In order to reignite passion, Kristin Ferge, president and CEO of Capri Communities, believes that being with the communities she serves is the key. “Being in senior living, a leader must have compassion and empathy for our residents and the families we serve,” said Ferge. “Sitting in a corporate office, at times, one can lose that focus. Therefore, I enjoy going to the communities to volunteer for various activities and events.”
Capri Communities owns and operates senior living communities throughout Wisconsin.
Forming personal connections reminds Ferge of why she went into this industry. It’s also prompted her to invest money and resources into training staff and forming relationships with high schools and universities to partner with students interested in the healthcare industry. “We are a part of their practical experience allowing them the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom to the workplace,” said Ferge.
Ferge begin her career in public accounting with a start-up senior living company and then grew the company from 50 communities to more than 500 through acquisitions and development. She held various senior finance positions before joining Capri Communities. In her role as president and CEO, Ferge has been a part of the growth that includes growing the communities by more than 120 percent. Capri Communities is the largest operator of senior housing in Wisconsin and has been recognized as the Best Senior Living Company in the area.
“I love being able to empower younger team members who are eager to find ways to say yes versus no and give them the leeway to succeed and fail as they continue to grow their careers,” said Ferge. “I continue to learn a lot and enjoy the partnerships with all of Capri partners, residents and employees.”
According to her colleagues, Ferge is a transformative leader. “Her specialty is leading fast-paced, dynamic high-growth and business turnaround initiatives to a successful conclusion,” they said. “Kristin is a strong leader who is direct and honest with employees, vendors and shareholders with a huge dose of compassion.”
This ability to lead has led to Ferge’s recognition as one of the Top 50 Women in Finance, CFO of the Year by the Milwaukee Business Journal and a Top 40 Under 40 Winner. Ferge credits her success with the ability to take risks. “If you want to win big, you need to fight the big battles,” she said. “And you don’t really know your capabilities until you put them to the test, so aim high and go for it.”
For her unending commitment to growth in leadership, Ferge has been named a Titan.
