Mike Ekis Promoted to Senior Vice President of Construction Mike brings over 20 years of broad experience constructing single-family homes, multi-family communities, and senior housing in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, North Carolina, and Louisiana. He has successfully delivered dozens of projects and thousands of homes over the course of his career, many of which have qualified for sustainable programs, such as Energy Star, Green Communities, and LEED. As the Senior Vice President of Construction, Mike will oversee all aspects of Wallick’s construction program, including plan development, budgeting, and project safety. He is also responsible for ensuring the overall production, quality, and profitability of each development Congratulations Mike! Wallick is so thankful to have you!
Wallick Communities CFO Sarah Malone was named an honoree in Columbus Business First’s 2024 C-Suite Awards. These awards acknowledge the most admired leaders and top executives in Central Ohio. We congratulate Sarah on this well-deserved honor. Click the link below to learn more!
Repurpose with a Purpose Adaptive reuse of old hotel provides value-driven independent and assisted living. A revolutionary idea in the marketplace. Opened in September 2016, The Ashford on Broad provides independent and assisted living services and amenities to seniors of all income levels and created 70 new jobs. “This new product addresses a large and significantly underserved market,” said Wallick’s CEO Tom Feusse. “Wallick is uniquely positioned to do so, given our experience in both assisted living and affordable housing.” “This project is clearly unique because it’s one of the very few assisted living communities designed to serve this specific market segment,” said Feusse. “It’s also quite timely, considering that well over 50 percent of seniors today cannot afford assisted living.” Along with the purchase came 150 fully furnished rooms. Wallick’s Heart of Service Committee, an associate-led group focused on giving through service, coordinated an effort to provide hundreds of items including beds, linens, towels, furniture, appliances and more to three local nonprofit charities.
Last month, Wallick's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion + Belonging Committee hosted a Juneteenth social at Oakleaf Village of Columbus, a Wallick Senior Living community. Associates came together for an afternoon of celebrating Juneteenth, enjoying meaningful conversations, and sharing inspiring and eye-opening book recommendations and resources.
Family-Owned Company Transitioning to Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Wallick Communities Co-Owners and Principals Howard Wallick, Julie Wallick and Tom Feusse announced the company’s ownership transfer to its more than 1,100 associates through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Wallick is the largest developer, owner and operator of affordable housing in the state of Ohio. The ESOP is a new retirement benefit. Associates will earn Wallick stock and become part-owners of the company. Wallick’s co-owners considered multiple options for ownership transition while preserving the company’s culture, sense of family and independence. An ESOP helps secure the company’s future and growth while remaining a locally-owned and operated business. “When Jack Wallick founded the company in 1966, he could not have imagined the company would grow to open doors to homes, opportunity and hope across 200-plus communities in six states, with more than 1,100 associates,” said Wallick CEO Amy Albery. “Moving to employee-ownership preserves Jack’s values and vision for the company, while enabling our associates to benefit from our success." “Additionally, employee ownership is a significant advantage as we continue to retain top talent. We believe employee ownership provides an opportunity for associates to benefit directly from the company’s growth and momentum that they are helping to create.”
Wallick welcomes Derrick Young as our Senior Vice President of Affordable Housing Operations. Hailing from Oakland, California, Derrick brings a wealth of leadership experience in the affordable housing and senior living industries, with numerous areas of expertise, including mission-driven mentorship, people leadership, operations management and strategic planning. In his new role, he will lead the affordable housing operations team to support residents and associates while maintaining compliance, occupancy standards, and optimal operating performance for Wallick’s portfolio of 200+ communities. Please join us in welcoming C.Derrick Young to Wallick and wishing him great success in his new chapter!
In 2023, Wallick's partnership with Resident Resources Network (RRN) made a tangible difference in the lives of 9,409 residents across 71 affordable housing communities. RRN's dedicated service coordination team went beyond simply providing housing — they provided a human connection, breaking down barriers and empowering residents to move forward. Through direct referrals, on-site services, and unwavering support in areas like employment, education, health, and benefits, RRN connected residents to the resources they needed. Their "it takes a village" approach recognized that housing is just one piece of the puzzle; building safe, supportive communities requires addressing the challenges residents face beyond their four walls. This holistic approach is evident in stories like Ms. Johnson's. A single mother facing eviction, she found hope and a lifeline in her community's service coordinator. With their help, Ms. Johnson secured rent assistance, keeping her family safe and stable in their home. We are deeply grateful to RRN for their transformative work and impact across our communities. 🧡
