Our Board of Directors

The Arizona Assisted Living Homes Association is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of members who are elected to serve for a term of one year.

Our Mission

Arizona’s aging and special needs’ population deserves a professional association dedicated to quality and affordable care. Our vision is strong and our mission is clear:

VISION: The vision of the Arizona Assisted Living Homes Association is to raise the quality and standards of the assisted living home industry in the State of Arizona to be a model for the entire country.

MISSION: The mission of the Arizona Assisted Living Homes Association is to support, educate and promote its members, and to be an information source for members and the public at large.

Our Code of Ethics

We abide by a Code of Ethics that guides us in the decisions we make as businesses, as members and as individuals.

Please click on the Board Member name to read their bio.

President President-Elect Treasurer Secretary Board Administrator

Joanna Mitchell Paul Benedetti Daniela Cosma Stacie Leigh Brown Linda Thompson

Terry Baxter | Gaile Perry Dixon | Christine Ellis
Sandy Klein | Steve Laughary | Lisa Guida | Valentin Miculit

Joanna Mitchell

President

Although being born and raised in the Midwest and coming from the “Heart”-land -- this signifies her character -- she’s a “home grown” country girl with an empathizing heart.

Business school, followed by Nursing school in Northern Illinois, has been the foundation
in which she began her labor of love for more than 34 years. She began her journey providing residential care in 1980. She was a single mother of two children, away from them for 16 hours a day, and needed to be with them more. When a woman asked her to care for her father in a residential setting, the need and opportunity presented itself to her, and from that one resident and care home, it grew to six residential care homes within ten years.

Now focused solely on her one assisted living home, Elder’s Ranch, in Phoenix, she has put “The Reigns” of the other residential care homes in the loving hands of the others.

With the passion and love she has for the elderly, and seeing the need for regulating assisted living, she along with other associates hired a state lobbyist to push for licensing and regulations in care homes. Joanna’s residential care home was the first in Arizona to be surveyed as licensing became a requirement.

Joanna has served diligently on AALHA’s board for six years and is now President-Elect for 2011. She is also integrated with the Advisory Committee for The Arizona Department of Health Services and serves as a member of The Better Business Bureau as well as Mega with the Area Agency on Aging.

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Paul Benedetti

President-Elect

Paul Benedetti has a clear vision for AALHA. A licensed dispensing optician who fits eyewear to the homebound population, Paul wants to increase membership statewide.

“Our biggest challenge will be to network throughout the state to increase the membership and have the power to affect change with legislation and the public,” he said.

Paul also sees the importance of educating the public about the assisted living home industry.

“The need is great. With a decrease in reimbursement from government programs and the passing of Health Care Reform, the public will be looking at different ways to meet their needs,” he said.

Born in Buffalo, New York, Paul has lived in Arizona for 29 years. While he has been an optician for several decades, he started his new business, Mobile Optical Services, in January and decided to join AALHA in May.

“I have been impressed with how AALHA welcomes and integrates all types of professionals into its organization which enhances what can be offered to its membership,” he said. “I have also found AALHA members to be dedicated, caring and resourceful in getting the needs of their clients met.”

A Mesa resident, Paul travelled to Guatemala as a volunteer where he made and dispensed eyewear to people in a remote village. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing and flying.

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Daniela Cosma

Treasurer

Daniela Cosma’s personal experience caring for her ill grandparents prompted her to enter the assisted living industry nearly four years ago.

Born in Romania, Daniela and her family moved to the United States when she was a young girl. After graduating from high school, she studied Business Management in college and landed her first managerial position with Taco Bell where she worked until her grandfather became ill in 2005.

“I quit my job to be with him until he passed,” she said. “My grandmother did not speak English, and it was my grandfather’s last wish that I take care of her.”

When Daniela's grandmother became very ill a year later, she was placed in a nursing home.

“I realized quickly that my grandmother was not getting the adequate care she deserved,” she said. “I decided to get the training and education needed in order to open an assisted living home to care for Grandma myself.”

The day that Daniela received her license to open her home, sadly, was the day her grandmother passed away.

“My grandmother had to endure lack of help, hope, and love in that nursing home, and I felt very guilty that she left this world feeling sad and alone. I vowed to not let another elderly person leave this world that way,” she said.

In April 2007, she placed an ad in the Sunday newspaper for her new assisted living home, Grace Hill Adult Care in north Phoenix.

“I had some doubts at first, but I decided that if anyone answered the ad, it was meant for me to dedicate my life to this work. On Monday morning I received my first phone call, and by Tuesday, my first resident had moved in,” she said.

Daniela has served on AALHA’s board of directors for four consecutive years, working both as the non-profit’s treasurer and on its welcoming committee. A certified caregiver and manager, she keeps up with her education by attending all classes and seminars hosted by Hospice of the Valley and Hospice of Arizona.

She is currently working to open a second Grace Hill Behavior Care in early 2011 that will specialize in behavioral care. In her spare time, Daniela likes to spend time with family and travel as well as help others.


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Stacie Leigh Brown

Secretary

Stacie is a consultant in the healthcare industry, with a background in Property Management and Sales.

Stacie applies her passion to her assisted living home, Always Home. She assists in the management of the home, and oversees all resident services and activities. She takes the utmost care of each resident and assures that their daily needs are met.

Her drive to exceed expectations in the level of care and services is what makes Always Home the warm, friendly and welcoming environment it is today.

Her experience in management, operations, finance and marketing, combined with her passion for seniors and their quality of life, provides the foundation that Always Home is built upon.

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Linda Thompson

Board Administrator

After more than 20 years in the corporate fields of marketing and advertising, Linda Thompson became an entrepreneur. As a professional speaker and the author of four books, she speaks (and writes) about the need to plan for the unexpected, life as a family caregiver, and generational challenges (at work, at home and all points in between). Linda also consults as a small business marketing consultant and event coordinator.

In late 2007, Linda learned of AALHA's need for a board administrator and accepted the challenge. During her time with AALHA, she has helped the organization accomplish its goals of growth – both in membership and in its desire to become the "go to" organization for residential assisted living homes in the Valley of the Sun and beyond.

Linda has organized and managed the AALHA annual conferences since 2009, and other AALHA fundraising activities such as the annual Teein' Up For Seniors Benefit Golf Tournaments. She continues to support the AALHA Board of Directors with its mission of enhancing benefits of membership, and has spoken at AALHA monthly forums about the importance of marketing your business.


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Terry Baxter

Board Member

Terry has lived in Arizona for 40+ years, watching the little valley grow and grow into this giant metropolis. Southern Avenue was once the city limits. I attended school here and have a couple of degrees.

In the 80s,Terry became a Registered Respiratory Therapist, working at St. Joe's and in the old Samaritan System (now Banner) while moonlighting at Scottsdale Osborn. He mostly worked ICU, ER and Trauma teams.

In 1997, Terry started his own business –Clean Scene, Inc. This was a crime scene clean up company, where Terry worked very close with various municipalities, insurances and home owners. He sold this business in April 2011.

Terry returned to the medical industry almost two years ago, as the Director of Operations in Hospice. Terry currently works with Hearts for Hospice, serving all of Maricopa and parts of Pinal counties. He works with wonderful people and would like to be involved within the industry, including all of the outreaching affiliates

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Gaile Perry Dixon

Board Member

Gaile is a third generation native Arizonan, who (in 1999) began searching for a care home for her great-aunt Mary.

When she did not find an appropriate environment, she and her husband Michael created Dream Catcher Premier Assisted Living Home, a 10-bed home in Scottsdale. In 2008, Gaile acquired Dream Catcher at Paradise Heights.

In 2000 Gaile was appointed by the Governor to the Board of Examiners of Arizona’s Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers. Since 2002, she has served on the Professional Advisory Committee of Hospice of Arizona, and from 2003 to 2006 she served on the Board of Directors of the Arizona Chapter of the Assisted Living Federation of America (AZALFA).

Gaile says, "AALHA has been positioning itself to be the lead organization representing assisted living homes in Arizona. Our representation is critical to the shaping and the protection of the assisted living home environment."



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Christine Ellis

Board Member

Christine was born in Haiti and immigrated to the US at the age of seventeen. Christine's passion and mission in life is to care for the elderly.

She is a registered nurse with over twenty five years of elder care experience, during which time she realized that families needed an alternative to the “mass-care” approach of assisted living. It was then that the Cedar Sanctuary, LLC concept was born.

Christine's tenacity and no nonsence approach to residential care has earned her the reputation of the captain who runs a tight ship, and her successful management of 12 assisted living homes is proof of her skill.

Christine has devoted countless hours in educating and improving the assisted living home industry. She has held two governor-appointed positions representing assisted living homes. Christine has received recognition and many awards including “For Service and Dedication to the Haitian Community” awarded by AHASE.

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Sandy Klein

Board Member

If you’re new to AALHA, one of the first people you’ll meet is Sandy Klein. Sandy serves on AALHA’s “Welcome” committee and you’ll find her energy and passion contagious.

Born in Oak Park, IL, Sandy has been an Arizona resident for 16 years. She joined AALHA in 2006 and has been a board member for three years. An active member, Sandy has also served as membership chair.

“I've been a nurse for over 30 years and have worked in hospice care for the last 10 years. I'm a mom and grandmother and I love working with seniors in health care,” she said.

Sandy believes it is imperative to educate the public about the assisted living home industry, and she hopes AALHA’s growth will help clear up any confusion regarding the types of services provided by AALHA members.

“As we continue to grow, I would also like us to devote more time to ensuring quality care,” she said.

Sandy says being an AALHA member has been invaluable. “Our members are so caring, dedicated, and supportive. But don’t take my word for it. Come to a meeting and see for yourself!”

A Scottsdale resident, Sandy is past president of H.S.P. (Human Services Professional) and was recognized as “Employee of the Month” at Vista Care Hospice. She also serves on the advisory council of the Area Agency on Aging. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with her grandchildren, travel, and read.

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Steve Laughary

Board Member

Steven Laughary believes there is a great need to educate the public about assisted living homes.

“This is AALHA’s most important mission,” he said. “People need to understand the many levels of care that are available at assisted living homes. In addition, residents experience a closer bond with other residents, staff and owners; the intimate home setting allows for more personalized care. People must know of this option for their loved ones in order to make an informed decision.”

Steven grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and began his career in healthcare with dental management in 2001. By 2005, he was working as a branch manager of a nurse registry. When a competitor acquisition eliminated his position, he turned to hospice because he wanted to make a difference.

“From there I moved to home healthcare and loved the idea of providing skilled nursing to patients in their homes. I have now added the knowledge of audiology where we perform comprehensive balance testing and hearing solutions,” he said.

Through his new position at Mobile Dentistry of Arizona, he also manages a mobile dental clinic that provides a much-needed service to Arizona’s elderly.

“Dental needs for the elderly are often overlooked and our mobile dental service provides a critical role in the health of our aging population,” he said. “And, the best part is that we deliver this valuable service to their doorstep and to their bedside!”

An Ahwatukee resident, Steven has been active with AALHA since 2007.

“Since my healthcare career has moved into a focus on the aging population, I have learned that there are many pieces to the puzzle, and not one of us owns them all,” he said. “It requires consistent and tireless networking to uncover the many diverse resources that are available to make up support systems. And, it requires continually fostering the relationships that make a cooperative, synchronized system stay current and vital. That is my specialty!”

A strong advocate for the elderly, Steven also serves as chair of the East Valley Committee on Aging and volunteers for Duet. He is also a program chair for Business2Business and a member of both the Maricopa Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance and the Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging’s Social, Health and Alzheimer’s (SHAC) sub-committee.

In his spare time, he enjoys working on home projects, fishing, and watching movies.

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Lisa Guida

Board Member

Lisa is a dedicated healthcare advocate with over fifteen years of experience in the medical and home health industry.

She is currently working as the Director of Sales and Marketing for Mobile Doctors, Phoenix Branch.

She helps educate community members about the benefits of Mobile Medical Services; more specifically, providing qualified medical physician care in the comfort and privacy of the home environment while helping to avoid hospital and acute care admissions. Lisa has established care in many assisted living homes. She has developed strong working relationships with their owners with the common goal of fostering quality doctor-patient interaction.

Lisa hopes to continue to make a positive impact upon healthcare for the ever increasing senior community.

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Valentin Miculit

Board Member

Valentin has a strong passion for helping others. A thirty-something entrepreneur, Valentin comes from an international background rooted in strong family values and a respect for the elderly.

His acquisition of an established assisted living home 4 years ago plunged him into a crash course in elder care, home management and assisted living marketing. Valentin rebranded the home as Family Care Assisted Living, brought the home up to standard and began engaging actively with caregivers, placement agencies, current/prospective residents and their families, and the medical professionals caring for his residents.

In addition to managing Family Care Assisted Living, Valentin owns Quick Plan, a web marketing company dedicated to helping small businesses to flourish in today's market.

Valentin is passionate about raising awareness among the general public about private assisted living homes as a preferred solution for elder care and consolidating the assisted living home industry within Arizona by leveraging his marketing and business expertise. Throughout Valentin's journey in managing Family Care, AALHA has been a great resource and a vital support network. Valentin looks forward to giving back to AALHA by serving as a member of the board.

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