Upon first meeting Summer, it is obvious that caring for others is a guiding light in her life. Mother, nurse, caregiver is just who she is every moment of every day. She started caring for others professionally in 2009 as a Certified Nursing Assistant and continued while pursuing her nursing degree. As the Executive Director for Riverwood, she ensures that every resident receives the highest level of care and is loved and nurtured as if they were family. When she is away from the community, you can find her wrangling her growing family! She is never done caring for others!
Summer McKenzie, Executive Director
Shana understands that every moment is a memory and she seeks to make the most of every single one in both her professional and personal life and it shows in how she cares so compassionately for everyone around her. Her positive demeanor is an asset for Riverwood as she provides the coordination of care for residents, ensuring they have all the care needed for a happy and healthy life. When not caring for her Riverwood family, you can find Shana spending time with her children and enjoying the water either at the beach or the river.
Shana Gambrell, Resident Care Coordinator
Tonya has been cooking up delicious and healthy home-cooked goodness since 1994. She started cooking for senior communities in 2016 and never looked back. When asked about why she loves her job, she replied, “I love my job because it allows me to have adopted family in my residents. Each one is unique in their own little ways and I love getting to know them and their families. I have always liked to cook, and my job makes me feel like I have a purpose.” We are so fortunate to have her talent and passion at Riverwood!
Tonya Reeves, Dietary Manager
Julie Roca is a long time resident of the lovely Alachua County who is passionate about our senior community. As the daughter of a pastor, she began working with seniors as a teenager and has not looked back. She has spent the last several years working with organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association, various Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Facilities along with local Home Health and Hospice. lt is her goal to help seniors to live their best life and to make a difference in the fight against Alzheimer’s. She does that currently by volunteering on the planning committee for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, and she is the current chair of The Longest Day event for the Central and North FL chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
She is a wife and a mother to a blended and beautiful family of six children and two dogs (who think that they are children). In her spare time she can be found at her piano, on a kayak paddling the river, or hiking one of our gorgeous local trails.
Julie Roca, Regional Director of Enrichment and Engagement
After 14 years in the telecommunications industry in a variety of management roles it was time for a change. The opportunity to serve the senior population was too good to pass up and the adventure began. Jeff found that he was easily able to adapt his sales approach and style that had been so very successful for him at AT&T into serving those seeking senior living solutions while also creating greater job satisfaction for himself. First working with family's that were seeking Independent Living followed by working with families seeking both Assisted Living and Memory Care. Helping families to find the right solution and navigate the complex senior care market is the ultimate motivation for Jeff.
Jeffrey Linville, CEO, Next Step Senior Solutions
Jennifer, a graduate of the University of Florida, began her career in the non-profit sector managing community programs and, eventually, organizations. Her career led her to Haven Hospice where she grew from a Professional Liaison to Regional Sales Manager and then eventually to a position Haven developed to harness her expertise, the Strategic Marketing Director. During her time at Haven, Jennifer also earned her MBA in Marketing. In an effort to learn more about the continuum of care, Jennifer worked in sales for home health care and companion care, as the Director of Admissions & Marketing for a skilled nursing facility, and as a Director of Marketing and Business Development for an in-home primary care practice she helped start. After experiencing success in all facets of senior living, one was left, assisted living. Recruited by Brookdale Senior Living, Jennifer transitioned from sales and marketing into operations, as the Administrator and Executive Director for Hunters Crossing where she earned her administrator’s license for the State of Florida.