MEET THE TEAM
The Leadership Behind
the Results
At Mallard, our leadership team brings decades of experience in senior living operations, consulting, and development. We’ve led communities through successful turnarounds, driven consistent NOI growth, and built high-performing teams across the West Coast. With a deep understanding of what it takes to operate efficiently and deliver strong returns, we partner closely with owners and investors to unlock each property’s full potential.
Mike Shetler
Founder/Owner and Managing Partner
Mike Shetler brings over 30 years of senior living leadership experience, specializing in operational turnarounds and performance optimization. He has led large-scale communities to achieve major financial gains, including increasing occupancy at Paradise Village from 47% to 98% and boosting monthly NOI by over 1,400%. Mike has a deep background in systems development, compliance, budgeting, and team leadership. His Quality Enhancement Program and leadership development frameworks have been adopted across multiple communities, resulting in improved staff retention and survey outcomes. Mike is licensed as both a Nursing Home Administrator and RCFE Administrator in California and is known for pairing financial acumen with a strong focus on care and culture. At Mallard, he leads strategic direction and works directly with owners to increase NOI and long-term asset value.
Ryan Test
Owner and Managing Partner
Ryan Test is a senior living operator and strategist with over 20 years of experience driving occupancy, culture, and financial growth across diverse communities. He has led high-impact turnarounds including a 62% to 95% occupancy increase and NOI quadrupling at Oakmont of Fresno. At Oakmont of Escondido Hills, he maintained 100% census and built a waitlist while reducing turnover and improving employee morale. Ryan’s expertise spans marketing, operations, staff development, and executive coaching. His leadership consistently improves census and reduces overhead while strengthening internal culture. As a licensed RCFE Administrator and former COO and VP of Sales, Ryan now works directly with ownership groups at Mallard to grow revenue and optimize community performance.
Nithi Narasappa
VP of Operations
Nithi Narasappa brings over 12 years of experience leading operations in both startup and established senior living communities. At Mallard, she has improved operational efficiency by 40%, secured new management contracts worth $1.2M in annual revenue, and launched a quality tool resulting in deficiency-free surveys. Her background includes leadership roles at Aegis Living and Paradise Village, where she increased NOI, improved care margins, and led teams through complex transitions. Nithi is known for data-driven decision-making, team development, and risk mitigation strategies that lead to lasting operational improvements. She holds an MBA in Project Management, is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and is a licensed RCFE Administrator. At Mallard, Nithi ensures every property operates at its highest potential while supporting long-term growth for investors.
