As we honor Women’s History Month, South Florida Business Journal recognizes five leaders at John Knox Village who help shape South Florida’s premier life-plan community.
View the article: South Florida Business Journal People on the Move March 2026
Boca Magazine, February 2026
Boca Magazine sought to find answers and inspiration from a select group of South Florida local experts in various professions.
The February issue features an interview with John Knox Village’s Melissa Honig, President & CEO, who shares her insights about JKV and senior living.
Click and find Melissa’s interview on page 76.
As CEO, Melissa leads with experience and genuine compassion at the helm of John Knox Village in Pompano Beach, Florida (JKV). JKV is a Life-Plan Continuing Care Retirement Community offering an exceptional lifestyle with a full continuum of care, there should you ever need it.
We invite you to learn more and see our breathtaking campus, the astounding amenities, our outstanding team, and the remarkable residents who are all part of what makes JKV extraordinary. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a personal visit.
John Knox Village names Melissa Honig President and CEO
Melissa B. Honig has been appointed President and CEO of Pompano Beach, Florida-based John Knox Village.
Honig previously was the executive director of Valle Verde, a HumanGood continuing care retirement community in Santa Barbara, California. She worked there for the past 11 years before moving to Florida.
Melissa Honig, JKV President & Chief Executive Officer
We invite you to learn more and experience our breathtaking campus, astounding amenities, the exceptional team, and our remarkable residents who are all part of what makes JKV extraordinary. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a visit.
John Knox Village resident Christopher Carnrick, who grew up in Lubbock, Texas, was able to hear until the age of 10. Although he had always been an A+ student, his academic performance declined so aggressively, it led to his placement in special education classes.
It was then discovered he was profoundly deaf, a result of contracting measles. Driven by a desire to communicate and connect with others, Christopher began learning American Sign Language (ASL) at age 16, ultimately enabling him to work effectively with interpreters and fully engage in both social and professional life.
In 1986, while living in Seattle, Washington, Christopher decided to open a Mexican restaurant, “Speedy Gonzales,” as the city’s first restaurant catering to the hearing-impaired. The restaurant broke new ground by installing the city’s first direct TTY (teletypewriter) phone line, “524-TACO,” enabling deaf customers to order home-delivered food with unprecedented ease and independence. Speedy Gonzales became a vibrant hub for the deaf, fostering community, connection and setting a new standard of inclusiveness. The restaurant became so well-known, it was repeatedly covered in area newspapers.
Christopher’s advocacy and leadership continued to the point he was recruited by Washington Governor Mike Lowry, to serve as a Business Relations Consultant for 10 years. In this role, he drew upon his lived experiences and provided insight to support people with disabilities in securing meaningful employment opportunities, working to dismantle barriers and enhance workplace inclusion.
His career then continued in hospitality for three decades in Seattle, Salt Lake City, and finally in Spain, where he lived with his husband, Arthur. There, they opened a supper club and wrote and published two cookbooks, Dinner for 6 at 8:00 and Kitchen Disasters, Solutions and Substitutions.
After his father’s death, they moved to Naples, Florida, to be close to Christopher’s mother. It was there they decided to find the right Life-Plan Retirement Community in which to retire. They looked at 12 communities throughout the state and determined over two years ago that John Knox Village in Pompano Beach would be their perfect home.
Upon requests from residents, Christopher began teaching a four-week basic American Sign Language series, instructing others how to sign simple phrases and sentences. As an ASL instructor, he brings a unique perspective on the practical approaches shaped by his journey. His teaching methods incorporate the strategies he developed while learning the language as a teenager.
According to residents, Christopher is “a natural-born leader. He quickly engages everyone to participate, and each lesson builds upon the previous one,” says Joe P.
Scooter H. says, “I loved his class. He was very informative, had good pacing, and was patient with everyone. He was so funny, we had a lot of laughs while learning.”
Rafael M. adds, “He gave us practical information that I actually had the opportunity to use with a person from the deaf community.”
And did we mention that Christopher also performs stand-up comedy? His list of talents never seems to end! He performed at the John Knox Village Resident Talent Show and recently headlined an evening at the Fort Lauderdale Improv Theater.
Christopher is just one of the many extraordinary residents who call John Knox Village home.
Carnrick at Fort Lauderdale Improv
Why John Knox Village?
For more than 50 years, John Knox Village has set the gold standard for all-inclusive, resort-style living that empowers older adults to live life to the fullest—at every stage of retirement. The community emphasizes whole-person wellness with state-of-the-art fitness facilities, world-class programming, delicious dining, and much more.
Residents enjoy peace of mind with unlimited access to on-campus healthcare professionals, 24/7 care, and comprehensive long-term care benefits. There are no time or financial limits on healthcare services, making JKV a smart, secure choice for the future.
Want to Learn More?
Come see what John Knox Village has to offer.
We invite you to learn more and experience our breathtaking campus, astounding amenities, the exceptional team, and our remarkable residents who are all part of what makes JKV extraordinary. Contact us today to schedule a personal tour or have a no-pressure conversation with one of our Life-Plan Consultants.
Lifestyle Magazine, October 2025
William Kelly, JKV’s Chief Financial Officer was selected by Lifestyle Magazine as a Man of Influence as part of their feature story, spotlighting changemakers who are shaping our world. This honor aims to introduce us to leaders in the community who make a difference in South Florida business and community involvement.
As the Chief Financial Officer at John Knox Village, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Pompano Beach, Florida, Bill sees the residents as an extension of his own family. It is of the utmost importance to him that JKV residents not only have a place to live, but a place where they can thrive with a lifestyle filled with connection, security, and purpose.
Bill reflects on his own grandmother, who in the last few years of her life was homebound, and only had company when someone came to visit. He wishes she could have had the support of a community like John Knox Village where she could have been surrounded by friends, engaged in purposeful activities, and had the assurance that her healthcare needs would have been met.
Whenever he is faced with a decision at work, he asks himself: “What would I want for my grandmother?”
In his words, Bill says, “I feel truly fortunate that every day I get to give back by helping create an environment that makes life better for many residents we serve. It’s more than just a job — it’s an opportunity to honor the people who came before us and ensure they live with dignity, joy, and security.”
William is one of the exceptional leaders at John Knox Village in Pompano Beach, Florida. We invite you to learn more and experience our breathtaking campus, astounding amenities, our outstanding team, and the remarkable residents who are all part of what makes JKV extraordinary. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a personal visit.
Environments For Aging, October 17, 2025
by Robert McCune | Editor
Trends: What’s Driving Dining in Senior Living?
Dining spaces in senior living communities are evolving to provide not just a meal, but an experience that’s designed to fuel connection and belonging. “Dining is such an important part of everyone’s lives…and it’s a large piece of the social life of residents on a senior living campus,” says Brandon Dilla, a senior associate at Perkins Eastman.
At John Knox Village in Pompano Beach, Florida, a campus redevelopment started with adding two new luxury residential towers and event space before an opportunity arose to also improve and expand the community’s dining offering as part of an “experience district.” At the time, the luxury independent and assisted living community had a small cafe and one main cafeteria-style dining building, which “wasn’t really giving residents the choice they are looking for in their community,” says Dilla, who was the architectural designer and project manager.
During the phased project, the design team replaced the main cafeteria with five distinct restaurant-style venues that support residents’ desire to choose what and where they eat. The project took home the top Platinum Award in Environments in Aging’s 2025 Dining Competition.
The refreshed dining offerings also connect to the experience district’s social, cultural, fitness and residential components via pedestrian pathways along the lake, creating a heart of activity on campus, Dilla says. “The evolution of dining into a more experiential environment isn’t something that’s going to go away, he says. “Communities are working to step up their game as they reposition their offerings for future residents.”
We invite you to learn more and experience our breathtaking campus, astounding amenities, the exceptional team, and our remarkable residents who are all part of what makes JKV extraordinary. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a personal tour.
TAPinto Pompano Beach, October 10, 2025
by Jeff Yastine | Editor
POMPANO BEACH — As fall and winter approach, John Knox Village is continuing its proactive health measures by offering on-site COVID-19 and flu vaccines to residents and employees.
Bob Atkins, a Vietnam veteran, was one of the 400 residents who were registered for the event: “I’ve always gotten the flu shot, my wife and I, every year, so I think it’s important,” he said. “The ease of getting the shot here, so close, I can walk right over and get it.”
At the onset of the pandemic, John Knox Village was among the first communities in Florida to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Douglas Folsom, COO of John Knox Village, said that since then, the organization continues to raise awareness among residents about the importance of staying up to date on vaccinations.
“We’ve brought the vaccine to the community. We bring our flu shots to the community. Why? Because we want to make it convenient for our employees and our residents,” he said. “When COVID hit, we really made a conscious effort to protect not only our employees, but also our residents. Our job here is to protect our residents and take care of them.”
We invite you to learn more and experience our breathtaking campus, astounding amenities, the exceptional team, and our remarkable residents who are all part of what makes JKV extraordinary. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a personal tour.
Lifestyle Magazine, September 2025
Jennifer Stevens, JKV’s Vice President of Healthcare was selected by Lifestyle Magazine as a Woman of Influence as part of their feature story, spotlighting changemakers who are shaping our world. This honor aims to introduce us to leaders in the community who make a difference in South Florida business and community involvement.
As the leader of the healthcare team at John Knox Village, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Pompano Beach, Florida, she has inspired the healthcare team to not only care for JKV’s residents, but to also get to know them deeply as individuals.
As a serving member on the Board of Trustees for LeadingAge Southeast, representing CCRCs in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, Jennifer is able to participate in the annual legislative session in Tallahassee, engaging directly with Florida senators and representatives to help shape policies that impact older adult healthcare.
Jennifer is one of the exceptional leaders at John Knox Village in Pompano Beach, Florida. We invite you to learn more and experience our breathtaking campus, astounding amenities, our outstanding team, and the remarkable residents who are all part of what makes JKV extraordinary. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a personal visit.
One of the many things that sets John Knox Village of Florida apart from other senior living communities is the dedication and expertise of our team members. We are proud to introduce our newly appointed Chief Financial Officer, William “Bill” Kelly, CPA, who brings more than a decade of senior living experience to JKV.
A graduate of the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, with a master’s degree in accounting, Bill began his career in senior living in 2011. Before joining JKV, he served as Director of Finance for almost 10 years at Harbour’s Edge, a Lifespace Community in Delray Beach. Bill first came to JKV in 2021 as Controller, a role he had served for four years before stepping into the Chief Financial Officer position in July 2025.
With a forward-looking vision, Bill is committed to strengthening JKV’s financial foundation and ensuring long-term sustainability. His priorities include:
Bill’s leadership style is rooted in transparency, accessibility, and stewardship.
“When I think about the work I do, I always come back to my grandmother,” he shares. “In the last few years of her life, she was homebound. I wished so much she could have had a place like John Knox Village — a community where she could be surrounded by friends, engaged in meaningful activities, and assured that her healthcare needs would be met.”
He adds, “That’s why the mission of John Knox Village means so much to me. Here, our residents don’t just have a place to live — they have a lifestyle filled with connection, security, and purpose. Whenever I’m faced with a decision, I see our residents as an extension of my own family and ask myself: ‘What would I want for my grandmother?”
Outside of work, Bill is a true Floridian. He enjoys fishing, surfing, golfing, spending time with his college friends, and celebrating the holidays with his family in Tampa.
Bill is just one of the many experts who make the experience of living at JKV unparalleled.
At JKV, financial strength and stability are among the top considerations for residents choosing a Life-Plan Continuing Care Retirement Community. With Bill’s vision and leadership, JKV continues its 58-year tradition of innovation, ensuring that today’s residents — and future generations — enjoy the peace of mind, security, and vibrant lifestyle that define our community.
More Than a Move—A Lifestyle Upgrade
For more than 50 years, JKV has set the standard for delivering an all-inclusive, resort-style lifestyle tailored to every stage of retirement. The community offers world-class fitness programs, state-of-the-art amenities, delicious and healthy dining, and countless activities designed to promote overall well-being. Residents enjoy peace of mind with unlimited access to on-campus healthcare services, 24/7 EMTs, and security. Plus, with no time or financial limits on long-term care benefits, a Life-Plan contract at JKV provides a fiscal safety net and an unparalleled quality of life.
We invite you to experience the vibrant community, world-class amenities, and remarkable residents, and exceptional team members who all make John Knox Village extraordinary. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a visit.
The 62nd Annual LeadingAge Southeast Convention & Exposition was a premier event for senior living professionals, offering opportunities to learn, network, and explore the latest innovations shaping the industry.
Held in Orlando, Florida, the conference left JKV Chief Operating Officer Doug Folsom energized and inspired.
“This year’s conference was amazing,” Folsom said. “The sessions I attended—covering everything from industry trends, dining innovations, and strategic planning, to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence in healthcare, legal considerations, and preparing future leaders—impressed me beyond measure.”
Fresh Ideas and Future Goals
Folsom said the conversations he had with other industry leaders sparked new ideas for enhancing resident life at JKV.
“Traditionally, continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) have been among the last to adopt new AI and technology tools,” Folsom said. JKV’s leadership team aims to change that by exploring the purchase of smartwatches for all residents — devices that could help prevent falls, monitor blood pressure, and automatically alert healthcare staff to potential concerns.
“We want to prevent potential problems rather than passively wait for something to happen,” Folsom explained.
The Role of Education—At All Levels
Another key takeaway for Folsom was the importance of education—not only for leadership and staff but also for JKV’s 11-member Board of Directors.
“The Board needs to understand forward-thinking for the long-term, not just day-to-day living at JKV,” he said. “We need a broader scope of what the future is bringing to our industry.”
A Commitment to Stewardship
The conference left Folsom so motivated that he is now seeking additional educational opportunities in the industry, both to attend and potentially present at. Drawing on his experience as JKV’s former CFO, he remains acutely aware of the financial responsibilities facing the senior living industry.
“As always, I believe in being a good steward of our residents’ finances,” Folsom said.
At John Knox Village, the insights gained from conferences like LeadingAge Southeast fuel our ongoing commitment to excellence. By embracing innovation, investing in education at every level, and staying ahead of industry trends, we remain focused on enhancing the quality of life for our residents today and for generations to come. Whether through exploring new technologies like AI and smart health devices, reimagining wellness programs, or continually refining our operations, JKV is dedicated to leading with vision, compassion, and innovation—ensuring that our community and its residents continue to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
More Than a Move — A Lifestyle Upgrade
For more than 58 years, John Knox Village of Pompano Beach, Florida, has set the gold standard for all-inclusive, resort-style living that empowers older adults to live life to the fullest—at every stage of retirement. The community emphasizes whole-person wellness with state-of-the-art fitness facilities, world-class programming, delicious dining, and much more. Residents enjoy peace of mind with unlimited access to on-campus healthcare professionals, 24/7 care, and comprehensive long-term care benefits. There are no time or financial limits on healthcare services—making JKV a smart, secure choice for the future.
Want to Learn More?
We invite you to experience the vibrant community, world-class amenities, remarkable residents, and exceptional team members who all make John Knox Village extraordinary. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a visit.
About LeadingAge Southeast
Founded in 1963 as a not-for-profit corporation, LeadingAge Southeast serves members in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Its mission is simple: To expand possibilities for aging through advocacy, education, and service. Based in Tallahassee, Florida, the association represents more than 250 communities, over 500 facilities, and 140+ business associates, serving hundreds of thousands of seniors across the region. Members benefit from up-to-date regulatory guidance, educational opportunities, legislative advocacy, group purchasing, and peer networking.
Andrew Rugge/Perkins Eastman