Our Curated Leadership Team
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Nicole Bergquist, NCIDQ, EDAC
Senior Design Director
With more than 20 years of design experience, Nicole is talented at delivering environments curated to her clients’ specific needs. By applying her robust senior living and high-end residential expertise, she’s able to balance aesthetics and functionality to deliver appealing spaces where seniors can thrive. At Sunrise, Nicole is responsible for over 150 renovation projects per year—implementing resident-centered environments and staying current with industry trends and expectations. She has a passion for helping improve the lives of others and is thrilled to bring that value to work every day. Nicole lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and three lively dogs. -
Tina Ruiz Ellen
Senior Design Director
Tina brings her 25 years of experience in interior design, hospitality, and architecture to craft thoughtful and purposeful environments. Leading a team of designers responsible for new community projects and developing design standards, she is passionate about improving quality of life for seniors. She leverages her extreme attention to detail, high standards of quality, and commitment to excellence in every phase of design. Tina lives in Maryland with her husband, two children, and one furry friend. -
Joan Bueno
Senior Design Manager
Tina brings her 25 years of experience in interior design, hospitality, and architecture to craft thoughtful and purposeful environments. Leading a team of designers responsible for new community projects and developing design standards, she is passionate about improving quality of life for seniors. She leverages her extreme attention to detail, high standards of quality, and commitment to excellence in every phase of design. Tina lives in Maryland with her husband, two children, and one furry friend. -
Cherilyn McCall, MFA, NCIDQ
Senior Design Manager
Cherilyn is a passionate and creative individual with a skill for crafting spaces that are both beautiful and functional. With over 15 years of experience in design, she excels at understanding her clients' needs and translating them into stunning environments. Her expertise spans across senior living and high-end residential projects, allowing her to strike a perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality and ensuring a residential feel is achieved within each project. Cherilyn leads a team responsible multiple renovation projects of a variety of scope and size. Driven by a desire to improve the lives of others, Cherilyn brings her dedication and enthusiasm to every project through thorough research selections. Outside of work, Cherilyn enjoys life in northern Virginia with her family and a highly opinionated beagle named Hunter. -
Kristin Cornell, NCIDQ
Design Manager
Kristin has a passion for creating environments that are beautiful, promote independence, and enhance well-being. As a seasoned interior designer specializing in senior living for 18 years, she believes in creating an environment that is functional, aesthetically pleasing, and that fosters a sense of community and belonging. She is a manager on the new construction team and is responsible the design development, bid documents, and construction administration of new communities. She also has a background in renovation and has worked on many capital budget projects throughout the years. While maintaining standards, Kristin makes sure that each community is unique and fits well into the area and surrounding neighborhood. In her free time, Kristin loves hiking and going on adventures with her husband and dog, Pono.
Our Curated Designers
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Jennifer Corrales
Design Manager
Jennifer brings 24 years of experience in the design industry to our team. With a strong background in new construction multi-family design, she knows how to create beautiful and functional spaces. At Sunrise, Jennifer leads a highly collaborative team focused on renovations—taking care to find the materials and architectural elements that will tell a story and connect the design to residents. Her love of texture, color, and art shine throughout her designs. Having personal experience providing care, she has a passion for designing specialized and functional environments for seniors. Jennifer lives in Virginia with her husband and children. -
Meredith Driscoll, NCIDQ, EDAC
Design Manager
With 14 years of experience at Sunrise, Meredith loves working on large-scale renovations. A natural problem solver, she has a flair for creating spaces with superior functionality and exceptional amenities. Meredith earned her bachelor’s degree in interior design from The Ohio State University and her master’s degree in gerontology from Kent State University—perfectly blending her design proficiency with a keen understanding of seniors. Living in Ohio with her husband, son, and two cats, she enjoys traveling, exercise, fostering kittens, and Ohio State football. -
Carolina Grandelle Steckley
Design Manager
Carolina brings her deep expertise in interior architecture and design to our team. With more than 20 years of experience, she has a robust background in commercial design, high-end single and multi-family projects, and senior living. With a strong interest in urban design and sustainability, Carolina is passionate about improving the function and aesthetic of the built environment. She cares deeply about the quality of life of those who live in, work in or enjoy the spaces she designs. Carolina is adept at developing outstanding architectural drawings. She earned her bachelor’s degree in architecture and urban design. At Sunrise, Carolina leads a highly talented and collaborative team focused mostly on renovations. Outside of work, she’s interested in well-being, nature, and outdoor activities. -
Kate Lough, NCIDQ
Design Manager
Kate is always looking to push our designs to new levels. With 14 years of experience at Sunrise, she has worked on both renovations and new construction—being involved in all phases of the design process, from conception to detailed construction follow-through and furniture selections. Managing a talented team of new construction designers, Kate strives to give each building its own personal and local identity that exudes warmth and comfort. She loves pulling from mid-century influences, using contrasting palettes and textures and vibrant art. Kate lives in Washington, D.C. with her two cats, Monk and Louis, and enjoys making pizza from scratch every weekend. -
Kimberlee Taylor
Design Manager
Kimberlee has more than 17 years of experience in interior design, with a background in architecture and model home design. She brings a sense of structure and excitement to each project she works on. She has spent more than 12 years with Sunrise, managing her own CapEx design projects, which includes selecting all interior finishes, overseeing design packages, and leading construction administration and drawings. Kimberlee manages her studio and projects with positive energy, fostering collaboration and excellence in every aspect of her work. She is dedicated to creating high-quality, functional, and beautiful spaces that enhance the lives of seniors. Kimberlee loves exploring new places through travel, appreciating architecture and reading. She shares these experiences with her husband and two daughters.