Meet Our Team

Joanne has been actively involved with seniors and elder care throughout her professional career. Previously the COO of Youville Place and Youville House, she is currently the Interim CEO for both locations.

During her 26 years with Youville, Joanne was instrumental in the capital campaign to raise three million dollars to open The Courtyard Memory Support Community at Youville Place. She has excelled in creatively driving operations at Youville while providing values-based leadership to teams that consistently surpass quality standards.

Joanne is a mission-driven leader who prioritizes residents’ needs and safety above all else. She takes pride in building trusting relationships with residents, families, and staff.

Joanne received her bachelor’s degree from Framingham State College and a master’s degree from Boston University in Policy, Planning, and Administrative Studies. A Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDC), Joanne has served on the Board of Minuteman Senior Services in various positions, including as Chair. She has also served as a Lexington Rotary Member.

Bianca has nearly 20 years of experience caring for older adults. She has spent most of her professional career at Youville and has worked in nearly every department. Her intimate understanding of Youville’s mission and values-based approach to assisted living ensures that all residents are treated with the hightest level of care and compassion. Bianca’s commitment to exceptional service and person-centered care is driven by a lifelong passion to help others and serve those in need.

Prior to her role as Interim COO, Bianca served as Director of Community Life at Youville House, where she honed her talent for developing meaningful relationships with residents and family members. She is a skilled problem solver and organizational strategist who is well respected by residents, families, and staff.

Bianca received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UMass Boston.

With over 20 years of HR experience, Sydny most recently served as Personnel Director at Managed Health Resources in Somerville before joining the Youville team in 2022. Sydny is a collaborative leader with a special talent for training and developing employees to help them reach their full potential. Sydny is passionate about coaching and engaging staff and fostering workforce morale, performance, teambuilding, and retention.

Kathleen is a Board-Certified Chaplain and brings compassion, vast experience and a natural affinity for older adults to her role at Youville. Kathleen trained as a chaplain at Boston-area hospitals and was employed by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center as an interfaith chaplain. A graduate of Mount Holyoke College, she earned her Master’s of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Before her pastoral calling, Kathleen earned a master’s degree in Urban Planning and Policy and worked for a consulting firm specializing in community development and planning.

Katie brings over 20 years of programming experience to the Youville communities. She is passionate about developing engaging programs for all residents at Youville that are designed to that fit their needs. Katie is actively involved with both Parkinson’s & Alzheimer’s programming and is a certified Dementia Practitioner and Ageless Grace Educator. Katie earned her bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Southern Maine.

Yanira received her bachelor’s degree from Suffolk University, where she majored in Journalism focused on Public Relations and Business. She has spent much of her 15-year career at Youville learning about the needs of older adults and finding creative ways to provide supportive resources. Yanira serves as the Parkinson’s Liaison for Youville and is a member of Moving Day Boston through the Parkinson’s Foundation. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Lexington Rotary Club as Second Vice President.

Ginger has 30 years of service to non-profit organizations and is pleased to have celebrated 10 years of that service with the Youville family. Her career experience includes time with Easter Seals Virginia in event management and program development, supporting individuals with disabilities and with Children Incorporated assessing and auditing international service programs to children and their families. Ginger attended Fisher College in Massachusetts and Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, focusing on administration and non-profit management.

Leonard “Lenny” Sargent is a U.S. Navy veteran who has spent most of his professional career working in healthcare. Lenny oversees all building projects and coordinates with the many vendors who perform critical work on our residences in Cambridge and Lexington. He enjoys leading by example and is comfortable jumping back and forth between the physical maintenance tasks and the administrative oversight his job entails. Lenny’s overriding focus has always been on providing exceptional customer service to the residents and families he serves.

Originally from the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, Abygail grew up in upstate New York and spent a year studying abroad in Israel. She attended Bowling Green State University where she majored in Gerontology and Long-Term Care Administration.  Prior to joining Youville, Aby was a licensed Nursing Home Administrator in Ohio. She also worked in sales and marketing for the Visiting Nurse Assisted and Senior Living Communities in Somerville.

Jacquelyn Saraco, RN, leads the Wellness team at Youville House and is responsible for the overall care and services provided to our residents. Her extensive nursing and leadership background has included roles at numerous nursing homes, hospitals, and assisted living residences. Jackie began her Youville career at The Courtyard Memory Support Community, where she served as a charge nurse, and then served as Nurse Manager for two years at Youville House before her promotion to Director of Wellness.

Ellis Garvin is a graduate of Johnson & Wales and an award-winning chef with decades of leadership in the food industry. In addition to over twenty years of experience working in senior living communities and restaurants, he has catered events for institutions such as Suffolk University, Price Waterhouse, The Boston Police Department, Symphony Hall, and the Urban League of Boston. Chef Garvin is the founder and manager of Santee Kitchen Catering and Food Service, which he has operated since 1986.

Susan has extensive experience in the Human Services industry. For the past 10 years she has focused her talents in the area of elder care. Her passion is helping individuals and their families navigate the complex transition to assisted living so they can continue to live vibrant lives. Susan attended the University of Massachusetts and is a certified Feldenkrais practitioner.

As Director of Wellness, Nancy is responsible for the overall care and services provided to our residents. Her past professional experience includes positions in skilled nursing, hospice, home health, and memory care. This broad range gives her a unique familiarity with the interconnected stages of elder care, making her a valuable resource for our residents, families, and staff. In addition to decades of nursing experience, Nancy is a highly skilled team leader and educator.

Prior to joining Youville, Bridget served as Life Guidance Director at Atria Marland Place, in Andover, and previously in the same role at Atria Longmeadow Place, in Burlington. A CDP certified Dementia Specialist, Bridget has demonstrated a holistic approach to memory care, integrating art, physical fitness, cooking, animal therapy, and innovative social activities into the daily routines of residents. She is especially committed to being a reliable resource for family members and maintaining a transparent, open-door atmosphere.

James is an award winning, farm-to-table chef who has worked throughout the east coast for the past 15 years. He started out in New Hampshire working at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Nashua, NH. He then became the Executive Sous Chef for Zorvino Vineyards in Sandown, NH. James also spent two years as the Executive Chef at Harvest Gallery Wine Bar in Dennis, MA. Most recently, James was the Corporate Director of Culinary Services for Gosnold Behavioral Health in Falmouth, MA.