After three decades at the helm of Foundation for Senior Living, Guy Mikkelsen will step down in December.
Tom Egan, the former head of Esperanca, an international health organization headquartered in Phoenix, took the reins as the new president and CEO of FSL Jan. 5.
Mikkelsen helped launch innovative programs for seniors, including adult day health care, home health, behavioral health residential homes, adult foster care services, weatherization and solar energy.
Linda Martin, vice president of FSL, lauded Mikkelsen for his tenacity in serving the elderly.
“If there is an unmet community need, Guy will take it on,” Martin said. “If there is a funding source, he will find it; if there is a workable service design, he will implement and continuously improve it.”
Marisue Garganta, chair of the board of directors of FSL said Mikkelsen has an unflagging commitment to human dignity coupled with a commitment to meeting community needs.
“Under Guy’s leadership, FSL has launched a continuing series of pioneering programs that have consistently responded to the community’s most timely needs,” Garganta said. “His contributions will be missed.”
Egan said he was proud to join FSL in promoting human dignity encouraging independence for seniors and others. With a burgeoning senior population, he knows there are challenges ahead. It’s going to take the collaborative effort of many people and organizations to meet those challenges, he said.
“There are 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day and that number will continue to grow over the coming decade,” Egan said. “This will put a strain on the already limited services that are available for our poor and vulnerable seniors…People have to come together to tackle these big issues.”
FSL was established in 1974 by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix as a private, non-profit organization dedicated to providing housing and social services to elders and individuals with disabilities.
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Foundation for Senior Living
(602) 285-1800
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