Sunrise of Mercer Island

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Meet the Sunrise of Mercer Island Team

Meet some of the members of our excellent team here at Sunrise of Mercer Island, WA.

Kim MacDonald, RN

Executive Director

Kim is a registered nurse with prior senior care experience as an executive director and vice president of care in assisted living, and as a nurse delegator, client services director and general manager in home care. Kim was born in Michigan and grew up in Hawaii. She has degrees in psychology, theology, and photography. Prior to becoming a nurse, she worked for Habitat for Humanity International and had the good fortune to work in about thirty countries, covering their house-building projects and disaster response. She loves the perspective and learning that travel brings.

At Sunrise of Mercer Island she has found a sense of home, and loves working with her team of department coordinators and staff as well as getting to know residents and their families.

She enjoys chatting with residents who come into her office and sharing a daily joke with residents at meals. She also loves leading a monthly photography activity with residents.

Marisa Mallett

Director of Sales

Marisa helps families find the right solution for their loved ones here at Sunrise, a process that may feel daunting and overwhelming to some families. She has over five years of experience helping families with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. She also has personal experience with the disease, having both grandmothers afflicted by Alzheimer’s.

Her favorite part of the job is getting to know and love the residents at the community. Even though her family is not in the area, Sunrise of Mercer Island feels like one big family!

In her free time Marisa likes hiking, cooking, and watching movies.

Jamie Gunter

Business Office Coordinator

Jamie has worked at Sunrise since 2011 and finds joy in service--the Sunrise ideal-- every day. She enjoys helping the residents at breakfast time as well as welcoming aboard new team members who will learn and grow to be a part of the Sunrise family.

When she’s not at work, Jamie enjoys spending time with family and friends usually at a sporting event for her sons.

Alem Haile

Life Enrichment Manager for Reminiscence

Alem has worked at Sunrise of Mercer Island since 2003 as a care manager, lead care manager, reminiscence supervisor, and now as Life Enrichment Manager for reminiscence. She is also involved with Sunrise’s department coordinator in training program. Alem loves engaging with residents and keeping their families updated on their activities.

In her free time, she enjoys visiting historical places, reading, watching movies, walking in the park, and spending time with her family.

Dlanie Hendricks

Activities and Volunteer Coordinator

Dlanie has been working for Sunrise for over a year, and feels it has been a very rewarding and fulfilling time. She enjoys getting to know the residents through their life stories and activities.

In her spare time, she enjoys snowboarding, spending time with family, and playing cards.

Janis Haugen

Life Enrichment Manager in Assisted Living

Janis has served as concierge with Sunrise of Mercer Island since 2009. She has enjoyed the opportunity to get to know family members and residents from the front desk. Now, Janis works primarily as the Life Enrichment Manager in assisted living. She leads hands on projects with residents individually and in small groups.

Janis is passionate about her work and considers it an honor and a privilege to work with residents in such a personal way. Her goal each day is to bring joy and purpose into their lives.

When not at work, Janis enjoys cooking and spending time with friends and family.

Jane Hermano, RN

Resident Care Director

“Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress. Working hard for something we love is called passion.” – Simon Sinek. This is the motto Jane works by. She knows that when an individual experiences illness and decline, their lives are disrupted and their loved ones grapple with uncertainty. Her passion is to bring the smallest acts of caring, a listening ear, and the power of touch to all our residents and their families.

Jane takes pride in being part of the Sunrise team and the caring-focused environment at Sunrise of Mercer Island. Jane feels privileged to join our residents on their journeys.

Jane has her bachelor of arts in theater arts and then fulfilled her dream to become a nurse after moving from the Philippines to the United States. She loves to travel.

Cherryl Almasco

Reminiscence Coordinator

Cherryl has worked at Sunrise of Mercer Island since 2008 as a lead care manager, medication care manager and now as reminiscence coordinator. At work, Cherryl loves singing and walking with residents and spending one on one time with them and her staff of care managers. Her love of the residents and their families inspires her.

Outside of work, Cherryl spends time with her elementary school aged daughter and helps care for her mother.

Genet Abnu

Lead Care Manager

Genet has been working at Sunrise of Mercer Island since 2009. She is the morning lead care manager in the Reminiscence neighborhood.

Genet is passionate about the care our residents receive; she takes their quality of life very seriously and enjoys what she does. Genet says she loves working at Sunrise because her voice is always heard; her supervisors are always supportive and the community is very friendly and welcoming.

Outside of work, Genet loves cooking, cleaning, decorating her home, walking with friends and spending time with her husband, two children and mother.

Pedro Castro

Dining Services Coordinator

Pedro has been at Sunrise of Mercer Island since 2014. He feels blessed and privileged to be a part of the Mercer Island team. He strives to always provide the best food and service to the residents while meeting high nutritional standards as well.

Pedro’s background includes previously held positions as a hotel executive chef and he is also a veteran.

In his free time, he enjoys fun with friends at area casinos.

Frank Spinner

Maintenance Coordinator

Frank has been a member of the Sunrise team here at Mercer Island since 2010. Frank always feels a sense of pride and pleasure in fulfilling the needs of residents and maintaining the physical facilities.

In his spare time, Frank loves to hike, camp, and fish. And he dabbles with photography.

Romey Principe, RN

Wellness Nurse

Romey has worked as a nurse at Sunrise since 2002. She was first attracted to Sunrise after working for ten years in Alaska as a care coordinator for low income seniors. She was surprised at how much she liked working with older adults as she had started her career working with children.

Sunrise was also the place where Romey’s parents spent their last few years and had many happy, loving days at the neighboring Sunrise of Bellevue. Romey loves the community at Mercer Island as the staff are like family from so many different countries and cultures all bound together by a commitment to the residents who bless her and the staff daily with their laughs, hugs, and appreciation!

Moose

Beloved Community Dog

Moose joined Sunrise of Mercer Island in 2017 as our community dog and adorable mascot. We were lucky to be able to rescue him from a local non-profit and now he shares his love with everyone here. We think he is a Chow, German Shepherd, St. Bernard mix, but regardless of his heritage he is a charmer.

Moose’s favorite activities are walks with residents and staff, wearing costumes to humor his people, giving and receiving affection, and mostly, napping! He also reluctantly shows off tricks he has learned from some of our family members. And he brings the warmth of Sunrise to everyone he meets.

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