Dennis Garboden co-founded Compass Senior Living in 2013. His career in Senior Housing began when he became an Administrator at a nursing home in 1992. He has been working for the greater good of elders ever since. His philosophy of encouraging our elders to live full lives and direct their own care endears him to both his co-workers and the residents he serves.

Living in TrackTown, USA (also known as Eugene, Oregon) contributes to Dennis’s appreciation of running. As a former 800-meter track runner, he now enjoys running the occasional road or trail race. When out of the office, Dennis enjoys spending time with his wife Nancy, and their son, Gabe.

Dennis believes in surrounding himself with great employees that follow our True North philosophy of being guided by Goodness. Goodness can’t always be measured – but it can always be felt – and these are the people that Dennis chooses to guide our elders at Compass Senior Living.

Will Forsyth, Compass’s Co-Founder and CFO is a graduate of both Notre Dame, where he was an All-American tennis player, and the University of Oregon. In 2002 as a young business lawyer, Will was asked to handle an acquisition of an assisted living property and has been working in senior housing ever since. Interacting and having conversations with residents is one of the biggest reasons he enjoys what he does because “the residents are what it’s all about!”

When not in the Compass office, Will can be found watching his kids’ sporting events or activities, playing tennis, or enjoying a walk with his wife, Christie, and their dogs.

Will believes that a group of people who work well together can achieve far more than the sum of their parts and is proud to be a part of that kind of team at Compass Senior Living.

Julie holds a master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Iowa and brings more than 20 years of senior living experience. She leads with heart, emphasizing connection, accountability, and service, while aligning teams around shared goals and values. Julie partners closely with ownership and community leaders to drive operational excellence, financial stewardship, and meaningful resident and associate experiences across the organization.

Outside of work, Julie enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, two children, and their dog. She loves traveling and exploring new places and stays active through running, hiking, biking, skiing, and cheering on her kids at their sporting events.

With more than 25 years of experience in the senior care industry, Shawn is dedicated to serving older adults and supporting the teams who care for them. Her career spans a full continuum of care, including acute hospital systems, long-term care, skilled nursing, and senior living giving her a comprehensive understanding of the evolving needs of seniors and their families.

She holds a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration and has served in leadership roles including Director of Sales, Regional Director of Sales, and Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Her leadership philosophy centers on empowering people. She is passionate about coaching and developing professionals, fostering collaboration, and identifying and removing barriers so individuals and teams can achieve meaningful and sustainable success.

Outside of her professional life, she values time with her husband and their three grown sons. Family remains her greatest joy, and she enjoys making the most of life’s moments together.

For a majority of his career, Kevin has worked in the health care field. With a compassion for elders, he enjoys meeting new people and helping them find the best options for their loved ones. Kevin has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences from the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay. In his leisure time, Kevin volunteers with the local Alzheimer’s Association and enjoys fishing, racquetball and coaching youth sports. He lives in Green Bay with his wife and two children.

Candis started working with seniors in 1995 as a floor nurse and has spent her career since then working with elders in many different capacities. The best part of this work for her is connecting with residents and seeing them flourish in life when they thought life would be over because of leaving their homes. She loves having the opportunity each day to give back to them that they have given to so many others. 

In addition to a career as a nurse, Candis also holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and will be launching into a master’s degree Program in Gerontology in 2019.

Candis’s career with Compass Senior Living began in 2014 as an Administrator for Sundial Assisted Living in Redding, California.  In 2015 Candis was promoted to the Director of Operations for the SW Region and utilized her years of experience as an Administrator to provide support to communities in California, Arizona, and New Mexico.  

Now, Candis has moved out of her role as Director of Operations and will provide support to all 34 Compass Communities in her position as Quality and Wellness Leader.

Candis is a mom of two grown children, who she is very proud of, and has four wonderful grandsons, who she adores.  Candis’s hobbies include hiking, visiting the ocean, and traveling.  Her mantra is “Always stay humble and kind.”

As a People Experience Innovator, Jean has been at the heart of Compass Senior Living’s culture journey—serving as both a leader and protector of our True North Culture and Warm Welcome Initiative. With over three decades of experience spanning both not-for-profit and for-profit healthcare organizations, she brings a depth of wisdom and a steadfast commitment to enhancing the experiences of elders, families, and team members alike.

Jean is a passionate advocate for the power of caring, championing the belief that “caring is what makes us human.” She is a Certified Eden Alternative Educator and a Validation Practitioner, dedicated to uplifting individuals living with memory loss and empowering care partners with tools to honor each person’s dignity and story.

Through her leadership, Jean continues to nurture a culture of Goodness, Loyalty, Faith, and Fun at Compass Senior Living—helping every community embody these values for generations to come.

Outside of work, Jean treasures time with her grandchildren and finds inspiration in nature—whether hiking the High Sierra, exploring Red Rock Canyon, or discovering new outdoor adventures that renew her spirit.

Sandy Harmon, Senior Accountant, is new to the senior living field, but not to accounting. She loves numbers and the stories they tell about how a business is doing. She enjoys people and combining the two at Compass, she feels, is an excellent setup for her best work! Sandy has her BS in Accounting from the University of Oregon and is also a Certified Management Accountant.

When she’s not working, Sandy works her creative side playing the piano and quilting. She lives in Springfield and enjoys the outdoors.

Sandy believes in treating others the way you want to be treated. She appreciates the camaraderie all around her, the pictures of seniors on the home office walls and enjoys reading the community newsletters. “This is real, and it’s good!”

Gabe Garboden leads capital allocation insights for Compass and leads the Idaho Region initiatives. Gabe is a native Oregonian and has grown up around Senior Housing his entire life. With a mind for business and innovation, Gabe is passionate about making a difference in partnership with the other Compass Leaders.

When not at work Gabe enjoys exploring, traveling, and reading. He is an avid runner that loves to explore his surroundings. Gabe’s favorite quote is. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost.

Lauren Albertini is the Executive Assistant at Compass, supporting leadership with organization and communication. She holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Oregon and previously worked as a high school English teacher, honing the adaptability and organizational skills she brings to her role today. Lauren values efficiency, thoughtful collaboration, and work that makes a meaningful impact. Outside of work, she enjoys finding small adventures with her family.

Jerik has spent his career in business development, financial analysis, and inventory management. “Track Town USA” (Eugene, OR) is a great fit for Jerik who grew up in Eugene and ran cross country & track for The University of Tulsa, where he earned a BS in Energy Management and minored in Economics. Jerik has spent time in maintenance roles with Compass and aims to provide additional organization and structure to the Operations Manager role.

In his free time Jerik still enjoys running, backpacking, and spending time with his family. He is passionate about self-development and finds opportunities to improve is financial, business, and leadership skills outside of work.

Tanya Schnarre has over 20 years of experience in health care. She has a love for serving residents and believes a great team makes the difference in all the residents’ lives that live at Garden Place. She has been a CPR instructor for over twenty years. Tanya also has three years of nursing training. She enjoys bringing a zest for fun to our assisted living seniors. In her free time, Tanya enjoys spending time with her husband and four children.

Amanda has worked with elders since the age of 15 and began as a unit aide at a local skilled nursing facility. She went on to get her CNA license and worked as a CNA through high-school and College.

Her first job in the assisted living industry was as an assistant manager at a newly constructed community in her hometown. Amanda fell in love with the residents and families and knew that this was the career path for her. She has been in a leadership role in Assisted Living & Memory Care communities since 2004.

Making the move to Regional Director of Operations was a natural one. Having operational experience in Assisted Living and Memory Care gives Amanda an advantage in that she has empathy and an extraordinary understanding of what is going on in the communities day-to-day.

When not at work, Amanda can be found in the gym, watching basketball or volleyball or on a soccer field watching her children do what they love. Amanda and her husband Kyle have seven children and sports are a huge part of their lives. They also enjoy camping, fishing and 4 wheeling.

Courtney Dean has been a passionate advocate in senior living since 2011, beginning her journey as a caregiver for those impacted by Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Over the years, she’s worn many hats—from activity coordination, marketing and community relations to administration. Courtney has also served as an Operations Specialist, supporting operational excellence across 7 states. Courtney’s mission is always striving to enhance the lives of those she serves. Originally from California, Courtney and her husband, Colby, have made their home in Oregon. They love traveling and exploring new places together, often with their rescue dogs Bilbo and Tyrion in tow. When she’s not visiting communities or connecting with teams, you’ll find Courtney enjoying the beach and camping with her family, or diving into her favorite hobbies like cooking, antiquing, and crafting.

Pam Hardesty’s journey in senior living began long before her 16 years in the field – it grew from a deep appreciation for the emotional, social, and human connections that define aging. As a Regional Director of Operations since 2019, she has become known for leading with heart as much as with expertise, creating communities where dignity and compassion guide every decision.

With a Master’s Degree in Human Services specializing in gerontology and dementia, Pam brings a thoughtful, resident-centered lens to her work. She has spent her career building teams grounded in purpose – teams that understand the profound impact of small moments, warm interactions, and consistent presence. Her background allows her to see beyond operations and metrics, recognizing the quiet emotional needs that shape the daily lives of seniors and the staff who support them.

Pam’s leadership is rooted in reflection and intention. She believes that vibrant, joyful environments do not happen by accident – they are created through everyday acts of care, through cultures where people feel seen, valued, and supported. This belief has guided her through each chapter of her career and continues to shape the communities she leads.

At home in a small rural town outside of Salt Lake City, Pam finds grounding in the simple rhythms of life. She and her husband enjoy road trips that reset the soul and tending to their mini farm – a space that reminds her daily of patience, growth, and the beauty of nurturing something with intention.

A proud graduate of the University of Louisville, Jayla began her career in senior living in 2020 as a Sales Manager in Cincinnati, OH. Her drive and talent in sales and marketing quickly led to her promotion as a multi-site leader, allowing her to support multiple communities with strategy, training, and leadership. One of her favorite parts of the role is watching her team succeed—especially when they hit goals they never thought possible.

Her passion for senior living is also deeply personal. Having watched several family members navigate life with dementia, she brings empathy and a strong sense of purpose to every interaction, knowing what it’s like to sit on both sides of the table.

Outside of work, Jayla loves spending time with her husband, Jimmy, and their elder two dogs, Harley and Axel. She enjoys visiting her out-of-state family, relaxing on the water, being outdoors, and reading whenever possible.

Rick is a dedicated Regional Sales professional, bringing several years of experience supporting community growth, strengthening occupancy, and guiding sales teams across multiple locations. Rick brings a thoughtful, relationship-centered approach with a focus on helping seniors and their families feel confident and supported by our team members during their important life transition. Nothing is more rewarding than knowing our residents are receiving the care, grace and dignity they deserve.

Outside of work, Rick enjoys most genres of music, golf, relaxing with the kids and dogs at the lake and during the fall and winter having the entire family getting together for the weekly remote tailgate brunch before the Green Bay Packer games.

With more than 20 years of experience in senior living, healthcare sales, marketing, and operations, Erik Erwin has built a reputation as a results-driven leader focused on occupancy growth, relationship development, and creating exceptional experiences for seniors and their families.

Throughout his career, Erik has served in leadership roles ranging from Community Relations Director to Regional Director of Sales & Marketing and Vice President of Business Development. He has led sales and marketing strategy across independent living, assisted living, memory care, home care, and behavioral health organizations throughout California and the West Coast.

Erik is passionate about developing high-performing sales cultures, mentoring teams, strengthening outreach partnerships, and implementing systems that improve inquiry conversion, touring effectiveness, and long-term occupancy growth. His leadership style combines operational accountability with a strong focus on compassion, integrity, and relationship-centered service.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management & Organizational Communication from Point Loma Nazarene University where he also played for the university’s baseball team. 

Outside of his professional work, Erik is deeply committed to serving others and building meaningful community connections through mentorship, leadership, and faith-based involvement. He enjoys spending time with his wife and in three children. Erik loves rooting for the San Diego Padres and competing in bodybuilding competitions.

Trista is a proven senior living industry leader with deep experience in both sales and operations. For over 20 years, she has been passionate about serving older adults, their families and the people who care for them. Trista strives for excellence by empowering and motivating those around her for success through positive coaching and mentorship. 

Before joining Compass Senior Living, Trista was the executive director for a memory care community where she had the privilege and honor of caring for her mother who was also a resident. This experience gave her a profound understanding of the difficult decisions made every day by the loved ones of seniors suffering from dementia. With over five years in multisite sales, Trista has successfully led sales teams across Oregon, Idaho and Washington in independent living, assisted living and memory care.

In her downtime, you might find Trista spending time with her partner and three children, gardening,  fishing, rockhounding, or caring for animals on the family’s small property.

Cathy is a Regional Director of Wellness, supporting the wellness teams at several communities. Cathy first got involved in senior living in 2008 as a care partner. She quickly realized she wanted to expand her education to provide the best opportunities to assist seniors. She received her associate’s degree in nursing in 2012.

Cathy enjoys outdoor activities when the weather permits such as hiking, paddle boarding, kayaking, camping, and even going for walks and exploring new areas. She has also had a love for country dancing since 1994.

With over 27 years in the medical and healthcare field—17 of those devoted to senior living—Tanya has made caring for others more than a career; it’s her calling. Since beginning her healthcare journey in 1997 and stepping into the senior living space in 2007, she has felt truly honored to work with older adults. Their stories, resilience, and wisdom serve as a daily reminder of the importance of compassion, patience, and genuine human connection.

Tanya has a deep love for every aspect of senior living—whether it’s operations, administration, or hands-on nursing care. Her well-rounded experience allows her to support both residents and staff in a complete and meaningful way. She believes that quality care begins with strong relationships—not only with those served but also within the team.

She is passionate about building lasting connections and fostering an environment where communication flows easily and openly. Creating a sense of unity helps team members collaborate effectively and, ultimately, deliver better outcomes for residents.

Tanya thrives on finding thoughtful, efficient solutions to challenges, always looking for ways to simplify systems without sacrificing quality. To her, caring for seniors doesn’t have to be complicated—it just needs to be done with intention, love, and a shared commitment to their well-being.

Samantha holds a bachelor’s degree in business marketing and is deeply passionate about marketing, business, and social media. She plans and implements global digital marketing strategies, overseeing all digital channels to supply content for campaigns and managing social media engagement. Her role focuses on enhancing user experience, analyzing metrics, and providing support across all Compass Senior Living communities. Samantha offers company-wide training, resources, and process improvements, along with recommendations based on research, data analysis, and current marketing and senior living trends.

A lifelong learner, Samantha stays motivated to expand her expertise, keeping up with digital marketing trends to support teams effectively. She finds joy in making people feel understood and cared for. Residing in California, Samantha enjoys coffee, photography, plants, travel, and quality time with loved ones.

Raymond Craig has worked in the food and beverage industry since 2002. He attended New Mexico State University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management in 2004.

Raymond has worked in several different food and beverage environments including restaurants, institutional facilities, nursing homes and Assisted Living. Raymond has been in Dining Service and Culinary Leadership roles since 2008, traveling and managing foodservice facilities throughout Texas and New Mexico during his tenure as an Executive Leader. Most recently he served as the Director of Dining Services in an Assisted Living in Las Cruces, New Mexico. This is where he discovered his passion for serving the Greatest Generation.

In addition to the bachelor’s degree from NMSU, Raymond is Serve Safe Certified and is a Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) through the University of Florida. Raymond really enjoys creating an outstanding customer experience and has found his niche in senior living environments. He is always looking to take on new challenges as well. Raymond says, “It can only benefit you to learn and try new things.”

Skyler grew up in the Willamette Valley and graduated from Oregon State University. Over the years, he has held multiple positions at Compass Senior Living, including Community Relations Director and Administrator. During his free time, he is often found with his friends and family white water rafting, camping, hiking, and otherwise exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Tina has worked in the graphic design, marketing, and printing industry since 1991. She earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Art & Graphic Design from Southwestern Illinois College and went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Communications/ Graphic Design from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Tina has many passions. . .from enjoying many forms of arts & crafts, like crocheting, sewing, lacemaking, and quilting to name a few, to DIY projects of all kinds, exploring small towns to learn their history, and helping with the family sheep farm. But her greatest passion of all are her two boys, Evan and Eli. She enjoys the country life in the community where she grew up in southwestern Illinois. Tina’s family all live within 4 miles of each other. 

She is also a lover of what she calls ‘isms’. . .those inspirational sayings that always seem to make their presence known at just the right time. 

Tina firmly believes:

• you reap what you sow.
• you are the master of your own destiny.
• your life is your story, write well and edit often.
• that when writing the story of your life, don’t hand the pen to someone else.
• that if the plan doesn’t work, change the plan but never the goal.
• difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.
• it is not always about the destination, sometimes it is about the journey.
• it’s never or now.

Seek your crescendo. Age loudly. Live intensely.

Craig loves working with numbers and getting the most information he can out of them. He joined Compass in 2023 after moving from Los Angeles to be closer to family. Craig has a degree in Economics from UCLA and previously worked in the funeral industry. When he’s not working, Craig enjoys spending time with his wife and four boys, gardening, grilling, reading and building farmhouse style furniture.

Susan is no stranger to working in great detail–combing through numbers for accuracy and enjoying the satisfaction of making it all balance. She is relatively new to senior living, but not to the love, wisdom, and sharing of life stories that come from being around elders. Prior to joining Compass, Susan worked for a company that managed contractors. When you have an insurance claim and need help for repair, you might have benefited from Susan’s work as an office manager, Maryland and Virginia contractor manager, assistant to the President and HR, as well as special projects. Susan is excited to be working with great people and was attracted to the small, family-like feel of the Compass team.

Susan can be found spending her off-time playing games, coloring elaborate pictures, or watching movies with her family and friends; loving on her two dogs Buddy and River; or tending to her “farm” of chickens, ducks, and a big garden. She’s spending time volunteering for the Ronald McDonald House in San Francisco and hopes to be involved in the annual Ronald McDonald House Walk here in Eugene.

Danielle was born and raised in Orange County, California and has lived in Eugene, Oregon since 2018. She has an associate degree in business management and is certified in medical billing and coding. Danielle has been working in accounting since 2004. For fun, Danielle enjoys shopping for antiques, collecting oil lamps, exploring new places and learning new cooking recipes.

Wendi was born and raised in the Eugene/Springfield area. She loves all the Nature and beautiful spots in Oregon. Wendi also loves working with numbers, and after almost 30 years in the Cable industry, she went to Portland Community College and achieved her associate’s degree in business management and a certificate in accounting. 

Prior to joining the Compass Family, Wendi worked as an Accounts Payable Specialist for a local Organic non-dairy ice cream company. Wendi says, “I loved the people, and the company as soon as I walked in the door at Compass Senior Living. Everyone is so nice and really know how to work together. I am over the moon to be here, and to be part of such a wonderful, caring and fun company.”

Jeanette lives in Waterloo Illinois, just outside of St. Louis Missouri. At 18 she started doing payroll and bookkeeping for an Insurance Agency in St. Louis, while going to school at night. Jeanette began working in Senior Living in 2012, where her love of people and desire to always be challenged finally came together.

Jeanette and her husband Ryan can be found out and about at many of the local sporting events, but what they love most is cheering their son Jake on at his Football and Basketball games. Spending time with family and friends is truly what makes Jeanette happy in life. She believes that honest hearts produce honest actions and that is why Compass Senior living is such a good fit.

Heather has lived in Oregon her entire life and has been working in senior living since 2001. She was in at an Assisted Living community for 16 years and began working there as a Care Partner/Medication Tech then worked her way up to the Business Office Director where she spent the last 12 of those 16 years. In her free time, Heather loves to spend time with her friends and family, watch football and fish.

Joshua is an AR/AP Specialist working out of the Eugene home office. Originally from Eugene, he started at Compass shortly after moving back to town after 10 years living in the Portland area.

Joshua has held several roles in finance ranging from portfolio management to accounting for a nonprofit in a team of 5 people. The common thread has been the opportunity to use his knack for numbers to help people and improve processes.

When not creating new and exciting excel sheets Joshua is usually hiking, trying a new restaurant, or cheering on the Blazers or Ducks.

A native Hoosier, born in Indiana, Amy received a Bachelors’ Degree from Purdue University in Restaurant, Hotel, Institutional & Tourism Management. She moved to Memphis, TN after college and began her career in the food service industry. She returned to IN to raise her daughter closer to family. Her career transitioned from food service to Human Resources where she’s cultivated her passion of helping others with benefits, payroll, HR system technology, recruiting, training and employee relations for over 15 years.  She holds certifications from the Society of HR Management, HRCI and Cornell University.

Amy and her husband live on 12 acres where she grows, freezes & cans fresh vegetables, herbs & flowers. She lives by the mantra “Let food be thy medicine…” and believes getting your hands dirty with some “dirt worship” a.k.a. garden therapy is a great way to cleanse & renew the mind, body & soul.

Life-long Eugene resident Vanessa Terry joins the Compass team as a payroll specialist after a decade of senior living management payroll. A detail-oriented lover of mathematics and Excel, Vanessa holds a FPC from the American Payroll Association.

She’s a reformed Batman memorabilia collector, likes cheering on her favorite football team (go ducks!), hosts game nights, attends stand-up comedy shows, plays and concerts, and can be found cruising around in her well-loved Volkswagen, Bruce (see, Batman).

Vanessa loves the caring hearts of the Compass communities and is thrilled to be “back” working in senior living.

After earning her degree in Mathematics from Montana State University, Amie moved to Eugene in late 2020. Her love of numbers and computation guided Amie to payroll at Compass Senior Living. She has found joy in the caring nature of her coworkers and the company itself. Helping people and doing what’s right is extremely important to Amie and is Compass’ mission as well. In her spare time, Amie loves painting, embroidery, and board games.

Czeray has lived in Oregon since 2009. She has years of experience being detail-oriented and being able to help others. She always had a passion for being able to put smiles on people’s faces. Czeray has worked her way up the ladder and now has found her home at Compass as a Payroll Specialist. When she is not working, she loves to go on waterfall hikes, find new home-made recipes to try and go to the theater.

Chelsea brings over a decade of HR Experience to her role at Compass Senior Living. With a bachelor’s degree from Bellarmine University and PHR certification (Professional Human Resources), she is passionate about helping others and empowering individuals to grow and succeed. She truly enjoys celebrating the success of others. When she’s not busy supporting our amazing communities, you can find her lost in a good book, rocking out at concerts, or exploring the latest craft festival. At home in Indiana is her wonderful husband, James, and their adorable son, Jaxon, who keep her life full of joy and adventure!