Austin, Texas – Sept. 21, 2022 – The Jack and Nancy Dwyer Workforce Development Center, Inc. (“Dwyer Workforce Development” or DWD) announced the $590 million acquisition of 50 long-term care skilled nursing facilities operated by Victoria, Texas-based Regency Integrated Health Services (Regency). The Regency portfolio, which has approximately 4,400 employees and serves 4,600 residents, will transition from a for-profit to a not-for-profit organization under the deal. DWD’s mission is to provide comprehensive support to individuals who lack opportunity and aspire to pursue a career in the healthcare industry, alleviate a severe healthcare workforce shortage, and improve the lives of seniors.
Dwyer Workforce Development acquired Regency from multiple owners. The transition to a not-for-profit was the vision of entrepreneur Jack Dwyer to end systemic poverty and address the growing workforce crisis plaguing the healthcare industry. This is one of the most significant transactions designed to address this crisis while providing a full ecosystem of wraparound services that deliver the necessary support to remove major barriers that typically hinder the success of the underserved – changing the life trajectory for people in the program.
A unique 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Dwyer Workforce Development provides free Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) training, healthcare job placement, and a path toward life-changing careers to individuals who lack opportunity but who aspire to pursue a career in the healthcare industry. Working with other not-for-profits, partner workforce development organizations, and training partners, students – or “Dwyer Scholars” – complete their training, participate in clinicals, and then take the Board of Nursing exam. Once certified, Dwyer Workforce Development places Dwyer Scholars into full-time positions through its large network of long-term care industry partners to support the workforce and improve the lives of seniors.
“This is a revolutionary approach that has been in the works for a while, and we are so excited to see it finally come to fruition. We believe great things happen when you give people the tools to change their lives,” said Jack Dwyer, founder, owner, and President of Capital Funding Group, Inc. “Dwyer Workforce Development is unlike any nonprofit ever created. We are reinventing what it means to be a nonprofit because our solution is not one step – it is comprehensive. Many people talk about making change, but the difference is we are doing it. We take action, not just donate money, and I am committed to continuing investing my life to help others succeed.”
The most differentiating element of DWD’s approach is the creation of its comprehensive ecosystem of support tools. On a need basis, Dwyer Scholars are provided with wraparound services, which include financial support for housing, childcare, transportation, and more. This forms a cohesive ecosystem where all needs are met for Dwyer Scholars, allowing them to focus on their education and secure advanced training that will lead to better lives. Dwyer Scholars are paired with case managers who collaborate closely with them to identify career ladder goals to achieve over several years – keeping them on track for success. After reaching those goals, Dwyer Scholars are awarded a full scholarship to achieve their Registered Nurse license or to pursue additional advanced training for other healthcare careers.
“It is the continuum of support that sets DWD apart from other workforce development programs,” said Barb Clapp, CEO of Dwyer Workforce Development. “We provide intensive case management and wraparound services to each Dwyer Scholar. From assistance with childcare to transportation, we will remove all obstacles to success – and that is what makes DWD so transformative.”
Clapp has 20 years of experience in the marketing industry as President and CEO of her former firm, Clapp Communications. She serves on the board of directors for CFG Bank and has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, serving on nonprofit boards of directors for organizations such as MDSPCA, Signal 13 Foundation, Baltimore Public Markets, and the Humane Society of the United States. Clapp was recently the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for PRSA Maryland. In 2018, Clapp received the Atlantic Women’s Leadership Award and was recognized as one of 2017’s Most Influential Marylanders.
“Most people can’t say that they are truly doing what they feel they were born to do. I have always been passionate about helping people and serving the underserved, not only by giving them a voice but also helping them reach their full potential,” said Clapp. “I am thrilled to lead this innovative not-for-profit and work with Jack Dwyer to transform lives.”
The day-to-day operations of the Regency portfolio facilities will not change, nor will the roles of the employees, nor the policies and procedures. Through its partnership with DWD and the new not-for-profit status, the two organizations will expand their commitment to patients, residents, employees, and communities, while working collaboratively to train Dwyer Scholars, place them in facilities throughout the state, offer case management and service support, and more.
“This is an exciting and inspiring opportunity for our company to not only make a significant impact in the communities we serve but on the senior healthcare industry at large,” said Donovan Dekowski, CEO of Regency Integrated Health Services. “We are excited and proud to be part of this effort. It is going to change lives – not just for people who are seeking a career in healthcare but for those they serve, too.”
DWD will partner with other nonprofits and workforce development organizations in Austin with plans to partner with organizations throughout the state.
“We believe this is the answer to breaking cycles of unemployment, underemployment, and poverty,” said Clapp. “It is about providing balance and support to those who need it most. One’s circumstances in life should not determine the future, and access to childcare or transportation should not be a luxury. This partnership demonstrates the impact we can make on the lives of others and the healthcare community by working together on a shared mission. This is just the beginning of many such partnerships across the country that will make a monumental impact.”
About Dwyer Workforce Development (www.DwyerWorkforceDev.org)
The Jack and Nancy Dwyer Workforce Development Center, Inc. is a unique 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to provide comprehensive support to individuals who lack opportunity and aspire to pursue a career in the healthcare industry, alleviate a severe healthcare workforce shortage, and improve the lives of seniors. Dwyer Workforce Development was established in 2021 by Jack Dwyer, his wife, Nancy, and their daughters, Emily and Kelsey. A businessman, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, Dwyer owns Capital Funding Group, a full-service provider of comprehensive financing solutions for healthcare facilities nationwide. With his presence in the industry and commitment to changing the lives of others, Dwyer is redefining what it means to give back by creating new career opportunities for those who lack opportunity, reducing healthcare staff shortages, and improving senior care, all in one.
About Regency Integrated Health Services (RegencyHealthcare.com)
Regency Integrated Health Services is a post-acute transitional care organization that manages more than 50 skilled nursing facilities, a Medicare Advantage Plan, a pharmacy, a nurse practitioner company, a home health and a hospice agency in Texas, with more than 6,000 team members. They specialize in short and long-term rehabilitation and nursing services for those who are transitioning from home or an acute care environment.
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