Excellence in Service Awards

Tell Us About the Heroes Among You!

On any given day at CALA-member communities across the state, heroes reside among us – those who step up and reach beyond the boundaries of their job description to support the care and wellbeing of residents, help fellow team members, and lead with strength. These unsung heroes inspire and challenge those around them to be and do their best, and their influence is far reaching. CALA is pleased to recognize and shine a light on these outstanding individuals through the Excellence in Service Awards. Members are encouraged to nominate exceptional community associates in each of these categories:

  • Outstanding Caregiver (includes medication assistants)
  • Outstanding Team Member (defined as non-caregiver, non-manager)
  • Outstanding Department Director (non-clinician)
  • Outstanding Community Nurse  (may include department and care directors; EDs not eligible)
  • Outstanding Executive Director

2025 Deadlines

  • Northern California: January 19, 2025
  • Southern California: July 13, 2025

Nomination Form

Current Honorees

2024 Southern California

Outstanding Caregiver

Patricia "Patti" Amaya
Atria Newport Plaza

Outstanding Team Member

Angela Sanchez
Brightwater of Highland

Outstanding Dept. Director

Jorge Antuna
Belmont Village Calabases

Outstanding Community Nurse

Amber Nelson
Brightwater at Highland

Outstanding Executive Director

Kevin Taliaferro
MorningStar of Pasadena

2024 Northern California

Outstanding Caregiver

Dionne Hamilton
Carlton Senior Living Sacramento

Outstanding Team Member

Sulpicia 'Sulpi' Caburi
Atria Walnut Creek

Outstanding Dept. Director

Ingrid Weber
Atria El Camino Gardens

Outstanding Community Nurse

Gilda Deocares
Belmont Village San Jose

Outstanding Executive Director

Stephanie Limberg
Ivy Park at Santa Rosa

Past Honorees

Outstanding Caregiver

2023

Fall: Dora Siguenza, Belmont Village Encino 
Spring: Maria Alvarez, Oakmont of Brookside

2022

Fall: Glen Cruz, La Marea Senior Living, an Integral Senior Living community
Spring: Adrienna Charles, Bruceville Point

2021

Fall: Salome Pouniu Fisaga, Heritage Hills Memory Care Community
Spring: Angel Gabuni, Prairie City Landing | Milagro Magarin, The Kensington  | Hazel Oriente, Merrill Gardens at Campbell | Benito Pamaong, Sunrise of San Mateo | Lauren Strom, Carlton Senior Living, Downtown Pleasant Hill

2020

Fall: Kelsey Reidt, Atria Del Sol
Spring: Brian Stuart, Eskaton Village Placerville

2019

Fall: Minerva Santiago, AlmaVia of Camarillo
Spring: Flor Amaya, Carlton Senior Living – Downtown Pleasant Hill

2018

Fall: Adriana Torres, Silverado Newport Mesa
Spring: Nicole Ellis, Veterans Home of Redding

2017

Maria Garcia, Atria Del Sol

2016

Spring: Gina Rizon, Regency of Evergreen Valley
Fall: Stephanie “Nikki” Campbell, Brookdale Bakersfield

2015

Fall: Jacqueline Ayala, Cypress Court
Spring: Vicenta Garcia, Regency of Evergreen Valley

2014

Fall: Jessica Romo, Silverado Escondido
Spring: Tonka Darazi, Belmont Village of San Jose

2013

Fall: Daniel Perez, Vista Village
Spring: Betty Gunderson, Aegis of Napa

2012

Fall: Maria Martinez, Silverado Senior Living – Sierra Vista
Spring: Debbie Tarwater, Paramount House

2011

Fall: Zenaida Preciado, Emeritus at Hemet
Spring: Aegean Bayongan, Vintage Sonoma

2010

Fall: Patti Gonzalez, Huntington Terrace
Spring: Roger Gutierrez, Vintage Golden Gate

2009

Fall: Hilda Van Boom, The Arbors at Rancho Pensaquitos
Spring: Martha Garcia, Palm Gardens

Outstanding Team Member

2023

Fall: Armando Soriano, Atria Park of Pacific Palisades 
Spring: Herman Dacong, Atria Willow Glen

2022

Fall: Victor Bonilla, Atria Newport Plaza
Spring: Dan Holocker, Westmont of Fresno

2021

Fall: Martin Gradilla, Rancho Mirage Terrace
Spring: Miguel Morales, The Cottages of Carmel | Craig Owen, Carlton Senior Living, Sacramento |Rosana Sobrevilla, Belmont Village Sunnyvale

2020

Fall: Guadalupe Cervantes, Atria Haciend
Spring: Staci Tye, Atria Grass Valley

2019

Fall: Orlando Zepeda, Silverado Beverly Place Memory Care Community
Spring: Caridad Katimbang, Atria El Camino Gardens

2018

Fall: Giovanni Quiroz, Silverado Calabasas
Spring: Wayne King, Revere Court, Chancellor Health Care

2017

Spring: Candice Nutting, Eskaton Village Grass Valley
Fall: Baltazar Orain, Atria Del Sol

2016

Spring: Rosa Villa, Atria Sunnyvale
Fall: Robert Montez, Belmont Village Cardiff-by-the-Sea

2015

Fall: Francisco Pamanes, Silverado Beach Cities
Spring: Valerie Etzel, Cardinal Point

2014

Fall: Juan Jaime, Inn at the Par
Spring: Amyda Astrero, Silverado Belmont Hills

2013

Fall: Reyes Hernandez, Park Plaza
Spring: Kathleen Benton-LeValley, Chancellor Place of Lodi

2012

Fall: Bill Breslin, Huntington Terrace, MBK Senior Living
Spring: Team Member – Ernesto Navas, Drake Terrace

2011

Fall: Thomas Lynch, The Arbors Assisted Living & Memory Care
Spring: Nai Luu, The Terraces

2010

Fall: Ricardo Olvera, Whittier Place
Spring: Lisette Dunham, Aegis of San Rafael

2009

Fall: Elvira Rodriguez, Emeritus at Chatsworth
Spring: Jeremy Kent, Oakmont Gardens in Santa Rosa

Outstanding Community Nurse

2023

Fall: Jovany Guerra, Oak Cottage of Santa Barbara Memory Care, Integral Senior Living
Spring: Tapinder Kaur, Carlton Senior Living Fremont

 

2022

Fall: Karina Cortez, Atria Park of Vintage Hills
Spring: Geraldine Moguel, Carlton Senior Living San Leandro

2021

Fall: Debra Gonzales, Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria | Monique Moreira, Rancho Mirage Terrace

Outstanding Department Director

2023

Fall: Erica Consebida, Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria
Spring: Olivia Sterba, Carlton Senior Living Orangevale

2022

Fall: Ana Castro, Atria Del Sol
Spring: Maria Dumpit, Cogir on Napa Road

2021

Fall: Mario Carrillo, Merrill Gardens at Rolling Hills Estates
Spring: Yuvi Diaz, Carlton Senior Living, Sacramento | Jesenia Hinojosa, Windchime of Chico | Annette Montes, O’Connor Woods

2020

Fall: Whitney Labrie, AlmaVia of Camarillo
Spring: Emanuel Dirar, Carlton Senior Living Sacramento/Enhanced

2019

Fall: Shannon Moore, Desert Hills Memory Care
Spring: Joseph Ferrer, Lakeside Park, a Watermark Retirement community

2018

Fall: Rachael Wallace, Desert Hills Memory Care
Spring: Josie Davis, AlmaVia of San Francisco, Elder Care Alliance

2017

Spring: Penny Williams, Quail Park Memory Care
Fall: Laura Cardoza, Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria

2016

Spring: Mander Farrell, Carlton of San Jose
Fall: Sarah Perez, Cypress Place

2015

Fall: Kala Lopez, Villa Bonita
Spring: Lonnie Julius, The Vistas Assisted Living & Memory Care

2014

Fall: Brimen Vivar, Vintage Simi Hills
Spring: Marsha Peoples, Lakeside Park

2013

Fall: Alan Graza, The Gardens of Santa Monica
Spring: Stephanie Howard, Regency at Evergreen Valley

2012

Fall: Mario Gudino, Inn at the Park, Brookdale Senior Living
Spring: Chelease Adams, Somerford Place – Stockton

Outstanding Executive Director

2023

Fall: James Arp, Belmont Village La Jolla
Spring: Eric Hostetter, Bruceville Point

2022

Fall: Launa Moore, La Marea Senior Living, an Integral Senior Living community
Spring: Jennifer Maurer, WellQuest of Elk Grove

2021

Fall: Bradlee Foerschner, The Village at Northridge
Spring: Brenda Chappell, Revere Court Memory Care and Amanda Smith Wolthuis, Carlton Senior Living, Elk Grove

2020

Fall: Elizabeth Spencer, The Reserve at Thousand Oaks
Spring: Tracey Ingleman, Carlton Senior Living, Downtown Pleasant Hill

2019

Fall: Lori Hansen, Merrill Gardens at Bankers Hill
Spring: Kelly Frederickson, Atria Paradise

2018

Fall: Elva Ledesma, ActivCare at Yorba Linda
Spring: Radhika Singh, Belmont Village of Sunnyvale

2017

Spring: Emily Poon, Aegis Gardens
Fall: Steve Spira, Cypress Place

2016

Spring: Jolie Higgins, Regency of Evergreen Valley
Fall: Sadie Harness, Belmont Village Cardiff-by-the-Sea

2015

Fall: Jason Malone, Sunrise of Beverly Hills
Spring: Scott Carlson, Brookdale Paulin Creek

2014

Fall: Kathy Franco, Raincross at Riverside
Spring: Debbie Ponte, Foothill Village

2013

Fall: Brian Grandbouche, Valencia Terrace
Spring: Sondra Roberts, Merrill Gardens of Citrus Heights

2012

Fall: Eugenia Welch, Sunrise of La Costa
Spring: Erik Flatt, Drake Terrace, Kisco Senior Living

2011

Fall: Charles Bloom, Vista Village Senior Living
Spring: Dinah Bailes, AgeSong at Lakeside Park

2010

Fall: Jim Duran, Cypress Place
Spring: Pari Manouchehri, Quail Ridge Assisted Living

2009

Fall: Vicki Markley, Canyon Hills Club
Spring: Susan Edwards, AlmaVia of San Rafael