Alice Smith, the administrator of both Highland Park Care Center and Highland Park Assisted Living in Alliance, Neb., has been recognized as the 2024 AHCA Leader of the Year. This award honors a leader in a long term care facility who demonstrates outstanding innovation, achievement, and capabilities in providing high-quality, person-centered care.

Smith's leadership ensures high-quality care for residents and fosters a supportive environment for her staff. Her genuine connection with residents and staff highlights her servant leadership style.

Smith’s approach empowers staff to make decisions that prioritize resident care. This strategy has resulted in a high-performing team capable of creating enriching experiences for residents. Under her guidance, residents participate in activities such as riding motorcycles and in community parades, enhancing their quality of life.

Smith actively involves her facilities in community collaborations, partnering with local non-profits and organizing various drives to support those in need. These initiatives integrate community involvement into residents' daily lives and foster multi-generational connections.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Smith adhered to stringent guidelines to ensure resident safety, worked in various departments, and obtained her nursing assistant certification to better assist the nursing staff. She also fundraised for adaptive bikes, allowing residents to safely enjoy outdoor activities.

Smith’s achievements include leading Highland Park Care Center to earn the 2024 Silver Quality Award and Highland Park Assisted Living to earn the 2024 Bronze Quality Award. Her dedication to enhancing the quality of life for residents, combined with her adherence to the facility’s mission, vision, and values, underscores her deservingness of this award.

Mendez, a certified nursing home administrator and assisted living manager, has set a remarkable standard of care over her nine-year tenure at Avista Senior Living North Mountain in Phoenix, Ariz. Her leadership has fostered a high-performing team that recently achieved a perfect score on its deficiency-free annual survey and was awarded the 2024 National Bronze Quality Award by AHCA/NCAL.

Mendez’s commitment to addressing the needs of an often-marginalized, elderly population who relies on Medicaid is evident through the specialized programs she has developed. Under her guidance, the community has become a beacon of hope for low-income seniors.  

Mendez serves a dual role within her company, which has grown from three to thirty communities and in six states during her tenure. She is responsible for the daily operations of the 149-bed assisted living facility and is also a key player on the company's executive team. Saving the company thousands of dollars, she has a unique skill set that allows her to customize the company's electronic health record by building more satisfying, digestible, and efficient tools for caregivers and med techs. She is also responsible for writing network-wide policy and answering compliance-related and other questions from other assisted living managers. Through 33 years of experience, her ability to provide resources to her peers, company, and residents is unmatched. She has introduced and designed company-wide programs and risk-mitigating documentation tools.

Her dedication to ethical practices and protecting resident rights while simultaneously investing in the team is evident. She has embraced and implemented a leadership philosophy focusing on team members’ behavior toward others. She fondly calls this approach the "commitment to my coworker." Aiming to create a fun, vibrant, safe, and trusting work environment, this approach sets expectations for newly hired team members who must understand their role in another person's experience. They are taught ways to approach each other that demonstrate grace and mercy. Team members must demonstrate the tenets of this philosophy to stay on the team. She has never used agency assistance since being initially licensed in 2003. Her argument stands firm: "If you wouldn't let a stranger care for your own family members, why would I let strangers care for those entrusted to us.”

Mendez's dedication to mentorship is reflected in the fact that 100 percent of her leadership team has been promoted from within, creating career paths for multiple entry-level team members who have advanced to managerial roles.

Mendez has received company, community, and professional recognition throughout her career. She received the Eli Pick Facility Leadership Award for consistent quality outcomes and was recognized in 2023 and 2024 as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders in the state. Recently, her company awarded her the HERO award for her outstanding work, and she has been awarded the AHCA/NCAL Bronze Award two times in her administration.

Her dedication to enhancing the quality of life for residents underscores her deservingness of this award.

Neil Pruitt, Jr.
Chairman and CEO of PruittHealth, Inc., Norcross, GA
Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality

Neil Pruitt, Jr., chairman and CEO of PruittHealth, Inc., headquartered in Norcross, Ga., has been named the 2024 recipient of the Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award by AHCA. This prestigious award honors individuals who have significantly advanced quality performance in long term and post-acute care.

Pruitt has been a long-standing champion for quality in long term care (LTC), making substantial contributions that have raised the importance of quality within the profession. As board chair for AHCA, he established the quality and regulatory divisions in 2011 and launched the Quality Initiative in 2012, leading to a nearly 50 percent reduction in antipsychotic use through a national partnership with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). He also advocated updating the LTC Trend Tracker platform and secured funding for the Center for Long-Term Care Quality & Innovation at Brown University in 2014.

Under Pruitt’s leadership, AHCA developed and sought endorsement from the National Quality Forum for post-acute care quality measures, including functional outcome measures in mobility and self-care, hospitalization, and discharge to the community. These measures influenced CMS’s Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program and led to changes in how CMS measures discharge to the community. He also supported the Protecting Access to Medicare Act in 2014, establishing the CMS Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program, and created the CoreQ satisfaction measure, now a standard for satisfaction measurement in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.

Pruitt's contributions extend beyond policy. He set up the Quality Cabinet at AHCA/NCAL, bringing together all quality-related committees to develop the association’s position on regulatory, five-star, and payment issues. His efforts have significantly influenced national standards and the quality of care provided to residents, underscoring his commitment to improving resident outcomes within the LTC sector.

In addition to his role at AHCA, Pruitt served as chair of the Georgia Health Care Association. In 2013, he was appointed to the Commission for Long Term Care, a 15-member panel charged with developing plans for a comprehensive, coordinated, and high-quality system ensuring long term care for older adults and people with disabilities. He also served as chair of the board of trustees of the University System of Georgia Foundation and currently serves as a board member for the Georgia Regents Health System.

Jayden Chandler, a caregiver from Rock Creek of Ottawa in Ottawa, Kans., has been honored with the 2024 Noble Caregiver Award by NCAL. This award recognizes frontline caregivers who significantly improve the quality of life for residents and create a better work environment for staff.

Chandler's compassion and dedication are evident in her daily interactions, as she ensures each resident feels at home with individualized care.

Her problem-solving skills, particularly in dementia care, have improved residents' daily lives. Chandler engages residents through activities they enjoy and maintains a positive attitude, even on challenging days.

Beyond her scheduled work hours, Chandler dedicates her time to assist with activities. She also volunteers at an animal shelter and brings pets into the facility to help soothe residents and address behavioral challenges.

Chandler has completed abilities expert training, specializing in dementia care, and has become the abilities care champion for her facility. In this role, she trains staff on various levels of dementia, ensuring comprehensive resident care.

Additionally, Chandler is pursuing further education in nursing with a focus on gerontology. She plays a vital role in training new staff, ensuring they understand residents' specific needs and care tasks.

Chandler’s commitment to person-centered care and improving residents' lives has enhanced residents' quality of life and strengthened her facility's community, making her a deserving recipient of this award.

Rick Baldini
Waters Edge Health & Rehabilitation, Kenosha, WI
AHCA Noble Caregiver

AHCA's Noble Caregiver Award recognizes frontline staff for their contributions to improving residents' quality of life and creating a better work environment. Rick Baldini, the maintenance director at Waters Edge Health & Rehabilitation in Kenosha, Wis., exemplifies exceptional dedication and person-centered care.

Baldini enhances the well-being of residents and overall morale at Waters Edge. His interactions go beyond routine maintenance tasks; he engages with residents personally, understanding their needs and preferences. His involvement in facility activities, such as fundraising events, demonstrates his commitment to fostering a supportive community.

Baldini’s commitment to residents’ quality of life is evident in his prompt attention to maintenance needs, even beyond regular hours. He proactively identifies and resolves issues, ensuring a well-maintained facility.

By maintaining and repairing essential equipment like mobility aids and beds, Baldini empowers residents to live as independently as possible. Baldini’s versatility is further demonstrated by his willingness to assist with tasks outside his typical responsibilities.

Additionally, Baldini's proactive problem-solving and support for new staff members contribute significantly to the facility's smooth operations.

Baldini's dedication to improving residents' quality of life, positive attitude, and unwavering commitment make him a standout caregiver in the long term care community.

Gail Sheridan, RN
Executive Vice President of Lifespark Senior Living, St. Louis Park, MN
 Jan Thayer Pioneer Award

Gail Sheridan, RN, a recognized leader in person-centered care, has been awarded the 2024 Jan Thayer Pioneer Award by NCAL. As the executive vice president of Lifespark Senior Living in St. Louis Park, Minn., Sheridan has focused on enhancing clinical systems, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance. Her efforts have improved operational outcomes and created a supportive environment for staff and residents.

The Jan Thayer Pioneer Award honors individuals who have significantly advanced the senior care profession. Named after NCAL’s first board chair, Jan Thayer, this award recognizes dedication, leadership, and impactful contributions—qualities that Sheridan exemplifies.

Sheridan has played a key role through leadership roles in various organizations. Her involvement with Care Providers of Minnesota (CPM) includes serving on the board of directors for more than 10 years and serving as the chair of the board, as well as chairing the Quality Committee. Sheridan has also been a multiple winner of the CPM Member of the Year award.  

At the national level, she has served on the NCAL Board of Directors, as AHCA/NCAL Quality Cabinet co-chair, chair of the AHCA/NCAL Workforce Committee, and on various AHCA/NCAL committees, including the Survey/Regulatory Committee and the Emergency Preparedness Committee.

Sheridan developed tools to help providers respond to adverse events and improve quality assurance and performance improvement programs. Her ability to harness collective knowledge has resulted in practical, widely supported recommendations, improving compliance and transparency in the sector.

Sheridan's hands-on approach is evident in her daily interactions with staff, residents, and families. Her leadership promotes excellence and person-centered care in senior living communities. She is also recognized as a catalyst for innovative approaches that enhance the overall customer experience in senior care.

In addition to her contributions, Sheridan served in the U.S. Navy, showcasing her lifelong commitment to service and excellence.

Sheridan's three decades of dedication to senior care and her extensive contributions at both the state and national levels have left a lasting impact on the profession, setting a high standard for quality and innovation in care.