McKnight's Long-Term Care News, McKnight's Senior Living and McKnight’s Home Care are thrilled to once again recognize women making their marks in skilled nursing, senior living and home care, inspiring others and having a powerful effect on the lives of the individuals they serve.

Building on the success of the McKnight’s Women of Distinction program’s previous six years, we’re pleased to announce the opening of nominations for the seventh annual awards program, which once again will include related events.

Collette Gray, president and CEO of Integral Senior Living and Solstice Senior Living

Collette Gray’s self-described superpower is recognizing and nurturing the potential in others to be leaders in senior living. Now, she is being recognized for the realized potential she has demonstrated over the course of her 30-year career in the industry, time that is culminating at one of the largest senior living companies in the country.

Gray, the president and CEO of Carlsbad, CA-based Integral Senior Living and Solstice Senior Living, part of Discovery Senior Living, is the 2025 recipient of the McKnight’s Women of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award. She will receive the award in person May 13.

Jeanine Ruda Genauer, Principal/Founder, JPR Group, LLC, Public Relations, Fairfield, NJ

Kelly Hamilton, Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations, Curana Health, Austin, TX

Genice Hornberger, Regulatory Affairs Director, PointClickCare, Mississauga, Ontario

Mindi Manuel, Senior Manager, Area Clinical Support, Sodexo, North Bethesda, MD

Arlene Maxim, Senior Clinical Services Consultant, Axxess Technology, Dallas

Stephanie Parks, Chief Growth Officer, Reliant Rehabilitation, Plano, TX

Jiani Zeng, Chief Product Officer, Butlr, Burlingame, CA

Trisha Atkinson, Director of Nursing, Clement Manor, Greenfield, WI

Alison Bouchard, Director of Marketing, Touchmark, Beaverton, OR

Jill Chang, Director of Sales and Marketing, Bayview, Seattle

Amber Foster, Regional Vice President of Operations, Commonwealth Senior Living, Charlottesville, VA

Shadi Gholizadeh, Head of Quality and Clinical Development, The Key, La Jolla, CA

Emily Hanson, Director of Data Analytics, Alden Management Services, Chicago

Nicole Jemming, Vice President of Operations, The Springs Living, McMinnville, OR

Meghan Linehan, Administrator, Pleasant Valley Nursing and Rehab Center, Derry, NH

Stephanie Mussman, Administrator, Alden Estates of Shorewood, Shorewood, IL

Alexandra Schuster, President, Wingate Living, Newton, MA

Taylor Slaughter, Administrator, Quail Ridge Living Center, Colcord, OK

Tonie Stoen, CEO/Administrator, SMP Health – Ave Maria, Jamestown, ND

Krystal Thoe, Senior Administrator, Legacy Healthcare, Clear Lake, IA

Carrie Tyson, Senior Vice President of Therapy, Ignite Medical Resorts, Park Ridge, IL

Cassie Zielke, Senior Director, Home-Based Services, The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, Sioux Falls, SD

Loretta Barnes, Administrator, A.G. Rhodes, Atlanta

Kari Casey, National Director of Customer Relations, Brookdale Senior Living, Brentwood, TN

Michele Ellis, Executive Director, Benchmark at Billerica Crossings, Benchmark Senior Living, Waltham, MA

Erin Grant, Director of Clinical Reimbursement, South Division, Ignite Medical Resorts, Park Ridge, IL

Bryce Gray, Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Home Care, Olmsted Township, OH

Danielle Gustin, Chief Nursing Officer, Village Caregiving, Barboursville, WV

Doreen Kelley, Administrator, Sequoyah Pointe Skilled Nursing & Therapy, Tahlequah, OK

Tammi Lehto, Administrator, Loveland Village, The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, Loveland, CO

Kristal MacNeil, Executive Director, Touchmark at Fairway Village, Vancouver, WA

Sabrena McCarley, Vice President of Clinical Reimbursement and Regulatory Affairs, Transitional Care Management, Lisle, IL

Kenya O’Neal, Administrator, Cedar Ridge Health & Rehab Center, Lebanon, IL

Kim Schardan, Administrator, Gillespie Health & Rehab Center, Gillespie, IL

Lauren Snyder, Director of Nursing, Villa Maria Health and Rehab, Hurley, WI

Julie Stangel, Administrator, The Grove at the Lake, Zion, IL

Diana Sturdevant, Research Assistant Professor, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, Oklahoma City

Cyndi Taplin, Director of Operations, The Lilac Health Group, Lake Mary, FL

Jonna Wisnieski, Director of Market Research, LCS, Des Moines, IA

Anne Campbell, Vice President of Operations, Juniper Communities, Bloomfield, NJ

Tammy Curry, Vice President of Operations, Health and Wellness, Brightview Senior Living, Baltimore

Sheila Davis, Senior Vice President, Area Operations, Always Best Care Senior Services, Roseville, CA

Rhonda Dempsey, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Trilogy Health Services, Louisville, KY

Sharon Donaghue, Division President, Marquis Health Consulting Services, Brick, NJ

Marilyn D. Harris, Board member and treasurer, International Home Care Nurses Organization, Warminster, PA

Alyssa Herman, Chief Development and Marketing Officer, The New Jewish Home, New York, NY

Emily Kopsias, Senior Vice President of Revenue Cycle Management, Ignite Medical Resorts, Park Ridge, IL

Dawn Kussow, Chief Financial Officer, Brookdale Senior Living, Brentwood, TN

Brooke Ladner, Senior Vice President of Business Development, Regency Integrated Health Services, Victoria, TX

Denise McQuown-Hatter, President, Affinity Health Services, Indiana, PA

Sevy Petras, CEO and Co-Founder, Priority Life Care, Fort Wayne, IN

Catie Ramp, President, Georgia Senior Living Association, Kennesaw, GA

Aimee Rathka, Executive Administrator, Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home, Gloversville, NY

DeeAndra Sandgren, Chief Nursing Officer, The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, Sioux Falls, SD

GeLynna Shaw, Executive Vice President/Operations Senior Living Management, LCS, Des Moines, IA

Donna Silbert, Chief Strategy Officer, Parker Health Group, Piscataway, NJ

Laura Templeton, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Compassus, Brentwood, TN

Fran Witt, Administrator, Effingham Care & Rehabilitation Center; President and CEO, Effingham Health System, Springfield, GA

Jennifer Barnes, Wellspring Village Vibrant Living Assistant, Brightview Shelton, Brightview Senior Living, Shelton, CT

Jennifer Barnes was nominated for several successful efforts she led over the past year. One of them was a 103rd birthday party for a resident, which she began preparing for months in advance. She even scheduled a professional photo shoot so the resident could up-to-date portraits to display during the celebration. “She also worked with the greater community to orchestrate the receipt of over 240 cards to the birthday girl!,” a colleague reported.

Barnes also was also key in leading Brightview Shelton to raising more than $16,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association, according to her nomination.

For her work as a memory care activities assistant, Barnes was recognized as a 2024 Brightview Hospitality Associate of the Year “for consistently exemplifying Brightview’s core values of integrity, respect and commitment to excellence.” Her colleagues also know her for the passion she holds for her role as well as for her contributions as a mentor and collaborator.

Amy Hewes, Director of Memory Support and Programming, Westminster at Lake Ridge, Lake Ridge, VA

Amy Hewes has dedicated her career to enriching the lives of older adults, particularly those affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

In her current role, she runs Ingleside Engaged, a social day program for adults living with early dementia. She also has played a key role in developing the new memory support assisted living program at the community, according to her nomination, which describes her efforts as “inspirational.”

“Amy’s background in music and sociology positions her as a trailblazer in memory care,” a colleague says. “By incorporating music therapy and innovative techniques, she is able to provide unique, emotionally resonant care.”

Pauline Lindo, Lead Resident Care Associate, The Branches of Marlboro, Benchmark Senior Living, Waltham, MA

Pauline Lindo joined The Branches more than six years ago. “Even during the dark days of COVID, she came to work with a smile, providing excellent resident care and a shoulder to associates who needed it,” a colleague says.

Lindo is known to co-workers for her passion and dedication to residents, evident when she holds their hands, walks alongside them, dances and makes them laugh. “Every day she is seen hugging a resident or whispering something to them that makes them smile,” a colleague says.

As an example of Lindo’s approach, a co-worker shares a recent story involving a 400-pound nonambulatory, “very confused” resident who moved in from rehab. “Pauline made a concerted effort to teach her how to stand, sit, shower and everything else needed for daily living,” the colleague said. “She was tough with her when required, praised her when she succeeded and compassionate when she simply needed to talk. Thanks to Pauline, this resident is thriving independently in our community.”

Sandy Rivera, Activities Director, St. Ann Health and Rehabilitation Center, Milwaukee

Sandy Rivera is credited with the “huge turn in the right direction” taken by the activities department after she joined St. Ann’s in June 2024. Once where there were “hardly any activities,” now “there’s a party for every holiday, and she has even hosts proms and homecomings.”

From dressing as an inflatable banana on Halloween to involving her own family to help create a holiday play for residents, “Sandy’s acts of kindness and empathy have truly transformed the culture of the building,” a colleague says.

“Thanks to her efforts, this program has truly turned around and the residents are literally thriving.”

Pat Winkelman, Regional Guest Relations Director, Legacy Healthcare, Skokie, IL

Pat Winkelman is credited with developing a customer service training course for staff members, including other guest service designees throughout the region. Topics covered include abuse and neglect, phone etiquette, life safety, customer service, and security management and rounding.

Additionally, Winkelman is said to attend every Illinois Department of Public Health survey in all nine buildings she oversees, to provide support and education to the staff,  including reviewing abuse and all aspects of life safety.

“Pat rounds each of the nine facilities in my region and one for another region, regularly looking for areas relating to risk,” a colleague says. “This year, Pat discovered a gas leak on her rounds, which prevented a potential severe outcome.”

In the community, Winkelman is active with Citizens for Conservation, Leave No Child Inside and the Girl Scouts of America.

EVENT FEES + ATTIRE 

Individual Ticket to Forum & Awards Ceremony: $365

Half Table of 5 to Forum & Awards Ceremony: $1,800

Table of 10 to Forum & Awards Ceremony: $3,600

Individual Ticket to FORUM ONLY : $125

Dress Code: Cocktail Attire

SAVE THE DATE 

Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Program:
FORUM
1:00 pm-4:30 pm

AWARDS CEREMONY
6:00 pm-9:00 pm

Venue: JW Marriott Chicago

151 W Adams St, Chicago, IL