In its first year, the McKnight’s Women of Distinction program showcased tremendous talent in the eldercare field.
The joint program of McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News resulted in more than 300 nominations.
The nurse who rose through the ranks, the entrepreneurs, the corporate stars, the 68-year-old who recently added “volunteer firefighter” to her resume. They, and others, came from coast to coast to be honored.
“It’s an honor to call myself a McKnight’s Rising Star, in addition to be part of the first class,” Berenice Galvez-Soto of HealthPro Heritage said.
“I love that McKnight’s is recognizing women in the industry,” Hall of Honor inductee Crystal Bowens, Ph.D., CB Strategies and Solutions, added.
The night’s celebration drew almost 200 guests. It included cocktails, light refreshments, trophy presentations and plenty of networking opportunities.
PointClickCare was the platinum sponsor of the program, and Simply Connect/Eldermark was the gold sponsor.
For more information about individual inductees, visit
https://www.mcknightsseniorliving.com/tag/women-of-distinction/
McKnight’s first Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Lynne Katzmann, Ph.D., of Juniper Communities. 
Juniper CEO Lynne Katzmann, Ph.D., is flanked by Avanti Living COO Lori Alford, left. and Brandywine Living CEO Brenda Bacon. 
Women of Distinction judge and AAPACN CEO Tracey Moorehad, left, with Wendy Simpson, president and CEO of LTC Properties. 
Jennifer Cisneros, administrator, The Wiliamsport Home. 
Vanessa Brookes, director of quality at Friendly Senior Living. 
Jamie Dlatt, vice president of operations at Legacy Healthcare, center, with friends. 
Tammy Jo Painter, vice president of compliance and operations, American Medical Facilities Management. 
Pilar Carvajal, CEO of Innovation Senior Management. 
Sarah Belmont, senior vice president at Brookdale Senior Living, with McKnight’s Senior Living editor Lois A. Bowers. 
Andrea Leebron-Clay, owner of Nightingale Healthcare, with her son, Pete Wolkin, also of Nightingale. 
Jennifer Maina, MDS coordinator at Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America. 
Rachel Monger, LeadingAge Kansas’ vice president of government affairs.
Photos by Social Snacks.
