With over 30 years of experience in the senior living industry, Stephanie Hess has built a distinguished career grounded in compassion, leadership, and a steadfast commitment to people. Her journey began as a nursing assistant during college – a role that shaped her understanding of what truly matters in care: putting people first. That early experience instilled values that have guided her ever since.
How Stephanie is building a sustainable business model in Senior Living with Mimi Senior Living
Stephanie took on her first leadership role as a nursing home administrator at 22, quickly discovering her passion for creating environments where both residents and staff can thrive. Over the years, her career has spanned skilled nursing, assisted living, independent living, and memory care – with the past 12 years devoted to advancing excellence in the latter three areas.
Known for her humility, authenticity, and ability to listen, Stephanie has cultivated cultures where employees feel heard, respected, and valued. She readily acknowledges that not every decision is perfect, but her willingness to learn, adapt, and collaborate with her teams has been key to her continued success.
Mimi Senior Living is a specialist management and consulting firm dedicated to supporting senior living communities. The company delivers comprehensive property management services designed to optimize operations, unlock asset value, and drive strong financial performance, whether for existing properties or new acquisitions.
Led by Stephanie Hess, the team brings hands-on expertise to every stage of the process, from acquisition and operational transition to onboarding and community stabilization. With a focus on enhancing both performance and the resident experience, Mimi partners with owners and investors to ensure each community operates efficiently, remains compliant, and achieves sustainable financial success.
For ground-up developments, Mimi provides strategic guidance from initial planning through lease-up and stabilizing operations. Their services include evaluating building designs for operational flow and resident appeal, reviewing underwriting assumptions such as rent projections and lease-up velocity, and developing targeted marketing strategies to generate early interest. During construction, they advise on key operational decisions, lead pre-opening initiatives, and manage occupancy planning to ensure a seamless launch and strong results from day one.
When launching Mimi Senior Living, Stephanie focused on developing a sustainable business model centered on high-quality care, operational efficiency, and strategic growth. Since its launch six weeks ago, the company has actively explored joint venture opportunities to strengthen its regional presence and enhance service delivery.
Stephanie’s career reflects not only her deep expertise but also her enduring belief that care, empathy, and teamwork are the foundation of great leadership in senior living.
Working in partnership and identifying business opportunities with Compass Associates
James Long, Senior Executive Search Consultant at Compass Associates, has been working with Stephanie Hess and her leadership team at Mimi Senior Living in an advisory capacity over the past few months, building on a longstanding professional relationship.
Through his deep understanding of the sector, James has provided strategic insight into industry trends and emerging opportunities, enabling Stephanie and her team to take proactive steps that have significantly enhanced operational performance.
“Stephanie’s leadership philosophy is simple yet powerful: senior living is, and always will be, a people business. She believes that when leaders prioritize people – residents, families, and employees alike – organizational performance naturally follows.” James Long, Senior Executive Search consultant at Compass Associates
In addition, James has introduced Mimi Senior Living to a network of industry professionals who have added value through joint venture and third-party management opportunities -connections that the team has leveraged to great effect.
James Long has over 15 years of executive search experience within the Senior Living sector. He has partnered with many of the industry’s leading providers to identify and place high-impact leadership talent across senior management teams.
James is known for his deep understanding of the Senior Living market and his proven ability to source and attract exceptional, off-market candidates who bring lasting value to the organizations they join. His consultative approach and sector insight have made him a trusted partner to providers seeking to strengthen their leadership and drive operational excellence.
If you’re exploring investment opportunities or seeking expert hiring support, get in touch to discuss how James can help you achieve your goals.