MEET THE TEAM
Theresa Taplin
Executive Director
My passion has been in serving the senior population for over 28 years and those that provide care for them. I had the honor and privilege of caring for my great aunt the last year of her life in a community that I was the Executive Director in, for me it is not just a job, but rather a lifestyle. I have worked in every area of Assisted Living in my 28 year career, first as a Nursing Assistant, then a floor nurse, a charge nurse, then as an Executive Director, Regional Director of Operations, and then as Vice President of Operations before coming to Shenandoah. I am a nurse of 21 years, a Licensed Administrator, Certified Dementia practitioner, and Preceptor for the state of Virginia . I enjoy being with my family, taking photos of nature, and writing poems. I feel honored to be a part of Shenandoah Senior Living.
Shiloh Cockrell
Business Office Director
I have two beautiful daughters and I started in healthcare in 2016. I have worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant for many years and I received my RMA in 2018. One of my favorite places to work is in memory care. I have specialized in memory care for the past 6 years and plan to further my education with dementia and Alzheimer’s. One of my favorite things about working with memory care residents is their personalities. Shenandoah has provided me with a great team, and amazing residents, this isn’t just a work environment, this is my second home.
Chris Payne
Maintenance Director
I have 4 children and 1 beautiful granddaughter. In my spare time, I like to go camping and spend time with my family. I started my journey in healthcare 2 years ago as a dietary aide. One of my favorite things about working with seniors is getting to know who they were before they came to assisted living. Shenandoah has allowed me to better know the residents individually and for that I am grateful.
Krystal Whittington
Director of Community Relations
I have been in Assisted Living Care since 2011. I felt a calling to help the elder community and I have fallen in love with it ever since. I’ve been lucky enough to have worked in every area of Assisted Living Care, from receiving my RMA to being the Director of Activities through the Alzheimer’s Association for Individuals with Cognitive Impairments in 2018. I found an even greater passion for Community Relations in 2021 managing positive relationships with families and the community. My favorite part of assisted living is volunteering in the community, working closely with the VA, Hospices, and hearing all the wonderful life stories and marvelous events they’ve been through especially Veterans. Along with being a mom of 3, I enjoy chauffeuring them to sporting events, cheering them on from the sidelines and being a crazy cat mom. I am so excited to join the Shenandoah Senior Living team to learn and grow with such an amazing and skilled team!
Julie Wolford
Dining Director
My name is Julie Wolford and I’m the dining director here at Shenandoah Senior Living. I have worked in assisted living and memory care for 25 years I enjoy cooking ,and talking to the residents, and listening to their life stories. In my spare time I love camping, hunting, and fishing with my husband.
Sandi Cockrell
Memory Care Director
Sandi comes to Shenandoah with over 20 years of Senior Living experience and has a passion for our Memory Care residents. Christmas is her favorite holiday and in her spare time she enjoys loving on her two beautiful grand daughters and watching football. Her goal for our Memory Care Unit is to ensure that our residents live their life with us in a way that is purposeful and meaningful for each individual.
Blake Victoria Peterson
Activities Director
I was raised in elder healthcare and my mother would bring me to work with her when she was a young. I would go with the Activities Director and play Bingo, do arts and crafts, and help the Activities Director as a tiny assistant. I received my RMA in 2013 and have always had a passion for elder care. I am currently working on my degree in Health Administrations Services and one day I hope to run my own senior living community. Activities are my specialty and here at Shenandoah Senior Living and we feel like a family every day. I love creating events, throwing fun parties, and outings are always a blast! Seeing the residents’ smiles gives me a purpose.
Testimonials
17November2022
Megan B
Very caring and compassionate team. Residents are very well taken care of, the facility is beautiful. I can honestly say this is the most caring community. The management always go above and beyond to make sure the needs of the residents are met. Honestly, I have never felt more welcome at a place of employment such as this! ~May 2022
17November2022
April B
I have been an employee for 3yrs now, And I can honestly say I love my job. It’s like my second family. My home away from home. I love the residents and the staff here. It’s an amazing place to work, The management is wonderful and will help you any way they can, It’s the best job I have had working in healthcare! !May 2022
17November2022
Elizabeth H
I have been working here for almost a year and this is the most beautiful place I’ve been to. I love the view from the great room. I work around really good people. ~July 2022
17November2022
Jim B
Three years ago, when health challenges finally forced us to move our parents into an assisted living facility, tough choices had to be made. Making those choices even more difficult was the fact that we live over 2,000 miles away and were completely unfamiliar with facilities in the area.
As we went through this difficult process, we were blessed to meet Teresa Taplin, the executive director of the original facility in which our parents have lived and thrived these past three years—thanks in large part to Teresa’s management of both care and staffing.
Perhaps the most notable of the many acts of kindness Teresa has shown Mom and Dad over the years occurred during the weeks and months of 2020’s COVID19 shut down. I flew out to Virginia to see Mom through a window…but Teresa provided me with an inflatable, pressurized purple hippopotamus costume so that I could safely hug my mother during those terrifying times.
Fast-forward three years, and Teresa Taplin is now the executive director at Shenandoah Senior Living community. Change is never easy; however, when Teresa is involved…yeah, it kind of is. After some unsettling questions and concerns at their original facility, I reached out to Teresa at Shenandoah, and she came up with a plan to move our parents to the Shenandoah community.
She has once again handled everything in a caring, professional manner, and provided us the peace of knowing that Mom and Dad will be cared for and loved in a nurturing environment.
We want to thank Teresa and the staff at Shenandoah Senior Living for the care they give to all community residents. ~May 2022
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