MorningStar Revitalizes Culinary Services with a Hospitality Model Natalie Bowen joins as Vice President
DENVER, CO (August 19, 2025) — MorningStar Senior Living, a Colorado-based developer, owner and operator of premier senior communities, announces Natalie Bowen, has been named Vice President of Culinary and Hospitality Services.
A unique set of experiences qualifies Bowen to lead MorningStar’s resolve to create a transformative hospitality experience for residents. Drawn to MorningStar by its core principles and culture, she remarks, “This company is unparalleled in its approach to balance business with mission, strengthened by demonstrated servant-leadership.”
Raised in Florida, Bowen spent her school breaks on her grandparents’ farms in Nebraska and Oklahoma—experiences that sparked her lifelong passion for nutrition and hospitality. Influenced by her grandfather Henry, a former restaurateur, and grandmother Anibel’s steadfast example, she embraced a strong work ethic, stewardship and a commitment to “nourish lives.”
Inspired by their legacy, Bowen began working as a nutritional aide in skilled nursing, later earning her B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics from Middle Tennessee State University. She went on to serve as Director of Nutrition and Food Services for a CCRC in Fort Worth, then as Regional Director of Clinical Nutrition for a post-acute provider in North Carolina where she also served on the executive board for the Alzheimer’s Association.
In 2020, Bowen joined Aramark’s senior living division, serving as Executive Director of Program Compliance and later Vice President of Operations, overseeing $200M in annualized revenue. Across every role, she has championed a transformative, experiential approach to hospitality—merging culinary excellence with warm, resort-style service focused on enhancing lifestyle.
Through these roles, Bowen sought to deliver a transformative hospitality experience for residents. “And that must be centered around experiential dining,” she asserts. “’Culinary’ speaks more to the back-of-house technical aspects of food preparation. Essential, but limiting. The modern aim is to create a warm, enveloping feeling born of a resort-style hospitality landscape. For this, you must be laser-focused on front-of-house service excellence, from tasting menus to the way drinks are curated.”
According to Bowen, innovation at MorningStar Senior Living will sit at the nexus of four key initiatives:
Neuroprotective Diets—prioritizing brain health in defense against neurodegenerative disease by protecting the myelin sheath around nerve fibers; favoring food choices like the MIND diet and brain-gut health education that advocate whole, unprocessed foods, rich in fiber, probiotics and omega-3 fats, while minimizing processed foods, added sugars and excessive amounts of red meat.
Farm-to-table Adherence—curating menus with a heavy reliance on scratch cooking of fresh ingredients, using local farm fare through strong relationships with area purveyors.
Technology—fully leveraging technology in food prep and service, from how chefs order food to point-of-sale solutions; from remote refrigerator monitoring to white-glove service using apps and kiosks to book reservations and to-go meals.
Dining Concepts—designing thematic restaurants that encompass menu, service style, ambiance and customer experience. Here is the foundation upon which experiential dining is built, influencing everything from food presentation to branding and atmosphere, as well as opening dining venues in senior communities to the public for intergenerational influences.
Bowen is a Certified Dietary Manager and Certified Food Protection Professional through the Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals and is a registered Nutrition & Dietetic Technician through the Association of Nutrition & Dietetics. She is also a Food Safety Manager through the National Registry of Food Service Professionals, and a proctor and educator for Serv Safe.
About MORNINGSTAR SENIOR LIVING
An integrated developer, owner and operator of premier retirement communities, MorningStar’s portfolio encompasses 37 properties under operation or development representing 5,000+ units under management or in development in 11 states in the western half of the United States. Offering independent living, assisted living and memory care, MorningStar is privileged to elevate life for those who taught the rest of us how to live. For more, visit MorningStarSeniorLiving.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
Lorna Lee, VP of Marketing and Communications
llee@mstarliving.com
720.505.9930
