Tom Berry

About Tom Berry

Dedicated to changing the way the world cares and engages with elders. Senior living professional with decades of experience in business development, operations and sales. Pubic speaker and advocate on aging and gerontology related matters.MY JOURNEY TO SERVING SENIORS:My passion for working with seniors was sparked by a conversation I had while interning in the US Senate. While studying Political Science at George Washington University, I interned for then Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD). Senator Daschle challenged me to focus on aging issues and shared his viewpoint that taking care of seniors would be the biggest challenge for my generation. I soon started attending hearings on Medicare and Social Security and quickly after graduation, started working at a new senior living community in San Francisco. The work was instantly rewarding and inspired me to obtain my Master\'s in Gerontology and continue my work in senior living. TELEVSION AND PUBLIC SPEAKING:While obtaining my Master\'s Degree, I developed a plan to combine my interests in politics, journalism, and gerontology in an internship at KRON-TV. The plan was for me to work in the newsroom for the stations premier news anchor while writing media stories on seniors. It was from this experience that I was able to create, The Silver Lining, a program focused on seniors and their families. I hosted and produced the program for five years, with episodes featuring Kamala Harris, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, and many other seniors and experts in our field. My work has continued at Sunrise Senior Living in sales and operations roles over the past two decades, leading to my current role as National Director of Business Development. SPEAKING, ADVOCACY & BOARD POSITIONSI continue my work at San Francisco State University leading the Advisory Council and on the advisory board for the Geriatric Emergency Department program. Over the past two decades, I\'ve presented at several aging related conferences and developed lecture series programs with elected officials and academic experts. I\'ve also developed interviews features seniors and telling their important stories. I\'m very interested passionate about telling these stories and exploring how seniors age differently around the globe.

Experience

1. National Director of Business Development

   Sunrise Senior Living

   Jan 2022 — Present

   Responsible for leading the business development team and strategies across the United States & Canada. Leading a team of Area Directors of Business Development that are focused on building strong referral relationships with healthcare and other types of professionals. Oversee and support strategies with large national companies to expand services and support to seniors in our independent living, assisted living and memory care communities

Education

• The George Washington University

  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

  1995 — 1999

• San Francisco State University

  Master of Arts (MA)

  2003 — 2005