CADBURY COMMONS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director
- Community Programs Director
- Director of Community Programs
Brian Bunnell has served as our Director of Community Programs since 2013, having been promoted from his prior role as an Activities Specialist. Brian is a musician, holding degrees in Music Education and Trumpet Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, in Baltimore.
Brian takes great pride in the quality of engaging programs at Cadbury Commons. The Programs Department aims to approach all groups and interactions from an adult-centered perspective. He, with resident guidance, loves to present programs and activities that are genuinely stimulating, fun, and educational.
In his spare time, Brian performs with the Symphony Orchestra, and leads its operations as President of the Board of Directors.
Elizabeth Shahinian graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Bachelor's Degree in English. Upon graduation, she entered into a career in sales. Her career spans over 30 years in Corporate Sales and Consulting.
In 2007, she collaborated with a colleague and researched how we care for seniors. For her, it seemed a natural career and life progression to work with seniors in an Assisted Living environment, guiding families through all options available to care for their loved ones. Elizabeth joined Cadbury Commons in the fall of 2015.
Erika Gethers has worked at Cadbury Commons since 2017. After graduating from Newbury College with a B.S in Hotel, Restaurant & Service Management Hotel Administration, she began her career at Cadbury as a front-desk concierge, quickly being promoted to Lead Concierge. She was then promoted to Director of Activities in Memory Care based upon her background as an event planner of her own company and her love for working with the residents in our dementia care community. Erika is now excited to expand her role to Director of Memory Care. After three years in this industry Erika has found her passion for working with the senior population and especially those with various forms of dementia.
Since diving into this industry Erika has jumped at opportunities to learn as much as possible. For three years in a row she attended the Map through the Maze Conference by the Alzheimer's Association, where she educated herself on various aspects of Alzheimer's disease, staffing and activities. In 2020 she attained her certification as an Active Aging Specialist by SCW Fitness Education. She continues to learn more about the aging process, the different aspects of Alzheimer's and other dementias, and improved ways to keep your loved ones engaged in group sessions, Montessori-based activities, and one-to-one interactions with our staff. She loves to interact with residents and joins activities when possible. She takes great pride in the work she does and the service she provides for staff, families and residents.
In her spare time she is an event producer for her own company producing Popup Markets that bring small businesses and the local community together, as well as producing charity fashion shows. Erika also works as a home companion for older adults in need of help.
Frank M. Petras has been in the Assisted Living and Senior Housing business for more than 20 years. His passion for seniors began when he saw his then 90-year-old grandfather climb the ladder of his two-story house to finish painting it. That moment solidified his desire to help people stay active as a way to fully enjoy life.
Frank received his B. A. in Psychology from Bates College in Lewiston Maine. While working as the Director of two public housing authorities on the north shore, he attended night school and received his M.B.A from the University of Massachusetts/Boston. He has served as Executive Director in both large and small senior living organizations in the last couple of decades, worked as a member of the Mass ALA education committee, and won local awards at his communities for promoting a green workplace.
Frank has a special affinity for the area as he worked as a bar back in Harvard square with a then grad student Charlie Baker at the Oxford Ale House. He is looking forward to sharing all of his experience and interests with the families and residents of Cadbury Commons.
Husain Yassin, a world traveler, graduated with a degree in Electronic Engineering from Wentworth Institute of Technology in 1996. He has worked in Property Management, managing services in an apartment complex, since 2003. In that position, he honed his maintenance and management skills.
Jeff Arnold began his career as a dishwasher for Northeastern University in the early 80's. Since then, Jeff worked his way through the ranks at Northeastern from waiter to chef to Faculty Dining Room and Event Planning Manager, hosting events at Northeastern for notables including President Bill Clinton, Senator Ted Kennedy and President of the then Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev, to name a few.
Jeff took a break from Northeastern to help care for his father who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. After learning about the disease through his own experience, Jeff found himself drawn to working with older adults.
Jeff has been Director of Dining Services at Cadbury Commons since 2010 and brings his culinary and planning skills to provide Cadbury a well-run dining room and delicious meals.
Julie Lund has been a nurse for 21 years. She graduated from Curry College with a Bachelor's in Nursing in 1996 and worked briefly in Long-Term Care. Soon after, she focused her career in psychiatric nursing. She worked in an in-patient psychiatric setting for 16+ years. During that time, she earned a Master of Arts in Counselling degree from Gordon-Connell Theological Seminary. She shifted gears to work in Home Care, into working for a VNA for a little over 4 years.
By happenstance, Julie found her way into Assisted Living. Julie Joined Cadbury Commons in July of 2017. With 9+ years of management experience, she has brought her management, organizational and people skills to help Cadbury to continue to evolve in meeting the ever changing and individualized needs of our residents and families. As Associate Executive Director, Julie's focus will be on training, hiring and implementation of core policies and procedures.
Marcia Francis graduated from Massachusetts Bay Community College as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 2012 and has been working primarily in long term care since. After steadily earning promotions over the past 7 years at Bertram House, Goddard House, BrightView and Landmark, we are thrilled to have her on board as our Wellness Director. Marcia brings a strong skill set of clinical expertise along with an effective communication style with residents, families and staff.
Marcia's experience makes it easy for her to continue to organize the department with the ever-present goal of providing the best possible care for our residents. She has a nice sense of humor and isn't afraid to "dig right in".
Nancy Gonsalves is a graduate of the University of Phoenix with a BA in Human Services Management. She has experience as residential manager, case/medical management, Alzheimer's, and mental health. During the pandemic she switched careers to memory care in the assisted living communities. She is certified as a Dementia Practitioner (CDP), Montessori Practitioner (CMDCP), and a Support Group Facilitator (CDSGF). She has volunteered with the Alzheimer's Association for many years as a support group facilitator and advocate for community recognition of Dementia (Dementia Friendly MA).