Jefferson’s Ferry Announces New Board Leadership, Welcomes New Member

SOUTH SETAUKET, N.Y. (October 20, 2026) - Jefferson’s Ferry, Long Island’s first not-for-profit Life Plan Community, has elected James E. Danowski, CPA, Chair and Kim M. Kubasek Vice Chair of its Board of Directors. Both are longtime board members, with Danowski serving since 2010 and Kubasek since 2019. The community also welcomed Valentin A. Staller as a new board member, effective October 2, while Wayne Shattes stepped down after nearly three decades of service.

“Strong board leadership has been instrumental in Jefferson’s Ferry’s growth and success over the past 25 years,” said Bob Caulfield, President and CEO of Jefferson’s Ferry. “Jim and Kim bring valuable experience in finance and health care leadership to their new roles along with sound judgment and a deep understanding of our community, while Valentin adds an important perspective in real estate development and investment as we continue planning for the future. We are also deeply grateful to Wayne for his nearly three decades of dedicated service and the important role he has played in helping Jefferson’s Ferry grow and evolve.”

Shattes, Vice President of Administration at Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson, joined the board in 1997 and most recently served as Vice Chair. He was recognized for his many years of service at a gathering held at Jefferson’s Ferry on September 30.

“Wayne has been part of Jefferson’s Ferry since before we welcomed our first residents, and his steady leadership and health care insight helped shape the community we are today,” continued Caulfield. “We are deeply grateful for his many years of service and his unwavering commitment to our residents.”

Danowski, a member of the board since 2010, is a Partner Emeritus at Cullen & Danowski, LLP, a full-service accounting firm in Port Jefferson Station. He serves on the Advisory Board of Mather Hospital and is Chairperson of the JTM Health Facilities Foundation, Inc. He previously served on the Board of the former Suffolk County National Bank and is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Kubasek, who joined the board in 2019, is Chief Executive Officer of Brightway Living & Learning in Smithtown. Her career in health care administration spanned two decades at Staten Island University Hospital and St.Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, followed by six years as Chief OperatingOfficer at United Cerebral Palsy before joining Brightway Living & Learning in 2010. She is active in several community-based organizations, serving as a catechist at Saints Philip & James Religious Education in St. James and as a tutor for Literacy Suffolk.

Staller is Vice President of Staller Associates Realty Inc., a multi-generational commercial real estate development and management company based in Islandia. A licensed real estate broker, he has experience in real estate management, development, finance and investment analysis. He has served on several national and regional committees for the Urban Land Institute and is Co-Chair of the Friends of Harvard Fencing, where he leads alumni fundraising, communications and event planning in support of the Harvard Varsity Fencing Team.

The board changes come during Jefferson’s Ferry’s 25th anniversary year and as the community continues to earn national recognition, most recently being named one of Newsweek’s America’s Best Nursing Homes 2027 and #1 in New York State in Newsweek’s 2026 America’s Best Continuing Care Retirement Communities rankings. For more information, visit www.jeffersonsferry.org.

About Jefferson’s Ferry

Jefferson’s Ferry is a not-for-profit Life Plan Community for active adults aged 62 and above, with Independent Living cottages and apartments, Assisted Living apartments, and a quality healthcare center all on one site. A multi-million-dollar expansion and renovation project, “The Journey Toward Renewal,” has updated the life-enriching environment for residents at every stage of life. Residents enjoy six distinct dining venues, an expansive Healthy Living Center and Fitness Center, and a state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Therapy Center. Also, Jefferson’s Ferry is home to “The Grove,” which opened in 2024, a Memory Support Neighborhood providing a high quality of life and care for 20 residents living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases. Jefferson’s Ferry has been recognized with the Activated Insights Award (formerly known as Pinnacle Quality Insight’s Customer Experience Award) for seven years running, among other distinctions.