Erin Shvetzoff Hennessey, CEO, Health Dimensions Group

Newly promoted Chief Executive Erin Shvetzoff Hennessey is leading expansion of consulting and management services at Minnetonka-based Health Dimensions Group, which advises senior care providers and manages senior living communities across the country.

Hennessey has served in a variety of leadership roles at HDG and previously was executive vice president of the company's consulting practice. HDG is "one of a kind" as both a consultant and an operator of 30 skilled-nursing, assisted-living, independent-living and home-health organizations.

HDG has offered both since Sergei Shvetzoff, Hennessey's father, and principal Dave Briscoe founded the company in May 2000, Hennessey said. Sergei Shvetzoff, CEO since 2015, continues as board chairman.

HDG, which has 700 clients, recently added a centralized business office and human-resources services and bolstered others. On the managed-services side, HDG will open and operate six retirement communities across the country over the next 18 to 24 months in a joint venture with a nonprofit development organization, Hennessey said.

The projects will add hundreds of new residents to the 3,200 now in HDG-managed facilities, Hennessey said. HDG, which has 120 employees at its corporate headquarters and 3,200 in managed communities, will hire hundreds of additional employees for the new facilities.

Hennessey has a master's degree in gerontology from Bethel University and a degree in business administration and legal studies from the University of St. Thomas.

Q: What is your background at HDG?

A: I worked outside of the industry for several years to make sure this was my chosen calling. I confirmed that with myself, my dad and the company and came back in 2010 and have since worked in almost every department here. I went through a rigorous training program so I understand how this organization works.

Q: How are HDG's experience as a consultant and operator a differentiator?

A: When we're consultants we're compassionate and empathetic to our clients because we know how hard it is to take great care of people and we know that it doesn't happen by accident. When we are in our managed communities we know that walking into someone else's community and telling them what to do is hard.

Q: Does consulting or managed services account for a larger share of business?

A: It's about a 50-50 split now. The future will see us having more of that be from consulting as we move into times where operations financial and regulatory pressures are put on this field.

Todd Nelson