Interim leadership
CFO and COO guidance for boards and executive teams during transitions, growth and operational change.
Douglas Folsom · Founder
Sound finances.
Stronger communities.
Hands-on executive leadership for life plan communities navigating growth, financial pressure and the everyday work of delivering an excellent resident experience.
Meet Douglas
About Douglas
Finance and operations belong in the same conversation.
Douglas Folsom has served as Controller, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at John Knox Village of Florida.
He brings financial discipline to the decisions that shape daily life: occupancy, healthcare staffing, capital investment, dining, and resident trust. As an advisor, he works with leadership teams and boards to identify priorities, put useful measures in place and follow through.
His CFO appointment in 2023 and later COO role are documented by John Knox Village.
Education & executive development
Northeastern University
Bachelor of Business Administration, minor in Finance.
The Wharton School
University of Pennsylvania · Executive education focused on strategic CFO leadership; continuing coursework.
Northeastern education reported in the John Knox Village Gazette, June/July 2024.
Selected accomplishments
Results tied to practical decisions.
The following figures were provided by Douglas and describe results during his leadership at John Knox Village.
$4.6M loss → $5.5M surplusReported change in annual financial result from 2021 to 2025.
18 months earlyWestlake occupancy reached its goal ahead of the original schedule.
~20% → >85%Reported improvement in dining approval following work with NEXDINE and the JKV team.
Resident experience
Established a Resident Relations Office and a daily check-in escalation process to give concerns clear ownership and faster resolution. The dining transformation was a collaboration with NEXDINE; its culinary and service teams deserve recognition for the change residents experienced.
A documented financial turnaround
As part of JKV’s leadership team, Douglas helped plan and execute a major campus expansion while maintaining financial discipline. JKV and its financing partners prepared for Fitch’s credit review; subsequent Fitch commentary documented stronger operations and Westlake’s early occupancy.
In its January 2025 report, Fitch described JKV’s improving operating performance: its operating ratio fell from 107% in 2022 to 96.6% in 2023, while net operating margin rose from negative 0.2% to 10.7%. Fitch attributed the improvement to efforts across the organization to contain costs, improve efficiency and grow sales.
Fitch also reported that Westlake finished $5.7 million under budget, reached stabilized occupancy more than 18 months early, and paid down its short-term project debt. Fitch affirmed JKV’s BBB rating with a Stable Outlook; these are JKV results achieved by its broader team, with Douglas serving in financial and operational leadership.
Dining transformation · John Knox Village
Better dining, built together.
Douglas partnered with NEXDINE Hospitality and the JKV team to make dining a stronger part of daily life for residents—and a more disciplined operation for the community.
Douglas reports that resident approval of dining rose from roughly 20% to more than 85%, without increasing the operating budget. His focus was to bring resident feedback, fresh ingredients, service standards and financial accountability into the same conversation.
What changed
Residents had a voice. The dining committee helped shape menu enhancements and new experiences. JKV expanded choice with the Westlake Eatery and BV’s French Press and Wine Bar, along with special dinners, wine and cocktail classes.
The food and service improved together. The team made salad dressings from scratch, published nutritional information for menu items and invested in management training. NEXDINE brings culinary, nutrition and hospitality expertise, including its fresh-food and TASTEFUL wellness approach.
People and performance mattered. Douglas worked with NEXDINE’s on-site leaders on the resident experience, financial performance and a better environment for the dining team. JKV’s 2024 recap credited dining leadership and training with a 40% increase in catering revenue. The collaboration also sought to support employee satisfaction and retention; no retention figure is claimed here.
The resident-approval figures are supplied by Douglas. JKV documents the dining changes and catering result in its 2024 recap; NEXDINE describes its partnership with JKV.
How we help
Executive support where it matters.
Financial performance
Cash flow, entrance fees, margin, capital planning and clear scorecards that connect numbers to action.
Operations & experience
Healthcare labor, occupancy, dining and resident relations with accountability across departments.
In the news
Reporting and recognition.
Articles open at their source; magazine and conference excerpts contain only the pages featuring Douglas.
Meet JKV’s CFO: “CFO in the Know”John Knox Village · September 2024Leadership on site during Hurricane MiltonJohn Knox Village · October 2024South Florida Business Journal CFO of the Year finalistOne-page excerpt from JKV’s Village Voice · 2024, page 12Construction and master planning discussion with ZieglerPi Architects · August 2024 · Featuring Douglas Folsom and Rich ScanlonOperations and resident experience: conference panelHJ Sims · 2025 Late Winter Conference · three-page excerptWestlake at John Knox Village nears full occupancySouth Florida Business & Wealth · July 2024JKV CFO named finalist of the year: career and leadership profileJohn Knox Village Gazette · June/July 2024 · one relevant pageLessons from LeadingAge SoutheastJohn Knox Village · August 2025
Magazine excerpt: John Knox Village, Village Voice, July–December 2024.
Start a conversation
Let’s talk about your community.
For leadership, finance or operations consulting inquiries, contact Douglas Folsom directly.
Email Doug@folsomSLG.com Connect on LinkedIn