Mark A. Gray
President/CEO.
Starting as a janitor in a small nursing home in Oklahoma, where he earned his administrator’s license, while working the night shift, Mark continued his education at Northeastern State University, earning his B.S. in Administration of Allied Health Care and his Masters in Public Health with an emphasis in long-term care from the University of Oklahoma. In addition, Mr. Gary has completed post-graduate studies in the field.
Mr. Gray has operated several nursing homes for the Amity Care Corporation in Oklahoma and served as a Regional Vice President and Vice President of Operations for Health Care Capital, with responsibility for fourteen nursing and rehabilitation facilities throughout Tennessee, Kentucky, and South Carolina. He has owned his own senior care company, with nursing facilities in Texas and Arkansas and a consulting firm, Cornerstone HealthCare Solutions, which was dedicated to helping long-term care not-for-profit organizations.
Mr. Gray considers his work as ministry, often quoting his favorite Bible verse, from the Book of James: “Religion that God… accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after… widows in their distress.” (1:27, NIV).
Mark is an accomplished artist. He and his wife, Susan, now make their home in Crestwood, Kentucky, where they intend to become active in their church and community.
Steve Barker
Vice President/Chief Financial Officer.
Mr. Barker joined Presbyterian Homes and Services in July of 2007 as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Most recently, Mr. Barker served as Controller of Trilogy Health Services, LLC, a Louisville-based operator of skilled nursing and assisted living centers.
Prior to Trilogy, Mr. Barker served as Divisional Vice President of Finance for Laboratory Corporation of America and as Controller for Vivra Physician Services. He also spent nearly five years auditing hospital operations for Humana Inc. Mr. Barker is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Xavier University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Kentucky. Mr. Barker and his wife Betty and three children live in Prospect, Ky.
Mary A. Romelfanger, MSN, RN, CS, LNHA
Ms. Romelfanger joined the Executive Leadership at Presbyterian Homes in January of 2008 as Vice-President of Clinical Services. She has a long and distinguished career in the healthcare industry, in both the public and private sectors, serving many years as the Deputy Executive Director of the Kentucky Board of Nursing. She has served on a variety of Boards, including the Kentucky Nurses Association and the International Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR), where she served as President and is currently a faculty member of the Executive Leadership for Regulators Program. In 2003, Ms. Romelfanger was the CLEAR Award Winner for Service.
Having worked for ten years with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Ms. Romelfanger initiated the role of continuing health care and retirement activity for the congregation in the Western Province. In recent years, Ms. Romelfanger has operated her own management consulting company, working in a variety of settings.
In her work as Vice President of Clinical Services, Ms. Romelfanger is the corporate officer responsible for the operation of all clinical programs involving licensed health care facilities assisted living, personal care, independent care, and physician relations throughout the organization. In addition, she has oversight of all supplementary programs, such as hospice and home health and therapy programs. Ms. Romelfanger communicates wisdom and knowledge, along with enthusiasm in implementing the PHSK model of person-centered care.
Rev. Dr. Hattie Wagner
Vice President of Mission and Ministry.
Dr. Wagner has worked with the Homes since 1999, serving first as Chaplain of the Presbyterian Homes of Louisville community, where she received the Outstanding Staff Award in Pastoral Care in 2001 by the Kentucky Association of Healthcare Services for the Aging. Most recently she has served as Director of Pastoral Care and Church Relations.
Dr. Wagner is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and earned her Doctor of Ministry degree from Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. Since entering the ministry, she has served as a church pastor in North Carolina, a retreat leader and a spiritual director. Hattie’s passion for the ministry at Presbyterian Homes is to help create “an institution with soul”; building a community which offers kindness and hospitality to all who live, work or visit Presbyterian Homes.
Hattie and her husband, Steve, live in Crestwood, Kentucky, and are the parents of five children.
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Rosalie Bush-Ryall
Executive Coordinator
Rosalie is the newest addition to the Home Office Team, joining this staff in early February. Rosalie comes to Presbyterian Homes with many years of working in the not-for-profit sector, coming most recently from the staff of Highland Community Ministries. As she joins our team, her primary focus is to coordinate the work of the Executive Leadership Team. What she has named as the most compelling reason to have accepted this position: the palpable energy and positive vision toward rebuilding the ministry of Presbyterian Homes.
Rosalie has three grown children and three grandchildren. In her spare time she enjoys knitting.
Elizabeth Watkins
HR Director.
Elizabeth is our longest-term employee at the Home Office, having worked with Presbyterian Homes for 23 years. She joined this ministry at the original location of Rose Anna Hughes on St. James Court in downtown Louisville. Through the course of the years, Elizabeth has offered a consistent and stable presence amidst the growth and change. She is dedicated and diligent in her work.
When not at work, Elizabeth participates with energy and commitment to her church community. Being from a family of ten siblings, family is of great importance to her. In addition to maintaining relationship with her mother, 5 brothers and 5 sisters and their families, she has a son, John St. John Watkins and one grandson, John Tyler Watkins.
Paula Alford, LPN
Clinical Systems Administrator.
Having begun her career at Presbyterian Homes, serving as a charge nurse at Westminster Terrace from 1996-1998, Paula rejoined that staff as Staff Development Nurse in March of 2000. Paula eventually transitioned to the role of Assistant Director of Nursing, where she remained for the number of years. When Presbyterian Homes began to implement the use of a computer software program, she accepted the opportunity to become Clinical Systems Administrator, which eventually required a transfer to the Home Office. Paula’s work focuses on the implementation and use of clinical software in each of the facilities. It is her love of the geriatric population that engages her in this ministry and it is this same love that informs her work with software and people, and makes her a valuable asset.
Paula and her husband, Glenn, have two children. She loves to play bluegrass music.
Pam Richardson
Receptionist/Administrative Assistant/Activities Coordinator.
Since Pam is seated nearest the front door, she has the pleasure of greeting visitors as they enter the building. Whether she is answering the telephone, making the coffee or ordering the supplies, Pam offers warmth and hospitality to anyone with whom she comes in contact. Despite the fact that Pam has a degree in both accounting and nursing, and has spent 27 years working in nursing, accounting and office administration, what Pam loves in any job is sharing her joy of life. Enjoying her work at Presbyterian Homes, she sees it as her job to help create an inviting environment in which to work. She coordinates activities, birthdays, holidays, clean-up days and whatever other happy days she can imagine. She not only shares her joy at the Home Office, but in each of our facilities with our residents as often as she can.
In addition to her work at Presbyterian Homes, Pam volunteers with a number of community groups with The Brain Injury Association of KY (BIAK) being a priority.
Lavinia O’Connor
Accounts Receivable Manager.
Lavinia began her work with Presbyterian Homes in 1989, by joining the staff at Westminster Terrace as an administrative assistant. In 1990, she transferred to the newly-established Home Office and began her work in Accounts Receivable. With a steady presence, she has faithfully served Presbyterian Homes for 18 years. Lavinia works with great focus and good spirit as she oversees all aspects of resident billing.
Lavinia has two daughters, Veronica and Clare, and a dog , Shadow. She also enjoys walking, reading and beach vacations.
Angela Royalty
Accounts Receivable Assistant.
Angela is a new addition to the Home Office, joining the team in June, 2007. She is fast becoming a valuable member of the staff. Before coming to Presbyterian Homes to work assist Lavinia in Accounts Receivable, Angela had worked faithfully in a variety of settings. She spent the previous 21 years working in a pediatrician’s office, for Humana, and with Underwriter’s Safety and Claims.
In her spare time, Angela loves making quilts, which she describes as “old fashioned block quilts”. She enjoys spending time with her dog, her husband and her daughter Amber (not necessarily in that order).
Betsy Hoefler
Senior Accountant.
Betsy is approaching her 18th year at Presbyterian Homes, having joined the staff in 1990, just after the formation of a corporate office in order to centralize coordination of all facilities. Her long-term presence, along with Elizabeth and Lavinia, has provided valuable continuity through periods of transition and growth. Betsy considers the three of them as “the goldie oldies” in the office. In her specific work, Betsy oversees accounts payable.
Betsy is grandmother to five (soon to be 6). She also enjoys the company of her dogs, Ben and Emma, who also like to come to work with her.
Dearl Layton
IT Director.
Dearl’s first connection with Presbyterian Homes began 5 years ago, as an IT consultant. As the company’s technological needs grew, Dearl joined the staff full time to develop, manage and maintain all IT based systems for Presbyterian Homes, creating and establishing our IT Department.
He also enjoys music, singing, sports and hunting. Dearl is married, has 4 children, 1 grandchild, and is raising his 7 year old nephew.
Rita Carter
Accounts Payable.
Rita knows the working of the accounting department at the Home Office inside and out. When she came to Presbyterian Homes in 2001, she assisted in Accounts Receivable. A year later she moved to Accounts Payable, and now assists Betsy by handling all accounts payable for Westminster Terrace, Rose Anna Hughes and the Home Office.
Rita and her husband, Bob, have a married son Jason (Sarah) and are caregivers for her brother, Dennis. Rita, Bob and Dennis also share their home with a rescued rat terrier, affectionately known as Vinney.
Kim Forrest
Human Resources Assistant.
Kim has been with Presbyterian Homes for 10 years. She assists Elizabeth in Human Resources and also works in Accounts Payable, handling matters for Helmwood Healthcare Center, Good Shepherd Nursing Center and Cedar Creek Assisted Living.
When Kim is not at work at the Home Office, she is a busy mom. Kim and her husband, Phil, have one daughter, Shelby, and two sons ,Tanner and Tyler.
Jan Wade
Staff Accountant.
Jan joined Presbyterian Homes in 2003 as Staff Accountant. In her work, she assists the Vice President of Finance in preparation of monthly financial statements and the annual budget and organizes reports for the annual audit.
Jan received her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Sullivan University in 1998. She enjoys cooking, sewing and belongs to a gym for exercise.
