The Roots Podcast by 12 Oaks Senior Living

Leadership Year-End Review: 2025 Insights, Impact, and Positioning for 2026 | Part 1

In this special year end edition of The Roots Podcast by 12 Oaks, host Greg Puklicz, President of 12 Oaks Senior Living, sits down with members of the executive leadership team to reflect on the milestones, growth, and momentum that defined 2025.
Throughout the episode, leaders from finance, human resources, operations, care and compliance share how their teams strengthened systems, supported community leaders, enhanced resident care, and built deeper connections across the organization. From financial excellence and workforce engagement to occupancy growth, wellness initiatives, and value-based care, the conversation highlights how 12 Oaks continues to live out its mission of helping seniors thrive in community.
Looking ahead to 2026, the leadership team outlines priorities focused on operational strength, team development, resident wellness, and thoughtful innovation, positioning 12 Oaks for continued success in a growing and evolving senior living industry.
Produced by Solinity Marketing.
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Serving the Middle Market: How 12 Oaks Creates Value and Community for Independent Living Residents

In this episode of The Roots Podcast by 12 Oaks, host Greg Puklicz, President of 12 Oaks Senior Living, sits down with Travis Wick, Regional Vice President, to unpack the strategies and heart behind serving the middle market in senior living.
From his unexpected start in the industry to leading thriving independent living communities, Travis shares how 12 Oaks is redefining affordability, access, and quality of life for residents who might otherwise be left out of the senior living conversation.
Together, Greg and Travis discuss how the middle market model delivers value through smart operations, strong resident relationships, and innovative care partnerships that extend independence and length of stay.
Produced by Solinity Marketing.
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Strategic Foundations for Value-Based Care: Data, Integration, and Innovation with CEO Richard K. Blaylock

In this episode of The Roots Podcast by 12 Oaks, host  Greg Puklicz, President of 12 Oaks, is joined by Chief Executive Officer Richard K. Blaylock for a deep dive into the future of value-based care in senior living. Together, they explore how 12 Oaks is laying the groundwork for smarter care delivery—through integrated health records, data warehousing, and emerging technologies like motion and fall detection.
From pilot programs to strategic partnerships with platforms like August Health and Inspiron, this episode unpacks how the 2025 thematic goal of value-based care is becoming a reality. With a strong emphasis on data-driven decision-making, Greg and Richard discuss how these initiatives are designed to improve wellness outcomes, enhance family satisfaction, extend length of stay, and drive long-term RevPAR growth.
Produced by Solinity Marketing.
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Driving Strategic Initiatives and Business Development with CEO Richard K. Blaylock

In this episode of The Roots Podcast by 12 Oaks, host Greg Puklicz, President of 12 Oaks, is joined by Richard K. Blaylock, Chief Executive Officer, for a forward-looking conversation on the 2025 Thematic Goals guiding the organization. Together, they explore the strategic priorities shaping the year ahead—from deepening operational excellence and enhancing partner value, to aligning teams around shared purpose and delivering consistent community outcomes.
Grounded in clarity, focus, and accountability, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how 12 Oaks is turning bold goals into measurable impact across its senior living portfolio.
Produced by Solinity Marketing.
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Optimizing Senior Living Performance: The CRO’s Role in Driving Growth and Sustained 90% Occupancy

In this episode of The Roots Podcast by 12 Oaks, host Greg Puklicz, President of 12 Oaks, sits down with Chief Revenue Officer Aaron Catoe to explore the evolving role of the CRO in today’s senior living landscape. Together, they dive into the strategies behind driving sustainable growth, optimizing team performance, and achieving and maintaining 90% occupancy across communities.
From the power of emotional intelligence and relational dynamics to the importance of aligning leadership with operational excellence, this episode offers practical insights and a deeper look into the leadership mindset that fuels success at 12 Oaks.
Produced by Solinity Marketing.
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Human Resources Strategies: The 12 Oaks Approach to Trends in Hiring, Recruitment and Retention

In this episode of The Roots Podcast by 12 Oaks, host Melissa Labor, Chief People Officer, speaks with Marlene Garcia, Human Resources Manager on the 12 Oaks approach to strategies for recruiting and hiring in senior living communities. Discover how this conversation highlights the importance of high touch models in recruiting, building meaningful recruiters to community relationships, new employee experience and prioritizing a meaningful culture for 12 Oaks residents.
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Insights From The Summit: Learning to Grow and Embracing Organizational Change

In this episode of The Roots Podcast by 12 Oaks, host Melissa Labor, Chief People Officer, is joined by Steve Nguyen, Learning and Development Director to explore how intentional leadership, thoughtful technology adoption, and a culture of continuous learning drive success at 12 Oaks. Steve shares insights on the importance of unlearning outdated habits and embracing change, while Melissa highlights the company’s commitment to aligning initiatives with its mission to be trusted, best-in-class partners. Packed with actionable takeaways, this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about leadership and organizational development.
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Sustainability Through People: 12 Oaks’ Approach to Employee Success

In this episode of The Roots Podcast by 12 Oaks, host Melissa Labor, Chief People Officer, speaks with Erika Robledo, Human Resources Director, about her 25-year journey with 12 Oaks. They discuss the organization’s accomplishments in 2024, including achieving their thematic goal of being “Best in Class as Trusted Partners,” and their focus for 2025 on employee well-being, enhanced benefits, collaboration, and sustainability.
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Senior Living Management Outlook for 2025

In this special year-end episode of The Roots Podcast by 12 Oaks Senior Living, CEO Dick Blaylock sits down with President Greg Puklicz to recap a remarkable 2024 and discuss what lies ahead. Together, they celebrate 40 years since the inception of 12 Oaks, highlighting milestone accomplishments, including impressive occupancy gains, advancements in high-touch management, and the rollout of a new EHR system with August Health. They also share key initiatives for 2025, focusing on expanding value-based care, building a data warehouse, and responsibly growing the portfolio. Join us as we look back on the successes of 2024 and get inspired for the future of senior living.
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How 12 Oaks Symphony of Life Program Enhances Memory Care with Natalie Kunkel

Natalie Kunkel, Solutions Consultant, joins Greg Puklicz, President of 12 Oaks Senior Living, to discuss the Symphony of Life program, a specialized approach to care for residents with cognitive challenges. They discuss how the program was developed to improve resident engagement and independence through a holistic, community-wide strategy. Natalie explains how team members are trained through a virtual dementia experience to build empathy, and how personalized support plans help maintain resident dignity and wellness.
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