northwest with his wife, Kelly, and both are looking forward to becoming active members of their new community.
Notably, Aegis Living has earned recognition from Newsweek in 2024 and 2025 for its outstanding workplace environment and support for parents and families. This acknowledgment reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to both its staff and the residents they serve.
Overall, Burghartz’s appointment signals a promising future for Aegis Living as it strives to redefine standards in the assisted living sector, aiming to improve the quality of life for seniors while maintaining a supportive and progressive work environment for employees.
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Additional Resources
- Le Lézard
- Wikipedia: Assisted Living
- Senior Housing News
- Google Search: Assisted Living
- McKnight’s Senior Living
- Google Scholar: Assisted Living Innovation
- PR Newswire
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Assisted Living
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