The best thing about our community isn’t the beautiful architecture or abundant amenities. It’s the people who call Falcons Landing home. You will quickly discover a lively community where you can reconnect with old acquaintances and forge new friendships for the best years of your life.
As one of our residents recently said, "Falcons Landing forever eliminated the possibility of loneliness."
Our talented Management team works closely with Residents, Residents Council and the Board of Directors to ensure Falcons Landing continues to delight residents with premier facilities, fun activities and luxurious amenities.
Gary Handley most recently served as the Executive Director for the Palms of Fort Myers. As Director, Gary was responsible for all facets of operating this leading retirement community. He has over 20 years of experience leading healthcare organizations. He is driven by a passion for making a positive difference in the lives of others through his commitment to successful aging. Prior to coming to Falcons Landing, Gary served in various roles, ranging from serving as the Managing Director for a private nursing home in southern Sweden to serving as the Executive Director for one of southwest Florida’s premier Life Plan (CCRC) Communities. Gary retired from military service as a Major in 2000, after 21 years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and United States Army National Guard. During his career, he served in multiple leadership, and operational positions. He served as a full-time military technician, as the Budget Officer and Financial Manager for the United States Property and Fiscal Office of New Hampshire. He also served on active duty as a Training Officer for the 197th Field Artillery Brigade and as Executive Officer for the United States Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Wildcat Battalion at the University of New Hampshire. He was awarded his Fellowship of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) in 2019. He also holds the designation as a Certified Director of Assisted Living (CDAL) by the Senior Living Certification Commission, and as a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. A native of Manchester, NH, Gary completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Norwich University and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. He has been married to Yvonne for 33 years and recently relocated from Bonita Springs, FL to join the Falcons Landing family. They have been “blessed with three amazing children: Kevin, Bryan and Korynne. He is an avid reader and loves anything todo with the outdoors.
Hardy is the answer to the trivia question of who was Falcons Landing's first AND third CFO. He has been at Falcons since September 1995 with the exception of the year 2000 when he moved to Palm Beach County Florida and voted for both George Bush and Al Gore in the presidential election. As CFO, Hardy is responsible for all financial management, planning and reporting. His accurate and thorough budgets and excellent long range financial planning ensure that the community is financially sound today and for the next 100 years. Prior to coming to Falcons Landing, Hardy was a career Air Force Officer. His assignments were primarily in accounting or budgeting except for 1981 to 1985 when, as a Minuteman Crew Commander, he defended democracy from a hole in the ground in Montana. Hardy received his Bachelors of Science in Accounting from Strayer College, his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Montana, and his Masters in Professional Accounting from the University of Texas. If he ever actually took any time off, he would enjoy music and scrabble.
Leah joined Falcons Landing and the Senior Management Team, December 2012, and is delighted to be here. She moved from Tennessee after marrying her husband Jay, whom she met on stage at a professional dinner theatre. She lives in Loudoun County and has an extensive background in senior living and healthcare marketing. She worked for NHC Health Care while in TN, where she helped develop and expand their sales & marketing efforts. She then built her career, when moving to VA, with HCR ManorCare working in independent living, assisted living, hospice and skilled nursing and rehab. She helped develop the orthopedic program at the Fair Oaks campus and developed strong relationships with local physicians and hospitals. Leah also worked as a Regional Sales Director and provided customer service and sales training to Executive Directors, Licensed Nursing Home Administrators and Director's of Nursing. She also has experience in opening new memory care assisted living. Leah earned her degree in Communications/Theatre with studies in Criminal Justice and Graduate Studies in Human Development & Learning. She loves working in senior living and feels that it is a privilege and honor to serve the residents at Falcons Landing. She and her husband spend their free time running to baseball, baseball and oh yes, more baseball games/practices year 'round, basketball in the winter and swim team in the summer. Jay works as a plumbing designer/engineer for Caliber Design Inc., a local MEP in Loudoun County. They have the best son, Henry who is quite the athlete and whom sets high goals and is planning on being a major league short stop! Go Hank! They also have two cats, Sami and Charlie! She looks forward to meeting you and sharing with you the lifestyle and benefits of Falcons Landing.
Ashlee is a seasoned Nursing Home Administrator with more than 10 years of experience in daily operations of Skilled Nursing and Long-Term Care Facilities. She is Licensed in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Ashlee is committed to following regulatory compliance standards and fulfilling the organizational mission. She possesses the ability to develop effective strategic plans and ensure financial viability of the organization. Ashlee thrives in a fast-paced diverse environment and can adapt to ever changing circumstances and situations. She is a proven dynamic leader with solid communication, interpersonal and motivational skills that are used to form lasting relationships with staff, residents, and their families. Originally from Delaware, Ohio, Ashlee received her Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration from Ohio University. She moved to Maryland in 2013 to pursue her career. Ashlee and her husband live in Lovettsville, Virginia with their two children, Blakely, and Cameron.
Despite what CFO Hardy Lister says, Bob Besserer claims he has been at Falcons Landing longer than any employee. In the fall of 1995, during the community's construction, its Founders met for dinner one night at River Bend Country Club in Great Falls, VA. They were so impressed with their meal they asked to speak to the Chef. They soon made Chef Bob an offer he couldn't refuse: to be the first Executive Chef in a brand new, busy kitchen. The Founders envisioned a 4-star dining program and Bob did not disappoint. His passion for quality ingredients and innovative menus keep dining at the top of the resident's list of favorite things about Falcons Landing. Bob became Dining Services Director after just two years. Falcons Landing has six dining rooms and our kitchen averages 550 meals a day for residents and, during the week, lunch for an additional 100 staff members. Bob is a native Canadian who moved to the U.S. in 1979 and brought his love of hockey with him. An avid Capitals fan (or as his wife says, a "hockey freak"), Bob also loves camping, golf and cooking at home for his friends and family.
Donna Cassani and her Community Life team take enormous pride in providing impeccable service to the residents of Falcons Landing, from planning events and activities to ensuring their safety and security. "It's Our Pleasure" is their motto, and that theme resonates in all areas of the department: Recreation, Fitness & Wellness, Security & Front Desk, Transportation, Beauty & Barber Salon and Resident Counselor Services. Donna's dedication to excellence is evident in her commitment to continually improve the delivery of services and amenities at Falcons Landing. Originally from Erie, PA, Donna received a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Mercyhurst University. Before joining Falcons Landing in 2005, Donna enjoyed careers at a large trade association and an educational foundation in Washington, DC. In 2009 Donna went back to school and earned her Master’s degree in Health Systems Management/Senior Living Administration from George Mason University and later became a Certified Aging Services Professional (CASP) through the University of North Texas. Donna and her husband live in Great Falls, Virginia and have three children – two grown sons living in Florida and a daughter studying Pre-Med at Virginia Tech. In her free time, Donna enjoys taking long walks, cooking, gardening, watching documentaries and exploring the Virginia countryside (especially Blacksburg…Go Hokies!).
Fred F. Simpson joined Falcons Landing as the Director of Human Resources in August 2006. A career professional in the field of Human Resources for over twenty years. Fred has held senior level positions in the healthcare, hospitality and retail industries. He is a dedicated and passionate Human Resources professional and has been an active member of the Society of Human Resources Management since 2001. As the Director of Human Resources at Falcons Landing, Fred is responsible for recruitment, employee training and professional development, health & wellness benefits, workers compensation, labor compliance, policy development & review and general legal matters pertaining to employment and labor. Fred is a native New Yorker with a passion for sports, entertainment, and food. Fred is a devoted husband and father.
Peter has been in the building, maintenance and construction industry since the 1970s and has worked with large construction firms such as Pulte, Miller and Long, and Law Engineering. He operated his own home improvement company for many years, serving clients throughout Northern Virginia. He earned a degree in Business Management at Southern Vermont College in Bennington. As Falcons Landing's Director of Facilities Management, he is responsible for the Maintenance and care of all buildings, grounds and mechanical systems, as well as overseeing Housekeeping and Laundry operations and construction projects. Peter's wealth of experience and "hands on" approach to operations and problem solving has greatly enhanced the quality of work done on site while also significantly decreasing costs. Peter relaxes by spending time boating and fishing on the Potomac River, and entertaining friends and family at home. Never one to sit idle (and that's an understatement!), Peter spends many evenings and weekends working on home renovation projects and keeping up with his three children and one grandson.
Our Board is responsible for Falcons Landing's strategic planning, financial affairs, property and program development and oversight of operations and management. Board members at Falcons Landing consist of future community residents, committed to making our community an exceptional place to live.
Lieutenant General Bowlds received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Mississippi State University and Master's Degrees from the Air Force Institute of Technology in Electrical Engineering and University of Dayton in Engineering Management. Ted is also a graduate of the Air Force Test Pilot School's Flight Test Engineer course. Throughout his 36 years on active duty, he held a variety of leadership positions in numerous acquisition programs. These include the F-117, B-2, Advance Medium Range Air to Air Missile, C-130J, T-6, C-5, and the C-17. General Bowlds also served as the Commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory. His last assignment was the Commander of the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom. Since retiring, Ted divides his time between teaching at the University of Tennessee and aerospace consulting.
Maj. Gen. Scott S. Custer is Vice Director of the Joint Staff and concurrently serves as the Joint Staff Director of Management. In this position, he assists the Director of the Joint Staff and provides oversight to Joint Staff support activities, including administration and action management, budget, information technology and services, support services, and security. A 1976 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, General Custer has enjoyed a diverse career. In addition to his stateside assignments, he has served in Europe, Asia and Latin America. He has had various operational assignments to include serving as an operational squadron commander and as a vice wing commander. General Custer has served as a plans and programs director, and in staff and management positions at combatant command, Air Staff and Joint Staff levels. He is a fully qualified joint specialty officer.
Lt. Col. John La Raia graduated from the University of Rochester and served with the United States Air Force as a navigator on KC135 refueling tankers. After leaving active duty, he earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the Rockefeller School of Public Affairs at the State University of New York. Continuing his affiliation with the Air Force, he served as a reserve logistics plans officer assigned to Headquarters USAF. Mr. La Raia began his civilian career with the Department of the Navy serving successively as Director of Human Resources, leading civilian personnel and EEO programs for the Office of the Secretary and the Chief of Naval Operations; Comptroller and Director of Financial Management, managing a $1B+ budget for the Office of the Secretary; and a senior executive principal staff assistant for administrative matters to the Secretary and Under Secretary of the Navy, where he managed a 125 person staff with a business portfolio consisting of 13distinct functional areas. After retiring from Federal Service he worked as a consultant and executive, in addition to serving as a Board Member and Secretary of the Army and Navy Club of Washington, DC.
Mr. Marshall graduated from Vanderbilt University and received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Program at that university. He also holds master's degrees in financial management from the Naval Postgraduate School and in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
Mr. Joseph B. Marshall Jr. was Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management & Comptroller). In this capacity, he assisted in the oversight of budget formulation and execution of over $165 billion annually for the Navy and United States Marine Corps; for the financial systems, reporting, policy and auditing of the associated financial transactions; and for the cost estimating for the Department of the Navy. Prior to this, he was the Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management &Comptroller), where he provided expertise and advice on programs and initiatives with the goal of improving financial management functions for the Department of the Navy. He previously served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management & Comptroller).
Earlier, Mr. Marshall was the Director, Business Support Directorate, Defense Health Agency (DHA), where he had oversight of $40 billion in medical and dental healthcare for more than 9.6 million beneficiaries worldwide. Prior to this position, Mr. Marshall served as the chief financial executive for Navy Medicine and established policy and managed financial and manpower resources for a medical activity totaling more than $6 billion per year in operating costs.
Mr. Marshall entered the Senior Executive Service (SES) in October 2001 and until 2003 he was an Associate Chief Financial Officer at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), where he formulated financial policy and strategic and performance plans for an enterprise which, were it in the private sector, would be the sixth largest company in the world with 100,000 employees,$123 billion in assets, and over$70 billion in annual spending. In 2003 to 2006, Mr. Marshall was the Deputy Director of the Navy Programming Division on the Chief of Naval Operations staff, where he led the building of the Navy's Program Objective Memorandum (POM),totaling over $120 billion per year.
Before entering the SES, Mr. Marshall was the Comptroller of the United States' Transportation Command, a $5 billion Department of Defense activity. During Mr. Marshall's 25-year Navy career which began in 1976, he had command of a destroyer and was recognized as the most outstanding of 16 ships, twice winning the coveted "Battle E." Additionally, he was recognized repeatedly for his exceptional financial and operational expertise.
CAPT (Dr.) Joseph (Tim) Arcano graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in ocean engineering. He earned a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering and an Ocean Engineer degree from MIT; a Master of Science degree in national resource strategy from the National Defense University Industrial College of the Armed Forces; and a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Maryland. He is also a graduate of the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Fellows Program. He served for 30 years of active and reserve commissioned service in the Navy as an engineering duty officer qualified in submarines. He also commanded five reserve units and retired as a Captain.
He is a member of the Senior Executive Service and was appointed as the Technical Director for Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Carderock Division. Before this, he served as the director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER). Prior to that assignment, Dr. Arcano served as Deputy Chief of nuclear safety at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). He also served as Technical Director/Technical Authority (Ship Design Manager) for the USS VIRGINIA Class Program Office, Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (two), Meritorious Service Medal (two), Navy Commendation Medal (five awards) and Department of Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award.
CAPT Eichert graduated from the University of Rochester with a BS in engineering and from Stanford University with a MS in mechanical engineering. He served 29 years in the Navy Civil Engineer Corps and among his tours of duty he commanded a Seabee battalion and deployed to the Pacific and Caribbean, commanded the Navy's largest engineering field command, and was the commanding officer of the Gulfport Seabee base during Hurricane Katrina. Currently, and since his retirement from the Navy in 2007, he is the Senior Vice President of Administrative Services for the Navy Federal Credit Union where he is responsible for facility management, procurement, logistics and business continuity.
Kevin Green retired from IBM Corporation in 2015, where he led IBM's Department of Defense and Intelligence Community business. He had business responsibility for providing coordinated technology, consulting and systems integration services to solve client enterprise management and mission capabilities challenges. He was a member of IBM's Industry Academy and chaired its Global Defense Board. Prior to joining IBM in 2004, Kevin served more than 30 years as a naval officer, completing his Navy career as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Policy. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and the National War College, and received an M.S. in Applied Science from the Naval Postgraduate School. Kevin consults with the Defense Science Board, the National Academy of Sciences, the Council on Foreign Relations, and on behalf of Defense Industry clients. He is a member of the U.S. Naval Institute and the Surface Navy Association, and serves on the Tuskegee University Board of Trustees.
Colonel Mayhugh retired from Active Duty on 31 May 2016, with nearly 37 years of service to our nation. Her career spans multiple countries and operations culminating with strategic level assignments with Department of Defense. She enlisted in the US Army Reserves in 1979 with the 343rd Army Security Agency, as an Intelligence Analyst. In 1999, she was selected to join the DCNG Mobilization Augmentee Detachment and promoted to Major. The Mobilization Augmentee Detachment was mobilized and was the first National Guard unit to be mobilized after 9/11 in support of the Global War on Terrorism. In June 2002, MAJ Mayhugh joined the AGR T-10 program, as Executive Officer for NGB-ARP and in March 2003 became Chief of Records Management. She was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in June of 2006 and served as Chief, Plans and Programs Branch for the Army National Guard Human Capital Management Division. Subsequently, she was promoted to the rank of Colonel while serving as Inspections Team Chief, Department of the Army Inspector General. COL Mayhugh earned her MBA from Touro University, graduating Cum Laude and her Masters in National Security and Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. In her final assignment, she served as a Special Assistant to the NGB, J-1 as Chief, Joining Community Forces, and NGB. Over the course of her career, she built collaborative, successful and trusted relationships with senior leaders in Government agencies to support and promote execution of strategic initiatives impacting DoD civilians, Military Members, veterans and families.
General Robb entered the Air Force in June 1979 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He is board certified in aerospace medicine and has spent over 20 years in the practice of aerospace medicine in support of Air Force, joint, and coalition aviation forces. Clinically, he has held the positions of chief of flight medicine; aerospace medicine squadron commander; and hospital and medical center commander. Additionally, he has held staff positions as the chief flight surgeon for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Command Surgeon, U.S. Central Command, Command Surgeon, Air Mobility Command, and Joint Staff Surgeon, Office of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. Previously, General Robb served as Deputy Director, TRICARE Management Activity. A chief flight surgeon with more than 1,600 flying hours, he has maintained additional crew member status in the A-7, OV-10, F-16, C-9, C-130, and KC-135 aircraft. Doug is currently the Special Assistant to the President for Strategic Educational Projects, Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, MD and is the Medical Chair for the National Defense University at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C.
Sharon Shaffer served as the Commander, Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. As the Judge Advocate General's Corps’ only G-Series commander, she was responsible for the command and control of a 900-member organization of legal professionals composed of officers, enlisted members, civilian attorneys, paralegals and support staff, operating at 76 locations worldwide. She was also responsible for assisting The Judge Advocate General in the administration of military justice throughout the Air Force, and defending the Air Force in civil litigation before federal and state courts and administrative boards. She was responsible for training Air Force legal professionals through The Judge Advocate General's School and providing legal information technology support to Air Force legal offices worldwide. Sharon retired from the U.S. Air Force in June 2020 in the rank of Brigadier General after a 30-year career.
In 2003, she was selected as the first Deputy Chief Defense Counsel for the Office of Military Commissions and assigned to represent one of the first four detainees charged in the Global War on Terrorism. Following the military commissions, she served as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Headquarters United States Air Forces in Europe. She has tried over 150 courts-martial as either trial or defense counsel and presided as a military judge in 160 general and special courts-martial.
She is licensed to practice law before the Supreme Court of the State of Michigan, the United States Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the United States Supreme Court.
Dr. Christine Hunter brings over 35 years of leadership experience to her current board and advisory roles supporting health care quality, insurance, professional development, and higher education. She proudly serves as an independent board director for WPS Health Solutions and Navy Mutual Aid Association, delivering comprehensive health and life insurance products for Military, Veterans, and seniors.
Dr. Hunter has a long history of distinguished service in Federal health programs. On active duty in the Navy, she rose to the rank of Rear Admiral with responsibility for direct healthcare delivery, health system operations, and health plan management. Her key leadership roles included assignments as Deputy Director of the TRICARE Management Activity; Commanding Officer, Naval Medical Center San Diego; Commander, Navy Medicine West; US Pacific Fleet Surgeon; Chief of Staff for the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery; and Commanding Officer, Naval Hospital Bremerton WA.
Upon completing her military career, Dr. Hunter joined the US Office of Personnel Management as Chief Medical Officer for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. In 2016, her work to improve the delivery of quality health care was recognized with a meritorious Presidential Rank Award. Since retiring from public service, she has continued to support quality health outcomes for all Americans as Co-Chair of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Committee on Performance Measurement.
Dr. Hunter is a Distinguished Alumna of Boston University, where she earned her undergraduate and medical degrees. She remains active in higher education as a member of the Boston University President’s Advisory Board, as well as Dean’s Advisory Boards for the Schools of Medicine and Public Health. She is a Governance Fellow of the National Association of Corporate Directors, a Master of the American College of Physicians (ACP), a 2011 ACP Laureate awardee, and the recipient of numerous military awards.
The Resident Council's charge is to promote the general well being and enhance the quality of life for our residents. Three residents are elected annually to the nine-member council, bringing with them a wealth of talent to their positions. Their primary focus is facilitating communication between residents, management and the Board of Directors; providing advocacy in areas such as strategic planning, finance and audit.
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