About Austera Group

Our Story

Austera Group was founded on a shared belief that senior housing performs best when strategy, operations, and design work in harmony. Built by leaders with deep experience across development, operations, marketing, and interior design, Austera was created to help owners and operators navigate complexity with clarity and confidence.

Our work is grounded in collaboration, long-term thinking, and a commitment to aligning people, process, and place. Every engagement is guided by purpose, discipline, and a unified vision for sustainable success.

Our Founders

Kristin Ward

Kristin brings decades of senior housing leadership experience across operations, marketing, and executive strategy, offering a rare perspective on performance and long-term growth.

Michelle Clark

Michelle is an architect and interior design leader whose work spans hundreds of senior housing communities, aligning design, capital planning, and operational insight.

Our Approach

Built on Alignment

At Austera Group, we approach senior housing through the lens of alignment. This ensures strategy, operations, and design work together rather than in isolation. Our philosophy is rooted in balance, thoughtful planning, and solutions that respect both immediate needs and long-term vision.

Inspired by the principles of harmony and interconnectedness, we focus on helping organizations move forward with intention, clarity, and confidence.

Our Methodology

Our work is guided by a clear, three-step methodology designed to bring structure, focus, and momentum to every engagement.

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1. Assess

We evaluate performance, context, and opportunity to establish a clear foundation for strategic decisions.

 

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2. Position

We align strategy, market positioning, and priorities to support sustainable growth.

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3. Solve

We implement tailored solutions that address real challenges and drive meaningful outcomes.

Who We Work With

Austera Group partners with senior housing owners, operators, investors, and development teams across independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Our clients range from single-community operators to multi-state portfolios navigating growth, repositioning, or transition.