About Grow Your Occupancy

    Senior living specialists who get results

    Grow Your Occupancy brings together senior living sales leaders, operators, trainers, strategists, and specialists who understand the complete customer journey and the operating realities behind occupancy growth.

    Why Grow Your Occupancy exists

    Practical expertise for sustainable occupancy growth

    Our mission

    Turn experience into useful action

    Deliver proven sales and marketing strategies, guidance, training, and tools that help senior living organizations strengthen their teams, improve the sales experience, and grow occupancy.

    Our vision

    Make stronger sales systems sustainable

    Be the trusted sales and marketing partner senior living organizations turn to when they need the expertise, structure, and support required to reach and sustain high occupancy.

    How the team works

    Values that shape every engagement

    Client focused excellence

    We begin with the client’s operating reality and stay focused on the outcome the work needs to create.

    Leadership

    People who understand the full sales journey

    The Grow Your Occupancy team brings firsthand experience from senior living sales, operations, marketing, training, and leadership roles across the country.

    Julie Podewitz

    Founder profile

    Julie Podewitz

    CEO & Founder

    Julie is considered the leading expert in senior living sales and marketing. She has presented at multiple national and state industry conferences including Argentum, CALA, CHCA, SMASH, FSLA, GALA, KHCA, LALA, TALA, VALA, Michigan, Southeast, and Iowa Leading Age, SMASH and the Senior Housing News Sales Summit. She has also participated in many expert panels.

    Explore Julie’s books
    Allison Matthews

    Leadership profile

    Allison Matthews

    Vice President of Strategic Growth

    Allison Matthews is a senior living executive leader with 25 years of industry experience helping organizations implement sales processes, grow occupancy, strengthen sales performance, increase customer satisfaction, and develop exceptional teams.

    Lori Jordan

    Leadership profile

    Lori Jordan

    Vice President of Operations

    As a dynamic operations executive with nearly 20 years of experience in senior living and healthcare management, Lori is recognized for her ability to align organizational strategies with actionable initiatives that foster growth, efficiency, and client satisfaction. Her extensive expertise in stakeholder engagement, project management, and team leadership has positioned her as a driving force in operational excellence within the sales and marketing sector of senior housing.

    Melinda Haney

    Leadership profile

    Melinda Haney

    Vice President of Administration and Sales Success Specialist

    Melinda’s passion for helping older adults has fueled her 20+ years in the senior living space. She has assisted residents and families with all levels of senior living and has held 98+% occupancy in her communities for years. Her communities are often voted “Best of” in their local markets.

    Jim Podewitz

    Leadership profile

    Jim Podewitz

    Marketing Director

    Jim Podewitz is a marketing director specializing in brand management, digital marketing, traditional marketing, and content creation.

    Lori Vernier

    Leadership profile

    Lori Vernier

    Senior Sales Strategist

    Lori Vernier is a dynamic and results-driven Senior Sales Strategist at Grow Your Occupancy, bringing over 20 years of expertise in sales leadership, business development, and high-impact coaching. She is deeply committed to transforming sales teams by elevating individual performance, fostering accountability, and developing confident, capable leaders in the senior living space.

    Jennifer Ptacek

    Leadership profile

    Jennifer Ptacek

    Senior Sales Specialist

    Jennifer is a results-oriented Director of Marketing and Sales, boasting over 11 years of extensive experience within the senior living industry. Her journey into this field was sparked by a genuine passion for seniors, initially working as a Certified Nursing Assistant in skilled nursing facilities. Over time, she discovered her calling as a Sales Director, where her skills became instrumental in helping seniors and their families navigate the complex decision of transitioning to a senior living community.

    Start with the operating challenge

    Bring experienced perspective to the work in front of you

    Talk through the pressure point, the current sales process, and the kind of support your team needs.

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