Independent Living Staff

Independent LivingMeet Our Team
Community members residing in Acacia Independent Living residences are supported by our dedicated team of staff members. Our residential staff is here to make sure you have everything you need to live comfortably, enjoy the full array of amenities and activities available, connect with your friends and family, and have every opportunity to thrive physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Community Development Director Tiffanie Ward

Community Development Director

Tiffanie Ward
Tiffanie began her tenure with Rowntree Gardens as a Life Enrichment Nurse before making her transition to Community Development Director. In this role, Tiffanie leads the sales team, assists families in need of memory care, facilitates cross-departmental communication, and builds relationships with key partners to bring our community members a full range of services. Tiffanie calls on her past experience working in hospice to ensure all community members and their families receive compassionate, personalized care. A Licensed Vocational Nurse, she also has a Bachelor’s of Science in Child and Adolescent Development, holds certifications both as a Residential Care for the Elderly Administrator and Social Services Designee, and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. Her personal philosophy includes striving to make everyone feel valued, and living Rowntree Gardens’ mission to be a daily blessing to all she encounters.
Community Services Director Randy Wayamori

Community Services Director

Randy Wayamori
A member of the Rowntree Garden’s family since 2004, Randy oversees community member services and assists at our Heartwood Chapel. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and is a certified Residential Care for the Elderly Administrator. He believes that what sets Rowntree Gardens apart is the staff’s heartfelt and genuine care for our community members. In addition to the delicious food we serve here at Rowntree Gardens, Randy enjoys the joy and laughter shared by the staff and community members.
Community Life Director Elias Rodriguez

Community Life Director

Elias Rodriguez
A Registered Nurse, Elias earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from the University of Texas at Arlington and has been caring for people ever since. As Rowntree Gardens’ Community Life Director, Elias calls on his training to ensure that our community members and staff continue to thrive physically, spiritually, emotionally and socially. He collaborates closely with departments across Rowntree Gardens to meet the needs of community members. This includes providing enriching programs as well as responsive service from a staff that shares a genuine passion for bringing joy to people’s lives. Elias enjoys working with a team that shares this passion. He’s most proud of his faith, his family and his country.
Executive Chef Normann Heise

Executive Chef

Normann Heise
Food has always been at the heart of Normann’s life. After growing up in his family’s butcher shop and catering business in Germany, Normann pursued and earned his Culinary Arts and Business degree. He then set out to showcase his skills as he worked to delight patrons throughout Europe. His career path took him to the US, where he has spent the last 13 years honing his craft in the kitchens of restaurants, corporations, and leading healthcare facilities throughout the country. As Rowntree Gardens’ Executive Chef, Normann leads our dedicated food service team in developing and preparing nutritious, delicious menus for our Community Members. His love of food is rivaled only by his love for his two children. Some of their favorite things to do are hiking and camping where, even over rugged open flames, Normann can still bring smiles to their tastebuds.
Community Transition Liaison Roz George

Community Transition Liaison

Roz George
Roz joined our family in 2007 as the front desk receptionist. Today, she works closely with our new community members and families, introducing them to the wide range of services, amenities and activities available to help them feel at home. During their first few weeks and months at Rowntree Gardens, she makes sure all their questions are answered and their needs are being met. She also helps our community members transition to different levels of care. An avid gardener, she enjoys the beautiful grounds of our community and stopping to chat with the people she encounters.
Community Health and Wellness Clinic Director Veronica Vasquez

Community Health and Wellness Clinic Director

Veronica Vasquez
Veronica has been caring for people since the age of 18, and has loved every minute of it. She joined Rowntree Gardens in 2010, and she was quickly promoted to Receptionist while she finished nursing school. Learning under the mentorship of the experienced nurses at Rowntree Gardens, Veronica was hand-selected by her predecessor to become the Community Clinic Director. While embracing her added responsibilities — including supervising all caregivers and nurses in her department, managing the doctors’ schedules, creating care plans, and providing monthly care assessments — Veronica still cherishes her interactions with community members, whom she considers family. A Licensed Vocational Nurse, Dementia Care Specialist and Certified Administrator, Veronica is pursuing her RN degree in her free time. Her family at home and at Rowntree Gardens is very proud of all she’s accomplished.
Community Activities Director Carolina Salas

Community Activities Director

Carolina Salas
Carolina began working with seniors when she was in high school and found herself drawn to their wit and wisdom. Even after high school, Carolina chose to continue working with seniors in many different roles. She helped meet the nutritional needs of older patients at a community hospital, served as a private caregiver, and provided compassionate care for individuals living with cerebral palsy, autism, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. She calls on this diverse experience as the Activities Director for our community members. In her previous role as the Activities Coordinator for Gardens Memory Care, Carolina focused on creating a calendar of activities that help keep our community members engaged, stimulated, and as independent as safely possible. Carolina is Montessori for Dementia Care Certified, and is working toward her college degree in Sociology. She finds inspiration from our community members who face every day with courage, heart, and a smile. In her free time (when she’s not doing homework), Carolina enjoys watching Disney movies with her daughter, who is also her biggest source of pride.

"We are amazed at the care and concern all the employees and staff shower upon us."  — Gene and Mary Mulholland

One of the area’s few licensed, faith-based Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC), Rowntree Gardens provides a full range of integrated onsite services to meet the changing needs of active seniors.
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