Cantata Leadership
Dennis Sonnenberg
Chief Executive Officer
Dennis Sonnenberg is Chief Executive Officer of Cantata Adult
Life Services. Dennis' 37 years of leadership experience in
serving aging adults will guide Cantata Adult Life Services in its
new strategic vision to meet the changing needs of a new generation
of active adults.
Dennis joined The British Home for Retired Men and Women as its
Administrator in 1975 and was promoted to Executive Director of The
British Home in 1985. He was named Chief Executive Officer of
Cantata Adult Life Services in 2011.
Under his leadership, The British Home has attracted and
developed a talented team of professionals whose collective efforts
have resulted in industry wide recognition including a five-star
quality rating for The British Home's Skilled Nursing and
Rehabilitation from Medicare's on-line Nursing Home Compare in June
2011. The British Home was also selected by The American
Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) as a
premier senior services organization showcased during AAHSA's 2009
annual meeting and exposition in Chicago.
Dennis embraces Cantata's philosophy of living your best life
personally as well as professionally. A piano player since
childhood, Dennis teaches piano several times a week for Cantata's
Life Long Learning program.
"I've played piano pretty much my whole life and
was inspired by my grandfather who was a professional
musician. When we expanded our Life Long Learning program, I
decided to teach piano to people who may have had some experience
earlier in life and wanted to develop it further. It gives
them a positive feeling and creates a sense of community."
Since 2003, Dennis has served on the Board of Directors of
Provena Life Connections and currently serves as Treasurer and
Finance Committee Chair. He is also active in the Life
Services Network of Illinois having served on the Board of
Directors from 1994 to 2006 where he served as Treasurer, Chair
Elect and Chair. Dennis is currently a member of their
Governance Committee.
Earlier in his career, Dennis was active in the American
Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. He was a
House of Delegates Representative from Illinois from 1990 to
2007. He was also the Educational Conference Committee Chair
in 1996 and served on several other committees during this
period. In addition, Dennis continues to serve on the boards
and advisory committees of various local community
groups.
Dennis earned his Master's Degree in Gerontology from University
of South Florida and his Bachelor's Degree from Loyola
University.