Varenna is the pinnacle of senior communities imagined, conceived and realized by Áegis Senior Communities, a company founded by William P. Gallaher and Dwayne Clark in 1997.  Mr. Clark brought his operational expertise from senior residential communities, while Mr. Gallaher brought an accomplished career in real estate construction and development. Their common commitment to quality, attention to detail, and belief in a superior working environment for all their employees led them to create a company that is innovative and successful in all facets of operation.    

William Gallaher started building in the mid 1970s and got his contractors license in 1979.   He began by building homes one at a time, personally doing all phases of construction. In these early years he designed the homes, did the architectural drawings, and personally did every part of the home construction.  This knowledge and experience translate into an intimate understanding of the construction process.  Quality, function, attention to detail and sensitivity to the changing market have been his priorities.  He remains personally involved in every step of the development, design and construction of each project.

Bill’s projects have run the gamut from single family homes, to apartments, office buildings and shopping centers.  Most of his work in the last decade has been in the senior housing industry.  His experience in this field includes building more than 480 homes in Oakmont, one of the country’s most well-known retirement communities. In 1995 his company started building communities for ARV Assisted Living, Sunrise Assisted Living and Chancellor Health Care. It was through these projects that he met Dwayne Clark and subsequently made the decision with him to combine their skills and experience to create a company that would design, build and manage senior communities. 

Oakmont Senior Living LLC, the real estate and construction arm of Áegis Senior Living, has employees who have been with the company for more than 20 years and have grown with them from a fledgling company to one that has developed and built diverse projects in California, Washington and Nevada.  Oakmont’s policy is to solicit- indeed to expect- input from each of their employees.  They believe that each of them has much to offer.  Oakmont fosters an atmosphere of mutual respect and the free give and take of ideas in order to remain a vibrant and relevant company.

Bill is a native of Sonoma County and resides in Santa Rosa with his wife and five children. His wife Cindy has traveled this path with Bill from the beginning.  She walked the plates and rolled the trusses with him during construction of the first house.  She now oversees the design department and is involved in every element of project design. They are involved in the local community in various ways, the most significant being the founding and operation of North Bay Adoptions, an adoption agency that finds homes for foreign-born children with local families. Bill also served for 13 years as a Director on the Board of Directors for Sonoma National Bank, a community bank based in Santa Rosa.  

Dwayne and his fiancée, Terese, live in Redmond, Washington.  He has raised two children, Adam and Ashley, as a single father.  He is actively committed to the Seattle community, serving on the Board of the 5th Avenue Theatre, and as a member of the Northwest Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO).   Dwayne is the founding chairman of a national organization that will support the growth and development of senior living professionals.  He published his first book in 2001, Help Wanted: Recruiting, Hiring, & Retaining Exceptional Staff.  He is also an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University and lectures on the topic of staff retention.

Áegis has over 200 years of combined management experience in operating state-of-the-art senior housing communities.  Attention to detail is evident not only in the design and construction of these properties, but in providing seniors with homes that reflect their emotional needs as well as their physical needs.  In each west coast market served, Áegis delivers on its best-of-class reputation for outstanding senior care.

Áegis was recently profiled as a Top 10% Company by the national Assisted Living Federation of America.  The company now operates and manages 29 communities, with two under construction and three more under development. Most are Áegis Assisted Living communities, with specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia care called “Life’s Neighborhood”.  Life’s Neighborhood has been recognized nationally as a leading program for those dealing with memory loss.  They are now developing properties targeted to independent seniors, called Áegis Senior Living communities.  These communities offer larger apartments, expanded and varied public areas, and programs for more active seniors.

Varenna is the crowning jewel of the founders’ years of shared vision, drive and enthusiasm. This CCRC will be unparalled in senior communities, showcasing beautiful architectural design and featuring the highest standards in services and amenities. It promises an inviting lifestyle and impressive residence in a setting of exceptional natural beauty.