Redstone Presbyterian SeniorCare Announces Plans for Leadership Transition

At their annual fundraising gala held on November 9ᵗʰ, Redstone Presbyterian SeniorCare announced plans for a future leadership transition for the 44-year-old non-profit organization. John R. Dickson, IV, announced that his retirement would take place in July of 2025. In the event’s opening remarks, Dickson said, “I have had the great honor to serve Redstone Presbyterian SeniorCare as its President and Chief Executive Officer for 23 years. During this time, I have experienced great joy and fulfillment in directing growth initiatives for the organization, along with building a strong corporate culture. In July 2025, I will begin a new journey of retirement after close to 44 years in the aging services field.” Redstone has experienced steady growth under Dickson’s leadership since his arrival in 2001.

Following graduation from the Ohio Dominican University, Dickson began his career as a Regional Coordinator for National Church Residences in Columbus, Ohio, where he served from 1982 to 1998. From 1998 through 1995, he was employed by United Church Homes, Inc., located in Marion, Ohio, as Director of Housing Services. Dickson then served as President/Vice President - Chief Development Officer for Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services (OPRS) located in Columbus, Ohio. From 1995 to 2001, he facilitated the development, construction, and expansion of new services for eleven senior living communities.

Since his arrival at Redstone, Dickson led expansion through the construction of two new campuses at a cost of $49,060,000. He orchestrated cost reduction and operational restructuring plans twice to position Redstone to refinance its debt and to better meet the service needs of its stakeholders. Under his leadership, Redstone has been recognized as a “Best Practices” organization for its innovative employee health insurance plan and honored by employees as a “Best Places to Work” organization. Over the past decade, Dickson led the organization to launch Redstone@Home, which is dedicated to providing home care, home health, and hospice services within the Redstone communities and externally. Recognizing the need for quality in agency staffing, Dickson worked with leaders to create 5 Star Staffing, an agency dedicated to serving the needs of Redstone first and neighboring organizations as growth occurs. Recent expansion has included the acquisition of units and providing management services for the Redmont Village Condominium Association in Greensburg.

Beyond Redstone, Dickson served on the LeadingAge PA board from 2008 to 2019, rising to the role of Chairman and Past Chairman. He has been an especially passionate voice for advocacy at the local and state levels. In 2018, he was awarded the first LeadingAge PA award for advocacy. A regular attendee of LeadingAge meetings and functions, he has been a mentor and friend to many over the years. In June of 2010, LeadingAge PA recognized John’s contribution to the aging services field and presented him with a Distinguished Service Award for Leader of the Year. In 2022, he received the Paul P. Haas Lifetime Achievement Award from LeadingAge PA for his exemplary service.

Locally, he serves as the treasurer for the Redstone Presbytery, an elder trustee at First Presbyterian Church of Greensburg, and an active member of Rotary International in Greensburg. He is a past chair of the Faith-Based. Network Alliance, Faith Affiliated Insurance Program, and Western Pennsylvania Alliance Pharmacy. He is an advisory board member for the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. Dickson is married to Linda, also a leader in senior living services, and together they parent a beautifully blended family of seven children and seven grandchildren.

Redstone’s Board Chair, Mike Passalinqua, notes, “The Board of Directors of Redstone Presbyterian SeniorCare is thankful to John for his visionary leadership of the organization and his tireless commitment to our residents."

In concluding his remarks at the event, Dickson announced the plan for future leadership of the organization. “Following my retirement,” he said, “I am happy to announce that Vicki Loucks, current Vice President & COO, will succeed me as President & CEO. Vicki is a capable and dedicated leader who will continue the Mission of Redstone.” Board Chair Passalinqua echoed Dickson’s enthusiasm for Loucks’ appointment, saying, “We are excited to welcome Vicki Loucks as our new Chief Executive Officer and look forward to a bright future for Redstone under her guidance.”

Loucks’ entire nursing career has been dedicated to Redstone Presbyterian SeniorCare. Following her graduation from Westmoreland Community College’s nursing program in 1994, she took on the position of Charge Nurse in Redstone’s Skilled Nursing Home. She soon moved to the position of Registered Nurse Assessment Coordinator, where she served for five years. She served briefly as an Assistant Administrator before taking on the role of Nursing Home Administrator in 2000, a position she held for four years. In 2004, she was appointed Redstone’s Vice-President of Operations and has served tirelessly in that position until the present. Loucks received the 2023 City and State PA Impact Award and was recognized by the Pittsburgh Business Times Healthcare Hero Award. In October, she received the Athena Award presented by the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce. A champion for lifelong learning, Loucks has earned her BSN in Nursing from Carlow University and an MBA in both Business and Nursing from the University of Phoenix. Beyond Redstone, she is the current Board Chair for LeadingAge PA and an active member of LeadingAge National. Locally, she is a member of the Board of the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce and an active member of Living Evidence Church. Loucks balances the rigors of her work at Redstone with the most important aspect of her life: her family. She is married to Tom, and together, they are the parents of two adult children and three grandchildren.

As Loucks prepares to assume this new leadership role, she expresses gratitude for her years working with CEO John Dickson. “When John joined Redstone in 2001, I was a young leader. I didn’t just get a new CEO at that time. I have a mentor and a friend who has taught me so much over the years. He’s taught me to lead with compassion and a servant's heart; he’s taught me the importance of showing up; he’s taught me that building relationships and sustaining them is one of the key attributes of a leader, and he’s taught me that leadership is really service. I am forever grateful to John for his leadership, his vision, and his ability to bring about consensus and reach a common goal. Redstone is better because of him. I am better because of him.”

When asked her thoughts about assuming the position of President and CEO, Loucks said, “I’m excited, humbled, and honored to step into the role of CEO leading this great organization and continuing to serve older adults in western Pennsylvania. We have a solid leadership team and Board of Directors. Both share a clear vision and strategic direction for the future. We know that the number of older adults in Pennsylvania and across the country will continue to grow over the next 25 years. I look forward to leading Redstone into that future to meet those needs."

Founded in 1980, Redstone Presbyterian SeniorCare is a network of three Life Plan Communities located in Greensburg, Murrysville, and North Huntingdon, PA, in Westmoreland County. Serving over 1200 seniors annually, nearly 500 employees work in Redstone’s Independent Living Communities, Personal Care Units, Dementia Care Units, Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Home Care, Home Health, and Hospice Services. Redstone is a 501c3 organization dedicated to being a leading aging services provider in the communities served.