BRENTWOOD, Tenn., June 12, 2026 – Brookdale Senior Living, the nation’s largest senior living provider and third largest owner of senior living real estate, is proud to announce its 2025 Brookdale Excellence Award winners. This annual awards program recognizes outstanding associates across the organization who exemplify Brookdale’s ideals through operational excellence, compassionate leadership, teamwork and an unwavering commitment to residents and families.
“These award winners embody the passion, dedication and servant leadership that define Brookdale at its best,” Brookdale Chief Executive Officer Nick Stengle said. “Their ability to positively impact residents, families and fellow associates is truly inspiring, and we are honored to celebrate their achievements.”
The Brookdale Excellence Awards recognize top-performing leaders in operations, clinical services, dining and sales across the organization. Winners are selected at the community, district and regional levels across Brookdale’s six regions through a competitive nomination process evaluating leadership, performance, operational results and impact within their respective fields.
One associate from each discipline has been selected as the top leader “of the year” among the region winners. Honorees were recognized earlier this week at the Brookdale Excellence Awards event in Clearwater, Fla. Brookdale Excellence Award honorees consistently deliver exceptional results while advancing Brookdale’s dedication to helping residents live their Optimum Life®.
Brookdale’s Excellence Award winners of the year are:
- Vice President of Operations of the Year: Elena Whitemarsh from the Mountain West region
- District Director Operations of the Year: Christina Rocha from the Southwest region
- Executive Director of the Year: Jessica Arenholz from Brookdale Overland Park 119th in Overland Park, Kan.
- Health and Wellness Director of the Year: Ken Patrick Padilla from Brookdale Monrovia in Monrovia, Calif.
- Dining Leader of the Year: Zachary Willy from Brookdale University Park in Denver, Colo.
In addition, Brookdale Excellence Awards celebrate the organization’s top-performing sales associates through its Sales Chairman’s Club Awards, with the top seven sales leaders from this group recognized as Chairman’s Club Elite members:
- Dana Segal
- Denita Hicks
- Joseph Zampko
- Lauren Mastriano
- Sabrina Badree
- Susan Samples
- Veronica Latas
Brookdale congratulates all 2025 award recipients and thanks them for their leadership, dedication, and continued commitment to serving residents and families in communities nationwide.
To learn more about Brookdale, visit www.Brookdale.com
For more information about Brookdale, visit brookdale.com.
Contact: Media Relations, 615-564-8666, media.relations@brookdale.com
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