Community Leadership

Advena Living of Cherryvale celebrates the importance of ethics, compassion and commitment in the healthcare profession as we honor our nurses, volunteers and staff, who demonstrate such passion and dedication to our community members every day.

Our staff works side-by-side with families and physicians to ensure our community members are in the most appropriate care setting, customized for their needs and preferences. Our licensed professionals are available to answer questions and address any concerns you or your family may have.

Please feel free to contact our key staff members about our services:

Melissa Preston, Administrator 

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I have always loved working with people, so a significant portion of my career was in the Human Services area. My first position was at a medical clinic when I was in high school. That’s when I made the decision that healthcare was the industry I wanted to work in.

My path led me to long term care and I have found so much joy and fulfillment working with residents and their families. I really wanted to make a difference, so I decided to continue my education and become a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. I believe that if we want people to notice the change on the outside, we have to change what we are doing on the inside.

I was raised in a very tight-knit family that has been committed to showing love and service to others. I have one son and three grandchildren who light up my life!

Charis Schultheiss, Director of Nursing

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I have been a nurse since 2012 and have worked in this community almost that entire time. I have known from a young age that working in long-term care was my calling, as I have always gravitated toward the senior population and enjoyed spending time listening to their stories and learning from them. It has been an honor to serve the community members and staff here, and I am dedicated to creating an environment that people of all ages desire to reside and work in.

Gydel Kendrex, Assistant Director of Nursing and MDS Coordinator

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I have been a nurse since 2011and I worked in long term care basically the whole time. I knew when I was around the age of 5 I wanted to be a nurse to help people. I enjoy working with the elderly and providing them quality care. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and traveling. I have enjoyed building bonds with the residents and my co-workers since I have been here. I hope to continue these relationships and build some new ones. I am committed to improving the lives of my residents and their families.

Katherine Hooper, Senior Business Office Manager

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I maintain office efficiency by assisting with onboarding staff, payroll, accounts payable, receivables, monthly billing and medical records. I started my journey here in 2010 and have worked as a CNA, CMA and Activity Director, as well as helping our community members with transportations. It has been a pleasure not only to assist the people in our community, but also to have a direct bond with our staff as they join our team.

Melissa Bishop, Director of Nursing Assistants

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I have 14 years of experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and 2 years as a Medication Aide, I have dedicated my career to providing compassionate care in long-term care settings. My extensive experience includes working with individuals affected by Alzheimer’s disease, where I’ve developed a deep understanding of their unique needs. I am committed to enhancing the quality of life for my patients and supporting their families through empathetic and skilled care.

Sondra Fockler, Director of Marketing & Social Services, and Activities

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I received my CNA over 20 years ago and then my CMA. Since then, I’ve branched out into activities, marketing and social services.  I’ve held other jobs outside of the health industry, but they all were in a customer service field.  I have always enjoyed working with people and doing my best to be a part of making someone’s day just a little bit better. Being able to bring a smile to someone’s face is the most wonderful feeling.

I grew up in the Coffeyville area and have been with Advena Living of Cherryvale since 2021. I’m looking forward to growing my career here, as I build relationships within the Southeast Kansas community and work closely with our residents as well.

Heather Turner, Director of Food Services

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Food has been a passion of mine since I was young. I began working in the food service industry when I was 18 years old at the YMCA of the Rockies in Granby, Colo., as a summer job. I have been employed with this community since 2001, becoming the dietary manager in 2014. I have lived in Cherryvale all my life, and our community is my second home and family. I could not imagine working anywhere else.

Benjamin Phillips, Maintenance Technician

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With years of experience in various maintenance projects, I take great pride in restoring and revitalizing spaces to make them feel new again. For the past three years, I’ve dedicated my skills to senior living, where my passion for enhancing residents’ quality of life has grown immensely. What began as a new challenge has evolved into a heartfelt commitment to our residents and their well-being.

I thrive on building meaningful connections and am detail-oriented in all my work, ensuring that every project reflects my dedication to excellence. Outside of my professional life, I’m a proud father of five daughters and enjoy raising quail and a variety of other poultry.

I believe in the power of a warm smile and a helping hand to brighten our resident’s day, and I look forward to continuing this journey of service and care.

Laci Davis, Concierge

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Hi, I’m Laci! With over 20 years of working with people and the public, I find joy in working in our little community. I absolutely love connecting with the residents and making their experiences enjoyable. Every day brings something new, and I thrive on helping others and creating a welcoming atmosphere. Outside of work, I love attending athletic events with my kids—baseball is our favorite! Looking forward to sharing more great moments here at Advena!