AmericanWay

Janis Deets Nowak, CPA, NHA, CAEd

Committed to changing the nature of senior living

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
The founder of AmericanWay Management Corporation, Janis Nowak has been a leader in the long-term care profession for twenty-five years in various capacities throughout the United States.  Janis was initially introduced to long-term care in her capacity as a financial auditor in the Chicago office of what was known in the 1980's as Touche Ross, one of the Big Eight accounting firms.  As one of her responsibilities, she supervised the Audit of Catholic Charities, which owned and/or operated about 30 nursing homes and continuing care retirement communities in the Chicago area at that time.

After years of auditing, consulting and helping clients assess the feasibility of their long-term care projects, she has, for the past ten years, focused solely on the provision of quality care in the assisted living environment. In her previous position, as President and Program Administrator at New Perspective, she directed the care provided to 105 residents with Alzheimer's or other age-related memory loss in two states. At New Perspective, Janis proved that staff education and development is the path to satisfied families and low employee turnover.

Founding AmericanWay is the fulfillment of her dream to establish innovative senior living environments where residents and staff alike are able to grow and flourish, and the concerns of residents are top priority.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND INTERESTS
Janis serves as a Board Member of the Wisconsin Assisted Living Association (WALA).  She actively participates as President Elect of the organization and as chairperson of WALA's Education Committee which offers education for assisted living providers throughout the state of Wisconsin.

As a founding Board Member of the National Certification Board for Alzheimer's Care, Janis has been working with a group of approximately twenty individuals to create a test for certification of those providing Alzheimer's care. The 100-question pilot test has been administered to over 200 individuals and is in the final stages of development.  The computer-based exam is administered in PearsonVue testing centers throughout the United States.

Janis is an Advisory Board member for the Training Research Institute (TRI) which is based at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee's Center on Age and Community.  TRI's objectives include: measure the impact of training programs on worker satisfaction and retention and on clients' quality of care and quality of life; identify and address barriers to successful implementation of training programs; and host a summit to integrate scientific protocols with creativity-based interventions.

HONORS
Under Janis' leadership, New Perspective received national recognition for its creative employee recruitment and retention methods.  In April of 2006 Assisted Living EXECUTIVE magazine recognized New Perspective with a "Best of the Best" award.  Editors of the publication surveyed assisted living providers from across the nation, selecting ten winners for innovative operational strategies that resulted in quantifiable change.

In May of 2004, New Perspective was recognized by the Alzheimer's Association Wisconsin Chapter Network for its efforts on behalf of the Alzheimer's community. "The 2004 State Organizational Award" was presented to Janis Nowak, as President and Program Administrator of New Perspective, at the Alzheimer's Association Annual State Conference in Madison. The award is given to "an organization, agency or institution that has chosen as its mission the development of exceptional programs and/or services which benefit the Alzheimer's community."

PROFESSIONAL LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Public Accountant, since September of 1978
Nursing Home Administrator, Illinois, since July of 1995
National Administrator Certification, certificate earned upon completion of AIM Society?s Level 2 National Administrator Program of Studies for assisted living professionals, Spring of 2005
Certified Alzheimer Educator (CAEd), certificate earned upon completion of the National Certification Board for Alzheimer Care's educator examination, December of 2006
 
EDUCATION
Graduate of Northern Illinois University, B.S. in Accountancy, December 1975
University of Illinois, Completed Multi-Disciplinary Certificate Program in Geriatrics for Non-Physicians, October, 2000
University of Minnesota, Certificate earned for completion of nine-month Advocacy Leadership for Vital Aging program, May, 2005
Completed University of Chicago courses:
Persuasive Communication: Business and Professional Speaking, Spring, 2004
Effective Writing for Business and the Professions, Spring 2003

COURSE PRESENTATIONS/WORKSHOPS/WRITINGS
Admit Who You Are Admitting: Action Plans for Rising Acuity & Retention:  The Wisconsin Assisted Living Association's (WALA) Fall Symposium was a one-day workshop presented five times in locations throughout Wisconsin.  As a member of the WALA Education Committee, Janis participated in the development of the curriculum and was one of three presenters in all five locations.  October, 2005

The Essential Business Checklist: How the Heart, Mind and Money are Connected in Memory Care:  Janis was asked by Care Providers of Minnesota to develop this curriculum and present to Minnesota administrators and managers who were contemplating adding memory care as a product line.  Spring of 2005

ALFA Assisted Living University: Administrator's Overview:  Janis is among the faculty that presents this two-day course to Wisconsin assisted living administrators and managers.  January 2005 through present

How to Have Success with Difficult People:  Health care workers encounter difficult supervisors, coworkers, residents and family members on a regular basis.  Having the skills to manage these difficult situations is critical to a health care worker's success.  This course is designed to teach the skills to take the stress out of those stressful situations.  Attendees meet each month for two hours to earn this twenty-hour training certificate.

Leadership Skills Development:  Many assisted living employees are promoted to supervisory positions without formal training.  This course is designed to teach the skills that will prepare employees to apply for the next vacant supervisor position.  In addition to class work, participants complete a leadership project that will bring about change and improvement to the workplace as they learn.  Attendees meet each month for two hours to earn this twenty-hour certificate.

In Search of Your Inner Authentic Leader:  Janis authored a review of the book "Why Should Anyone Be Led by YOU"? by Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones.  The review was published in the January/February 2007 issue of Assisted Living Executive.