Annual Excellence Awards
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2024 Massachusetts Assisted Living Association Annual Excellence Awards Winners
Excellence Awards Honor Assisted Living’s Best at 2024 Massachusetts Assisted Living Association (Mass-ALA) Annual Gala
August 2, 2024 – The Massachusetts Assisted Living Association (Mass-ALA) honored an outstanding group of assisted living professionals representing various levels of the industry at their annual Excellence Awards Dinner on July 31st. Individuals, nominated by their peers, stand out as role models and leaders in the industry and make a positive difference in the lives of residents. Awardees included Andrea Bates, Sophia Beaver, Anna Bilodeau, Paul Casale Sr., Mary Ellen Driscoll, Alex Duda, Laura Maynard, Sue McKenna, Lucie O’Brien, Carlos Rodriguez, and Etta Sullivan.
“At its core, assisted living values providing older adults with the highest quality of care, dignity and respect. Not always as apparent are the associates, volunteers, and leaders committed to this mission. It is our honor to recognize the 2024 Excellence Award winners for their dedication and enthusiasm. The involvement of these individuals in their communities exemplifies the standard of care we are committed to delivering across the Commonwealth,” said Brian Doherty, President and CEO of Mass-ALA.
This year’s awards took place at the Boston Marriott Burlington and were hosted by Hank Phillipi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of 15 psychological thrillers, and winner of prestigious awards including five Agatha Awards, five Anthony Awards, and the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also an on-air investigative reporter for Boston’s WHDH-TV and holds 37 Emmy’s along with other journalism honors.
—Andrea Bates, Marketing Director at Ruth’s House Assisted Living, honored with the Sales and Marketing Award. Andrea has been with Ruth’s House for 13 years and, in that time, has made a significant difference in hundreds of residents’ lives by focusing on personalized care, building strong relationships, and creating a supportive and welcoming environment. She enhances the resident experience by providing valuable information and resources during monthly lunch and learn events, and works to attract prospective residents by showcasing the community’s commitment to learning, wellness, and fostering community. As a former Activities Director, she will also go out of her way to create opportunities for residents to engage in meaningful activities and socialize during events such as Kittens’ Therapy where residents were able to interact with young animals. Andrea is a vital member of the management team and gives her all every day.
—Sophia Beaver, Volunteer at Wingate Residences Needham, honored with Volunteer Award. Sophia first began playing piano at Wingate Residences Needham for community service hours which quickly blossomed into a genuine and heartfelt commitment. By playing piano, Sophia not only entertains the residents but uplifts their spirits. She introduces old songs and shares contemporary music making for a wonderful intergenerational experience. In addition to piano, Sophia has heartfelt conversations with residents, and volunteers for other activities like bracelet making, exercise groups, and birthday parties. Her selfless nature and warm personality have endeared her to so many in the community.
—Anna Bilodeau, Resident Care Director at Benchmark Senior Living at Leominster Crossings, honored with the Employee Leadership Award. Becoming a Resident Care Director shortly after joining the community as a nurse during COVID, Anna balances the hard and soft aspects of being a leader. Anna leads and supports the Wellness Team, provides an extremely high quality of care for residents, and ensures that her team is trained in and compliant with relevant policies & procedures. She handles crises in a calm and confident manner and maintains excellent relationships with other healthcare provider partners. She also consistently achieves best in class scores on the company’s internal quality audits and manages the Electronic Health Records (E.H.R.) implementation at the community, receiving 100% compliance. Anna leads by example, demonstrating an eye for detail, compassion, and dedication to the community’s residents and families.
—Paul Casale Sr., President of Welch Senior Living, honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Paul is the President of Welch Senior Living, a 75-year-old family-owned company, and worked with Mass-ALA for numerous decades, serving as a Director on the Mass-ALA Board for 23 years, the Governance and Nominating Committee for 19 years, and the Quality Committee for 15 years. Throughout his career spanning over five decades, Casale has exhibited remarkable leadership, innovation, and dedication to enhancing the lives of older adults. Casale led the development and implementation of expansion plans resulting in new Welch residences providing housing and care options for older adults in former areas of need. He is also known for his thought leadership and advocacy efforts on key issues facing older adults and senior living providers taking the form of involvement on advisory boards, task forces, and committees focused on policy development, regulatory compliance, and industry best practices.
—Mary Ellen Driscoll, Engagement Assistant at Stone Hill at Andover a Northbridge Company, honored with the Program Innovation Award. Mary is an engagement assistant who puts her heart into creating inspirational programs that combine creativity, music, art, and wellness to bring joy to residents, families, and associates alike. Mary led the creation of Inspirational Songs which began as a stand-alone guitar and vocals engagement and expanded to resident sing-alongs, and musically inspired fashion shows. This programming allows residents to create art pieces on items such as aprons and umbrellas in the studio and then walk them down the runway to choreographed songs that reflect the art piece, while their families and associates from every department cheer them on. Mary inspires both residents and teammates with her creativity, and passion, and the community is excited to continue this engaging program seasonally with fun new themes.
—Alex Duda, Culinary Director at Avita of Newburyport, honored with the Dining Services Award. In the 10 years that Alex has been with Avita of Newburyport, he has made it his goal to ensure that his residents enjoy a quality, dignified, and eye-pleasing meal no matter where they are in their memory care journey. Alex partners with local farms, cooking with fresh seasonal foods, and the best ingredients, all while consistently meeting budgeting goals and never wavering on quality. Alex leads by example and inspires his team to learn, grow and challenge themselves while maintaining a safe and clean kitchen that consistently provides residents with meals they will love. Whether he is preparing day-to-day meals or cooking for special events at the Rotary Club, grand openings, or anniversary celebrations, Alex brings the reliability, consistency, and talent needed to ensure smooth and successful meal operations. Alex is not only a leader, but a cherished member of the Avita of Newburyport team.
—Laura Maynard, Wellness Administrative Assistant at Merrivista Assisted Living Community at Bethany Community Services, Inc., honored with the Care and Wellness Award. Starting as a Certified Nursing Assistant, Laura was promoted to Wellness Administrative Assistant in 2021 due to her dedication, compassion, and proactive spirit. Laura consistently goes above and beyond, taking on lead roles in various departments, enhancing overall operations within the community, and always pursues opportunities for personal and professional growth. One significant contribution includes her involvement with the Bethany Youth Care Advancement and Readiness for Employment (BYCARE) program. Through BYCARE, Laura assisted coordinate internship schedules and training sessions to set youth program candidates up for success in the aging services field, resulting in four candidates now working with Merrivista. Always looking to take on new challenges, and demonstrating excellent leadership, Laura is an asset to Merrivista, positively impacting the lives of residents and fellow staff members.
—Sue McKenna, Executive Director of Laurelwood at The Pinehills, honored with the Executive Director Award. With Sue at the helm, Laurelwood is always abuzz with good energy, positivity, and laughter. Sue can often be found walking around the community offering help wherever it’s needed, talking with residents, and checking in with associates. She has high standards when it comes to how the community is run and has instilled the value of treating residents with dignity and respect into the very foundation of the community. Sue has created an environment where all departments help each other, no task is too big or too small for any associate (herself included), and everyone feels respected, heard, and cared for. She is an amazing leader whose upbeat, positive attitude is contagious and felt throughout the community every day.
—Lucie O’Brien, Resident at Autumn Glen at Dartmouth, honored with the Resident Spirit Award. Lucie has become the unofficial ambassador of the Autumn Glen community. Whenever a prospective or new resident walks through the doors she is always willing to sit down and help assuage any concerns that come with making a big life change. Her kind nature and consideration ensure that residents feel welcome and integrate ease into the community. Lucie is also a resident leader and takes an active role in coordinating the weekly Bridge Group, managing the community hummingbird feeders, and assisting with the community garden beds. She is an amazing ambassador and a welcoming presence to new residents.
—Carlos Rodriguez, Facilities Maintenance Director at Waterstone of Lexington, honored with the Facilities and Maintenance Award. Residents feel safe and secure with Carlos leading the maintenance department at our community. Pairing incredible mechanical and technical knowledge and skills with a calm demeanor, Carlos skillfully tackles any job that comes his way. Residents’ comfort is top of mind, and he routinely goes out of his way to fix issues even if he is not scheduled, if it is the early morning hours or even over the weekend. Carlos also serves as a mentor to the other maintenance technicians on his team and continuously challenges and inspires them to grow as professionals and has created a team that residents can depend on to uphold high safety and performance standards. He carries the safety of the community with effortless grace and humility.
—Marietta “Etta” Sullivan, Life Enrichment Director at Bridges by EPOCH at Pembroke, honored with the Life Enrichment Award. Etta knows that memory does not define residents and that each individual can and should be able to pursue their interests with dignity and choice. When planning fun activities for residents, Etta will always take requests and resident suggestions for on and offsite activities including bowling, parks, restaurants, and incorporates adaptive tools and techniques to ensure that residents in all stages of memory loss can participate in dignified and safe ways. She will also have her team to do a deep dive into each residents’ life story, strengths and hobbies to craft events that boost their moods and self-esteem. Etta embodies the community’s philosophy that enjoying a joyful, meaningful life is possible through all stages of dementia.
About Mass-ALA
The Massachusetts Assisted Living Association (Mass-ALA) is the voice of assisted living in Massachusetts, representing certified assisted living communities of all sizes and service models across the Commonwealth, providing information and education, and advocating on behalf of members and the older adults they serve. A not-for-profit association dedicated to professionally operated assisted living residences that provide housing and services for individuals with varied needs and income levels, Mass-ALA promotes a model of care which treats all residents with dignity, provides privacy, and encourages independence and freedom of choice.