Skill. Dedication. Compassion.

The people who come to work at The Kenney love their jobs, and it shows where it counts the most – in our day to day interaction with our residents. More than just a job, working here means being a member of a community we care deeply about. We’re here to serve your every need with skill, dedication and compassion. It’s not unusual to find staff members who’ve been here for decades. That kind of continuity and commitment can be rare… but not at The Kenney. Read more about our leadership team and long-time staff members below.

Our caring and experienced leadership team helps make The Kenney what it is – a special and vibrant place that feels like family. With their skill and dedication, they work hard to make sure The Kenney lives up to our founders’ mission of “life enhancement for the senior community.” The leadership team supervises a staff of more than 165 employees, some of whom can measure their tenure in decades. Five people have been here more than 25 years. Now that’s commitment!

Ed Mawe

Interim CEO

With over 27 years of experience in the senior housing and services industry, The Kenney is very fortunate to have Ed Mawe as Interim CEO. Ed is a licensed nursing home administrator in both Washington and Oregon and has served as an Executive Director/CEO in Continuing Care Retirement Communities in the Northwest for 17 years. For 13 years, Ed served as President & CEO of Franke Tobey Jones in Tacoma and three years as Executive Director of Mary’s Woods at Marylhurst near Portland, Oregon. Most recently Ed has been working on short-term consulting projects and interim CEO assignments.

Ed describes a passion for seniors and has dedicated the majority of his professional career to working in various aspects of the senior services industry. He is particularly enjoying his time at The Kenney because of its special and unique resident environment. “Rarely, have I seen a senior community with the level of warmth and welcoming spirit as I have found at The Kenney”, states Ed. “There is something special and almost indescribable about this place. I look forward to continuing to work with both the staff and residents of The Kenney as we map out an exciting future for us.”

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Karmen Hudson

Director of Marketing

After the front-desk receptionist, Karmen Hudson is often first staff person to welcome would-be residents and their families to The Kenney.

As Director of Marketing and Public Relations, she meets with and gives tours to prospective residents and their families to help them decide if The Kenney is right for them. If the answer is yes, she helps coordinate the process of moving into their new home.

Karmen is also in charge of marketing materials and advertizing, as well as keeping the data base of prospective and future residents.

But it’s the face-to-face she enjoys the most. Karmen started at The Kenney as a part-time receptionist after studying education in college. She thought she wanted to be a secondary school teacher, but “fell in love with the opposite end of the spectrum.”

It’s not hard “selling” the only not-for-profit continuing care retirement community in West Seattle. “I love showing people how The Kenney can improve their quality of their life,” she says.

She’s witnessed it herself. “People who have been isolated and depressed living in their own homes move into The Kenney and, after a few months, they’re walking taller, sleeping better, laughing. It’s amazing and great to see.”

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Dawn Finlayson

Director of Human Resources

Dawn Finlayson does her best to ensure that The Kenney’s 180 employees like coming to work each day.

“It’s not hard,” she says. “The people who work here are people who are doing the job they love. They have a passion for caring for seniors.”

Director of human resources since 2008, Dawn is in charge of HR “A to Z,” including recruiting and hiring, training and development, benefits and compensation, policies and procedures, and employee and labor relations.

“No two days are the same,” she says. “I love it.”

Dawn started out in banking, but switched to human resources six years ago after some soul searching and having her first child.

She joined The Kenney on Halloween day 2005 as a human resources assistant. “The first time I met everybody, they were in costume,” she says with a laugh. “I was not.”

Dawn, who grew up in West Seattle, quickly became part of The Kenney family. “I like to say that I come to work with 180 grandmas and grandpas every day,” she says.

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Jayne Monk

Director of Nursing

Jayne Monk was only 17 when she got her first job in geriatric nursing. She liked the work so much she’s been doing it off and on ever since.

“I love senior care. I love grandma and grandpa,” she says. “How you age reflects who you are and what you accept in your life. I’m still learning. I learn from the residents.”

Jayne’s job certainly keeps her hopping. As head of The Kenney’s nursing operations – both the day-to-day and future planning – it’s her responsibility to anticipate needs, keep up with ever-changing regulations, and make sure the nursing staff is always trained and ready to meet issues as they arise.

She describes her role as “quality assurance” with a focus on prevention – addressing the cough before it develops into pneumonia, for example.

Before joining The Kenney in March 2011, Jayne came to The Kenney with 15 years of Director of Nursing and quality assurance experience. She also has done some interior design, including residential and commercial structures, and medical spaces.

When she’s not working, Jayne is an active visual artist who also enjoys travel, reading adventure stories with her husband in the evening and spending time with her grandchildren. (Her artwork has appeared in the monthly art walks.)
“I like to learn about and do things that interest me,” she says. “I really try to celebrate life every day.”

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Bart Brosten

Director of Finance

Bart developed his love for working with people when he served as a Resident Director at several college campus residence halls as he made his way through college, earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Accounting from Montana State University and a Master’s of Business Administration degree at Oregon State University. “I loved being part of a housing community and using my talents to make a contribution”, he says. After working in not-for-profit financial leadership for seven years and starting his own consulting business for not-for-profits, The Kenney is very fortunate to have Bart on board as Director of Finance. “After working for my own business, I realized I missed the non-for-profit mission and working as a part of a team to make a difference, he states. “I’m interested in “social entrepreneurship”-a blend of providing not-for-profit services with for-profit sustainability.

Bart describes The Kenney as being all about people-including residents, staff and volunteers. “Every day I ask myself, would I want my Mom and Dad to live at The Kenney? I devote each day to keep the answer a resounding YES! At work I have 180 moms and dads living within a 100 yards of my office door-this drives me to do my best work each and every day.”

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Robert Kemp

Director of Social Services

After graduating with a degree in psychology and education Robert worked several years as a school teacher and behavior specialist. He also volunteered at night with the King County Crisis Line. “Realizing I enjoyed time listening and empathizing with others I decided to attend graduate school for social work”, he says. After earning a Master’s degree in Social Work, Robert worked as an investigator for protective services and then a social worker in the ER at Harborview before joining The Kenney in 2011. When asked what brought him to The Kenney, Robert explains, “I had a very positive experience visiting my grandmother for ten years in a senior living community in Portland. Those visits and the respect I gained for the staff there had a profound impact on me being drawn to working in the senior living industry. When coming to work every day I believe that my expertise, education and social work make me a compassionate and empathetic advocate for seniors.”

Robert’s role at The Kenney allows him to interact with residents and their family members every day. “The Kenney is special because this is home to everyone here”, he describes. “There are strong family bonds maintained here. I enjoy conversations and reminiscing with residents every day. The residents share a wealth of experience and tradition.”

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