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Mike Ekis Promoted to Senior Vice President of Construction Mike brings over 20 years of broad experience constructing single-family homes, multi-family communities, and senior housing in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, and Louisiana. He has successfully delivered dozens of projects and thousands of homes over the course of his career, many of which have qualified for sustainable programs, such as Energy Star, Green Communities, and LEED. As the Senior Vice President of Construction, Mike will oversee all aspects of Wallick’s construction program, including plan development, budgeting, and project safety. He is also responsible for ensuring the overall production, quality, and profitability of each development Congratulations Mike! Wallick is so thankful to have you!
Wallick Communities CFO Sarah Malone was named an honoree in Columbus Business First’s 2024 C-Suite Awards. These awards acknowledge the most admired leaders and top executives in Central Ohio. We congratulate Sarah on this well-deserved honor. Click the link below to learn more!
Congratulations to our communities at The Grove, The Crescent, and Oakleaf Village! - The Grove at Oakleaf Village of Sylvania won “Best Memory Care” for its ninth consecutive year. - The Crescent won “Best Senior Living Community” for its second consecutive year. - Oakleaf Village of Sylvania was awarded runner-up for “Best Assisted Living Community.”
Repurpose with a Purpose Adaptive reuse of old hotel provides value-driven independent and assisted living. A revolutionary idea in the marketplace. Opened in September 2016, The Ashford on Broad provides independent and assisted living services and amenities to seniors of all income levels and created 70 new jobs. “This new product addresses a large and significantly underserved market,” said Wallick’s CEO Tom Feusse. “Wallick is uniquely positioned to do so, given our experience in both assisted living and affordable housing.” “This project is clearly unique because it’s one of the very few assisted living communities designed to serve this specific market segment,” said Feusse. “It’s also quite timely, considering that well over 50 percent of seniors today cannot afford assisted living.” Along with the purchase came 150 fully furnished rooms. Wallick’s Heart of Service Committee, an associate-led group focused on giving through service, coordinated an effort to provide hundreds of items including beds, linens, towels, furniture, appliances and more to three local nonprofit charities.
Family-Owned Company Transitioning to Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Wallick Communities Co-Owners and Principals Howard Wallick, Julie Wallick and Tom Feusse announced the company’s ownership transfer to its more than 1,100 associates through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Wallick is the largest developer, owner and operator of affordable housing in the state of Ohio. The ESOP is a new retirement benefit. Associates will earn Wallick stock and become part-owners of the company. Wallick’s co-owners considered multiple options for ownership transition while preserving the company’s culture, sense of family and independence. An ESOP helps secure the company’s future and growth while remaining a locally-owned and operated business. “When Jack Wallick founded the company in 1966, he could not have imagined the company would grow to open doors to homes, opportunity and hope across 200-plus communities in six states, with more than 1,100 associates,” said Wallick CEO Amy Albery. “Moving to employee-ownership preserves Jack’s values and vision for the company, while enabling our associates to benefit from our success." “Additionally, employee ownership is a significant advantage as we continue to retain top talent. We believe employee ownership provides an opportunity for associates to benefit directly from the company’s growth and momentum that they are helping to create.”
Wallick welcomes Derrick Young as our Senior Vice President of Affordable Housing Operations. Hailing from Oakland, California, Derrick brings a wealth of leadership experience in the affordable housing and senior living industries, with numerous areas of expertise, including mission-driven mentorship, people leadership, operations management and strategic planning. In his new role, he will lead the affordable housing operations team to support residents and associates while maintaining compliance, occupancy standards, and optimal operating performance for Wallick’s portfolio of 200+ communities. Please join us in welcoming C.Derrick Young to Wallick and wishing him great success in his new chapter!
In 2023, Wallick's partnership with Resident Resources Network (RRN) made a tangible difference in the lives of 9,409 residents across 71 affordable housing communities. RRN's dedicated service coordination team went beyond simply providing housing — they provided a human connection, breaking down barriers and empowering residents to move forward. Through direct referrals, on-site services, and unwavering support in areas like employment, education, health, and benefits, RRN connected residents to the resources they needed. Their "it takes a village" approach recognized that housing is just one piece of the puzzle; building safe, supportive communities requires addressing the challenges residents face beyond their four walls. This holistic approach is evident in stories like Ms. Johnson's. A single mother facing eviction, she found hope and a lifeline in her community's service coordinator. With their help, Ms. Johnson secured rent assistance, keeping her family safe and stable in their home. We are deeply grateful to RRN for their transformative work and impact across our communities. 🧡
May is Military Appreciation Month. This month, we recognize the sacrifices and contributions made by our military personnel and their loved ones. We are proud to have these dedicated and hardworking individuals on our team. This month, we’re spotlighting Carlos, a veteran and Community Manager at Wallick. For 23 years, Carlos was on active duty through the US Army Active Guard Reserve program serving in the Army Reserve. He has 28 years of service after joining while in high school and retiring in September 2022. “Wallick gave me an opportunity to advance my life to the next level. Currently in the world, with the turmoil and chaos, it is hard out here for a veteran to adapt to the ever-changing world outside of the military. I am able to feel and function as I did when I was leading soldiers. Providing homes to families giving them hope and opportunity to advance their lives is a noble cause that I want to be part of.” Thank you, Carlos, for your service and for choosing to support our residents at Wallick.
It's Nurses Week! We'd like to spotlight Susan, Clinical Care Coordinator at Oakleaf Village of Columbus, one of Wallick’s Senior Living communities. Susan and the incredible nursing team at Wallick are personally invested in their vital work, ensuring the seniors we serve are safe, supported and encouraged. They live and breathe our core values of genuine care, genuine character and genuine collaboration every day. To learn more about opportunities where you can make a real impact in the lives of others, check out our career openings! https://tinyurl.com/nbcjnw4b
“Always learn that your word ought to be your bond.” Profound words from one of our residents of Oakleaf Village of Columbus, Reverend Leon Troy Sr. a 2020 inductee into the Columbus Hall of Fame. Leon Troy Sr. has dedicated over 50 years of service to the Columbus Community, focusing on working with families and children. His kindness and dedication to Columbus will have lasting impacts long into the future. The Reverend served for 20 years as the Pastor of the Second Baptist Church and is now the pastor emeritus. In 1983 he began working with Mayor Rinehart as a Special Assistant to the Mayor on Community Affairs; he was the first Black Fire Chaplin for the City of Columbus; received the Governor’s Award for community action in 1974, and was a recipient of the United Negro College Fund’s Distinguished Service Award.
