Sheryl Owens, CSA
Executive Director

Before joining SeniorBridge, Sheryl founded and operated Brightstar Healthcare- Charlotte, a highly regarded company providing medical and non-medical homecare and healthcare staffing. Previously, Sheryl had a long career at General Motors Corporation, working both in Europe and the US in multiple capacities. She served as Director of Human Resources and Organization Transformation, leading Global Human Resources, Internal Communications, and Organization/Education Development, and in a variety of other executive roles, where she was responsible for implementing process, employee communication, public and labor relations, and reengineering of corporate staffs. Sheryl earned a bachelor of arts degree and masters of Organization Development from Bowling Green State University, Ohio, has had extensive training in consulting skills and leadership development, and is a certified Executive Coach and Coach Trainer. She is currently Chair of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Aging Coalition and is a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA).

Ruth A. Huey, RN, MS
Director of Client Services

Ruth's career in long-term care for older adults spans more than 30 years. She served as Executive Director of the Selwyn Life Center at Mercy, an adult day health center with a dementia care program, for 12 years, and had also been Personal Care Director at Charlotte Square Assisted Living. Ruth provided community health nursing services to older and disabled adults and health and wellness programs for Neighborhood Outreach Program Adult Services at the Mecklenburg Country Department of Social Services. Previously, she was also the Director of Health and Community Services and Lifelong Learning/Personal Interest at Central Piedmont Community College. In New York City, she was Clinical Supervisor in Geriatric Psychiatry at Mt. Sinai Medical Center and Head Nurse on the Surgical unit at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. For the past 20 years, Ruth has also taught gerontology at Central Piedmont Community College and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She earned a Masters degree in Geriatric/Gerontological Nursing from the University of Delaware.

Karen Knutson, MSN, MBA
Professional Development Specialist

Karen was President and Founder of OpenCare, a care management firm that was acquired by SeniorBridge in 2007. She is a geriatric nurse practitioner by background, specializing in older adults, with a master's degree in nursing from Indiana University and an MBA from the University of Illinois. Karen has extensive professional experience in advanced clinical practice, executive level management, consulting, and research. She is a past President of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, served on the organization's Board of Directors for 7 years, and is currently Editor-in-Chief of the Geriatric Care Management Journal.

Robin Valdés
Director of Professional Relations

In joining SeniorBridge, Robin draws upon her recent experience as Director of Sales and Marketing for Golden Living Center, a senior facility in Charlotte offering short-term nursing and rehabilitation services, and previously as Director of Community Relations at Avante at Charlotte, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, providing staff training, increasing referrals, and orchestrating large family and community events for both facilities. Earlier, Robin had also been a loan processor for Colonial Mortgage Group in Huntersville, and was Service & Operations Manager for American Express in Statesville. Additionally, Robin has served as a volunteer in the Mecklenburg County Women's Commission "Displaced Homemaker" Program and with Meals on Wheels, civic groups for seniors, and the American Heart Association. She studied Business Management at Modesto Junior College and Child Development at Chico State University, both in California.

Fern Dallaire, RN, BSN
Care Manager

Fern has had 30 years' experience in health care in a variety of clinical, community, and home care settings. Until joining SeniorBridge, she was Branch Manager at ResCare Home Care, Concord, NC, where she managed operations and oversaw all client care. Earlier, Fern was Patient Care Coordinator for ResCare in Charlotte, providing client assessments and ongoing case management. Fern was the first Clinical Support Liaison for infusion services for Coram Healthcare in Charlotte. She also pioneered the position of Home Health Hospital Liaison in Charlotte area when she joined Total Care Home Health. She was an Intake Specialist at Olsten Health Services (now Gentiva) in Daytona Beach, Florida. Before moving to the USA, Fern worked as a Home Care Case Manager for Ottawa-Carleton Home Care in Ottawa, Canada. Fern earned a B.Sc.Nursing at the University of Ottawa, Ontario, and is a licensed nurse in North Carolina.

David Mattioli, RN, CMC, BSN
Vice President, Regional Operations

David Mattioli brings more than 17 years' experience in a variety of healthcare settings to SeniorBridge. For 9 years previously, he was the Administrator of Almost Family in West Palm Beach, responsible for operations and delivery of care for the in-home program in 4 counties, and for a time served dually in that role at Almost Family's Medical Adult Day Center in Boynton Beach.

Mr. Mattioli began his nursing career at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he developed a passion for caring for the elderly, and became a care manager before returning to Florida. He is a certified trainer for the Alzheimer training course for home health agencies in Florida and coauthored the curriculum used for the training. Mr. Mattioli is a member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. He received a BS in biology from Palm Beach Atlantic University and a BSN from Eastern Michigan University, and is a certified Legal Nurse Consultant. He is a current member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers and the Case Management Society of America.