Inspiring, results-driven leader Mussman earns Rising Star award

Editor’s Note: McKnight’s Senior Living, McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Home Care are profiling the McKnight’s 2025 Women of Distinction honorees daily through Aug. 18. For additional McKnight’s Women of Distinction content, visit this page.

First starting as lead receptionist, Stephanie Mussman has climbed the career ladder well. Those who know her well say her drive for growth was apparent even at the beginning of her career at Alden Estates of Shorewood, a Shorewood, IL, short-term rehabilitation, transitional care and post-acute services provider. 

It is that passion and consistency that elevated the now-administrator to Rising Star status in the 2025 McKnight’s Women of Distinction awards.

Recognizing her potential, Mussman took on responsibilities related to admissions, handling preadmission tasks and suggesting ways to streamline and improve efficiency. Her proactive approach eventually extended to troubleshooting both tasks in her position.

It was a natural decision to offer her the position of admissions director after it became available, a company vice president said. Mussman then became a licensed nursing home administrator.

Her leadership and vision are considered pivotal to the success of her facility, where she is known to consistently demonstrate an ability to streamline operations, foster a positive work environment and drive care excellence. Under her guidance, the facility has achieved numerous accolades, including winning a local media outlet’s Readers’ Choice Award for Best Senior Care Facility in the county eight times, from 2016 to 2024.

Her focus on staff engagement and appreciation is thought to be a key in cultivating a strong and motivated team at the facility. Her leadership also has contributed to national recognition, with the facility being named to US News & World Report’s list of Best Nursing Homes in 2014 and earning top rankings in Illinois from Newsweek in 2024 and 2025.

Through an innovative approach to admissions, as well as process improvement and team development efforts, Mussman has built a foundation of success that colleagues say resonates throughout the organization.

In addition to her professional achievements and leadership accomplishments, her commitment to continuous learning and adaptability is praised as central to her success. She is known to be proactive, seeking out opportunities to improve systems, processes and outcomes for patients, residents and staff members. She also remains open to new ideas and has a knack for implementing them effectively, further making her an invaluable asset to the organization.

Mussman additionally is known for being deeply involved in community building efforts — in the facility and the wider community. Her approachable nature and strong interpersonal skills enable her to build strong relationships and create a sense of trust and respect that enhances the work environment.

She also possesses the ability to mentor and train others skillfully, helping cultivate the next generation of leaders within the organization. She eagerly shares knowledge and expertise with others, colleagues note, leading to the development of a highly skilled team.

The McKnight’s Women of Distinction program is jointly administered by McKnight’s Senior Living, McKnight’s Long-Term Care News and McKnight’s Home Care. Healthcare Services Group was the Platinum sponsor of this year’s festivities, and PharMerica was the Silver sponsor. Additional sponsors included Affinity Health Services, Curana Health, DirecTV for Business, EasyShifts, Guardian Pharmacy Services, Marquis Health Consulting Services, Priority Life Care, Reliant Rehabilitation, Reside Admissions and Sentrics.

Visit this web page to see lists of honorees from 2025 and previous years.