About Us

Ladies enjoying a laugh


At Friendship Village, friendship is at the foundation of all we do. We live by the mantra ‘Life is Better Among Friends’ because life is truly enriched when caring, interesting and respectful people surround you. The idea of friendship permeates every aspect of life at Friendship Village from where you live, to what you do, to the care you receive. It’s an important part of what has made us one of the nation’s premier senior living communities.

As a community in the Friendship Senior Options system, Friendship Village embodies the position ‘Get Set’. This proactive, forward-thinking concept drives everyone in the organization towards innovation and continual process improvement. For prospective residents our message is Get Set 4 Life® which takes into consideration four important aspects of planning for one's future: Lifestyle, Heath and Wellness, Financial Stability and a Secure Plan.

Click the video below to hear an important message from CEO Mike Flynn

Mission, Vision, Values

Our mission is to provide seniors with distinctive homes and exceptional services that respect their faith traditions, support their independence and enhance their well-being. Simply put, at Friendship Village, friendship is at the core of everything we do.

Our vision is to be nationally recognized as an exemplar of senior-centered services through innovation, perseverance and growth. As an expression of friendship, we extend our expertise and resources to our partners, affiliates and the broader community.

Our values encompass faith, integrity, community, service, stewardship and growth. We uphold an exceptionally high standard of excellence.

Home Options

How it all began

Established in 1974 as a not-for-profit Continuing Care Retirement Community (also known as a Life Plan Community), Friendship Village, located in Schaumburg, is the largest community in Illinois. We provide exceptional living along with a lifetime continuum of care for adults ages 62 and older. We offer independent living, home care, assisted living, memory support, physical therapy and rehabilitation, and skilled nursing care.

Walkway

The community

Friendship Village welcomed our first residents in 1977 and since then have helped thousands of older adults create a viable, reliable plan for the future while enjoying an unrivaled lifestyle focused on well-being, wonderful amenities and services, and high-quality healthcare. We believe in reinvesting money back into the community to ensure the best possible lifestyle and care for each of our residents.

Watch our Legacy Video

Legacy Video

Our Leadership

Meet the extraordinary individuals who lead the operations and ensure the health and vitality of the entire Friendship Village community. Our board of directors includes prominent business owners and leaders in the local community who share a dedication to provide the best services along with superior lifestyle options for seniors; and who are committed to our mission, to provide seniors with distinctive homes and exceptional services that respect their faith traditions, support their independence and enhance their well-being.

Friendship Village
Board of Directors

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Kathy Rivera, Chair

President Executive Producer
FirstStar Digital Media, Inc.


Mary Sheahen, Secretary

President
Sheahen Group Healthcare Consulting


Jean Schlinkmann

Executive Director
Schaumburg Park District (Retired)

Management

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Michael Flynn
President & Chief Executive Officer

President & Chief Executive Officer

As Friend­ship Senior Options Pres­i­dent and CEO, Mr. Fly­nn brings to his posi­tion over 32 years of expe­ri­ence in senior liv­ing, includ­ing 25 years with FSO. An expert in tax-exempt financ­ing and reg­u­la­to­ry and cor­po­rate com­pli­ance, Mr. Fly­nn pre­vi­ous­ly served from 2012 to 2021 as Vice Pres­i­dent and Chief Finan­cial Offi­cer, with respon­si­bil­i­ty for all aspects of the finan­cial oper­a­tions of both FSO and affil­i­ate organizations.

From 2006 to 2012, Mr. Fly­nn was CEO at Smith Senior Liv­ing, a non­prof­it spon­sor of two Life Plan Com­mu­ni­ties in south­west Chica­go and sub­ur­ban Orland Park. Pri­or to join­ing Smith Senior Liv­ing, Mr. Fly­nn served 15 years as Vice Pres­i­dent and Chief Finan­cial Offi­cer for Friend­ship Vil­lage of Schaumburg.

Mr. Fly­nn holds a BS in Account­ing from DePaul Uni­ver­si­ty and an MBA from Keller Grad­u­ate School of Man­age­ment. He is a Cer­ti­fied Pub­lic Accoun­tant and a Cer­ti­fied Retire­ment Hous­ing Pro­fes­sion­al.

Mr. Fly­nn has served in lead­er­ship posi­tions for many state and nation­al senior liv­ing asso­ci­a­tions, includ­ing chair of the finan­cial advi­so­ry pan­el for CARF/CCAC, a non­prof­it accred­i­tor of Life Plan Com­mu­ni­ties; chair of Leadin­gAge Illi­nois; and chair of Life Ser­vices Net­work, a statewide asso­ci­a­tion rep­re­sent­ing providers of old­er-adult ser­vices. He is a sought-after speak­er on senior liv­ing and care issues. An advo­cate for healthy aging, Mr. Fly­nn com­petes in triathlons and Iron­man events. He resides with his fam­i­ly in Arling­ton Heights, Illinois.


Mark Zullo
Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Vice President of Sales and Marketing

Mark Zullo has been passionate about the senior living industry for 32 years, helping senior living communities in Greater Chicagoland build their market presence, maximize occupancy and ensure that seniors make the best choices for their futures. At FSO, Mr. Zullo develops and implements marketing strategies and manages sales teams for GreenFields of Geneva and Friendship Village Schaumburg, where he previously served as Marketing Director from 1994 to 2004.

Previous to his current position, Mr. Zullo was Executive Sales Director at both Chicago-area Lifespace Communities for over 12 years, as well as Director of Sales and Marketing at Sedgebrook in Lincolnshire, IL. Mark has successfully increased or stabilized occupancy for all the communities he’s served by developing strong sales teams, and directing his teams to be laser-focused on providing prospects with exemplary customer service.

Mr. Zullo holds a BA in Health Services Management from Chicago’s Benedictine University and is a Certified Senior Advisor. A lifelong Chicago White Sox fan, he lives near Naperville with his wife, Jackie. They have two amazing children, Michael and Stephanie, and a new puppy named Gigi.

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