Immanuel Lutheran Communities needed someone with experience as its next Immanuel Skilled Care Center administrator.

It found just that in Brad Cheek, a 20-year veteran of long-term care.

Cheek, who spent 18 years at Delmar Gardens in Las Vegas, will be responsible for the overall operation of the care center, a long-term nursing home. His duties will include hiring staff, overseeing patient care and the always taxing compliance with state and federal regulations.

“Mainly I’m going to solve problems as we experience them,” he said. 

Cheek took the new job after a year in Rock Springs, Wyo. He said this area was just what he and his wife needed.

“We’ve been looking for a small town that doesn’t feel like a small town,” he said. “I’m very pleased to be here.”

The Skilled Care Center is a 155-bed facility operating at 87 percent capacity. Immanuel Lutheran Communities is a group of not-for-profit, faith-based facilities, including residential living, assisted living, memory care and rehabilitation services.

Working in a faith-based facility is a first for the religious new administrator.

“It’s a very unique and very pleasurable experience,” Cheek said. “I just passed the one month mark and it feels like I’ve been here for years. It’s that comfortable.”