Leadership Team

Tom Ostrom founded Encore Management and Development in 2001 with a desire to improve older Americans’ lives by bringing a new, innovative approach to senior housing. Since then, he has overseen the company’s successful portfolio growth through acquiring and developing properties.

Today, the Encore portfolio has 34 communities, nearly 2,000 residents, and 1,600 employees. Before starting Encore, Tom was the Senior Vice President at a large national senior housing operator.  A serial entrepreneur, Tom founded more than three dozen companies in and outside the senior housing industry. Tom graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Economics.

Tom lives in Chicago with his wife of 20 years, their two children, and one very lazy dog.

Fun Fact: Tom has 50 first cousins!

First Job: His first job was salting country hams.

Roth has been in the hospitality and seniors housing industry for over 35 years. He worked his way through Valdosta State University as a server and receptionist at a hotel while earning a bachelor’s degree in Management and Marketing. After graduating from college, Roth went into the hotel industry, then transferred his hospitality experience to senior living where he found his passion serving seniors in leadership positions such as Executive Director and Regional Director of Operations. As Chief Operating Officer since the inception of Encore Senior Living, Roth helped build the company’s inclusive, family-oriented, diverse and dynamic culture.

Originally from Live Oak, FL, Roth divides his time between Oak Park and Galena, IL with his partner Brad.

Fun Fact: Roth is a 5th generation Floridian and grew up on a 3,000-acre working ranch in North Florida – The Florida Sheriff’s Boys Ranch in Live Oak, FL.

First Job: Washing dishes and operating the potato peeling machine at the Boys Ranch at age 10.

Barbara has served in the Senior Living industry for over 20 years. Her journey began with a single site continuing care retirement community that fueled her passion to serve older adults.

Barbara has a diverse background and skillset having held consulting, operational, and Chief Financial Officer roles with multi-campus senior living providers throughout the Midwest. She maintains the highest ethical standards and prides herself on having partnered with CEOs to complete campus development and expansions, debt refinancing, and restructure operations.

Barbara holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in public accounting from Loyola University of Chicago and received her CPA from the University of Illinois.

Barbara recently became an empty nester and fled the suburbs for Chicago. She now enjoys morning runs along the lakefront, a walk to Wrigley for a Cubs game, and an occasional game night with her three children.

Fun Fact: Barbara worked her way through college as a bank teller. One day, a young rookie Chicago Blackhawk player stepped up to the teller window with his first paycheck for deposit.  He later went on to be one of hockey’s greats and was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

First Job: Barbara’s first job was dipping ice cream at Cock Robin, a local ice cream parlor restaurant chain famous for their “One-in-a-Million” shakes. After the first month, she was known as the fastest dipper.

Becky’s dedication and passion for seniors and their families fueled her career progression over the last 15 years. Her enthusiasm, resourcefulness, and knowledge of the ever-changing senior housing market make her a great mentor for her team. She enjoys ensuring they have the knowledge and tools they need to be successful sales leaders.

Becky began her career with Encore Senior Living in 2019 as a community-based sales and marketing director overseeing three communities. She quickly advanced to leading to a regional position supporting ten communities and, ultimately, her current role.

Becky holds a bachelor’s degree in media management from Columbia College in Chicago. She lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where she enjoys spending free time with friends and family, gardening, cooking, and traveling to new places (especially on her motorcycle)!

Fun Fact: While working at a senior living community in 2011, Becky found a kitten in the lobby. No one at the community claimed him, so she took him home “just for the weekend.” The kitten quickly became a permanent resident at her home, and he remains her pet today.

First Job: Becky’s first job was as a cashier/stocker at Office Max, where she developed a love for fancy notebooks and the smell of pencils, neither of which, sadly, she has much occasion to use these days.

Remy’s Human Resources journey started over 20 years ago when he worked as a Human Resources Manager in a boutique hotel chain in the Caribbean. Remy has a diverse skill set in Human Resources and has held senior HR roles that include domestic and international employee populations in different industries, including non-profit, transportation, retail, and property management.

Remy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management and a Master’s in Human Resources from Keller Graduate School of Management and Conflict Resolution from Dominican University. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Remy calls the Northwest side of Chicago home, where he lives in a 1920 bungalow with his partner Greg, his mother, and a miniature pinscher named Tony. Remy enjoys reading, cooking, going to the opera, and traveling in his free time.

Fun Fact: Remy has traveled to 26 countries and looks forward to visiting many more!

First Job: He worked in his family’s grocery store in the Dominican Republic, where he was a cashier, customer service representative, jack of all trades, and unofficial accountant.

Meredith has 21-plus years of experience working in the senior living industry. She began her career in Skilled Nursing Homes where she discovered her love of serving seniors. She quickly moved up from Social Worker to Admissions Director to Director of Sales and Marketing within her first few years of working in skilled care. She then moved from the Skilled care world to the Assisted Living side where she later joined Encore as the Regional Director of Sales and Marketing and eventually to her current role as Regional VP of Operations.

Meredith holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a Human Services emphasis. She lives in Sussex, WI and in her free time, she enjoys reading, biking, boating, traveling to new places and spending time with friends and family.

Fun Fact: Meredith switched majors in college from Elementary Education to Psychology. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she was planning on getting a master’s in Child Psychology, but when she started working in nursing homes, she quickly realized she wanted a career working with seniors.

First Job: Meredith worked for Allen Edmunds shoe factory, working in the finishing department prepping shoes.

Fun Fact: While vacationing in Jamaica several years ago, Leslie jumped off a cliff at Rick’s Café in Negril.

First Job:Leslie’s first job was as a front counter server at Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.