Grand Living at Tower Place: Senior Living in Des Moines, IA

Angela L. Boyd

Executive Director

Angela has dedicated more than 15 years of her career to serving seniors and their families throughout Iowa. Her journey includes success in the roles of Activity Director, CNA, as well as more than 10 years in Marketing and Sales. Angela is a graduate of Iowa State University, where she studied Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies. She possesses an Assisted Living Management Certification from the Iowa Health Care Association. Angela is committed to her word, dedicated to our Grand Living residents, and devoted to advancing the Grand Living mission of delivering on First Class Happiness. She considers it an honor to serve the residents of the Des Moines area and their families.

Katie Sell

Sales Counselor

Katie is a proud, lifelong Iowa resident with a passion for guiding people home. With over 18 years of experience in real estate, customer service and property management, Katie excels in building a warm relationship with each and every person she works with.

Growing up on a farm in West Central Iowa, Katie is rooted deeply in Iowa pride and family first values. This has created a core foundational understanding of the importance of security and love that family brings. Each of her grandparents impacted her life in unique ways and their memory inspired her to follow her lifelong dream of working with seniors.

Katie lives by the motto: do what you say you are going to do, sometimes more, just never less. In her spare time she enjoys running, traveling and spending time with her daughter, Addison.

Debbie Farrow

Sales & Marketing Coordinator

Debbie is a dynamic professional with a passion for creating meaningful connections. She brings energy, creativity, and purpose to every project she undertakes. With a compassionate approach, she prioritizes understanding and supports the needs of residents and colleagues, fostering collaboration and trust. Her engaging presence and ability to inspire others make her a natural leader and team player, always striving to turn challenges into opportunities for growth and success.

Suzanne Dale

Business Office Manager

Suzanne, a native of Northern California and a graduate of Simpson College, spent two decades in Business Administration while raising her family in the Seattle area. She relocated to Iowa to be closer to her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. She brings both experience and enthusiasm to her new community. Suzanne is thrilled to be a part of the Grand Living team, drawn by their passion, positivity, and dedication to residents. She looks forward to building meaningful connections and fostering a fun, productive environment for everyone she serves.

Angie Peterson

Director of Health & Wellness

Angie always knew that she wanted to be a nurse being raised by her multigenerational grandparents she found her passion for the geriatric population. She has gained much knowledge serving others in health and well being for over 20 years. She has devoted her career and heart in assisting others in achieving the highest quality of life by gracefully assisting them on their next journey in life.

Lora Williams

Director of Luminations

Lora Williams is a native of Iowa; lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for nine years with her husband before returning home to Iowa to raise their three boys. The main components of Lora’s lifestyle are family, fitness and fun. Lora started at Grand Living in October 2022 as a Luminations FACETS assistant. January 2023, Lora was promoted to the Director of FACETS.

Chris Dennis

Executive Chef

Chris has been working in restaurants since he was 16. His background includes Fine Dining, Italian and decades in a’ la carte steakhouses. He lived in 10 cities opening restaurants and building culinary teams. Both Chris and his wife are central Iowa natives and are excited to finally be back to raise their daughter closer to family in Iowa.

Larry Brandt

Director of Maintenance

Larry is a native of Iowa who has called Waukee home for 47 years. He has over 12 years’ experience in construction and building maintenance with the past 8 ½ years being a maintenance director for two different senior living communities. Larry’s passion for building and fixing things is what drew him to maintenance. He says working with seniors is very rewarding as they are appreciative of what you do for them and you easily find yourself making them part of your family as relationships form and grow.

Federico Sanabria

Director of Environmental Services

Federico immigrated to the United States in 2012 from Argentina. He brings with him more than 7 years of experience in Environmental Services within the hospitality industry. Federico is happy to join Grand Living and work with the staff and wonderful residents. He has a very happy and friendly personality and considers everyone at Grand Living at Tower Place his friends. He looks forward to getting to know our wonderful residents and be of service to them.

Jenna Johnson

Director of FACETS

Jenna brings over seven years of experience as an educator, where she cultivated a strong foundation in relationship-building, inclusivity, and personal development. She holds a master’s degree in Teacher Effectiveness and Professional Development from Drake University, a program that strengthened her ability to collaborate effectively. Jenna is passionate about creating positive, engaging experiences that foster growth and connection. Her background in education has provided her with a wealth of experience in planning and leading dynamic events tailored to diverse personalities and interests. A lifelong learner, Jenna embraces a growth mindset and consistently seeks opportunities to expand her skills and support her community.

Jackson Bootsmiller

Director of Fitness

Jackson earned a degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Coaching from Simpson College in 2021. He also holds a master’s degree in Sports Management from the University of West Alabama. Following his education, he gained valuable experience through several internships and positions working with a diverse range of clients. He has worked with elementary and high school students, as well as college students and professional athletes, in addition to corporate wellness employees and seniors. Jackson’s journey with Grand Living began as an Assistant Director of Fitness before earning his place as Director of Fitness in 2024. He thoroughly enjoys every unique interaction he has with the residents and his fellow team members, and continuously strives to provide functional and enjoyable ways for all members of the community to stay healthy.