Seasoned senior living consultants who have collaborated for many years make up ARI’s strategic team. We have extensive operating experience in the not-for-profit retirement housing and long-term care field offering a unique and comprehensive perspective. Our operating and executive backgrounds make us uniquely qualified to identify and address complex operating and development challenges.

Tony EwertPrincipal

Tony joined the ARI team in 2007 with a background in project development and continuing care retirement community operations. His unique blend of operations knowledge and development skills offers ARI clients a helpful resource for examining daily operations or planning new projects. Tony’s served as a Senior Vice President for Praxeis, a Florida-based retirement community development firm. In addition, he served as a Vice President of Operations for Asbury Management & Development, Retirement Management Company, and Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America. He is a former licensed nursing home administrator in several states. Tony has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Wichita State University and a Specialist in Gerontology Certificate from the University of North Texas.

Contact Tony at 785-393-5464 or

Lydia Pugh Ed DPrincipal

Lydia leads strategic planning, organizational and leadership/governance development initiatives for clients, and provides advisory services specific to marketing, market research, and operations. Prior to joining ARI, she was the Director of Research and Strategic Planning for Spectrum, Inc.; Vice President of Marketing for Asbury Development and Management; and the Director of Marketing Services for Van Scoyoc Associates. In 2011, Lydia served as the Interim Executive Director for Collington Episcopal Life Care Community in Mitchellville, Maryland. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Goddard College; a Master of Science in Marketing from The Johns Hopkins University; and an Ed D in Human and Organizational Learning from the Executive Leadership Program at The George Washington University. She has worked in the continuing care retirement community field since 1978 and has been with ARI since 2006.

Contact Lydia at 703-400-1897 or

David SlackPrincipal

David provides retirement community board and senior staff leaders with strategic planning, financial modeling, operational, managerial, and development services, plus support related to investment banking and financial advisory services. Prior to joining ARI, Slack was Senior Vice President at a national investment banking firm specializing in financing senior living organizations; a Principal in the consulting firm of Third Age, Inc.; and President of several organizations including Asbury Development and Management, Retirement Management Company, and Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America. David has worked in the continuing care retirement community field since 1974. A graduate from the University of Kansas, David has been a licensed adult care home administrator as well as a licensed general securities representative.

Contact David at 785-550-4365 or

The ARI team boasts an impressive amount of operating experience. We have spent years applying our expertly cultivated knowledge and skills into effective practices. We are well-versed on the obstacles and challenges facing today’s providers. We match our specialized understanding and awareness with our client’s specific needs.

Although we may sometimes challenge the status quo, we’ll back that up with our toolkit of real world analyses, tested frameworks and processes, sensemaking strategies, and well-defined solutions.

Each ARI client has a unique organizational history, business model, market, and culture. No two clients are completely alike. Yet they all share a common mission — to deliver exceptional environments for seniors. ARI collaborates as a strategic partner to achieve this goal.

Our clients will tell you that we blend seamlessly with their staff, board members, and residents. Most of our work comes from referrals and repeat client business. Our clients appreciate the value that ARI’s work brings to their organization.

Our partners are saying:

ARI has served as our planning and management advisor for more than two decades. During that time ARI facilitated master planning including development of complex, yet important financial models as well as Board Strategic Planning. We have immense respect for the work and insight they provide. It's proven invaluable to our organization over the years. We can directly tie their work to our financial successes, our ongoing relevance, and our future sustainability.

Alan HaleExecutive Director, Manor Park, Inc. - Midland, Texas

We retained Tony Ewert of ARI as our consultant when we started exploring a change in our marketplace position. He came highly recommended by CEOs at two other nonprofits who told us that they wouldn’t take a step without asking ARI's advice. Tony is experienced, well-versed, and connected in the world of senior living. He is a warm and caring person with high ethical standards who meets challenges tactfully. He has continued to be a loyal personal friend, and working with him is always a rewarding experience.

Taylor PrewittFormer Board Chair, Methodist Village Senior Living - Fort Smith, AR

ARI did an operations audit for our organization that helped us identify some areas to “right the ship” and put us on a path to better financial results. Now, Brewster Place is in the middle of a $24 million expansion project that we literally would not have been able to do without Tony Ewert and ARI as our development consultants. Tony has the development knowledge and experience, with the financial models that help our board and management make crucial decisions with confidence.

David M. BeckPresident & CEO, Brewster Place - Topeka, KS

I have found ARI to be perceptive and insightful. They have a depth and breadth of experience that enables them to speak to issues and challenges: they know what healthy organizations look like, and they know how to formulate a plan to increase an organization’s health. What’s more, they frequently have a sophisticated computer model to measure organizational health and progress along the way.

David ReimerPresident & CEO, Palm Village Retirement Community - Reedley, CA