Mountain Shadows Advances Mission Through Merger with ICF/DD-N Facilities
by Doug Cook & Sheryl Wilde
March 1, 2006 opened a new era for the management team and the residents of Mountain Shadows Community Homes. A long time vision of improving the lives of the residents of the homes operated by Mountain Shadows Support Group, Inc. (MSSG) was realized in what might seem to be a very unlikely way to the casual observer.
After nineteen months of negotiations, planning, and configuring, Mountain Shadows consummated the merger of thirteen homes (nine in Riverside and four in Moreno Valley) from two companies with similar corporate cultures and missions.
Reset the clock to October of 2002. After eleven years of struggle, Mountain Shadows Support Group accomplished what had previously seemed impossible when they pur chased the land, buildings and operations of all eighteen (18) Mountain Shadows Community Homes. Using municipal tax-free bond financing, MSSG purchased the operations and the homes from Mountain Shadows, Inc., a for-profit corporation headed and owned by Doug Cook and several families and friends of the residents of Mountain Shadows.This seminal event established the security and guaranteed the homes for the 117 residents for the foreseeable future.
“To the further benefit of our MSCH residents is the broadened horizon of care we now provide.”—Wade Wilde
Fast forward now to 2004 when two highly respected providers and industry leaders (Jim Danielsen & Cora Smith) are in search of an exit strategy from their respective businesses providing care and services primarily to pediatric and adolescent children. When Wade first met with Cora and Jim, he was struck by the similarities in the three organizations. “We all had very similar corporate cultures and clearly each provided quality care for our residents” he said. “As our discussions continued, we realized a merger of our organizations just made sense.” The financing model utilized and the human resource team assembled for the MSCH purchase was the catalyst for action and the secret to success in this regard. The essence of this effort is the truly beneficial win/win/win for the three corporations and respec tive residents and employees of each entity.The future bodes better for all segments of this merger.
Continue reading the full story in the Winter 2006 Newsletter.