​The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) pay tribute to the best and brightest in long term and post-acute care. Individuals and groups honored with awards will be recognized during Delivering Solutions 25, the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo in Las Vegas.

Alice Smith
Highland Park Care Center and Highland Park Assisted Living, Alliance, NE
AHCA Leader of the Year Award 

Alice Smith, the administrator of both Highland Park Care Center and Highland Park Assisted Living in Alliance, Neb., has been recognized as the 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 nonprofits and organizing various drives to support those in need. These initiatives integrate community involvement into residents’ daily lives and foster multigenerational 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.

Ami A. Mendez
Avista Senior Living North Mountain, Phoenix, AZ
NCAL Leader of the Year

NCAL recognizes extraordinary leaders in assisted living who exemplify excellence, dedication, and innovation. This year’s NCAL Leader of the Year Award goes to Ami A. Mendez, whose impact on her community and facility is profound.

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.

Michelle Stuercke
CEO, Senior Housing Managers, Wilsonville, OR
Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality

Michelle Stuercke has been selected to receive the 2025 Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award by AHCA. As a tireless advocate at the local, state, and national levels, Stuercke has helped facilities evaluate systems, share best practices, and strive for improvements in quality care. 

The Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award honors individuals who have significantly advanced quality performance in long term and post-acute care.

Throughout her distinguished career, Stuercke has held many titles, such as chief clinical officer, chief nursing officer, chief learning officer, manager of clinical consulting services, and director of nursing. 

Stuercke has spearheaded education initiatives to elevate the role of behavioral health in improving resident outcomes through person-centered care. In working with the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing and AHCA, she has been a champion for reducing staff burnout and workforce mental health, providing practical tools to sustain high-quality care in high-stress environments. She has also advocated for policies integrating behavioral health into quality frameworks, bridging clinical care with emotional and psychological well-being.

On the state level, Stuercke helped champion policy reforms in Illinois, achieving the inclusion of a quality add-on in the Medicaid reimbursement system to ensure that quality would be part of the payment for all long term care facilities in the state. 

Stuercke chaired the AHCA Falls Committee, creating evidence-based tools to reduce fall rates and enhance resident safety across diverse care settings. She also co-led AHCA’s Behavior Management Subcommittee, advancing nonpharmacologic strategies for behavior management and reducing unnecessary antipsychotic use. Stuercke has also served as an examiner for the AHCA/NCAL Quality Awards.

Stuercke’s vision, passion, and relentless pursuit of excellence has shaped the future of long term care, and her dedicated work ensures that quality, compassion, and innovation remain at the heart of every care setting, today and for generations to come. 

Dr. Christian Mason
Chief Clinical Officer, TCM Consulting and Management, Arlington Heights, IL
Jan Thayer Pioneer Award

Dr. Christian A. Mason, PhD, a recognized leader in senior care, has been awarded the 2025 Jan Thayer Pioneer Award by NCAL. For 40 years, Dr. Mason has dedicated himself to propelling the profession into a new era of excellence and innovation. 

The Jan Thayer Pioneer Award honors individuals who have significantly advanced the senior care profession. This award recognizes dedication, leadership, and impactful contributions—qualities that Dr. Mason exemplifies.
Dr. Mason has demonstrated a passion for enhancing the lives of seniors. As CEO of Senior Housing Managers, he led the design, development, and operation of hundreds of assisted living, residential care, and independent living communities, focusing on creating environments that prioritize resident comfort and dignity.

From 2015-2017, Dr. Mason served as chairman of the National Center for Assisted Living’s board of directors, driving the development of resources for assisted living providers that supported quality initiatives, navigating state regulations and access to data. He served for over 20 years on the Oregon Health Care Association board, significantly advancing the state’s long term care initiatives.

In 2013, he played a pivotal role in establishing new residential care building standards through the Facility Guidelines Institute, significantly enhancing the quality and safety of long term care facilities. Dr. Mason’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to found Vigilan, Inc., a software company dedicated to integrating advanced technology solutions into long term care operations. Vigilan pioneered the use of acuity-based staffing, a model that assesses patient needs more accurately and allocates resources accordingly.

Dr. Mason is at the forefront of innovative care with his work on CloudMind, which is currently rolling out its second pilot program. This initiative uses artificial intelligence companions to interact with memory care residents, increasing companionship and enriching the overall care experience for residents, caregivers, and families alike. 

Dr. Mason’s forward-thinking innovations, influential role as a national advocate, and unwavering dedication to championing person-centered care have made a lasting impact on the senior care profession.

Jayden Chandler
Rock Creek of Ottawa, Ottawa, KS
NCAL Noble Caregiver 

Jayden Chandler, a caregiver from Rock Creek of Ottawa in Ottawa, Kans., has been honored with the 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.