CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

A resident of Honoka’a, Ashley has been in the leadership of Lifespan, a 41-year old privately held aging care company based in Santa Cruz, California, since 2015. Upon returning to her home on the Big Island in 2019 with her husband and three children, Ashley dreamed of providing professional home care services to her own community. This dream has been realized with the establishment of Lifespan Care Hawaii, LLC and an office located in Waimea. Lifespan, on the mainland, has been on the forefront of supporting aging adults and others across the life span seeking improved quality of life and quality of care. Lifespan is committed to the highest standards of aging care and as a result has received numerous awards and acknowledgements over the decades including recognition as an agency in the top 100 in excellence nationally. Lifespan Hawaii is committed to the same standards of professionalism and integrity as its mainland partner.

CEO/PRESIDENT

After scanning the country to partner with the most innovative companies and teams in homecare, Max found Lifespan to have the perfect mix: an inspiring 41-year legacy built by RNs Pam Goodman and Becky Peters and an amazing team of operators, care managers, well-being activity coordinators, and home care aides serving a progressive community at the forefront of change with a growing need for aging life care services.

TALENT ACQUISITION MANAGER

Jamie is a perfect fit to recruit and grow our team. She’s a ray of sunshine, whom everyone loves to be around, and has made a career of motivating team members to give their best. Jamie has recruited and trained award-winning hospitality teams and has turned her passion to helping seniors live their best lives. She is certified in various forms of senior fitness and realizes this is the key to the quality of life for our aging population. Jamie brings this enthusiasm to all aspects of her position as the Talent Acquisition Manager at Lifespan Hawai’i.

CARE MANAGER

Karyn began her career in the aging field at Ocean View Care Home in Cayucos, California while receiving her AA degree at Cuesta College. That positive experience led Karyn to major in Gerontology at San Diego State University and to pursue an internship at Kona Adult Day Center in Kealakekua. Upon receiving her BA in 1998, Karyn relocated to the Big Island to build her career in the field of aging. Eventually, she was able to own and operate an adult day center and a residential care home in Waimea. After 22 years of operating her businesses, Karyn turned her sights toward helping islanders to remain safely in their own homes as they age. Karyn’s background and comprehensive skillset incorporate all aspects of long-term care, providing her with a solid understanding of the dynamics experienced by the older population and their family members, when support care from family and/or professional services becomes necessary.

CARE COORDINATOR

Melissa has spent the past couple of decades gleaning all kinds of skills that serve Lifespan’s clients well. Her undergraduate degree from the University of New Mexico includes an emphasis on social work and mediation, and she brings to our team a special love for our kupuna and a genuine appreciation of home-centered care. Melissa’s personal life was transformed when she opened her heart and home to a dying relative as they received hospice services, and it was in that experience where Melissa witnessed the healing gift of collaborative decision-making in health care and the self-empowerment that arises from allowing intuition to guide the way forward alongside professional support. Lessons learned through her mediation training continue to inform her compassionate way of relating to those in need of assistance. Lifespan has presented Melissa with the perfect opportunity to join forces with a human-focused, heart-centered team while also leveraging her ability to lovingly and effectively connect people with the resources they seek.

COMMUNITY LIAISON

Apani brings over two decades of diverse experience as a certified medical assistant, blending clinical expertise with administrative proficiency. From providing hands-on patient care to managing complex administrative tasks, she possesses a versatile skill set that enables her to navigate the intricacies of healthcare with accuracy and excellence. Apani is a compassionate advocate and champion for the well-being of all. Serving as a bridge, Apani develops and implements strategies to connect our aging community with vital resources, services, and support. With her blend of clinical expertise, administrative acumen, and heartfelt compassion, Apani continues to make a profound impact on the lives of those she serves, embodying the mission and values of Lifespan Hawai'i.

ADMINISTRATOR

Nichole has been with Lifespan since 2017. She began her journey in homecare working directly with the aging population as a home care aide. She was later promoted to the position of administrative coordinator where her professional demeanor and strong organizational skills were clear. Her next advancement saw her transition into the staffing department as staffing coordinator and eventually a staffing manager. Nichole is an integral part of the Lifespan Hawai’i team by interviewing and providing skills checks to our growing team of home care aides.

ADMINISTRATOR

Vanessa is a Bay Area native who grew up visiting the Hawaiian Islands. She has her A.A. Degree in English and over 15 years of experience working in the care field but discovered her calling while working in homes of those aging. Vanessa started out as a Home Care Aide and Well Being Activity Coordinator with Lifespan, worked her way up to Administrative Coordinator, and soon became an instrumental part of the management team.

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

Alicia has worked with the Lifespan company for over 25 years. She started as a Home Care Aide and quickly moved up in the Lifespan organization as the staffing supervisor, home care operations coordinator, and now a certified Human Resources Manager. In her current position, Alicia's primary role is to ensure that all staff are well represented and respected. Her open-door policy makes her available for any questions, concerns, or feedback outside of employees’ direct managers.

ACCOUNTING LEAD

Stacy attended the University of California, Davis and found her way to the Lifespan company in 2014. Beginning as the administrative coordinator position, Stacy built up her skills and now serves as the accounting lead. Even though she’s one of the faces from behind the scenes, Stacy brings her light to share with the home care community. Passionate about the care we provide here at Lifespan Hawai’i, Stacy continues to push our team to raise the bar and develop our next level of service.