Ascent Senior Care Leadership
Kevin Kast, Managing Partner
Purposefully driven, Kevin Kast brings a unique combination of talent, insight and oversight to Ascent Senior Care. Health care experience. Senior living expertise. Community involvement. He has over 25 years of senior health care system experience, serving in a variety of capacities, including hospital CEO and System Executive accountable for multiple hospitals, physician offices, surgery centers and home health services. As the President/Market Executive for SSM St. Charles Market, he oversaw the largest market within the SSM Health Care System. He then took the leadership role at Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) in Central Illinois, serving as Regional President and CEO. He is a Fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives® and served on the Missouri Hospital Association Board of Trustees and the American Hospital Association, with offices in Washington, DC.
Sharing his exceptional yet practical experience with others, Kevin has served on the faculties of Avila University and Lindenwood University and guest lectured at Webster University and Washington University in St. Louis. The health and happiness of seniors has always been important to Kevin, especially those who reside in St. Charles County. He envisioned, developed and secured financing for assisted living at the Meadowlands, one of the largest senior communities in the region. Currently, Kevin serves on the St. Charles County Merit System Commission and is the President of the Board for Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service in St. Charles. Kevin also serves on the Board of the Mercy Kids, Division of Mercy Health Care Ministry. He formerly served on the Board of Directors for the Economic Development Center and Industrial Development Authority in St. Charles County.
Ronald Braun, Member
The Ascent Senior Care team’s utility player, Ron Braun can do it all – and he brings that breadth of expertise to this new community. With over 25 years of experience, Ron has specialized in health care strategic planning, business planning and development, marketing and operations, and health care financing all within senior community development. He has also established commercial Medicare and Medicaid licensed health care plans in five different states. These broad yet spe cialized areas of knowledge are invaluable to Avalon Park. He didn’t start off in health care – early in his career, he eaded the research department and served as the Chief Financial Officer for a regional planning and development organization. But his path soon brought him to the health care arena, where he served in executive, development, operating and consulting capacities with hospitals, regional health systems, ambulatory care facilities, medical groups and insurance companies. He has been an integral team leader or member in the acquisition and merger of several health care businesses.