Editor’s Note: McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care are profiling the McKnight’s 2023 Women of Distinction honorees daily from July 5 to Aug. 15. For additional McKnight’s Women of Distinction content, visit this page.

Shelley Esden is president and CEO of Sonata Senior Living, a developer, owner and operator of independent living, assisted living and memory care communities throughout Florida. As a founding member and throughout her 15-year tenure, she has overseen Sonata’s growth from two employees to more than 700. Prior to becoming CEO, she served the organization as senior vice president of operations and chief operating officer. 

Esden’s senior living experience began in graduate school while she was working within Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs. As the assistant director of the Florida Commission on Long-Term Care, she was tasked with overseeing the plan for the state’s nursing home diversion project. The result was the creation of Florida’s managed care Medicaid waiver program, which actively helps older adults to this day. 

Esden is chairperson of the Florida Senior Living Institute, a 501( c )3 organization that provides grants and education to assisted living providers statewide. Esden also is part of the Argentum Leadership Network.

In 1998, Esden relocated to Central Florida to care for her ailing mother, who herself was a full-time CNA in a skilled nursing facility. That relocation was her entrance into senior living operations. She began as an administrator with the former Marriott Senior Living and quickly evolved into multi-site management roles for Summerville Senior Living and Legacy Senior Living.

When her mother had a stroke, Esden committed herself to creating and supporting a senior living community experience in which residents had purpose and were in control of their own situations. She also wanted workers, especially caregivers, to feel proud and valued. This was the foundation on which Sonata was built. 

Esden remains an innovator and motivator. Colleagues say she always is thinking of new ideas and strategies to improve senior living operations and staffing.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care. PointClickCare is the Diamond sponsor of this year’s program. PharMerica is the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors include American HealthTech, Healthcare Services Group, Omnicare, Sentrics and ShiftKey.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2023 and previous years.