CORPORATE LADDER.

Kuala Healthcare names prez kuala Healthcare has named Charles Shapiro president and CEO of the Englewood Cliffs, N.J.-based skilled nursing and assisted living company, and vice chairman of its Infu-Tech subsidiary.

Before joining Kuala, Shapiro held seniro management positions at Magellan Health Services, the successor corporation to Merit Behavioral Care Corporation, which he joined in 1995.

While at Magellan, a specialty managed care organization with fiscal 1999 revenues of $1.9 billion, Shapiro had operational, sales and marketing, and mergers and acquisitions responsibilities.

Shaprio was also a consultant to various venture capital-backed e-commerce entities. Before joining Magellan, he was an attorney specializing in corporate finance and M&A.

Shapiros experience is ideally suited to Kuala's needs," Chairman Jack Rosen said in a prepared statement. "Also, his experience in e-commerce should be of help to Infu-Tech, which is in the process of launching an Internet site for distribution of pharmaceuticals and other healthcare products."

In addition, Rosen, who is stepping aside as CEO, said the appointment will let me devote more of my attention to Infu-Tech, as well as give me a little more time to pursue personal business and charitable endeavors."

Barbara Burford, RN, was promoted to assistant director of nursing for Valencia Woods Nursing Center, a 91-bed SNF in Valenica, Pennsylvania, that is part of St. Barnabas Health System.

Extendicare Health Services Inc., based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has promoted jack Stone and Sue Zingsheim to regional nurse consultants in the the clinical services department. Gail Ann Robinson has joined the firm as regional nurse consultant.

James Mott has been named executive director of TidePointe, a Classic Residence by Hyatt CCRC in Hilton Head Island, South Carolia.

Kathy Ponte has been named program director for Bridges, a specialized program for the memory impaired at the Brewster (Massachusetts) Senior Care Center, an Epoch Senior Living Community. Overseeing the 88-bed Bridges program is Francis Lavin, Epoch's corporate memory impairment director.

The Frontier Group, a Boston-based provider of skilled nursing, home health, rehabilitation, and staffing services through its Optimum Care Network, has named Jeffrey Barnhill executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Joseph Brady director of compensation and benefits.

Regent Assisted Living has named Grace Lee and Susan Danielski as general manager and community relations director, respectively, of Park Place Assisted living in Portland, Oregon. The company has also named Krista Davis community relations director of Regency Park Assisted Living in Portland and Pamala Milliken vice president of marketing.

Karen Townsend-McPoland and Mary Carpenter have been named executive director and marketing director, respectively, of Kisco Retirement Communities' New Park Terrace CCRC in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

Wartburg Lutheran Services of Brooklyn, New York, has named Ellen Bartoldus vice president for clinical and corporate ethics.

Carol Kovis has been named director of patient care services and Rochelle Rothbaum has been named assistant administrator of Assisted Living at Northern Riverview in Haverstraw, New York.