Brio Living Services Announces New Executive Director at Huron Valley PACE
Brio Living Services recently announced that Mimi Suntheimer, Senior Director of Team Member Experience at Brio, has accepted the position of Executive Director at Huron Valley PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Suntheimer has served as interim Executive Director for the PACE site since July 28, following the departure of Sonja Love Felton. Suntheimer will begin this permanent role, effective November 10, 2025.
“Over the past three months, Mimi has led Huron Valley PACE as interim Executive Director with incredible energy, focus, and heart,” said Luke Reynolds, Chief of Home and Community Based Services for Brio Living Services. “Her commitment to our mission and her ability to bring people together have made a real difference during this transition. I want to personally thank Mimi for her leadership and the positive impact she’s had on our team.”
Suntheimer began her career at Brio Living Services nearly a decade ago as HR Business Partner, supporting the Huron Valley PACE and Thome PACE teams. She then transitioned to the role of HR Business Parter at Brio’s Chelsea Retirement Community before advancing to Senior HR Business Partner and, subsequently, her most recent position, overseeing the HR Business Partners across the organization. It was her first role, however, that helped develop her deep appreciation for the mission and impact of PACE in the lives of older adults, according to Suntheimer.
“Our PACE programs have always held a special place in my heart,” said Suntheimer. “I was drawn to this opportunity to become the Huron Valley PACE Executive Director because it allows me to serve in a truly meaningful way. The PACE model represents the very best of what healthcare should be: person-centered, team and community driven, and grounded in compassionate care that helps older adults age well with dignity, independence, and an improved quality of life at home.”
Huron Valley PACE, with its Day Health Center in Ypsilanti, employs 137 team members and serves approximately 300 participants. A program of Brio Living Services, Huron Valley PACE provides for the social, medical, and supportive needs of low-income, older adults, ages 55 and up, who live within the PACE service area of Washtenaw and Monroe counties, as well as parts of Oakland, Wayne, and Livingston counties. Older adults must be certified as meeting the State of Michigan criteria for nursing facility level-of-care, but can live safely in their homes and communities, thanks to PACE support.
“As the number of older adults continues to grow in the State of Michigan, Huron Valley PACE is also growing, with a second Day Center in Monroe currently under development and scheduled to open on June 1, 2026,” said Reynolds. “Slated to accommodate up to 150 low-income, nursing home-eligible older adults living in Monroe County zip codes, this new site will allow us to improve access to healthcare for this population by increasing the number of older adults we can serve in this county, decreasing their travel time to get to the Day Center, and providing unprecedented respite support for their family caregivers. We are delighted to have Mimi on board to provide her leadership in this vital endeavor.”
“I’m honored to be part of the great team at Huron Valley PACE,” said Suntheimer. “Our team truly embodies compassionate, person-centered care. Having started my journey with PACE as the HR Business Partner, it feels especially meaningful to return to this incredible team, a group of people who give their heart and soul to our participants every single day. This new chapter gives me the privilege of working side-by-side with dedicated professionals who are committed to delivering the very best care and ensuring every participant is treated with the respect, support, and attention they deserve as they age at home. I’m inspired daily by the mission of PACE and by the difference we make together in the lives of the older adults we serve.”
PACE offers a cost-effective alternative to nursing home care, providing overall savings of 40% to the State of Michigan compared to traditional nursing home care. PACE’s interdisciplinary team of professionals provides participants with a “one-stop” shop model for all their healthcare needs, including comprehensive medical, occupational and physical therapy, pharmacy needs, nutrition and meals, health education, social and recreational activities, and door-to-door transportation. Most participants are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and pay no fees for PACE services.
Brio Living Services is a full owner or partner in four PACEs across Michigan, including Huron Valley PACE (Ypsilanti and Monroe (June 2026)), Thome PACE (Jackson), LifeCircles PACE (Holland and Muskegon) and PACE of Southwest Michigan (St. Joseph and Niles (early 2026)). More than 1,400 older adults participate in Brio’s PACE programs annually. Learn more about all of Brio’s 23 options to serve older adults and ways you can support the work we do to promote vibrant aging for all.
This blog is sponsored by Huntington Bank, Platinum Sponsor for the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation’s Live Life with Brio Campaign. Thank you! Your gift means the world to the older adults we serve and our team members.
