A Legacy of Leadership: Celebrating Rev. Ken Daniel’s 14 Years of Service

For those who have dedicated themselves to fulfilling careers in service to others, retirement is often bittersweet. That’s certainly the case for Rev. Dr. Ken Daniel who has grown to love United Church Homes, its employees and its residents.

 

 

 

On February 7, Rev. Daniel assumed his new role as senior strategic advisor to the organization he has so faithfully served for 14 years.

When he joined UCH in 2010, the economy was just beginning to recover from the Great Recession of 2008 and 2009. It was a time of uncertainty and vulnerability. But Rev. Daniel embraced the challenges UCH faced and immediately recognized that he and others throughout the organization shared a common spirit of compassion.

“What I found when I joined United Church Homes and visited my first community was a palpable sense of caring,” Rev. Daniel said. “I remember thinking ‘It’s here! Now how do we deepen it?’”

The UCH Board wanted change. In Rev. Daniel, they found a servant leader committed to the organization’s growth and innovation. They found a leader who would position UCH to meet the challenges of an ever-changing landscape.

“Throughout my career, I’ve worked with a lot of CEOs,” said UCH Board Chair Karl Ulrich.  “Rev. Daniel is one of the best examples of servant leadership I’ve ever experienced. He never forgets that this organization is, at its core, about people. It’s about achieving results for those we are honored to serve.”

Among Rev. Daniel’s early priorities was ensuring that UCH’s mission, vision and core values were on target, clearly stated and embraced throughout the entire organization.  Simply put, he embedded mission into UCH’s culture.

He also set about branding all the UCH communities as one integrated organization – a dramatic change from the past when each community had its own logo and identity, with little connection to the others.

 

“Today, we all truly believe and understand that we are servant leaders,” said Vice President of Healthcare Operations Laura Farrell.  “That wasn’t the case before Rev. Daniel.  He is a true leader in every sense of the word and has helped me develop in every aspect of my work.”

Ken Young, who now serves as UCH president and chief executive officer, is also grateful to Rev. Daniel for his mentorship.

“He contributed so much to my growth,” Young said. “He is a dynamic leader – professionally, personally and spiritually. He is an extraordinary role model for doing things the right way, with compassion and always striving for quality.”

There’s a lot to celebrate about Rev. Daniel’s contributions to UCH’s growth and success.  He cites the organization’s remarkable response to the COVID pandemic as an example of its employees’ resilience and commitment to those they serve.

“We were warriors throughout the pandemic,” he said.  “During the early months – a chaotic period as we learned more about the virus and as the guidance constantly changed – we all came together. Our top priorities were protecting staff and residents through our efforts to limit the spread and ensuring that residents did not suffer from feelings of isolation and loneliness.”

“Initially, we held daily calls with more than 50 key staff to share challenges and successes and support one another,” he continued. “Eventually, we moved to weekly calls – Thankful Thursdays – to continue learning from one another and celebrate the synergy that allowed UCH to thrive despite the many challenges we faced.”

Reflecting on his service, Rev. Daniel cites creation of the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program as a highlight. The multi-faith clinical internship for developing professional skills in spiritual caregiving is accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE). Celebrating its ten-year anniversary in 2025, the program has evolved and grown as a result of a shift to online learning and virtual meetings implemented by necessity during the pandemic.

Another unexpected outcome of the CPE Program is residents’ response to engaging with students.  It has become part of abundant life at the Trinity Community at Beavercreek which hosts the program.

Another highlight for Rev. Daniel was receipt of a transformational contribution totaling $20 million beginning in the early months of the pandemic. The major donor, who preferred to be anonymous, allowed UCH to increase the Campaign for Abundant Life goal to $45 million – the most ever raised by a UCH fundraising campaign.

“Not every president or CEO embraces a role in philanthropy,” said Vice President of Advancement Gloria Hurwitz. “Donors only support organizations with leaders they trust.  Our fundraising success – and our ability to grow our portfolio of communities and services – is a wonderful reflection of donors’ trust and confidence in Rev. Daniel.”

During his tenure, UCH raised an impressive $93 million dollars, increasing the number of seniors it serves and positioning it for continued success.

Under his leadership, UCH’s owned and managed assets have grown to nearly $400 million, allowing the organization to provide support, through housing and services, to greater numbers of older adults.

Ulrich and Rev. Daniel are both justifiably proud of the trusting relationship between senior leaders and members of the UCH board which has contributed so much to the organization’s success.

“Open communication is critically important,” Ulrich said. “You cannot underestimate the importance of transparency. The strong relationship between the board and UCH’s senior leaders under Rev. Daniel’s leadership has played a key role in positioning the organization for continued growth and innovation.”

“He was the right guy to have at the top of the organizational chart through the challenges UCH faced during the pandemic,” he continued. “The strategic plan jointly developed by the board and senior leadership is a key part of Rev. Daniel’s legacy.”

So, what’s next for Rev. Daniel? When he steps down from his role as senior strategic advisor and fully retires July 1, he and Barbara – his wife of 39 years – will enjoy the many things they love to do together. Their travel plans over the next year include visiting Ireland, Scotland, Japan and Australia.

He looks forward to spending more time with the people he loves most: his family. His plans for an abundant life also include remaining active, with regular exercise in the form of yoga and pickleball.

“I’ll always have close ties to United Church Homes,” Rev. Daniel said. “UCH is positioned for continued success and I will enjoy cheering it on from the sidelines.”

This story appeared in the 2025 spring issue of Spirit magazine: Spring 2025 – United Church Homes