Leadership

Jo Dee Gibson –  Executive Director

Esperanza “Espi” Naaktgeboren – Director of Resident Services

Esperanza Naaktgeboren is one of our newest members to our home community. She started with us in Dec of 2020. She comes with 20+ years of experience in geriatrics and has worn many hats. Esperanza name means Hope, but she goes by Espi. She has 4 children, 3 grandkids, 4 dogs, a Russian tortoise, and a gecko. She comes from a family of 14 brothers and sisters and is very happy to share that both parents are still alive and remain married after 60+ years. Her favorite hobby or activity is camping and dirt bike riding with her husband and friends., Two Goals for 2021: learn to surf so that she can be out in the water with her son. Get more involved and active with the animal shelters. Bucket-list wish: to visit African and tour the Serengeti plains. Daily verse.” He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection”. Psalm 91:4

Anna Aguilera – Director of Life Enrichment

Anna is the multifaceted flair behind the program of activities and outings at The Senior Living Community for the Eastern Star in Yorba Linda. Anna has a dedicated involvement enriching lives of every age and ailments as she has years of experience in teaching students with special needs, improving the quality of lives through non-profit rehabilitation work, and creating moments of joy at Disneyland. She received her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University as part of the School of Social and Family Dynamics as well as being a state-certified RCFE Activity Leader. She brings a dedicated passion for exceptional service by providing a broad range of experiences available for our loved ones. Outside of work, Anna loves to spend time with her family, seeing them as often as she can. She also loves to volunteer at animal shelters with her husband, believing that a life without animals just isn’t fulfilled. Overall, she enjoys exploring the community and learning as many new things as she can!

Lida Spicer – Director of Wellness

Lida Spicer, LVN and Director of Wellness is a proud Mother of two beautiful girls and has been a nurse since 2009. Came to Senior Living Community in 2017. Lida shared the reason she became a nurse was from a very young age she always loved taking care of her loved ones. “My heart always when out to those that needed help.” Favorite quote from an unknown author: Nurse-just another word to describe a person strong enough to tolerate anything and soft enough to understand anyone. Lida’s favorite pastimes are spending time with fur babies Bearbear and Stoney, watching movies, and walks on the beach. In her quiet time, she loves to read anything by James Peterson.

Cari Scott – Director of Human Resources

Cari started with SLC as the receptionist and quickly moved into her current Human Resources role.. which was natural since she has 20 + years of experience in this field.  She understands the residents and strives to find the most caring and loving people to work on our campus.  Though Cari is a native Californian, she enjoys spending time in Arizona out on the lake boating and fishing in the hot summer sun.  At home she enjoys her year-round vegetable garden that started when her two girls were young; now they are in college.  There is nothing better than home grown veggies which includes everything from asparagus, snow peas, to cauliflower and broccoli!

Tino Mendoza -Director of Maintenance

Tino Mendoza, Director of Maintenance, joined the Senior Living Community team in 2014. It quickly became apparent he had extensive knowledge for fixing things with a great attitude and strong work ethic. Tino honed his skills at an early age of 18 as an apprentice to a master electrician, during that time his skillset grew in the areas of electrical, plumbing and construction. He is quick to identify the right way to tackle projects and instills those same values in the team he leads. Tino is an avid sportsman, he loves cross country running, wrestling, football and soccer. Tino has energy, passion and a love for what he does. He says his fuel and reward is seeing our residents happy when a job is done well.

Cindy Alderson – Director of Community Service

Cindy Alderson is a native Californian, born and raised.  She has a Social Services Designee Certificate and enjoys the great energy working with the residents of Senior Living Community. Cindy worked previously at St. Joseph Hospital, Orange for 25 years in many exciting roles. She brings a wealth of knowledge about our great state and its many changes. As a Notary, Cindy also performs all in-house notary services. Her caring for seniors began early with her wonderful grandparents. She is an animal lover and world traveler who enjoys reliving the history and stories of her travel adventures. It is Cindy’s commitment to enrich and maintain a fabulous quality of life for all of our great residents.

Michael Gamboa -Director of Culinary Services

Chef Michaels culinary journey began at a very young age by his Grandmothers side on her kitchen counter top where he found a passion for creating home cooked meals. His love and fascination with cooking inspired him to attend the Riverside Culinary Academy where he earned his Certification in Culinary Arts. He then took on his first job at an Italian kitchen at the age of 19 learning from prestigious Chefs. Over the years he continued to move up the culinary ladder onto different cultural cuisines such as Japanese, Korean, French, Hispanic, Mediterranean, East Asian, and American. Being able to share his years of culinary experience with others has brought back that familiar love he learned back in his grandmother’s kitchen. Michael’s joy is found in bringing comfort and delight to those he serves, and you can taste it in what he sits in front of you! Scrumptious!!