Peder Johnsen, Chief Executive Officer

Peder Johnsen is the Chief Executive Officer of Concordis Senior Living, LLC. Peder has worked in the senior living industry for 25 years and is responsible for regulatory compliance and the day to day operations of the Concordis communities.

Peder’s family has been involved in the senior living industry for three generations, making them one of the early senior living developers/operators in the state of Florida. The Johnsen family developed their first family owned and operated assisted living community in 1980 in central Florida. The Johnsen’s executed a successful strategy of developing, stabilizing and selling assisted living facilities.

In 1995, Peder assumed leadership of his family’s assisted living communities consisting, at that time, of two communities in Marion County, Florida. As administrator of these facilities, Peder was responsible for all aspects of the business, including day to day operations.

Beginning in 2000, Peder renovated and expanded the two existing communities. He later purchased three additional underperforming facilities and made them profitable by way of repositioning and/or renovations. During this time he also developed a community from the ground up.

In 2008, Peder teamed with Trent Watkins to establish what is now Concordis Senior Living, LLC.

Trent Watkins, President

Trent Watkins is the President of Concordis Senior Living, LLC. Trent’s extensive legal and business experience make him well suited to oversee Concordis’ financial and legal affairs, as well as development and acquisitions. Trent is also responsible for human resource policies and initiatives.

Trent has arranged financing of senior living projects through conventional loans, HUD/FHA insured loan programs, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and private sector bonds. In addition to his experience in the senior housing industry, Trent has managed and developed real estate projects in other industries for more than a decade.

Prior to joining Concordis, Trent practiced law in Dallas, Texas. His practice focused on complex commercial litigation and bankruptcy. In 2005, Trent purchased a portfolio of underperforming Sonic Drive-In restaurants in central Florida. During the next few years, Trent orchestrated the turnaround of operations, the renovation of several of the locations, as well as the development of an additional location. From 2005 through 2007, Trent was responsible for every aspect of the business, from back office administration to day-to-day operation of the restaurants. Trent obtained extensive operational, labor management, inventory control, marketing and human resources experience that he has been able to translate into the operation of senior living communities.

Trent earned a degree in economics from The University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

Travis Watkins, Chief Financial Officer

Travis Watkins is the Chief Financial Officer for Concordis Senior Living, LLC. He oversees accounting, financial reporting, strategic planning, operating budgets, financial analysis, evaluating new management and development opportunities, and banking relationships.

Travis has implemented an efficient accounting system that has accelerated the month end closing process. This enables management to process and act quickly on financial data. It also allows the company to promptly provide financial data to investment partners and/or to meet HUD, bond or REIT reporting requirements.

Travis has applied his extensive real estate leasing and sales experience to transition the company’s sales approach away from the senior housing industry norm. This incentive-based approach better motivates the salesperson and aligns their interest with that of the company. Additionally, Travis’ real estate background has proven invaluable for market evaluation, site evaluation and negotiations.

Before joining Concordis in 2010, Travis gained extensive experience that has translated smoothly into the senior living industry. Travis worked for two prominent commercial brokerage firms: Grubb & Ellis Company and The Weitzman Group. He handled general brokerage, specializing in retail project representation, retail tenant representation, retail investment sales and land sales. In 2009, the Austin Business Journal recognized Travis as a “Heavy Hitter,” in the retail broker rankings for Austin, Texas. He earned the CoStar Power Broker Award as a Top 10 Retail Leasing Broker in 2009. Prior to his commercial real estate career, he worked as an accountant for PricewaterhouseCoopers in their assurance services group serving both public and private companies.

Travis Watkins earned both a Masters in Professional Accounting and a Bachelors of Business Administration while completing the Professional Program of Accounting curriculum from The University of Texas at Austin. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Mercedes Andrus, Vice President of Operations

Mercedes Andrus has a passion and dedication for seniors that few in the industry do. Her 30+ years of progressive leadership in the Senior Living Industry made her the perfect fit for Vice President of Operations at Concordis Senior Living. As a result-oriented individual, she has a knack for transforming a high potential staff into outstanding leaders of their communities. Leading by example, she teaches creativity and savviness that is critical to financial and operational success throughout the entire industry.

As a member of the Concordis Executive team she builds and retains high performance teams by strategically hiring, developing, and motivating skilled professionals in all areas of Long-Term Care. These areas of expertise include Assisted Living, Memory Care, Independent Care, Home Care, and Adult Day Care.

Prior to joining the Concordis team she held a multitude of regional and corporate roles within local and national companies. Her career has taken her to 18 states up and down the Eastern and Central Time Zone.

Mercedes’ outstanding career began immediately upon graduating with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Community and Human Services in 1990. During her undergrad, she focused on a nursing course of study with an emphasis on Gerontology. Mercedes spent the next 12 years working in Central New York in progressive roles under the same company umbrella. This passion for the industry lead Mercedes to obtain a Master of Science Degree in Health Care Administration from the New School of Social Research. However, her dedication to her craft does not stop there, Mercedes is constantly pursuing continuing education; Most recently obtaining her Certified Dementia Practitioner certification.

Throughout her career Mercedes has mastered all aspects of operations, sales and marketing, and regulatory compliance. Utilizing each of these unique tools, she works side by side with her colleagues to attain positive results in all areas of business.

We are honored to have Mercedes as a part of the Concordis Senior Living Team! While she plays an active role in each of the Concordis communities, you’re most likely to run into her at Sarabella Senior Living. Make sure to say hello next time you’re around!