Meet the Candidates
Ballots will be distributed to all voting members via email on March 18. Voting will close April 3. Please review the candidates for each open position below.
Board ChairNominee:
Bill Miller
CEO, Vertical Health Services
Bill Miller began working in long term care in 1993 in laundry and maintenance in a small nursing home in Utah. From then until now, he has performed many roles up to and including executive director, regional vice president, COO, and senior vice president. With 28 years of experience in long term care, Bill brings great perspective and insight to the board to help navigate these challenging times.
Nominee:
Nancy Butner
Northwest Divisional Vice President, Life Care Centers of America
Nancy is responsible for overseeing 28 skilled nursing facilities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Utah. With over 25 years of experience in this sector, Nancy takes pride in making a difference with her teams and the patients they serve. Her expertise is extensive – Nancy has also served as regional vice president, responsible for nine Washington skilled nursing centers, and previously served as executive director at the Kirkland Life Care Center for 14 years. In that position, she won one of two President’s Awards for Life Care’s Northwest Division in 2009. Before working for Life Care, she worked for Sun Health Senior Care. Originally from Seattle, Butner has a master’s degree in business administration from City University of Seattle and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Western Washington University. She serves on the board of directors for the Washington Healthcare Association and on Washington’s Nursing Home Administrator Board.
Nominee:
Rachel Maxim
Coordinator, Woodland Care Center
“I have 18 years and experience in SNF, HOSPICE, GERIATRIC NURSING, NEUROLOGY REHAB, NURSING MANAGEMENT, AND MDS, AND LONG-TERM CARE RAI. I have nursing certifications in Nursing Management, IV and Peritoneal dialysis. I also have 22 years as a certified nursing assistant working directly with all age population including but not limited to SNF, GERIATRICS, HOSPICE, DIALYSIS. I have been employed as an RN , nursing supervisor and RCM in Massachusetts, Colorado and Oregon , and the last 5 years Washington state which is now my permanent residence. My nursing experience has given me an opportunity to work with many other cultures, nationalities, and regions in the United States giving me a diversified aspect in nursing practices”.
Nominees:
Danielle St. Germain
Administrator, Stafholt Health and Rehabilitation
[email protected]
Danielle has been working in healthcare for nearly 10 years, she received her BA in speech and language pathology from Western Washington University and started her career as a social worker in mental health before jumping into long term care in 2017. She worked as a social worker for 4 years and witnessed countless leadership turnover and poor outcome results, which led to beginning her career as a long-term care administrator with aspirations to change that cycle. She has since received her MBA from Western Governor’s University and has been a licensed administrator managing a SNF for over 2 years.
“I am incredibly interested in joining the Board of Directors for the Washington Health Care Association because of my strong commitment to improving healthcare outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and individuals with disabilities. I have a deep respect for the role that WHCA plays in advocating for quality and affordable healthcare, and I want to contribute my knowledge, experience, and passion to help the organization achieve its mission. Being a member of WHCA has been a wonderful experience and the inspiration and knowledge I’ve gained from every annual convention or event has only helped to grow my professional skillset as an administrator. I’ve been in SNF for going on 8 years now, starting as a social worker with Avamere in 2017. After witnessing my building struggle without solid leadership, I became determined to become an administrator and to make a difference in skilled nursing. I have been an administrator now for 2.5 years now and am currently with Cascadia Healthcare. I have gained significant experience in varying survey environments, collaborating with local health authorities and hospitals to foster continuity of care and have seen firsthand the struggles that facilities face. I am motivated by the opportunity to help shape policy, support members, and advocate for the needs of both patients and providers. I believe my combination of expertise and passion for healthcare reform will allow me to be an effective, engaged, and strategic Board Member who can contribute to WHCA’s continued success.”
Lisa Moore
Regional Director of Strategic Partnerships, PACS Regional
[email protected]
“SNFs in WA State are facing tremendous challenges but also opportunities for transformation. The problems that we face are large and complex and cannot be solved by one organization alone, it will take collaboration and a diversity of thought to overcome our issues and concerns. WHCA provides the platform for our industry to learn and strategize together, develop ideas and be part of the solution. If we do not engage with each other as well as additional stakeholders in the PAA continuum, we will be fed mandates and “solutions” that will create further challenges for the industry. My goal in being a WHCA Board Member will be to meaningfully contribute to solving these complex issues. I am an experienced Physical Therapist, operator and educator in WA SNFs for 20 years. I have worked with high performing SNFs as well as those who have struggled. I earned a Master of Public Health, and a Master of Data Analytics and Visualization. I have extensive experience with contracting and collaboration with Medicare Advantage and Managed Medicaid. I understand and have a working knowledge of value-based care/purchasing and CMS alternate payment models. I have a passion for taking complicated information and teaching it with a data driven approach. I have taught and mentored hundreds of therapists, nurses and administrators about therapy based best practices that bring clinical and financial value. My data driven story technique for teaching maximizes implementation of best practice and new processes. As a WHCA Board member I will bring my passion, knowledge and experience of SNFs to demonstrate the value of our industry both clinically and financially to our State stakeholders. By doing that, we can stabilize funding and have sensible regulations for our WHCA members. Ultimately, I desire a WHCA Board Position to collaborate with my peers and position SNFs as cornerstones of our communities.”
Amanda Lanser
Administrator, Mountain View Rehabilitation
[email protected]
“I am excited to apply for the opportunity to contribute to the multi-SNF board, bringing over 10 years of experience in skilled nursing with a focus on regulatory success, resident care, and leadership development. I became a nursing home administrator at 22 after starting as a CNA and have spent 8 years as an NHA across multiple states. I am currently 28 years old and serve as Executive Director at Mountain View Rehabilitation and Care Center in Marysville, WA, where I proudly maintain an agency-free facility while fostering staff growth and development. My passion for elderly care is at the core of my career. My goal is to create environments where residents feel valued, seen, and heard. A key strength I bring is developing new leaders and promoting career development. I am dedicated to helping emerging leaders build the skills to succeed, and at Mountain View, I prioritize training programs that empower staff, ensuring high-quality care. I also bring a fresh, young perspective to the field. I believe it’s crucial to increase the visibility of young leaders in skilled nursing and encourage their involvement in decision-making. My early start in this industry has equipped me with energy, creativity, and innovation—skills needed as we adapt to the evolving needs of elder care. Alongside my experience, I am pursuing a legal education in law at Seattle University School of Law. This will allow me to drive regulatory compliance and advocate for policy improvements, shaping the future of elder care as the elderly population grows. I look forward to contributing to the board by sharing my leadership expertise, passion for staff development, and commitment to regulatory excellence.”
Nominees:
Linzi Michel
Administrator, The Cambridge
[email protected]
Linzi Michel is currently Executive Director of Central Columbia Senior Living and Administrator of The Cambridge Assisted Living in Quincy, Washington. Linzi has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and is licensed in Washington as a Certified Mental Health Counselor. Caring for late life adults and adults with emotional challenges has been a passion, purpose, and mission that Linzi has upheld during her entire career spanning for more than 30 years. She has managed assisted living communities in multiple states specializing in senior care and mental health. Linzi holds a certificate and practices as an End-of-Life Doula meeting the needs of people of age and in end-of-life transition with dignity, honor, and service. It is Linzi’s desire to bring continued focus to the critical role that LTC (Long Term Care) Professionals hold in the stewardship of the ‘person’ served in senior care. Never forgetting that as Executive Directors and Administrators we serve and care for a ‘whole person’ who resides in the buildings we manage and receives care from the teams we mentor.
Jaimie Hans
Executive Director, Maple Glen Assisted Living
[email protected]
Jaimie Hans is currently the Executive Director at Maple Glen Assisted Living in Shelton, Washington. She has been a CNA for 20 years, starting her career in healthcare in Arizona in the skilled nursing setting. She shares a marriage with her husband, Steve of 8 years and has 5 children ranging from 19 to 13 years old, they relocated to Washington in 2019 and instantly fell in love. Throughout her career she has emersed herself in skilled nursing, home health, home care, and a rehabilitation hospital before entering the Assisted Living world. She is the President of the local Hospital Foundation Board and is involved with the local Chamber of Commerce, which she’s very passionate about, including importance of quality healthcare. In Jaimie’s free time she enjoys family game nights, exploring the wilderness, or have a bonfire and watch movies on the projector screen in the backyard.
“I would like to join as a voice for the people. Not only the residents or clients that we serve but also the staff that we serve. I would like to make a difference and be involved in the community and a part of field I work in.”
Nominees:
Elena Whitemarsh
VP of Operations, Brookdale
[email protected]
Elena Whitemarsh is the Regional Vice President of Operations for Brookdale Senior Living supporting 61 communities across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Elena started in senior living 17 years ago in a sales manager position at a Brookdale community and has held various sales and operations roles over the years supporting communities in WA, ID, OR, Arizona, and Nevada. For Elena, the greatest reward has been the opportunity to learn and collaborate with some of the most exceptional leaders and knowing that accomplishing their goals could impact the lives of so many seniors and their families. Elena attended University of Washington with a degree in Political Science and participated in the Senior Living Management program as a teaching professional at Washington State University. Her greatest pleasure is watching her daughters pursue their passions and she enjoys travelling across the country cheering them on at various sports functions! In her free time, she loves to connect with family and friends and feels most fulfilled when she has an opportunity to be with those she loves.
“I am deeply interested in serving on the Board of Directors for Washington Health Care because I am passionate about improving the quality of services for seniors and supporting providers in overcoming the unique challenges for providers in Washington state. I believe that as healthcare continues to evolve, especially in the context of aging populations, there is an incredible opportunity to make a lasting impact in this sector. With over 22 years in senior living, I have had the privilege of supporting over 30 communities across Washington, working to enhance the quality of care and services provided to residents. My goal would be to leverage that experience to advance WHCA’s objectives.”
Kayla Stone
Executive Director, Avista Senior Living – Yakima
[email protected]
Kayla has dedicated the past eight years to the senior living sector, with a particular emphasis on assisted living. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of Avista Senior Living in Yakima, where she also holds a dual role in sales. Her foremost passion lies in enhancing the lives of seniors and ensuring they receive the highest quality of care within her community. She possesses a background in dementia studies, one of her proudest achievements was meeting Teepa Snow at her foundation in North Carolina. She is deeply committed to the care provided to residents and takes great pride in cultivating a strong leadership team. It is essential to remember that when a senior joins our community, they are entering their home, and we strive to create an exceptional environment for them. She is also dedicated to adhering to the rules and regulations set forth by Washington State. Being a member of the Washington Health Care Association (WHCA) has been invaluable, offering tremendous support to administrators in assisted living. She aspires to continue guiding fellow administrators throughout Washington State. Outside of her responsibilities in her vibrant community, she enjoys spending time at the ball field, as baseball is her second passion.
“I am eager to be considered for a position on the Board of Directors for the Washington Health Care Association. My tenure as an Executive Director has afforded me numerous opportunities for professional development, and I have greatly benefited from the expertise and support of the WHCA team in addressing state-related inquiries. I am passionate about the values and mission of WHCA. I would contribute my analytical abilities, familiarity with the Washington Administrative Code, extensive experience in assisted living, and strong connections within our senior community. The seniors in Washington State lead fulfilling lives, and I am enthusiastic about participating in the efforts to provide assistance to them, as well as supporting assisted living, independent living, skilled nursing, and memory care facilities. I am confident that we can effectively navigate the evolving landscape of healthcare in our state by offering knowledge and support to all our partners in the field.”
Nominees:
Carol Ann Andrews
Administrator, Olympic View Care
Born a North Dakota farmer’s daughter and oldest of six, Carol Ann knew from a young age she wanted to be a nurse. Achieving that goal at the age of 19, she had to wait until she turned 20 to sit for the state RN exam. Carol Ann practiced nursing in a variety of settings until 1980 when she accepted her first position as a nursing home administrator at a skilled nursing center in the great state of Montana. Since then, Carol Ann has worked for many different companies—both small and large. She spent the majority of her career at Alderwood Park in Bellingham, a total of 23 years. Carol Ann became involved in WHCA because her ideas and philosophies about care align with those of WHCA. She has been an active member, volunteering on committees, as chapter governor, and serving on the WHCA board in different capacities including Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice Chair, her current role. A longtime chair of the Group Retro Committee, Carol Ann has seen many changes in the program and worked to ensure members continue to enjoy this premier benefit. Carol Ann continues to support the long term care profession in these challenging times.
Jolynn Munro
President of Rehab, Avamere
JoLynn Munro, OTR/L and President of Rehab at Avamere, has over 30 years serving in the older adult rehab space. JoLynn has recently accepted a position with Avamere to lead the conversion of rehab from contract to in-house and is using her unique skillset to facilitate a seamless and smooth transition for the therapy and skilled nursing staff. Prior to her work with Avamere, JoLynn worked with Infinity Rehab, first as the VP of operations and then as President during the last 5 years. During her tenure at Infinity, JoLynn worked diligently to meet the unique challenges encountered in healthcare during the transition to PDPM and the COVID pandemic. JoLynn strives to provide skilled and thoughtful leadership within her organization and through her network of colleagues in the skilled nursing industry. She believes a key component of successful leadership is the continuous development of other skilled and committed leaders. She is passionate about therapy and enabling clinicians to deliver the best science based, compassionate care alongside their facility partners. She has been a member of WHCA as a business partner for 15 years and has presented relevant topics of education at both state and national conferences. It would be an honor to serve on the WHCA board, and she welcomes the opportunity to continue to contribute to this important group.