Daniel G. Perez – Senior Resource Group

For more than 35 years, Senior Resource Group has built a legacy of excellence in luxury senior living. With over 3,000 residents living in its award-winning communities across the U.S., SRG is known for its focus on individualized wellness, integrated healthcare, and lifestyle-enhancing amenities. From memory care and spa services to gourmet dining and CARF-accredited support, SRG continues to redefine what it means to age with dignity and style.

Contributing to the founder’s goal at the forefront of SRG’s expansion and transformation is Daniel G. Perez, Vice President of Real Estate Development and Construction. A Colombian American architect, urban planner, and global strategist, Perez has helped drive a bold vision: to grow SRG’s footprint and reimagine what senior living can be completely. Working collaboratively with the acquisitions, marketing, operations and sales divisions

Nowhere is Perez’s vision more evident than in Scottsdale, Arizona, where SRG is wrapping up one of the most ambitious projects in its history. In the 28-acre site, the expansion of Maravilla Scottsdale—a community already known for its premier amenities—marks a pinnacle in resort-style senior living. The new phase includes 162 high-end residential units, full-service dining cafés and bistros, spa and wellness programming, an outdoor pool, and a state-of-the-art golf simulator.

“This project embodies SRG’s future-forward vision,” Perez says. “It’s not just about buildings—it’s about immersive, life-enhancing environments. Every space was shaped for aesthetics, function, resilience, and user experience.”

Drawing on a concept he calls “Design-Led Strategic Urbanism,” Perez says the expansion reflects SRG’s belief in dignity, care, and community integration. He’s proud of how quickly the team has brought this vision to life—construction broke ground in 2024, and occupancy is expected by early 2025.

“The work continues a big idea conceived by my predecessors,” he says. “But we’ve added our own layer of innovation and function. It now contributes to Scottsdale’s urban fabric and sets a new standard for senior living.”

Scaling with strategy, leading with purpose

Overseeing new developments and the team for the national CAPEX program, Perez juggles multiple responsibilities across a portfolio of nine active projects while teaming up with the acquisitions division, which is continually scouting strategically located projects to revamp and reimagine. What makes SRG’s model successful, he says, is their careful market analysis and dedication to enhancing services like memory care while tailoring unit sizes and amenities to the preferences of the next generation of retirees.

“We’re in acquisition mode,” he explains. “There’s a lot of growth in the Northeast, Northern California, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Carolinas. Wherever Baby Boomers are retiring, we look at supply, demand, and where our vision of high-quality senior living can make the most impact.”

Perez leads multidisciplinary teams of architects, engineers, and construction professionals—and he makes frequent site visits to ensure every detail aligns with the company’s high standards. However, he sees his role as more than just project management.

“My leadership style has evolved into one grounded in collaboration, empathy, and foresight,” he says. “I believe in mentoring the next generation and creating scaled frameworks. I’m not just building buildings—I’m building ecosystems and culture.”

He attributes that philosophy to his global experiences. With decades of work across the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and a Thunderbird MBA to match, Perez infuses his projects with a rare combination of creative design, business insight, and strategic planning.

Driving the digital transformation

Perhaps the boldest element of Perez’s vision lies in his push for technological innovation. As SRG caters to more tech-savvy Baby Boomers, he’s spearheading a digital transformation to modernize everything from project execution to resident experiences.

“Technology is evolving 5 to 10 times faster than 20 years ago,” Perez says. “We need to evolve with it.”

His vision includes digital project platforms, performance-based planning, and fully tech-integrated living units. One of his current initiatives proposes smart unit management systems that allow residents to control their environment—lighting, temperature, sound—via mobile apps. Another explores facial recognition for garage access, enhancing convenience and security.

“These aren’t just tech gimmicks,” he explains. “They’re about ROI, resilience, and resident experience. When we talk about digital transformation, it’s always grounded in solving real problems.”

Perez is preparing a business case to present to SRG’s executive team and is planning a trip to East Asia to help shape the company’s global tech strategy. He aims to help SRG become a trailblazer in digital infrastructure for senior living communities.

Perez’s new doctorate in professional practice from the Thunderbird School of Global Business will have SRG as a case study for digital transformation and technology leadership in design, real estate and Construction.

“I am optimistic about persuading the founder to support this trend generation initiative,” he says.

Building the future through people

Technology and innovation may be crucial to SRG’s growth, but Perez knows nothing happens without the right people. Leading teams spanning architecture, construction, CapEx, and operations, he’s focused on recruiting top talent and retaining visionary thinkers.

“The challenge isn’t just finding talent—it’s keeping it,” he says. “That’s why we focus on culture, mentorship, and giving people a real voice.”

For Perez, retention is all about purpose and empowerment. By embedding innovation programs, offering next-gen tech training, and fostering a collaborative environment, he’s built a pipeline that doesn’t just deliver results—it inspires loyalty.

“We hire for values and vision. We give people the space to think big and the tools to execute,” he says. “When someone feels seen, heard, and developed, they stay.”

This approach also informs Perez’s work on organizational strategy, where he blends systems thinking with emotional intelligence. He acknowledges the challenges of entitlements, local politics, and regulatory inertia but says he’s learned to navigate them with diplomacy and grit.

“The hardest part of the job is managing visionary ambition within bureaucratic limits,” he admits. “But what keeps me going is the transformation—watching an idea become a place that improves lives.”

Looking beyond the horizon

From Medellín to Scottsdale, Perez has always believed that good design can unite people and elevate communities. What began as a career in architecture has expanded into a mission: to reshape real estate development around equity, innovation, and sustainability.

“Buildings alone don’t create value—ecosystems do,” he says. “And those ecosystems should be inclusive, climate-resilient, and technologically advanced.”

Perez is energized by what’s possible in 2025 and beyond. He’s focused on trend generation, tech integration, and exploring new materials and design strategies that support wellness and inclusive aging. Whether through BIM/VDC modeling, DFMA principles, IoT, Power BI, AI, or smart construction systems, he wants SRG to lead not just in senior living, but in how communities are designed and built.

“My work is about building the next frontier,” Perez says. “Senior living can be more than care—it can be a platform for innovation, connection, and quality of life.”

Through his leadership, SRG is proving just that—creating communities where residents thrive and where the future is always in focus.