​Donna Baker
Maine Veterans’ Homes Augusta
Augusta, ME
AHCA Leader of the Year

Donna Baker, RN, CHC, QCP, director of quality, risk, and compliance at Maine Veterans’ Homes in Augusta, Maine, has been recognized as the 2026 recipient of the American Health Care Association (AHCA) Leader of the Year Award. This award recognizes an administrator, an executive director, a director of nursing, or a regional leader who demonstrates outstanding innovation, achievement, and capabilities in the provision of high-quality, person-centered care in a service-oriented culture in a long term care facility.

With more than 32 years of experience dedicated to long term care, clinical leadership, quality improvement, regulatory compliance, education, and resident advocacy, Baker has devoted the past 19 years of her career to Maine Veterans’ Homes, where she provides strategic leadership and oversight across communities.

She is certified in quality assurance and performance improvement through AHCA/American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing and in health care compliance through the Health Care Compliance Association. Throughout her career, she has remained deeply committed to improving the lives of residents while supporting the professionals entrusted with their care. Her leadership has advanced meaningful quality initiatives in fall prevention, pressure-injury reduction, psychotropic-medication management, infection prevention, avoidable-hospitalization reduction, and person-centered care.

Baker is an inspiring educator, mentor, and advocate who believes lasting excellence is achieved by helping people understand not only what must be done, but why it matters. She fosters collaboration across clinical, operational, and interdisciplinary teams, creating an environment in which employees feel supported, valued, and empowered to succeed. Her leadership has contributed to significant organizational achievements, including three communities’ Gold Award–level recognition for sustained excellence in quality and performance.

Known for her integrity, approachability, and unwavering commitment to doing what is right, Baker leads with both accountability and compassion. She remains a visible and trusted presence among residents, families, frontline caregivers, and leaders, consistently demonstrating that exceptional leadership is rooted in service, connection, and purpose.

​Melissa McCorquodale
Good Samaritan Society – Ridge View Estates
Pipestone, MN
NCAL Leader of the Year

Melissa McCorquodale, LALD, QCP, senior living administrator at Good Samaritan – Ridge View Estates in Pipestone, Minnesota, has been recognized as the 2026 National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) Leader of the Year. This honor recognizes an administrator, an executive director, a director of nursing, or a regional leader who demonstrates outstanding innovation, achievement, and capabilities in the provision of high-quality, person-centered care in a service-oriented culture in an assisted living community.

McCorquodale earned her bachelor of science degree from South Dakota State University and began her career in long term care at an early age, gaining firsthand experience while working in a skilled nursing facility before transitioning into assisted living. This foundation fostered her deep commitment to serving older adults and inspired her continued growth as a leader and mentor in the senior living profession.

Beyond her daily responsibilities, McCorquodale is actively involved in professional leadership and quality-improvement initiatives within the profession. She serves in a variety of roles with American Health Care Association (AHCA)/NCAL, including team leader and independent examiner for the Quality Award Program, and is a member of the NCAL Policy & Regulatory Committee and the NCAL Quality Committee. She is also involved with Care Providers of Minnesota and contributes to her local community through service on various committees. In addition, McCorquodale was selected to participate in the AHCA/NCAL Future Leaders Program, Class of 2022.

A champion of quality, McCorquodale led Ridge View Estates to earn the Silver Quality Award in 2025. Her dedication extends beyond her own senior living community, as she has also supported other facilities across the Good Samaritan footprint in achieving Bronze and Silver Quality Awards. 

Through her leadership, mentorship, and passion for continuous improvement, McCorquodale has helped foster a culture of excellence that positively impacts residents, staff, and organizations throughout the network, and she remains committed to advancing excellence in senior living.

​Debbie L. Meade
Warner Robins, Georgia
Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality

Debbie L. Meade has been recognized as the 2026 recipient of the Mary K. Ousley Champion of Quality Award. This prestigious honor recognizes an individual who has made a significant national contribution to advancing quality performance in long term care. 

Meade is a nationally recognized leader and tireless advocate for quality improvement in the sector. Throughout her distinguished career, she has dedicated herself to advancing person-centered care, strengthening quality initiatives, and championing policies that improve outcomes for residents and providers alike. Her unwavering commitment to excellence has made a lasting impact on the profession.

As an experienced owner and operator of long term care facilities, Meade has combined firsthand operational experience with visionary leadership to drive meaningful change across the industry. She has championed innovative approaches to quality improvement, helped increase participation in the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) Quality Award Program, and served as an educator and mentor through numerous leadership roles, including co-chair of the AHCA Quality Cabinet. Her work has consistently promoted collaboration, continuous improvement, and better outcomes for residents.

Meade has also been a leading voice in strengthening communication between providers and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, advocating for a more collaborative, outcomes-focused approach to survey and certification. Her ability to bring practical solutions to complex policy discussions has earned the respect of regulators, providers, and colleagues nationwide.

Meade’s vision, extraordinary leadership, and lifelong commitment to improving quality in long term care make her an exceptionally deserving recipient of this award.

​Nicolette Reilly
Oregon Health Care Association
Portland, OR
Jan Thayer Pioneer Award

Nicolette Reilly, senior vice president of quality for the Oregon Health Care Association, has been recognized as the 2026 recipient of the Jan Thayer Pioneer Award. This award recognizes individuals who have moved the senior care profession forward, positively affecting the lives of those served and those who serve. Recipients must demonstrate dedication, leadership, and considerable contributions to the senior care profession.

Reilly leads quality initiatives and provides guidance to members on regulatory compliance, operational excellence, workforce development, and public policy. She works closely with providers and state agencies to advance best practices, promote quality improvement, and strengthen Oregon’s long term care profession.

With more than 25 years of executive leadership experience, Reilly has held senior leadership roles overseeing assisted living, memory care, independent living, and skilled nursing operations.

Reilly is nationally recognized as a leader in quality improvement through her decades of service with the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). She is a former Chair of the NCAL Board of Directors and member of the AHCA Board of Governors. Reilly is also active with the AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Program. She has served on the AHCA Quality Award Board of Overseers and as co-chair of the AHCA Quality Cabinet, and she currently serves on the NCAL Quality Committee and as a longtime senior examiner and Silver Award team lead. 

Through these roles, she has helped advance quality standards, leadership development, and person-centered care practices throughout the senior living profession.

Reilly has been a champion of quality in Oregon and beyond. Through her leadership and passion for quality improvement, she has helped foster a culture of excellence not only with members and providers, but also with state agencies and regulators. She positively impacts residents, staff, and organizations with her dedication and compassion. 

​Kyle Grover
Brookdale Senior Living Florence
Florence, NJ 
NCAL Noble Caregiver 

Kyle Grover, maintenance manager at Brookdale Senior Living Florence in Florence, New Jersey, has been recognized as the 2026 recipient of the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) Noble Caregiver Award. This national honor recognizes frontline caregivers, support staff, and office staff from any department for their contributions that lead to improved quality of life for the residents and create a better work environment for the assisted living community’s staff. 

For the past four years, Grover has overseen the upkeep, safety, and overall comfort of the community’s residents. He exemplifies a genuine passion for his work, combining hands-on technical skill with a deep commitment to the well-being of the seniors he serves each day.

Grover’s leadership style is rooted in warmth, patience, and person-centered care. He approaches every task not simply as a job to complete, but as an opportunity to connect with and support the people around him. His calm, steady presence and willingness to go above and beyond have made him a trusted figure among residents, families, and staff alike.

Grover finds meaning in the relationships he builds within the community and often reflects on how much he learns from residents through their stories and life experiences. This mutual exchange has shaped his approach to his work, which is grounded in respect, empathy, and continuous growth.

His dedication to service began early. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2006, an achievement that instilled in him a lasting commitment to leadership, integrity, and helping others—values that continue to guide him today.

Grover’s steady leadership, genuine compassion, and unwavering dedication to residents and staff make him an invaluable part of the Brookdale Florence community and a true example of what it means to serve with heart.

​Macy McMann
Rose Haven Nursing Home
Marengo, IA 
AHCA Noble Caregiver

Macy McMann, social worker at Rose Haven Nursing Home in Marengo, Iowa, has been recognized as the 2026 recipient of the American Health Care Association (AHCA) Noble Caregiver Award. This national honor recognizes caregivers, support professionals, and office staff whose contributions improve residents’ quality of life and help create a stronger, more supportive work environment for the facility team.

McMann possesses a depth of wisdom, compassion, and understanding that far exceeds her years. She recognizes that every resident is unique and has a history, preferences, and a voice worthy of being heard. She approaches social work with heart and advocates for residents to remain actively involved in decisions regarding their lives, daily routines, and care.

Her influence is also felt in everyday interactions that can easily go unnoticed. A warm smile, thoughtful conversation, or well-timed word of encouragement can transform a difficult day. McMann notices when someone needs support and offers it before being asked. Her uplifting presence reminds residents, families, and coworkers that kindness is not separate from quality care; it is at the heart of it.

In a small, rural nursing facility, a social worker’s role reaches far beyond one department, and McMann embraces that responsibility wholeheartedly. She builds meaningful relationships with residents while serving as a trusted resource to staff across all disciplines. She approaches stressful situations with professionalism, communicates with respect, and helps bring people together around the shared goal of doing what is best for each resident. Through her actions, she helps create the sense of belonging that transforms a care facility into a true home.

From her beginnings as a certified nursing assistant to her current role as a social worker, McMann has remained deeply committed to serving others. Her compassion, advocacy, integrity, optimism, and unwavering respect have enriched the lives of residents and strengthened the entire Rose Haven community.