March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on the contributions, challenges, and evolving roles of women. At Incite, we celebrate Women’s History Month by honoring the achievements, contributions, and impact of women everywhere. We’re proud of all the women on our team who bring their knowledge and passion to their work every day. As our team continues to grow, we’re proud to welcome three additionaltalented women to our team, each bringing unique experiences, skills, and perspectives.

Meet Our New Team Members 

  • Christine Husted, Chief of Staff: Christine joins Incite with over 15 years of healthcare strategy and operations experience. She has spent her career building and improving healthcare businesses. Christine will partner with the executive leadership team and board to translate strategic priorities into execution across the Incite organization, drive cross-functional alignment, manage high-impact initiatives and improve operating cadence, communication and decision-making. 
  • Laurie Jochmann, Senior Director of Business Strategy and Development: Laurie brings over 25 years of experience in food distribution, GPO sales and operations, and senior living industry; with a proven track record of building relationships and guiding high-performing teams. She leads Incite’s Growth  team; guiding strategy and outreach efforts to expand partnerships and connect senior living providers with solutions that support their operational and business goals. 
  • Sarah Rutzler, Director of Partnership Development: Sarah brings more than 18 years of experience in the senior living industry across operations, food distribution, group purchasing, and e‑procurement. She works closely with AHCA/NCAL and Incite’s state associations to support collaboration, strengthen relationships, and ensure members have access to the resources and partnerships that help their organizations succeed. 

“Incites” from Their Careers 

As Incite celebrates Women’s History Month, we wanted to share what drives our new team members and the lessons they carry with them. Their reflections offer a glimpse into the talent they are adding to our team. 

What’s one lesson you’ve learned that you wish you’d known earlier in your career? 

  • Christine: Ask for feedback in thoughtful and targeted ways. When you ask specific, intentional questions, you create space for more honest, useful insights. Questions like “Could you give me feedback on how I handled that client question  (or slide, pushback, or disagreement)?” or “What’s one thing I could do differently that would save you time in communicating with me?” often lead to more meaningful conversations. Practicing this also improves the feedback you give others and strengthens your own communication and leadership skills. 
  • Laurie: Build multi-level relationships within an organization. Don’t rely on just one contact. Develop connections with executives, end users, operations leaders, finance, and procurement. When you invest in relationships across different levels, you gain a better understanding of the organization, how decisions are really made, and protects your work if one contact leaves the company. Strong, multi-layered relationships create stability, credibility, and long-term opportunity. 
  • Sarah: The lesson I wish I’d learned is to give myself more grace. Early in my career, I equated ambition with pressure. The pressure to know everything, make zero mistakes, move quickly, and to always be ‘on.’ While ambition is powerful, it’s equally important to be patient with your own learning curve. Giving myself grace has helped me stay resilient, grounded, and show up as a better version of myself. 

What professional habit do you swear by? 

  • Christine: I intentionally lead with curiosity and ask questions. This can still be challenging because I like to quickly understand a situation and jump to solutions, but I’ve found I’m a much more helpful and collaborative colleague when I slow down, listen, and ask thoughtful questions first. That extra time helps surface important context and usually leads to better outcomes for everyone. 
  • Laurie: I swear by staying one step ahead and always following through. In a relationship-driven industry, trust is everything. Consistently doing what you say you will shows respect and builds reliability. Anticipating needs and thinking through solutions before questions arise has also been key to building credibility and delivering real value. 
  • Sarah: The most important professional habit I practice is leading with kindness, even in challenging interactions. Treating others with respect builds trust, eases tension and creates an environment where collaboration can thrive. I’ve found that even a simple, genuine smile can shift the tone of a conversation and signal openness and approachability. Consistently choosing kindness allows me to lead withemotional intelligence and helps foster a culture where people feel valued, supported, and understood.

What advice would you give women starting out in the senior living industry today? 

  • Christine: This is an exciting time in the industry, as the demographic we serve has evolving preferences and needs. You can add value immediately by questioning assumptions about industry operations. Whether you’re coming from another industry or just starting out, embrace the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective. 
  • Laurie: Know that you are capable to succeed in any environment. Confidence and abilities will carry you further than you may realize early in your career. Find a mentor who will challenge you, guide you, and help build a strong peer network for support. This industry is built on relationships and your reputation is your brand. Be reliable, authentic, and follow through on what you say you will do. Over time, that credibility will open doors. In the end, you’re not just selling a product or service; you’re selling your brand. 
  • Sarah: Surround yourself with your personal cheerleaders. Find people who want to see you win, because those are the people who will challenge, support, and help you grow. This industry is deeply relational, and having a strong, positive support system builds your confidence and strengthens resilience. People who believe in you genuinely help you rise. 

Unique Questions 

What is one piece of advice for balancing career growth and personal priorities?

Christine: Carve out time to actively reflect on your priorities – both at work and outside of it. This helps you be intentional with your time and energy. It’s okay for your priorities to shift over time. Reflection with a trusted colleague or friend can be especially helpful, as they may see patterns you don’t.  

How do you celebrate successes, big or small, in your career? 

Laurie: I take time to recognize the win and the work behind it. In sales and in this industry, it’s easy to move quickly to the next opportunity, but celebrating progress, big or small, keeps teams motivated. I also make a point to share wins with those who contributed to them. Success is rarely accomplished alone, and recognition builds stronger relationships and momentum. 

What’s one thing you always do to stay organized or focused? 

Sarah: Every Monday, I review my goals and priorities for the week. It’s a simple ritual that gives me clarity before the week gets busy. I focus on what needs to be accomplished, where my key partnerships need attention, and what strategic initiatives need to move forward. This weekly reset helps me stay intentional and prioritize what truly matters. 

Takeaways 

Across each perspective, a few clear themes emerge. 

  1. Relationships are foundational. Whether it’s asking for targeted feedback or building connections across an organization. Success in this industry is rarely achieved alone, and investing in relationships creates stronger, more sustainable outcomes. 
  1. How you show up matters. Curiosity, reliability, and kindness are differentiators that build trust, strengthen collaboration, and establish credibility. 
  1. Growth requires perspective. From giving yourself grace to challenging assumptions, there is real value in staying open, reflective, and willing to evolve over time. 

Women’s Month Reflection

At Incite, Women’s History Month is more than an opportunity to recognize the impact of the women on our team today. We value their perspectives, leadership, and experiences that continue to shape the future of our industry. 

As the senior living landscape evolves, so does the opportunity for women to influence the industry through intentionality and collaboration.