WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nicolette Reilly today was named the 2026 recipient of the Jan Thayer Pioneer Award by the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), the assisted living voice of the American Health Care Association (AHCA). With more than 25 years of experience in the senior living profession, Reilly has led quality initiatives and provided guidance to assisted living providers on regulatory compliance, operational excellence, workforce development, and public policy. She is currently the Senior Vice President of Quality for the Oregon Health Care Association, an affiliate of AHCA/NCAL.
“Nicolette consistently demonstrates her commitment to quality, counseling members, and improving the lives of our residents,” said NCAL Executive Director LaShuan Bethea. “She has showcased extraordinary leadership skills throughout her career and has made significant strides in the world of long term care. Nicolette exemplifies the best this profession has to offer and fully deserves this honor.”
Throughout her career, Reilly has held senior leadership roles overseeing assisted living, memory care, independent living, and skilled nursing operations. For 14 years, Reilly served as Vice President of Operations and then President at Avamere, overseeing the operations of 18 assisted living communities, including services for memory care and independent living. Prior to that she worked as the Regional Director of Operations for LifeStyles Senior Housing Managers, LLC helping to oversee three large campus settings that included assisted living, independent living, enhanced care, Parkinson's care, and memory care. At OHCA, she works closely with providers and state agencies to advance best practices, promote quality improvement, and strengthen the long term care profession in Oregon.
Reilly is nationally recognized as a leader in assisted living and quality improvement as a previous Chair of the NCAL Board of Directors (2010-2011) and through her decades of service with the AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Program. She has served on the AHCA Quality Award Board of Overseers and as co-chair of the AHCA Quality Cabinet. She currently serves on the NCAL Quality Committee and is a longtime Senior Examiner and Silver Award Team Lead. In these roles, she has helped advance quality standards, leadership development, and person-centered care practices throughout the senior living profession.
Reilly earned a Master of Public Health from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Science in health promotion from Brigham Young University.
The Jan Thayer Pioneer Award, one of the six awards from the Provider ACE Awards program, recognizes individuals who have moved the senior care profession forward, positively affecting the lives of those served and those who serve. Recipients must demonstrate dedication, leadership, and considerable contributions to the profession.
Reilly will be presented the Pioneer Award during a formal ceremony at the Delivering Solutions 26, AHCA/NCAL’s Convention & Expo this October in Boston, Mass.