Our Leadership Team
Matthew Thornton
Founder & CEO
Matthew has 23 years’ experience leading operations, clinical, and sales teams in long-term care environments, including independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing. He has directly supervised the opening of more than 50 assisted living residences, 24 independent living residences and three new long-term care facilities.
James Taylor
Principal – Investments & Legal
James Taylor has been a force in the senior living industry since 2012 and now elevates Proveer by providing general counsel and investments expertise. In his career, James has closed over 6 billion dollars in financial transactions. He oversees and identifies all legal aspects of the company while establishing solid relationships with investors. James designed, financed, and has overseen timely construction or renovation of four Class-A assisted living and memory care communities. Whether ground-up or renovation, James has delivered projects on time and on budget.
Derrick DeFino
Chief Operation Officer
Derrick DeFino is the COO of Proveer Senior Living, minority owner and sits on the Board of Directors. In this role, reporting to the CEO, he develops and leads the strategic plans for operational performance, clinical/regulatory compliance and revenue enhancement. Additionally, he spearheads the integration of new properties as well as the strategic plans for the turnaround of new assets.
Prior to joining Proveer Derrick served as Vice President of operations for company portfolios consisting of 55+ communities, CCRCs, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing and Post Acute communities. In his 25+ years of experience he has lead operational performance for some of the largest publicly traded senior living companies as well as regional privately held companies, overseeing operations of over 95 communities in 13 different states.
Derrick resides in Birmingham AL with his wife, Sandy and holds a BS in Business Administration from Lee University, a Nursing Home Administrator License in Tennessee and Nebraska and has served on the board for multiple state associations (ALFA, Argentum, AHCA/NCAL).
Jennifer Nesbitt
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Ms. Nesbitt is responsible for overseeing the sales and marketing efforts for Proveer Senior Living. She specializes in creating short- and long-term strategies to drive lead production and overall census development. Ms. Nesbitt is a senior level sales and marketing professional with more than 14 years’ experience in nonprofit and for-profit independent living, assisted living, memory care and continuing care retirement communities. She has a proven track record of turning around the sales performance of challenged communities by training and creating high-performing sales teams that embrace sales accountability. Prior to her senior living career, she spent 20 years in the fashion industry, focused on sales, marketing and outcomes for premier retailers. Ms. Nesbitt studied fashion merchandising and marketing at Jefferson State Community College and attended the Conservatory of Music at Birmingham Southern College with an emphasis on vocal studies.
Shelley Murdock
Regional VP of Operations
Shelley comes to Proveer with more than 18 years of experience in the senior living industry, having served as an Executive Director in California, Texas, and Louisiana with two national providers. Shelley possesses a strong leadership background in both operations and office management, yet what drives her most in any position she holds is her faith, her core values, and her caring heart for other people. With a wide array of responsibilities, Shelley’s eye for detail and passion for superior customer service strengthens the Proveer leadership team, allowing us all to provide quality care and support for not only the residents but our valued team members.