Charles “Chuck” Childress was named executive director for Ventana effective July 15 and will provide leadership and support for the Ventana team and the high-rise community’s Members. Chuck is a 20-year veteran of the senior living industry and began his career at Buckner Parkway Place in Houston for 11 years, where he served as executive director.
Following his work with Buckner, Childress spent nine years with Methodist Retirement Communities, serving first as the executive director for MRC PineCrest in Lufkin, Texas and more recently as Chief Operating Officer for the organization. Childress also branched out and worked as the COO at Mueller Environmental Designs the past year and a half.
He earned a bachelor of arts degree in social work from Stephen F. Austin State University, a master’s degree in social work from the University of Houston and a Long-Term Care Administration Post Masters Certificate from University of Texas Health Science Center. He is also a licensed Nursing Facility Administrator and Master of Social Work.
Bridgette Balderas has more than 20 years of experience in the human resources field, with nine of those in senior living. Bridgette began in the human resources field as coordinator and has built on her career experience to become a great HR practitioner and a great asset to the Ventana by Buckner team. She sees her role as “a strategic business partner” who capitalizes on her experience “as a business owner, assistant, specialist, generalist, manager and now director, to initiate and drive for resolutions.”
Her Ventana career is her second at Buckner Retirement Services: She was the Human Resources Generalist at Buckner’s San Angelo, Texas campus. Previously, she also served as a human resources manager for Morningside Ministries in San Antonio.
Bridgette earned a bachelor of business administration degree focused in marketing from Angelo State University. She is active in the Society for Human Resources Management and is a Member of LeadingAge. She also has been a Member of Delta Sigma Pi, a professional fraternity focused on bringing business to universities, serving as senior vice president and vice president of chapter operations.
Michele Bowerman is a determined advocate and proficient social worker with experience in the medical services, social services, education and senior living sectors. She oversees the daily operations of the assisted living and memory care services at Ventana, as well as all social services needs.
She brings a wide range of experience to her position, having served as director of social services for Christian Care Nursing and Rehab Center, Golden Acres Living and Rehab Center and Terrell Healthcare Center.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Texas Woman’s University and a master’s degree in social work from Texas A&M University. She also holds an Assisted Living Managers Certification and is a Certified Dementia Care Practitioner.
As a compassionate caregiver and ordained minister, Chaplain David Mann, M.Div. BCC, brings extensive experience in hospice, bereavement and parish ministry to the Ventana community.
For more than 20 years, David taught and mentored the congregation in spiritual growth at Rangerville Baptist Church in San Benito, Texas. He has also offered spiritual and bereavement care to patients and families with several hospice agencies in the Rio Grande Valley and Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas.
David has been honored as Texas and New Mexico Hospice Organization Chaplain of the Year and has an Ecclesiastical Endorsement with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
David earned a bachelor’s degree in religion from Samford University and completed a Master of Divinity degree at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with an emphasis in pastoral care. He also completed a two-year residency in Clinical Pastoral Education at Baptist Health System in Birmingham, Alabama with a specialization in hospice.
Thomas Holland, MBA, brings a broad skillset and experience in the accounting, management and business process fields as director of business services for Ventana by Buckner.
Thomas has a background in senior living, serving as accounting manager at Edgemere and The Buckingham, where he oversaw billing, accounts receivable and accounts payable functions as well as supervised the billing and accounts payable team. He also collaborated with other department heads on financial reports and budgets.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from DeVry University in Irving, Texas and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Keller Graduate School of Management, also in Irving. He is a Member of the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants, where he also served as a board member. He also has served as a board member of the Dallas Metro DeVry University and Keller Graduate School of Management Alumni Association and a School of Business Advisory Board member for Dallas Metro DeVry University.
Elizabeth Niksich brings more than three decades of health and wellness experience to VentanaFit powered by Cooper Aerobics, managing programs for Texas Health Resources, Mayo Clinic and Texas Instruments. She is extremely effective in inspiring health improvements, building Member engagement and creating motivating fitness programs.
Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with degrees in exercise physiology, marketing and Spanish, and she holds numerous industry certifications — American College of Sports Medicine; American Council on Exercise; Athletics and Fitness Association of America; Road Runners Club of America and YogaFit. Leading by example, she has taught group fitness classes such as yoga, Pilates, strength and step since 1984 and has run 13 marathons and more than 30 half marathons. She says she looks forward to joining Ventana Members “for an invigorating and enjoyable workout at VentanaFit.”
Elizabeth and her husband, Steve, are proud parents of sons Riley and Parker. Their family enjoys fitness, sports and volunteering in the theatre community. As a personal believer of the Cooper Aerobics purpose, “improving the quality and quantity of people’s lives,” she is committed to bringing this philosophy to the forefront of her programs and services at VentanaFit. Elizabeth believes living a wellness lifestyle is a daily choice, a lifelong journey and mission to respect and honor the bodies God has given us.
Director of Lifestyle Services Lauren Saloom, a dynamic and motivated professional, brings more than nine years of hands-on experience in senior living. Most recently she served as lifestyles director for Edgemere, a senior living community in Dallas. Prior to her work at Edgemere, Lauren served with Methodist Retirement Communities. In 2015, she joined the start-up operations team for MRC’s The Crossings, a continuing care retirement community in League City, Texas.
Lauren earned a Bachelor of Science degree in hospitality administration and a Master of Science degree with an emphasis in senior living from Stephen F. Austin State University. She also is a graduate of the LeadingAge Texas Leadership Institute, is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and a Certified Assisted Living Manager.
Lauren brings her love for seniors, energetic personality, commitment to excellence, leadership and lifelong learning in the field of aging services to the Ventana team. A native Texan, she enjoys spending time with her family, her two pups, traveling, reading, cheering on the Dallas Cowboys and photography.
As Director of Progressive Recovery, Stacie Duda leads the therapeutic team in Ascend Rehabilitation. Stacie is from upstate New York and began her career as a traveling speech language pathologist in 2011 where she worked in five different states at multiple hospitals, senior living communities, state schools, and home care.
Before joining Ventana, Stacie was the Director of Rehabilitation leading a team that opened a senior living community with OnPointe. She was the Director of Rehabilitation for Senior Rehab Solutions for multiple long term care communities. Stacie extended her delivery of care from geriatric populations to pedantic clientele. She mentors students, clinical fellows and the next generation of speech language pathologists, providing supervision, guidance and knowledge.
She earned her degrees at two private Catholic colleges and obtained a Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders at Nazareth College of Rochester in Rochester, New York. Her Bachelor of Science degree in the same field was earned at The College of St. Rose in Albany, New York.
As Director of Culinary Services, Michael Gluckman leads a team of industry professionals working to create the highest standard of culinary and dining experiences for Ventana’s Members.
Michael started his career at The Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston. After two years, he moved to the Washington, D.C., area to work for The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner as Director of Food and Beverage Outlets. In 2006, Michael transferred to The Ritz-Carlton, Boston Common as Director of Food and Beverage where he ran the hotel’s entire food and beverage operation.
Michael was then appointed General Manager of Fearing’s Restaurant, located at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas. During his nine years at Fearing’s, the restaurant was awarded best hotel restaurant in the United States by the Zagat Survey, as well as numerous national and local awards. Fearing’s was the top restaurant in The Ritz-Carlton system for eight of Michael’s nine years there.
Looking for a new challenge Michael joined the Omni Hotels and Resorts Corporate office where he was Director of Operations for Bob’s Steak & Chop House and most recently Michael worked as a consultant for Bullion Restaurant in Dallas where he helped reposition Bullion in the market and helped Michelin Star Award winning chef Bruno Davaillon in improving operations overall.
Michael attend the Culinary Institute of America in New York where he earned an Associate Degree of Science in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Arts Management.
Registered Dietitian Traci Sheahan, brings nearly three decades of compassionate, resourceful and professional nutrition care to Ventana by Buckner. She is passionate about connecting with individuals, families and communities and helping them live balanced and healthier lives through the power of nutrition and holistic wellness.
After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in dietetics at Michigan State University and completing her internship at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon, Traci began her career as a university-based dietitian providing students with nutrition education and counseling as well as working with culinary staff to provide healthy dining choices. After an 8-year furlough to obtain a seminary degree and raise her two young boys, Traci re-entered the dietetic field by launching a pediatric private practice in Denver, Colorado. Throughout the next seven years, Traci met with families in their private homes, presented nutrition workshops and seminars and was active in local media events. In 2010, Traci and her family moved to Dallas, Texas. Since that time, Traci has worked as a clinical and wellness dietitian in a variety of settings. Over the last five years, she has served patients and families at Kindred Hospital, a long-term acute care setting.
