VERSED: A VIUM Capital Podcast

Discussion with James Balda President and CEO of Argentum

On this episode of VERSED powered by VIUM Capital, Steve Kennedy sits down with James Balda, President & CEO of Argentum, to unpack the biggest forces shaping the future of senior housing. From workforce shortages to access to capital, Balda shares a clear-eyed view of the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today. The conversation explores the growing supply-demand imbalance, with projections showing a major shortfall in senior housing units, alongside rising costs and regulatory uncertainty.  Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing [https://www.gritandgravel.com/].

Discussion with Rod Burkett, Chairman and Co-Founder and Julie Simpkins, Co-CEO at Gardant Management Solutions

In this episode of VERSED, Steve Kennedy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-kennedy-675a476/] sits down with Rod Burkett [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rod-burkett-16540011/], Chairman and Co-Founder, and Julie Simpkins [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-simpkins-b83b4542/], Co-CEO of Gardant Management Solutions, to explore the growing importance of affordable assisted living. They discuss how this model fills a critical gap between private pay assisted living and skilled nursing, why it creates value for residents, states, and investors, and how advocacy, smart Medicaid policy, and long-term financing support sustainable growth. The conversation also looks ahead to Gardant’s people-driven vision for the next three to five years as demand continues to accelerate. VERSED Podcast, powered by VIUM Capital, brings the best thought leaders in the sector to the forefront, sharing inspirational stories from their careers, their best practices for getting through difficult times, and their views on the future of seniors housing and healthcare. VERSED is hosted by Steve Kennedy [https://www.viumcapital.com/team/steven-w-kennedy-jr].

Discussion with Mike Dury, President and CEO of Merchants Capital

Hear why relationships matter in transactions, common misconceptions about seniors housing and financing in healthcare, and current trends in the healthcare financing product. On this episode of VERSED, Steve Kennedy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-kennedy-675a476/] sits down with Mike Dury [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-dury-b192a8b/], President and CEO of Merchants Capital [https://merchantscapital.com/], the joint venture partner of VIUM Capital. Mike reflects on his journey from a small agency lending shop to leading a national platform and shares takeaways from scaling an organization while maintaining culture. The conversation also highlights a shared commitment to community impact through the Cristo Rey High School partnership, where both Merchants and VIUM welcome student interns into their offices to learn daily operations and gain exposure to careers in capital and financial services. VERSED Podcast, powered by VIUM Capital, brings the best thought leaders in the sector to the forefront, sharing inspirational stories from their careers, their best practices for getting through difficult times, and their views on the future of seniors housing and healthcare. VERSED is hosted by Steve Kennedy [https://www.viumcapital.com/team/steven-w-kennedy-jr].

Discussion with Barry Carr, Chairman and Co-Founder at Ignite Medical Resorts and Tim Fields, CEO and Co-Founder at Ignite Medical Resorts

In this episode of VERSED, Steve Kennedy sits down with Tim Fields [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-fields-8b69748/] and Barry Carr [https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-carr-b5873298/], Co-founders and Principals of Ignite Medical Resorts, to discuss how they’ve reimagined skilled nursing through a hospitality-driven approach. From their origin story to their rapid growth across six states, Tim and Barry share the challenges of building a new model, the importance of culture, and why execution matters just as much as vision. VERSED Podcast, powered by VIUM Capital, brings the best thought leaders in the sector to the forefront, sharing inspirational stories from their careers, their best practices for getting through difficult times, and their views on the future of seniors housing and healthcare. VERSED is hosted by Steve Kennedy [https://www.viumcapital.com/team/steven-w-kennedy-jr].

Discussion with David Schless, President & CEO at ASHA

In a recap conversation of the 2025 ASHA Mid-Year Meeting, David Schless [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-schless-9b752931/], President & CEO of ASHA, shares how the federally focused, boutique association is leading in federal policy, research, consumer education, and meetings for the seniors housing industry. In addition, he comments on ASHA’s amicus brief in support of Silverado Senior Living and the impact of immigration policies on operators.   VERSED Podcast, powered by VIUM Capital, brings the best thought leaders in the sector to the forefront, sharing inspirational stories from their careers, their best practices for getting through difficult times, and their views on the future of seniors housing and healthcare. VERSED is hosted by Steve Kennedy [https://www.viumcapital.com/team/steven-w-kennedy-jr].