Meet Our Team

As CEO/President of Youville, Nicole promotes the mission and values of Youville House and Youville Place in partnership with Youville’s Board of Directors. She is passionate about maintaining an engaging living environment at Youville and ensuring that high-quality, person-centered care is provided to all Youville residents. Nicole earned her bachelor’s degree in Health Management and Policy from the University of New Hampshire. Before joining Youville, she served as Operations Specialist for Covenant Health and later as the Administrator for Campion Health Center in Weston, Mass. Nicole also is the current chair for LeadingAge Massachusetts.

Joanne has been actively involved with seniors and elder care for most of her career. Previously Executive Director of Youville Place in Lexington, she is now Chief Operating Officer for both the Lexington and Cambridge Youville residences.

Joanne received her bachelor’s degree from Framingham State College and a master’s degree from Boston University in Policy, Planning and Administrative Studies. She served on the Board of Minuteman Senior Services for many years in various positions, including Chairman of the Board.

Paula has over nine years of experience at Youville, where she values belonging to a close-knit team and working for a mission-based organization that serves the needs of older adults. A native of Lowell, Paula received her bachelor’s degree in business and accounting from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Early in her career, she worked as an accountant for a CPA firm before transitioning to the non-profit sector.

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.

Bob Salamanca brings over 25 years of experience in the housing industry to his role as Director of Environmental Services at Youville House and Youville Place. Bob has implemented several green indicatives at both properties. He has successfully installed a new Combined Heat and Power plant at Youville Place and started a composting program at Youville House. Bob is proud to be part of a great team of maintenance associates and housekeepers at both properties.

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.

Bianca has over 18 years of experience in caring for older adults. She has spent the majority of her professional career at Youville, honing her talent for developing meaningful and long-lasting relationships with new residents. She particularly enjoys fostering connections among residents by learning about each individual’s life story. Bianca received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UMass Boston.

Mario worked for years as the Sous Chef at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston, where he was responsible for creating diverse and inspired menus, led a large culinary team, and coordinated high level banquets for special occasions. He has also worked in a range of care settings, including as Head Chef at Encompass Health. At Youville, Mario is passionate about making connections with residents and maintaining the highest service standards.

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.

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.

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.