We recently connected with Stacey Dubowitch and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Stacey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

This is actually a fun story, and it goes all the way back to the recession of 2008. I had just moved to California the year before from Philadelphia and was working in banking as a marketing associate. When the recession hit, the writing was on the wall and it was time to forge a new path.

At the time, I thought I wanted to go to medical school, but in my mid-20s I felt “too old,” unsure about the time and financial commitment. Becoming a Physician Assistant seemed more accessible, but to apply you need over 500 hours of clinical experience. So I dove in headfirst: I became a CNA, then an EMT/ER Tech, and for two years I worked across two busy hospitals in Orange County.

I applied to multiple PA programs, but this was a period when applications were skyrocketing, and I found myself repeatedly waitlisted. Eventually, after years of hands-on clinical work, I had to be honest with myself that direct patient care simply wasn’t the right fit for me.

That’s when I discovered the Master of Science in Health Care Administration program at Cal State Long Beach. For the first time, something clicked. I could clearly see myself thriving as a hospital administrator, and I felt energized by the idea of being part of the larger system that supports patient care. During my studies, I worked for a concierge medical provider that (rather sketchily) went bankrupt despite receiving $20 million in venture funding. It was chaotic, but it taught me a lot about the business side of healthcare.

Soon after, still in graduate school, I found a senior living organization that was building a brand-new Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) and needed help with business development. This was my very first foray into senior living, and it changed everything. I quickly realized how deep the need was, especially around dementia care, and that became the focus of my master’s research.

Looking back, my path was anything but linear, but I’m grateful for every twist and detour. My first role in senior living didn’t just set me on a career path; it gave me my purpose.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For those who may not know me, I’m someone who has always been driven by service, purpose, and a deep belief that older adults deserve dignity, advocacy, and high-quality support as they age. My path into the senior care industry wasn’t a straight line, but everything clicked for me the moment I stepped into the world of senior living and recognized how much unmet need existed, especially around dementia care, family guidance, and coordinated aging support.

Today, I am the Vice President of Community Outreach & Programs of Senior Resource Nevada, a mission-driven organization dedicated to helping older adults and their families navigate one of the most emotional and complex phases of life. We provide comprehensive senior living placement services, dementia and caregiver support, long-term care planning, community education, and connections to vetted professionals across the aging services ecosystem. Essentially, we help families make some of the hardest decisions they’ll ever face with clarity, trust, and compassion.

The problem we solve is overwhelming but simple: aging is complicated, fragmented, and often overwhelming for families who are suddenly thrust into decision-making during a crisis. People don’t know where to start. They’re scared of making the “wrong” choice. They’re unsure whom to trust. What sets my work apart is that I approach every case not as a transaction, but as a mission to ensure an older adult’s quality of life is truly protected. I bring years of experience in senior living operations, dementia programming, healthcare administration, and community partnerships which allows me to advocate for families from a place of genuine expertise and insider knowledge.

What I’m most proud of is building an organization that families can rely on during some of the most vulnerable, emotionally charged moments of their lives. The gratitude people express after realizing they don’t have to navigate this alone is what fuels me every day. I’m also proud of the broader impact: helping families feel empowered, educating the community on dementia, and raising the standard for what ethical, transparent senior advocacy should look like.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about me and about Senior Resource Nevada, it’s this: We exist because no one should have to navigate aging alone. Every family deserves a guide they can trust, who listens, understands, and advocates fiercely on their behalf. That’s the heart of who I am, and what this organization stands for.

How’d you meet your business partner?

I actually met my business partner, Jonathan “JD” Sussman, in one of those serendipitous moments that feels almost scripted, like it was meant to happen. At the time, I was consulting for a local memory care community, and that’s where I first met his wife, Rachel Sussman. Rachel is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner who sees many of the residents there, and from our very first conversation, she and I clicked. She understood my passion for dementia care, my advocacy style, and the way I approached families with both compassion and structure.

One day, Rachel looked at me and said, “You need to meet my husband. We started a nonprofit, and I think the two of you are completely aligned.” She wasn’t exaggerating.

JD came to meet me at the memory care community, and within minutes of talking, it felt like finding a long-lost sibling. We had the same fire, the same frustrations with the gaps in the senior care system, and most importantly, the same vision for what advocacy should look like. Our conversations flowed effortlessly from big-picture philosophy to practical strategies, and it became clear that we both believed deeply in creating a model of support that truly centered older adults and their families.

What began as a simple introduction quickly turned into a partnership built on shared mission, mutual respect, and an uncanny amount of synergy. Looking back, meeting JD wasn’t just a pivotal moment, it was the beginning of the collaborative energy that would become Senior Resource Nevada.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I’ve built my reputation in the Vegas Valley through a combination of intention, community involvement, and a genuine passion for connection. I moved to Las Vegas only three years ago, and I knew right away that if I wanted to truly understand this market and serve it well, I had to embed myself in the community. One of the first things I did was join the Alzheimer’s Association volunteer committee for the Walk2EndAlz. It was the perfect way to meet people, learn the landscape quickly, and contribute to a cause deeply aligned with my mission.

Before moving here, my career in senior living spanned major organizations where I specialized in business development, sales, and marketing. I often traveled to brand-new markets to help open new communities and drive lease-up, which meant I had to build trust and relationships from the ground up over and over again. That experience trained me to adapt quickly, understand local needs, and connect authentically with people from every background.

I’m also a true extrovert at heart. I love meeting new people, forging relationships, and being part of a collaborative network. But beyond personality, the foundation of my reputation has always been integrity and kindness. I make it a point to treat every person (whether professionals, families, caregivers, and community partners) with respect. In this field, people remember how you made them feel, especially when they’re navigating emotionally heavy decisions.

What I’ve learned is that success in senior care isn’t about competing with others; it’s about building bridges. We’re all working toward the same goal: supporting older adults in a state that desperately needs stronger resources. Nevada has one of the fastest-growing aging populations in the country, yet we consistently rank near the bottom in healthcare access and outcomes. Collaboration isn’t optional here, it’s essential.

I believe that my willingness to show up, contribute, connect, and collaborate is what has allowed me to build a strong reputation so quickly. At the end of the day, people gravitate toward authenticity, and that’s the core of how I work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.seniorresourcenevada.org
• Instagram: @seniorresourcenevada @staceydubs
• Facebook: Senior Resource Nevada
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-dubowitch/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SeniorResourceNevada