Leadership Team
Administrator
Jarrod Christensen
Bio
Jarrod Christensen is the Administrator at Carmel Hills Care Center. He originally joined the Carmel Hills team in 2008 as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). The close connections he made with residents and families soon earned him the role of director of admissions, a position he held until 2012. Jarrod left the Monterey Bay Area briefly for Chicago, but Carmel Hills invited him to come back and earn his administrator’s license, and he happily returned.
Administrator since October 2016, Jarrod oversees non-clinical operations at Carmel Hills and advocates for skilled nursing at the local and state levels. One of his favorite parts of the job is giving tours to prospective families and talking about what makes the care at Carmel Hills so unique.
Jarrod and his wife Jessica have a daughter, Capri, and a son, Catch. Weekends are spent exploring Carmel Valley and wherever the RV may take them.
Director of Nursing
Carole Dorsey, RN
Bio
Carole Dorsey is the Director of Nursing Services at Carmel Hills Care Center. Carmel Hills was the start of Carole’s nursing career in 2009. She began working as a charge nurse on the floor administering direct patient care. During that time, her growth in clinical care, knowledge of skilled nursing, and her ability to connect with her residents made her one of Carmel Hills’ finest nurses. In June 2011, Carole became the Assistant Director of Nursing Services (ADON), supporting the management of clinical staff and oversight of patient care.
Director of Nursing since August 2012, Carole values consistency, but understands that nursing demands flexibility—resident care always takes priority over meetings or paperwork. Despite the challenges, she finds deep fulfillment in knowing her actions improve lives each day.
Carole has deep roots in the community as a Pacific Grove Native—she was delivered at Community Hospital by Dr. Bowersox, former owner of Carmel Hills. Married with two grown children and three grandchildren, she is an avid Dodgers fan and enjoys a good book when time allows. Formerly a bookkeeper, Carole eventually realized she wanted to make a greater impact. She graduated from the Maurine Church Coburn School of Nursing in 2009; confident she had found her true calling.
Carole originally chose Carmel Hills for a deeply personal reason: her mother was a resident. For Carole, life has come full circle—from being delivered by Dr. Bowersox to now working for his family’s company.
Director of Rehabilitation
Travis Modisette
Bio
Travis Modisette is the Director of Rehabilitation at Carmel Hills Care Center. Raised in Placerville, California, Travis graduated from California State University East Bay in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology where he also studied human development. He first held a position as a group counselor for teens, followed by working as a residential counselor for adults challenged with mental illnesses. In 2011, Travis graduated from the Occupational Therapy Assistant program and joined the stroke and cardiac rehabilitation teams at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C.
A member of the Carmel Hills team since 2012, Travis directs 12-15 therapists in the center’s comprehensive rehabilitation program, making sure each patient’s needs are met, not only in rehab, but throughout the facility. He builds trust with residents by listening and following through, consistently providing the highest quality therapeutic care.
Travis is known for stepping up to many tasks outside of the therapy department, such as driving the Carmel Hills website and digital media, fixing residents’ wheelchairs, and even 3-D printing various pieces of equipment for use in the facility. He spends his time away from Carmel Hills with his wife, twin boys, and daughter exploring Monterey Bay.
Director of Infection Control
Anna Curcio, RN
Bio
Anna Curcio is the Director of Infection Control at Carmel Hills. Anna graduated with her BSN from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in 2018 before relocating to California to escape Midwest winters and be closer to family. She fell in love with Monterey the moment she crested that hill and saw the paragliders over Del Monte Beach. Carmel Hills has been home away from home ever since. Originally a charge nurse, Anna built trust and cultivated friendships with many residents. This dynamic has been beneficial in her role in infection prevention.
Anna continuously educated herself on COVID-19 and now interprets and implements the latest guidance from the CDC, CDPH, CMS, and CAHF, and oversees testing and vaccination efforts. Anna works closely with the Carmel Hills team to develop policies and practices to keep staff and residents safe. She is always willing to listen, collaborate, and redirect when necessary to incorporate innovative products and treatments to improve outcomes for both new and chronic conditions in Carmel Hills’ clinical, yet home-like, environment.
When not at work, Anna lives for visits from her adult daughters, extended family, and friends still living in the Midwest. Trips to the aquarium, walks through the redwoods, coffees on the beach, and dinners in Carmel, Monterey, and Pacific Grove are among the favorites for entertaining out-of-town guests. Much of her “downtime” is spent oceanside.
Director of Admissions
Joni Otherson, RN
Bio
Joni Otherson is Director of Admissions at Carmel Hills Care Center. Born in Texas, Joni moved to Monterey County in 2002 with her husband and three children. Prior to entering the nursing field, Joni was trained and worked in emergency medical services, operating an ambulance and serving as a 9-1-1 dispatcher. Joni decided to advance her career further, and in 2014, she graduated at the top of her class from Hartnell College, becoming a registered nurse.
Joni was quickly employed by Carmel Hills as a charge nurse where she came to love both her patients and her coworkers. As the admissions nurse and care coordinator, Joni is the first person many of the residents and families meet when seeking care at Carmel Hills.
Joni received the Carmel Hills Employee of the Year award in 2016 and 2018, in recognition of her advocacy and compassion toward the residents in her care.
Activity Director
J’Son-Lupetti Tulua
Bio
J’Son-Lupetti Tulua is the Activities Director at Carmel Hills Care Center. He started his Carmel Hills journey as a volunteer in the Activity Department in 2012 and was quickly hired as an assistant. Now a staple of Carmel Hills daily life, J’Son heads a nine-person activities team that works diligently to meet each resident’s unique social needs.
The activity team becomes involved with residents beginning with J’Son’s initial assessment on the day of admission. He becomes closely acquainted with every resident, customizing their activities plan according to their likes and dislikes, interests, memory, abilities, and functional status.
During his years at Carmel Hills, J’Son has made the activities department increasingly tech-savvy and thinks outside the box to engage residents at all levels of mobility. He plans and executes popular resident outings throughout the year, such as trips to the Good Ol’ Days festival in Pacific Grove, the 4th of July Celebration at Colton Hall, and the Monterey County Fair.
A deep respect for his elders, rooted in his Tongan heritage, guides J’Son’s caregiving philosophy. He lives in Marina with his wife and four children, who visit Carmel Hills often.
Director of Environmental Services
Dan Branch
Bio
Dan Branch is the Director of Environmental Services at Carmel Hills Care Center. Dan oversees building and grounds maintenance, supervises housekeeping, laundry and maintenance staff, and ensures compliance with all building codes and regulations. Dan also handles the receipt of all incoming orders including patient care supplies, cleaning supplies, and specialty equipment. Dan efficiently monitors and tracks all emergency systems, including fire and disaster safety preparedness at the facility.
Dan has owned and managed properties for 20+ years, having maintained just about every piece of equipment that heats, cools, cleans, washes and dries. He knows that for a facility to function properly, staff must have the tools needed to get the job done. Whether those tools are clean linens, full oxygen tanks, or beds in good working order, Dan sees that everything set up correctly and running smoothly each day.
Above all else, Dan is a resident advocate. He believes the purpose, as employees at Carmel Hills, is to provide the highest level of care for residents.
Social Services Director
Donne Fajardo
Bio
Donne Fajardo is the Social Services Director at Carmel Hills Care Center. Donne was born in Manila, Philippines, and was raised in Pacific Grove, California. She has been a member of the Carmel Hills team since April 2007 and is an outstanding CNA beloved by the residents she served. Having spent more than 10 years experiencing diverse roles in geriatric care, she is deeply committed to helping seniors in the community.
Donne is a certified social service designee and her primary responsibility is to be an advocate for residents. Critical elements of her job are to mediate family social dynamics and facilitate discharges. When residents return home, she ensures they have the necessary supplies and equipment, lines up local home health agency services, and coordinates care conferences.
Donne’s tireless efforts earned her the Carmel Hills Care Center 2016 Compassion Award.
Business Office Manager
Melanie Tubera
Bio
Melanie Tubera is the Business Office Manager at Carmel Hills Care Center. Melanie graduated from San Jose State University in 2011, where she received a BS in health science administration and a minor in kinesiology. Melanie first joined Carmel Hills in 2012 as the assistant director of rehabilitation, a position she held for two years.
As Business Office Manager since 2014, Melanie oversees Carmel Hills’ finances and frequently assists residents and their families with insurance, Medicare, and Medi-Cal questions. She also manages the company’s payroll department. Melanie’s focus and follow-through earned her the Carmel Hills 2017 Accountability Award.
When not at Carmel Hills, you can find Melanie competing in various distance running events around Monterey and the Bay Area. She has completed several half marathons including the Monterey Bay Half Marathon.
MDS Coordinator
Woo Hong, RN
Bio
Woo Hong is the Minimum Data Set (MDS) Coordinator at Carmel Hills Care Center. Woo was born in Korea and attended Sahmyook University where she received a BSN in 1987. She moved to the United States in 1990, and in 1997 earned her RN in California, realizing her dream of being a nurse in the U.S.
Woo began working at the Carmel Hills location in 1999 when it was under a different name. She stayed on as a charge nurse under the Bowersox family ownership and has truly developed her nursing potential. In her current role as MDS coordinator, she ensures the compliance, accuracy, and reliability of resident charting done by the nursing staff—necessary to determine patients’ treatment, comply with treatment norms and privacy standards, and supply information to third parties, such as the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and private insurance companies.
Woo finds nursing deeply rewarding, knowing she’s helping residents and families through challenging times. She believes that family-owned Carmel Hills encourages a family feeling among staff that benefits residents. Woo is married and has two adult children.
Health Information Manager
Hector Salcio
Bio
Hector Salcio is the Director of Health Information Management at Carmel Hills Care Center. In his role he maintains an accurate clinical documentation record of each resident’s stay from start to finish, including coordinating visits with patients’ primary care physicians.
Hector has worked at Carmel Hills since 2009. His experience in several departments, including as a CNA, has given him unparalleled knowledge of the facility. He believes the staff at Carmel Hills is a one-of-a-kind team, offering individualized and professional care to each resident.
Hector is a Monterey local who enjoys reading and bringing his dog Cosmo in for visits with the residents. He finds great joy in stepping away from paperwork to connect with residents during their stay.
Director of Staff Development
Keely Reynolds
Bio
Keeley Reynolds is the Director of Staff Development at Carmel Hills Care Center. She oversees the CNA staff and is responsible for staff training and education.
Keeley has been a dedicated Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) since 2000, beginning her career during the height of the pandemic. She is passionate about skilled nursing and is personally driven to help transform skilled nursing facilities into places where families feel confident and at ease entrusting the care of their loved ones.
Throughout her career as an LVN, Keeley has held a variety of roles including floor nurse, infection prevention specialist, wound care nurse, MDS coordinator, and now Director of Staff Development. In her current position, she focuses on creating a positive, safe, and efficient work environment for staff—while also ensuring high-quality care for residents. Keeley is committed to staff education and CNA support, firmly believing that empowered caregivers create better outcomes for everyone.
Outside of work, Keeley enjoys spending time with her husband and two young boys. Whether they’re camping, exploring Disneyland, or enjoying a quiet day at home, she finds adventure and joy in everyday moments with her family.
Director of Dietary
Cheryl Clark
Bio
Cheryl Clark is the Director of Dietary at Carmel Hills Care Center. Cheryl’s culinary journey began at the Culinary Institute of America in New York before she honed her craft at the acclaimed Rosewood property, the Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas. Her talents led her to Hong Kong, where she designed menus and assisted in opening multiple restaurants for a prestigious restaurant group. Returning to the U.S., Cheryl became consulting chef for an urban developer in Orlando before realizing her dream of entrepreneurship with Heirlooms Cafe & Catering and Heirlooms Bistro in Jacksonville. In 2012, she founded Everyday with Chef Cheryl, focusing on wellness, catering, and culinary education.
With a fervent dedication to nutrition and wellness, Cheryl now brings her expertise to Carmel Hills, eager to enrich residents’ lives by combining nourishing cuisine and compassionate care. Her journey, marked by a pursuit of culinary excellence and a passion for helping others, sets the stage for Carmel Hills to offer dining experiences that uplift and rejuvenate.