Brio Living Services Team Members, Program Honored at 2026 LeadingAge Michigan Awards Gala

Brio Living Services is proud to announce that six of its team members were recently honored at the LeadingAge Michigan Member Awards Gala on April 28, 2026, held at the DoubleTree Hotel Novus Ballroom in Battle Creek, Michigan. Each award winner was nominated by their peers and selected by an esteemed group of committee members from among many nominations across the state. Nearly 300 people gathered to celebrate this elite group of 23 award winners and recognize their collective achievements. “The Member Awards Gala is our opportunity to recognize and honor individuals and groups who embody excellence in leadership, service, and innovation, and who have made outstanding contributions to their communities,” said Thomas J. Nobel, Founder and Executive Chairman of Baruch Senior Ministries and Board Chair of LeadingAge Michigan. “During the Gala, we celebrate stories of individuals and group employees, volunteers, programs, and organizations that have made a difference in the lives of others – differences for both residents and staff.” Brio Living Services congratulates its award winners: Cathy Campbell, Director of Dining Services at Brio’s Chelsea Retirement Community (CRC), received The Exceptional Leadership Award. This award is dedicated to strong leaders in aging services whose dedication and professionalism elevate the work environment while making a meaningful difference within the larger community. “Cathy’s high level of dedication and professionalism elevates the dining experience for our residents and inspires the CRC dining team to be its best,” said Brio’s Senior Director of Dining Services, Ann Marie Villarreal. “She builds strong relationships, making sure both her team members and residents feel heard, and creates dining experiences for residents that are healthy, nutritious, and fun.” Deborah Erke, Administrative Assistant for Chelsea Retirement Community’s Environmental Services (EVS) team, was honored with The Servant’s Heart Award. This award spotlights individuals whose compassion, empathy, and unwavering kindness consistently make a difference. “Deb perfectly captures the spirit of selfless service,” said Director of EVS, Alan DeVaughan. “In every interaction, she prioritizes others with real passion, not duty. She demonstrates her servant’s heart by assisting with special events at CRC, including the annual Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Deb reflects this award’s spirit: serving not for acclaim, but because it’s who she is—a beacon of kindness whose roots run deep in our community.” April Hurst, Life Enrichment Manager at Chelsea Retirement Community, and Dante Owens, Chef Manager at Brio’s Porter Hills Village, were each honored with The Emerging Leader Award. This award honors an individual who is stepping into leadership with vision, passion, and purpose. Though early in their careers, they are already influencing positive change, inspiring their peers, and showing clear potential to shape the future of aging services. “April has worked her way through the ranks from dining services to the vital role of caregiving, to her current role,” said Chris Eubank, Administrator of Resident Services for CRC. “Her leadership skills have not gone unnoticed. April excels at being ‘in the moment’ with our residents who live with dementia. This requires flexibility and creativity to meet residents where they are—physically, emotionally, and cognitively. April ensures that every resident can have meaningful and fulfilling experiences, and she inspires her team members to focus on what residents can do.” “Dante came from one of the finest restaurants in downtown Grand Rapids to be the Chef Manager for Assisted Living, Memory Support, and Health Center residents at Porter Hills Village,” said Villarreal. “He brought with him a high level of discipline and culinary talents to delight our residents who have noticed a dramatic improvement in food quality. He treats his team members fairly and is consistently looking for ways for them to grow. His team respects him and admires his leadership skills.” Colette Myers, Supply Chain Coordinator at Porter Hills Village, received The Operational Excellence Award. This award recognizes individuals whose behind-the-scenes dedication drives day-to-day success and supports everyone around them. “Colette has a passion for looking at pricing without sacrificing quality,” said Danny Anderson, Director of Supply Chain Management for Brio Living Services. “Her consistent efforts ensure the highest quality of goods and items, while also being an excellent steward of our community’s resources. She runs the Central Supply room with kindness and efficiency, serving more than 400 residents and 250 team members at Porter Hills Village.” Christie VanderMeer, Memory Care Manager at Porter Hills Village, was honored with The Empowerment Award. This award is dedicated to celebrating those who coach, guide, and empower others to reach their fullest potential. “Christie consistently uplifts residents, team members, and families through her kind, patient, and solution-focused approach,” said Amber Lynch, HFA Administrator at Porter Hills Village. “Her leadership is grounded in empathy and respect, empowering her team to develop confidence, independence, and pride in their work. She creates an environment where everyone feels heard, valued, and capable of success.” Brio Living Services President & CEO, Steve Fetyko, shared his congratulations. “I am grateful for all our Brio team members and especially wish to congratulate and thank these outstanding team members for all they do to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve, each and every day, across our organization. They truly live out Brio’s vision of a world in which all are empowered to age well.” In addition, Brio Living Services’ Balanced Living program received the LeadingAge Michigan Mission in Motion Award. This award celebrates programs or services within the LeadingAge Michigan membership that bring purpose to life in aging services through meaningful action. Balanced Living is Brio Living Services’ signature wellness and lifestyle initiative, launched in 2022 in partnership with the National Institute for Fitness and Sport (NIFS). Guided by the Eight Dimensions of Wellness, this initiative is led by an interdisciplinary campus team spanning dining, engagement, fitness, and spiritual care. It is designed to enrich life across the full continuum of care, integrating physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, and environmental wellness into daily experiences for residents in independent living, assisted living, and long-term care. LeadingAge Michigan extends its heartfelt congratulations to Brio Living Services for its continued excellence and mission-based care, as well as its quality work to better the lives of older adults in the state of Michigan! To learn more about the 2026 Member Awards Gala and other award honorees, review the 2026 Member Awards Gala Program or visit LeadingAge Michigan on YouTube. Learn more about Brio Living Services, join our team for a career you’ll love, or learn about volunteer opportunities at MyBrio.org.