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WHCA Board Elections

WHCA Board Elections

Candidates for the WHCA Board of Directors for the 2024-2026 period have been selected.

The nomination period closed April 17, 2024. Ballots will be sent via email on May 1, 2024, to all voting members.

The following individuals are candidates for board positions:

Independent Assisted Living

Zachary Wester

Owner, Noble Healthcare

Zack Wester is co-owner of Noble Healthcare. During his time at Noble, Zack has worked to expand specialized behavioral support programs, supported retooling and relicensing of Noble facilities from SNF to specialized AL, worked with DSHS on contract development, and most recently (as executive director) led the rollout of specialized contracts at Noble’s newest acquisition, Parkside Assisted Living.

Lara Coutu
Regional Operations Specialist, Sapphire Health Services

Lara Coutu has worked in long term care for 24 years. In 2000, she started as a caregiver and immediately knew this was the career path she wanted to take. She has worked in OR, WA and ID. In 2015 she earned her Bachelor’s in Gerontology and has held various community roles over the years including business office manager, sales and marketing director, executive director, and currently regional operations specialist with Sapphire Health Services. She always had a passion for caring for our seniors and can’t imagine doing anything else.

Multi-Assisted Living

Ana de la Cerda
Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Aegis Living

Ana has over 30 years’ experience in long term care. Ana oversees all regulatory compliance aspects of the 30+ company’s portfolio. Aegis operates communities in Washington, California and Nevada. Prior to Aegis, Ana enjoyed careers in risk management and public policy and participated actively at a national level in the various trade associations in 47 States. She is passionate about her family, and actively volunteers in her faith community.

Monica Chopra
Vice President of Health and Wellness, Cascadia Senior Living

Monica Chopra is the Vice President of Health and Wellness for Cascadia Senior Living, supporting 16 communities across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Originally from India, Monica moved to the United States in 1999. Initially working as an interpreter, her desire to help others inspired a career shift into nursing. With over 14 years dedicated to senior care in Washington, Monica has progressed from a CNA to VP of Health and Wellness. She has significant expertise in implementing corporate policies and ensuring compliance with health standards. In, 2014 she was awarded the WHCA Assisted Living Nurse of the year.

Independent Skilled Nursing

Pete Wolkin
CEO, Nightingale Healthcare

Pete has played an integral part in the family business for nearly two decades, entering the role of Director of Operations for Nightingale Healthcare in January 2015. In his current capacity, he is responsible for the direction and coordination of Nightingale Healthcare and its facilities, overseeing the company’s overall growth and profitability. Pete gained valuable experience in skilled nursing and long-term care operations, having worked as Administrator in Training at two of the company’s skilled nursing facilities, Mt. Baker Care Center and Arlington Health and Rehabilitation, as well as Director of Operations at a nearby retirement community.

Multi Skilled Nursing

Nancy Butner
NHW Division President, life Care Centers of America

Representative-at-Large

(2 positions open)

Jerry Tretwold
Director of Physical Plant and Special Projects, Senior Services of America

Jerry Tretwold is a longtime skilled nursing facility owner and administrator. For more than 40 years, Jerry and his wife Toni owned and operated Harmony House in Brewster, Washington. A founding member of WHCA, Jerry has served on the WHCA board in several capacities including the Board Chair. As a volunteer in his local region, Jerry served as the WHCA Chapter Seven Governor on many different occasions and served as the WHCA-PAC Chair for more than 20 years. Jerry’s connections and friendships in the Washington State Legislature and Congress have been helpful to legislative priorities at both the state and federal level. Jerry is known for his generosity and loyalty to the staff and residents he served. In June of 2017, Jerry retired from full time operations and is currently serving as Operations Advisor for Senior Services of America as well as continuing to serve WHCA in voluntary roles.

Morei Lingle
Senior Vice President/Chief Administrative Officer, Merrill Gardens

Morei Lingle has 30 years of experience in the senior housing industry with a background in skilled nursing, Alzheimer’s care, independent and assisted living. Morei is one of the original members of the Merrill Gardens team, starting with the company in 1996. In the past 22 years she has been instrumental in guiding the company’s growth into a leading national operator. She has worked in all phases of operations for the company and established a comprehensive company-wide customer service initiative.

In her role as Senior Vice President, Morei oversees the Human Resources and Training team, as well as supporting overall company operations in the United States and China.

Associate Business Governor

Bill Ulrich
CEO, Consolidated Billing Service

WHCA Board Director Criteria

Individual Status.
Except with respect to Associate Business Member Director and the Immediate Past Chair, all Directors must be Member Designees of Regular Members who hold as their primary occupation the ownership, operation, or provision of long term care services, or, in the case of the four (4) Representatives-at-Large elected under Section 4.2(a)(ii), Individual Members.

Good Standing.
The Director’s Facilities must be Regular Members in Good Standing.

Competing Requirements.
Except as otherwise approved by the Board, Directors shall not be an officer or board member of any other trade association in Washington State representing the interests of long term care providers.

Size and Type Designations.
Member Designees shall be eligible for service as Directors for particular size and facility type positions on the Board subject to the following rules:

Member Designees that belong to an entity owning or operating both skilled nursing and assisted living facilities are eligible for either a skilled nursing facility or assisted living facility position on the Board. The Member Designee must choose one or the other at the time of nominations for the Board. At no time may a single Member Designee run for or occupy more than one board seat; and
Whether a Member Designees is eligible for consideration as a “multi-facility” member or an “independent facility” Director position is dependent upon the number of beds operated in Washington State in each category, not total number of beds in both categories combined. The Board may at its discretion update the Threshold Amount to reflect an appropriate mix of Members and ensure diversity of representation on the Board.

Special Qualification for the Chair.
The Representative-at-Large Director selected as the Chair in accordance with Section 4.2(a)(i) must have served on the Board, in any capacity, for two (2) of the previous six (6) years.