At Country Meadows, we provide a range of senior living services, including independent living, assisted living, and higher levels of personal care for those who need more support. While we don’t have skilled nursing at all locations, we do operate a skilled nursing facility at one of our campuses. Additionally, we own LifeSong Hospice and Palliative Care, which allows residents to remain in their familiar surroundings while receiving compassionate end-of-life care.

My father, Governor George Leader, started Country Meadows after serving as Pennsylvania’s governor from 1955 to 1959. During his time in office, he became deeply concerned about the lack of quality care for seniors. At the time, modern retirement communities barely existed, and there was a clear need for them as the population aged. Inspired by innovative healthcare models he saw in other states—especially in California—he decided to bring those ideas to Pennsylvania and create a new standard of senior living.

I originally pursued a career in local and state government, earning a master’s degree in public administration with the goal of becoming a city manager. But I quickly realized that the work I was doing in government didn’t feel meaningful. In contrast, my parents had just started Country Meadows, and when they invited me to join them, I saw a real opportunity to make a difference. We weren’t just building retirement communities—we were changing the way seniors experienced aging, giving them purpose and a higher quality of life. That mission still drives me today.

Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic was the biggest challenge we’ve ever faced. It hit senior living communities hard, and despite all the preparation we thought we had, it spread far more rapidly than anyone expected.

The crisis wasn’t just about keeping residents safe—it was also about maintaining our workforce. When schools shut down, many of our employees had to stay home with their children. On top of that, regulations required employees to quarantine for 10 days if someone in their household had COVID, even if they weren’t sick themselves. We were constantly re-evaluating staffing across all 11 locations to ensure we could continue providing care.

We survived by staying proactive:

Embracing early vaccinations

Implementing monoclonal antibody treatments—we were the first in Pennsylvania to use this lifesaving therapy

Creating a dedicated COVID care unit at our West Shore campus, not just for our residents but for seniors from other communities as well

It was an exhausting, heartbreaking, and stressful time—but we made it through.

Have a solid business plan—but be flexible. Your plan will change over time, and you need to be ready for that. My dad always said, "When your name’s on the door, you work harder." Even if your name isn’t literally on the door, people will know who you are, and they’ll hold you accountable. Hard work and commitment are essential if you want to build something that lasts.

At Country Meadows, we believe in giving back. We have two foundations:

The Country Meadows Co-Worker Foundation – This provides financial assistance to employees facing personal hardships, like medical crises or unexpected family emergencies. Grants are tax-free and can make all the difference in a tough time.

The Leader Family Foundation – Started by my parents, this foundation supports various charities throughout Hershey, Harrisburg, and the surrounding communities.

Personally, I serve on the board of Tech Center, a workforce development initiative in Harrisburg, and I’ve previously been involved with organizations like United Way, WITF, and the United Way Foundation.

I’m a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan. After every Eagles victory, I bring Karnes donuts to the home office on Monday morning to celebrate with my team.