MARC VORKAPICH,
PRINCIPAL & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Marc’s calling to senior living began in 1991 during a volunteer experience that instilled a passion for ensuring excellence in serving seniors.

Prior to assuming executive leadership roles, Marc honed his skills working with some of the nation’s leading health care providers developing a depth and breadth of knowledge in start up and turnaround initiatives, sales, and operations management. As VP of Sales and Marketing, Marc developed the “RISE model” to drive a collaborative approach to strategic planning. Working with teams in identifying opportunities for improved performance Marc has launched reorganization strategies resulting in explosive census growth during times of economic downturn and industry-wide occupancy decline.

As a first time Chief Operating Officer and then President and CEO of a regional operating company, Marc focused his efforts on cultivating Servant Leaders. By inspiring trust his teams enjoyed dramatic improvements in Net Operating Income (NOI), record high occupancy levels, and won numerous national awards for excellence. Marc was honored to receive the Servant Leadership Award from his peers in recognition of his significant contributions in successfully driving culture change across the company.

Today, Marc brings to Watercrest Senior Living Group more than 20 years of accomplishment in acute care, long-term residential, and outpatient settings. Leading a team of well established industry experts in the design, development, and operations of senior living communities, Watercrest’s new community development pipeline is approaching $500 million and more than 30 communities throughout the southeast.

When asked what the he believes is the key to success? Marc is quick to say, “Our people.” Adding… “Our collective values will determine the extent to which our collective vision is realized.  Being a beacon of quality in senior living is the result of welcoming, caring for, and serving others.”

Marc holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology from Virginia Tech and is currently considering thesis topics in completion of a Masters in Health Care Administration from Pennsylvania State University. Additionally, Marc is driven to publish the “RISE Model” as well as other practical applications of Value Centered Leadership for aspiring executives. Residing in Vero Beach, Florida, Marc is blessed with the love of his life, Kathryn, their son, Chandon, daughters, Palmer and Saylor.

JOAN (“JOANIE”) WILLIAMS,
PRINCIPAL & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

When presented with the opportunity to enter the senior living industry in 2007, Joanie was thrilled to bring her 25 plus years of leadership experience to serving seniors. She is a seasoned operationally oriented CFO with a successful track record of bringing financial discipline and leadership to each of high growth, well-established, startup and turnaround situations. Joanie brings to Watercrest Senior Living Group the ability to make immediate improvements on cash flow, operating efficiencies, financial reporting and controls, human resource utilization, and strategic planning. She oversees Watercrest’s finances with the highest level of compliance, integrity and credibility in financial reporting. Joanie has comprehensive, in-depth knowledge and experience across all Corporate Finance functions, accounting, Treasury, Risk Management, Information Systems and Human Resources. Drawing on her relationships with clients, investors and bankers, Joanie brings significant experience to Watercrest Senior Living Group in M&A and raising capital (private equity, private debt, bank debt and bond financing).

Joanie has built very strong teams using her keen ability to recognize talent and develop and mentor associates. Her passion is to share her knowledge and best practices with her teams enabling them to excel and attain their personal goals. She has a Servant heart and works tirelessly to improve systems and trains continually to ensure excellence. “I understand that everything I do as CFO should ultimately translate into higher quality of care for our seniors.”

Joanie holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University in Washington, DC and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Joanie has been married to her husband Phil for 41 years and they have two grown children and Joanie’s 101-year-old dad lives happily at Watercrest Winter Park.  Joanie and Phil enjoy their home on the water and traveling to exotic places whenever Phil can get Joanie off the golf course.

Bri Stewart,
Vice President of Sales Operations

Bri Stewart serves as Vice President of Sales Operations for Watercrest Senior Living, where she leads strategic sales initiatives that support growth, operational excellence, and exceptional experiences for residents and their families. She brings a distinctive blend of hospitality and healthcare expertise, with a career defined by building high-performing teams and driving results through service-centered leadership.

Bri began her career in hospitality sales after earning her bachelor’s degree from Coastal Carolina University. Working with globally recognized brands including Marriott and Hilton, she developed a strong foundation in service excellence, customer experience, and revenue strategy—principles that continue to guide her leadership today.

Inspired to make a deeper impact, Bri pursued a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. Through her clinical work with older adults, she discovered a passion for serving aging populations and their families, ultimately leading her to the senior living industry—where her healthcare background and hospitality mindset naturally converge.

Throughout her career, Bri has held executive leadership roles across both hospitality and senior living, helping organizations navigate growth, strengthen brand positioning, and build scalable sales strategies. She previously served as Chief Revenue Officer for a private equity–backed hospitality company, leading revenue growth and sales strategy across a portfolio of venues. She also served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Brand for one of the nation’s largest nonprofit senior living organizations, overseeing system-wide sales, marketing, and brand initiatives.

Known for building strong, high-performing cultures, Bri is passionate about developing clear sales playbooks, aligning marketing and sales strategy, and fostering cross-functional collaboration that drives results. She encourages team members to lead and sell as their authentic selves—because authenticity is how she leads.

A native of Savannah, Georgia, Bri now calls Tampa home and can often be found enjoying time on the water—whether on a boat or relaxing at the beach—when she’s not working.

JOHNITA JACKSON,
Vice President of Clinical Operations

I was born in Philadelphia, PA and moved to Florida at the age of 10. I have always had a passion for helping people. I started my career in the healthcare field as a Medical Assistant for over 20 years. Over those years I worked for many physicians throughout Palm Beach County, FL. Becoming a Registered Nurse was my childhood dream and in 2006 I decided to return to school to pursue this dream. I received my Nursing Degree in 2009at which time I began my career in senior care as a floor nurse in a skilled nursing facility before being promoted to Nurse Manager for the Rehab Unit. It is in this role that I fell in love with caring for seniors. After 4 years as a nurse manager I accepted a position as the Health and Wellness Director for a 175 bed Assisted Living Facility. In this role I excelled as a leader. I am passionate about Nursing Leadership because I love to assist nurses in reaching their full potential and providing exceptional care to our seniors during their “Golden Years”. I am a mother of 4 young adult children. I currently reside in Port Saint Lucie, FL with my husband. I enjoy hosting gatherings for family and friends, cheering for the Philadelphia Eagles Football team and shopping for my daughter’s clothing boutique.

STEPHANIE L’HEUREUX,
Vice President of Financial Operations

Stephanie (“Steph”) comes to Watercrest with an extensive background in Senior Living Accounting, including expertise in Skilled Nursing, Cost Reporting, and Profit and Loss Analysis. She started her accounting career in the hospitality industry with Starwood Hotels where she worked as Accounting Manager for a large scale waterfront Conference Center in New Hampshire, also working with the owners on the development project of a new Westin Hotel in the same area.

Following her success in hospitality, she brought her talents to the Senior Living industry as Regional Accountant where her responsibilities included financial statement preparation and analysis of 8 assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing communities located in Florida, South Carolina, Michigan and Alabama. Steph’s experience also includes construction project accounting, cash management, revenue analysis, budget compilation, Medicare and Medicaid cost reporting, extensive profit and loss analysis, and general ledger maintenance.

Steph has a passion for sharing her knowledge and training with her colleagues on a variety of accounting and industry specific topics while helping them succeed. tephanie is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire, with a Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management from the Whittemore School of Business, and now enjoys the Florida lifestyle spending free time at the beach and paddle boarding with her three children Drew, Taylor and Corey.

SHEENA JEFFRIES,
Director of Resident and Family Experience

Sheena Jeffries, TRS, CADDCT, began her tenure at Watercrest Senior Living in 2016 as the Memory Care Director at Watercrest Lake Nona, and now serves as Watercrest’s Engagement Specialist, supporting her initiatives with respect to dementia services and programming.

Sheena’s core value, Collective Cooperation, is practiced through her leadership by working alongside her fellow Memory Care Team. Sheena is a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with a focus on adaptive methods and technology, to improve the quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Under the guidance of leading researcher and renowned NIH researcher, Sheena lead trial and analysis programs for Montessori Methods within dementia care. On the Dementia Excellence Committee, she acted as an employee advisor and dementia educator for senior care communities in Cleveland Ohio, and in 2010 Sheena was featured in the Future Age Magazine for her “Learn and Create” fine arts program for individuals with memory impairment.

In her free time, Sheena loves spending time with her fiancé Robert and 3 years old son Israel. Education through play is one of her family’s favorite things to do, and they can often be found exploring, learning, and sharing experiences in their community that fosters that passion.

JESSICA DESJARLAIS,
Director of Associate Experience

Jessica brings over 9 years of customer services experience to the Watercrest Family. She is a true native to Florida, born and raised on the Treasure Coast. Jessica attended St. Lucie West Centennial High School, graduating at the top of her class and ranking among the top 25 students. She then continued her education at Indian River State College receiving two Associates degrees as well as her CNA certification. Jessica is currently working towards earning her Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management, after which she plans to obtain her Master’s.

One of Jessica’s favorite things to do is give back to the community. Jessica has dedicated over 500 hours of volunteering in various organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association and The Humane Society of the Treasure Coast. Jessica truly believes there is no greater feeling than to give back and make a difference within our community.

Jessica and her husband spend their free time doing various activities with their four German Shepherds named Athena, Loki, Luna, and Malibu. Together they love taking their 4 “kids” to the beach or the dog park, even though the dogs are just as happy with going on a simple car ride getting treats from the pet store.

Kim Haddon,
Regional Director of Operations

Kim resides in Niceville, FL with her husband Will and their pet cats, while their three adult children are off “living the dream.”

With over 20 years of experience in healthcare and senior living, Kim began her career as a Certified Nursing Assistant and went on to build a well-rounded background serving in roles that span memory care, culinary, operations, executive leadership, mentorship, and programming. This broad expertise allows her to see the bigger picture while also appreciating the details that make each department and team successful.

She is known for her reliability and for fostering a culture of trust by encouraging follow-through and consistency. Kim embraces challenges with positivity, knowing that great teamwork is the secret to achieving great things. She also believes deeply in the power of mentorship and finds joy in watching others grow, learn, and develop into strong leaders.

Passionate about creating enriching, inspiring, and rewarding environments, Kim is dedicated to residents, families, and associates alike. Outside of her professional life, she is committed to animal rescue, having rehomed over 100 cats and kittens since 2015. She also loves to bake and share her creations, and she finds peace and inspiration at the beach.

Samantha Sipe,
Operations Specialist

Samantha brings more than 15 years of experience in Senior Living to Watercrest. She is a strong believer in servant leadership and is passionate about equipping leaders and frontline team members with the tools they need to succeed. Samantha has a genuine heart for serving seniors and is deeply committed to helping them live life to the fullest. She is especially dedicated to helping create meaningful, memorable, and unique experiences for both residents and associates, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and inspired.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Millersville University, initially intending to pursue a career in Interior Design. Shortly after graduation, however, she felt called to a greater purpose. Samantha enrolled in a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program and began her clinical training in a skilled nursing facility. It was during this time that she discovered her true passion for Senior Living and became determined to make a meaningful difference in the lives of residents.

While seeking a caregiver role in senior living, Samantha was instead offered a director position overseeing an Alzheimer’s community. Working closely with residents living with Alzheimer’s disease solidified her sense of purpose and clarified her “why.” Today, Samantha is a licensed Administrator in Pennsylvania and Florida.

Samantha and her husband, Colton, reside in Palmyra, Pennsylvania, with their three beautiful daughters, Denali, Aurora, and Bowie. They also have two Labrador retrievers. In her free time, Samantha enjoys spending quality time with her family and being outdoors. She loves riding four-wheelers and dirt bikes, camping, kayaking, tubing, boating, and relaxing at their beach house in North Carolina. Samantha is also an enthusiastic supporter of her favorite team, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kimarie Lawrence,
Clinical Specialist

Kimarie comes to Watercrest Senior Living with over 40 years of working with seniors, she started out in a nursing home in the dietary department where she met her husband of 37 years Scott. From dietary she went to become a certified nursing assistant then a medication technician and then finally a licensed practical nurse. Kimarie is also a licensed cosmetologist working in a nursing home once a week doing hair for 22 years. Kimarie always knew her passion was working with seniors. She believes that “if we listen to them, we can learn a lot.” She feels “It is an honor to care for people towards the end of life.” Kimarie has been a Unit Manager in a skilled facility, then she moved to Resident Service Director, then promoted to Regional Care Director and now Regional Care Specialist at Watercrest Senior Living Group. Kimarie and Scott have 2 amazing children, Tyler who is a project manager for Best Buy and Hayley who is also a nurse working as a Resident Service Director for another assisted living community. Kimarie resides in Villa Rica Georgia with her husband and in her down time she enjoys traveling, going on walks with her husband, and spending time camping with family at Old Orchard Beach Maine.