The North Carolina Mason

March/April 2018

North Carolina Mason

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The Mason Official Publication of e Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of North Carolina Volume 143 Number 2 Oxford, North Carolina March/April 2018 NORTH CAROLINA ■ see LEWIS page 7 By Beth Grace Mason Editor Mark Lewis knows one thing for sure: he already loves his new job. Lewis, who took over as the 14th administrator of WhiteStone: A Masonic and Eastern Star Commu- nity on March 15, says he felt at home even before his first day. When he attended the White- Stone Board of Directors meeting in February, he was bowled over. "I was overwhelmed by how welcoming everyone was and how they embraced this change," he says. "Everyone – board members, residents and many others – came and introduced themselves to me. What a great feeling!" Lewis, an Ohio native, who has spent his career in caring for seniors, is a graduate of the University of Findlay, Ohio, with a major in psychology and a certifi- cation in gerontology. He has some history caring for seniors at Masonic homes – early on in his career, he spent almost two years working at the Ohio Masonic Home in Spring- field, a job that also involved some public relations work, event plan- ning and implementation. He moved on quickly to Lincoln Park Manor, a 60-bed nursing facility with a 30-bed assisted living unit, as assistant executive director from 1999 to 2002. He moved on to the Eaglewood Care Center in Springfield, a 109-bed Medicare- and Medicaid-certified facility with an Alzheimer's/dementia unit, where he served as administrator from 2002 to 2005. He joined National Church Resi- dences in Cuyahoga Falls, adminis- tering two large senior care facilities and serving as Regional Operations administrator. He is a member of the American College of Health Care Administra- tors and in his spare time, he keeps moving – literally. He's a trail runner and an ultra-marathoner, including finishing in the 2014 Burning River 100-mile marathon. Lewis has already met many of WhiteStone's 300 residents – where about two-thirds of the indepen- dent living residents are Masons or fraternally related – but looks forward to getting into the groove in his new job. He and his wife of 20 years, Amy, their son, Kellen, 10 and daughter Katen, 8; and the family dog, 10-year- old Greta the German Shepherd will relocate to Greensboro. Lewis will be staying on the WhiteStone property until the school year ends and the family is moved. e Lewises will be moving closer to family – his sister has lived in Charlotte for 20 years. "Everyone's excited to be here," he says. "Although for my kids, I don't think it has really hit them just yet!" Lewis replaces Mark Kolada, who becomes director of opera- tions management for Life Care Services Corp., the company that manages WhiteStone. He will continue to help oversee White- Stone and five other retirement communities in North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. He looks forward to his new role and to working with Lewis. "I am excited for Mark to assume the execu- tive director role at WhiteStone. His extensive experience in retire- ment living and posi- tive upbeat personality will be a great fit for the community and fraternity," Meet WhiteStone's new leader: Mark Lewis "I started at the Ohio Masonic Home 22 years ago and I have so many fond memories of my time there and the many great people I met. In large part, that's what drew me to WhiteStone."

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