Grand Living at Tower Place offers independent, assisted living, and memory care in West Des Moines, Iowa.

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.

Connie Bever

Sales Counselor

With over a decade of experience in the Des Moines area, Connie is passionate about connecting people with communities that fit their needs and aspirations. She believes that finding the right senior living environment can positively impact not only the individual but also their entire family. Driven by her care for others, Connie takes Maya Angelou’s words to heart: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This philosophy guides her approach as she helps individuals navigate the sometimes daunting process of finding the right retirement community. She knows the importance of matching individuals with communities that align with their personalities, lifestyles, and desired levels of care.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Connie is an active member of the community. She served as the 2022-2023 President of the West Des Moines Rotary Club and currently sits on the board of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association. In the past she has served as the Chairman of the West Des Moines Community Education Advisory Council and been on the Des Moines Area Community College Marketing Career Education Advisory Committee. In her free time, Connie enjoys spending “fun” time with her sons, daughter-in-law, and extended family. She is an avid traveler, and always eager to explore new destinations. Her love for adventure reflects her vibrant spirit and zest for life. Connie’s expertise, empathy, and commitment to making a difference may be able to help you (or someone you love) enjoy a smooth and fulfilling transition into your next chapter.

Angie R. Boyd

Business Office Manager

Angie brings extensive administrative experience from her 8-year tenure as a Senior Administrative Assistant at Wells Fargo. She holds an associate degree from William Penn University, and completed the Office Occupations Specialist Program at Iowa Western Community College. Angie’s decision to join Grand Living stems from her desire to assist residents in an environment that is both positive and enjoyable. She finds fulfillment in connecting with residents, listening to their stories, and creating lasting, meaningful relationships. Outside of work, Angie enjoys crafting homemade cards and spending time with her four grandchildren.

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.

Jerry Talerico

Dining Room Manager

Jerry’s passion for the food service industry began at an early age, literally growing up in his father’s fine dining supper club, Vic’s Tally Ho, in Des Moines, Iowa.

After honing his “back of the house” restaurant skills, he decided to pursue this vocation, majoring in Hotel and Restaurant Management, and graduating from Denver University. He met his life partner while working in the restaurant business and they moved to the East Coast where Jerry continued his study of food and food service at the Culinary Institute of America. He worked on the east coast for the next six years and was persuaded to return to Iowa to be closer to family.

His dream of owning his own restaurant was finally realized when he opened Sam & Gabe’s Italian Bistro, lauded as one of the top five restaurants in the city by The Des Moines Register’s food critic. After 20 years he sold the restaurant in order to pursue other personal options.

He is now embracing his new endeavor, working with Grand Living at Tower Place as the Director of Fine Dining and welcoming new friends living their golden years…

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.

Eric Peterson

Director of Facets

A Des Moines native, Eric brings almost three decades in Event Planning, Activity Directing, and Recreational Therapy to the Grand Living team. He believes music and laughter should be the daily background of life and is passionate about food, the written word, and the value of memorable interactions.

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.