Melissa Speciale

Executive Director

With 20 years of serving in the Senior Living industry, starting as a receptionist at 18 years young and holding multiple roles from Social Services Director to Sales and Marketing, and Executive Director, Melissa finds joy in the career she feels has chosen her. Melissa is a service focused, goal-oriented, driven, and passionate leader. She is an experienced Executive Director skilled at growing people, building a culture in community, successfully opening luxury senior living properties, and being a resource to residents, families, professionals, and team members alike. Melissa feels that being a contribution to her community is what allows her to be fulfilled.
Melissa holds a Criminal Forensic Studies degree from Florida Gulf Coast University, is raising three beautiful children and has been married for 14 years. She has lived on the West Coast of Florida for 35 years. Outside of Grand Living she enjoys practicing Tae Kwon Do with her family, spending time with her dogs, shelling at the beaches, boating, and studying the topic of Leadership. Melissa holds a second degree blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do. She feels she has been significantly impacted living by the Tae Kwon Do code to Respect each other, Help each other, Be Honest and Stand by the Weak. This practice has made being a servant leader at the core of Melissa’s belief system from a young age.

Ashley Troutman

Director of Sales

With 10 years of Senior Living leadership experience holding roles as Director of Wellness and Director of Sales, Ashley is a positive, determined, ambitious leader whose focus is to ensure everyone she meets is empowered and inspired to be well in mind, body, and spirit. Ashley’s natural ability to create meaningful relationships through first class customer service lead her into this profession and guides her each day. Ashley is a Registered Nurse and a REALTOR®. This combination allows her to assist our customers in finding exactly what they are looking for in Grand Living and to realize that they can make their next chapter the retirement they have always dreamed of. Ashley was awarded the Silver National Quality Nursing Award in 2018 for her excellence in high quality patient care and outcomes.
Ashley was born and raised in Iowa and moved her family to Venice, Florida 4 years ago. She is raising two teenagers and is married to her high school sweetheart. When away from Grand Living she enjoys running 5K races with her family, spending time with her beautiful Aussie pup, and listening to Audio Books. Ashley believes in giving back to the community. You can often find her volunteering in the Venice area and involved in many local community projects and events.

Violeta Hill

Sales Counselor

Violeta brings over 15 years of experience in Senior Living, both in Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Grand Canyon University in Arizona.
Violeta has a passion for serving seniors and feels blessed that Grand Living allows her to combine her work experience with her passion by providing exceptional and memorable experiences for residents and their families.
Violeta is originally from Romania and spent more than 10 years in Arizona, before relocating to Florida in April 2021.
Outside of Grand Living, Violeta enjoys spending time at the beach with her husband enjoying the Florida sunshine. She finds cooking is pure joy and fun for her. She likes to say that “cooking is like painting or writing a song.”
Violeta is committed to being a leader, inspire others to achieve great things, and to be kind.

Tammy Jo Clarke

Sales and Marketing Coordinator

Tammy Jo brings more than a decade of experience in senior living, with experience working in both independent and assisted living in addition to memory care. She began her senior living career as a sales counselor in independent living. Later in her career, she traveled across the Midwest as a regional director assisting with the opening of various senior living communities. She feels that each day working in the industry is an opportunity to directly impact the lives of residents and their families.

Tammy Jo moved to Florida from Bloomington, Indiana in 2020 and enjoys boating, riding bikes, listening to the local musicians, and searching for seashells. She also loves the quality time that she spends with her family and friends when they visit from Indiana. When she is not spending time with her loved ones or working, Tammy Jo is passionate about giving back to her community through fundraising events.

Carolyn Cox

Business Office Manager

With over three decades of experience in healthcare administration, honing her skills in financial management and administrative operations, Carolyn brings a wealth of expertise to her role at Grand Living. Originally from the United Kingdom, Carolyn resided in Indianapolis, Indiana for 37 years before making the transition to Florida in 2016, where she found her passion for serving seniors. Serving the residents at Grand Living aligns perfectly with her deep-seated desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. What Carolyn cherishes most about working in senior living is the opportunity to connect with residents on a personal level, listening to their stories and gaining insight from their wisdom. In her free time, Carolyn enjoys kayaking with her husband, and spending time with her daughter.

JaneAnn Morris

Director of Health and Wellness

With over 10 years of Senior Living experience, she has had roles as the Director of Wellness and Administrator for Independent, Assisted and Memory Care Living. JaneAnn is a compassionate R.N. with over 39 years in multi-facets of the profession. She has directed and collaborated strategies that create initiative and promote health habits. She is passionate about Senior Living. JaneAnn has moved to Florida 2 years ago and enjoys spending time at the beach sea glass and shark teeth searching with friends and family. She finds volunteer work for a local animal shelter very heart-filled also. She enjoys spending time with her animals and while not helping others in her community she also enjoys traveling. JaneAnn is committed to being kind, warm, empathetic and motivating as a leader to all at Grand Living.

Stephanie Quinn

Director of Luminations

Stephanie has over 10 years of experience working in senior living as an activities director. She began her career in this field right out of college and knew immediately that enriching the lives of seniors was going to be a lifelong passion. During her time in senior living, she’s stayed focused on the goal of advocating for the residents and creating an engaging environment for them to thrive.

Stephanie grew up and went to college in Louisiana but has been a Floridian for the last 14 years. When not spending time with her Grand Living family, she enjoys all the outdoor activities. You’ll find her riding her bike, lounging by the pool, walking on the beach or paddleboarding. Though being active is very important to her, spending quality time with friends and family is top on her list. She is so excited to be continuing her journey in senior living with this amazing Grand Living team.

Mike Butorac

Executive Chef

Chef Mike, a culinary veteran hailing from Northeast Ohio, boasts 46 years of expertise in diverse culinary landscapes. Initially crafting his skills as a country club chef, he transitioned 11 years ago to elevate dining experiences in senior living communities, leveraging his stint as a hospital’s Director of Nutritional Services. This unique fusion of culinary artistry and healthcare proficiency defines his approach at Grand Living, where he pledges to exceed expectations with unwavering standards and a penchant for excellence. Beyond the kitchen, Chef Mike finds solace in bonding with his faithful golden retriever, Cooper, and refining his golf swing, all while passionately supporting his beloved Cleveland Browns.

Larry Deam

Director of Maintenance

Larry brings over 30 years of maintenance knowledge and skill in roles as Director of Maintenance and Regional Director of Maintenance to the Grand Living Team. He has spent most of his career in Senior Living, including 22 years with the Archdiocese of St. Louis. His strong leadership, hard work ethic and commitment to serving others has paved his way to his success.
Larry and his wife, Kelly, moved to Florida 6 years ago. They have 3 children, including a set of twins, and 2 adorable grandchildren. In Larry’s free time, he enjoys golfing, paddle boarding, kayaking and spending time with their rescue pup, Lola.

Steve Commander

Director of Environmental Services

Over the past two decades Steve has enjoyed a remarkably fulfilling career in various industries, including country clubs to law enforcement. The past 8 years he held the position of Environmental Services Director at John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
Steve excelled as an all-county baseball and football player. Continuing his passion for baseball he played at the collegiate level. Now with his sons actively participating in sports at Venice High School, Steve joyfully shares his love for baseball and football by coaching them in both sports. As a single father, family and sports play a vital role in his life.

Alex Cohen

Director of FACETS

Alex Cohen is a passionate Facets Director with a diverse background that has led him on an exciting journey from the bustling streets of New York City to the sunny shores of Florida. Having grown up in the vibrant atmosphere of NYC, he developed an appreciation for the value of community & connection. Upon moving to Florida, he found his true calling in enriching the lives of seniors, fostering an environment of joy & connection.
Alex is deeply devoted to faith-based volunteer work, finding purpose in serving others with compassion. Alex also harbors a profound love for the beach, where the serene beauty brings him joy and inspiration.
Radiating with youthful creativity and infectious enthusiasm, Alex infuses a unique flair into crafting unforgettable experiences for cherished residents. His vibrant spirit and genuine passion for the role create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, where laughter, curiosity, and camaraderie flourish within the community.

Laurie Czarnecki

Director of Fitness

Laurie is very excited to join the Grand Living Family in Wellen Park as the Fitness Director. She brings over 25 years of experience as a personal trainer & health coach, focusing on functional fitness, including balance core, strength, and mobility, helping people live their best life possible. She and her husband left the snow behind in Colorado 2 years ago to move to beautiful Wellen Park so they could be close to the ocean & warm sand again. She enjoys swimming in the ocean, golfing, and gym time with her husband.