A Team With Compassion

The Royal Oaks culture is distinctive. We are a team and every member of our team shares the same goal to give world-class service to every resident, employee, vendor, and guest.

Our 300+ employees take pride in spoiling our 600 residents. As a team, we work - and have fun - in delighting our residents at every juncture. The tenured management team is headed by Kendra Eberhart, CEO, and Don May, CFO, who guide the staff to excel by encouraging on-going training and offering scholarship programs in order to promote from within. We truly believe happy, well-trained employees mean even happier residents, so investing in our staff and keeping turnover low is a priority.

The Royal Way is our creed:

R: Respect persons and property, taking pride in all we do.
O: Offer assistance with a quick, friendly response
and follow through
Y: You are a resource; be attentive
A: Always greet everyone with a smile and by name
L: Listen and communicate with professionalism

This creed is shared by our 14-member volunteer Board of Trustees. This diverse group includes current and former physicians, nurses, clergy, architects, businesspeople, and lawyers. The Board has responsibility for strategic planning, financial oversight, establishing policy, and fiduciary and legal compliance. The work of the Board is handled through nine committees and many residents are committee members, helping guide their community home to an even higher standard. The Board of Trustees are: Richard Herrmann (resident); Dan Brusnahan, AIA; Eric Sholberg, CFP; Will Richard,CIC,ARM,AAI,CRM; Rev. David Van Arsdale; Mike Chambers, JD; Norma Mack; Dr. Jane Winston; Harmony Rudd, RN (resident); Jim Garvin (resident); Dr. Eugene Stevens; Janis Ryan, Chuck Lundeen. Not pictured: Howard Poch.

Delightful residents, respectful staff, a highly qualified management team, a dedicated Board, and a Foundation to serve the residents are the ingredients that make Royal Oaks a special place. We would be honored to add you to our very special recipe!

Video

Our leaders are passionate, hard-working, and believe in having fun while getting the job done. And we thank our residents for graciously allowing us to conduct business in their beautiful home. And, like Lori, our Resident Services Manager, some of our parents live here, too!

Watch the Video

Our Leaders

Kendra Eberhart

Chief Executive Officer

Learn more about Kendra

As CEO, Kendra Eberhart continues to carry out the vision of Royal Oaks' original founders—a place where active retirees can relish living life to the fullest while enjoying the security of lifelong care. She joined Royal Oaks in 1986 and became CEO in 1997. Residents and staff enjoy her open-door policy and thrive on socializing with Kendra at the residents' functions, especially since she can often be found helping serve up their favorite cocktails! A native of Nebraska and a graduate of the University of Nebraska, Kendra is quick to say "go Cornhuskers" and even quicker to flash a grin as she shows family photos, including those of her husband, son, daughter, and grandson. Kendra is active as a volunteer, including serving as President Elect of Leading Age Arizona, the flagship organization advocating for senior citizens. If you plan on hiking the Grand Canyon, let Kendra give you some advice. 623-815-4116.

Don May

Chief Financial Officer

Learn more about Don

A CPA with personality is how Don May is known around Royal Oaks. Don arrived at Royal Oaks in 1986 and has served as the Chief Financial Officer since 1996. His analytical mind combined with a background in real estate and his tenure in CCRC management keeps Royal Oaks at the forefront of thought leadership in our industry, while his financial savvy keeps us at the top of the Fitch ratings. Don graduated from Arizona State University, where he met his wife of 25 years. Golf, swimming, and the outdoors are Don's passions, while one of his goals is to instill patience in his two sons. If you have suggestions on how he can accomplish the latter, of if you would just like to have a conversation about our stellar financials, he'd love to hear from you. 623-815-4129.

Dina Capek

Director of Health Services

Learn more about Dina

When you have a face that never stops smiling and that face has a Masters Degree in Nursing, you ask her to assume a leadership role as Director of Health Services. Dina Capek started at Royal Oaks in 1989 as a Certified Nurse Assistant, leaving to become an RN and later returning to Royal Oaks in 1997. Through our scholarship program, she achieved both undergraduate and graduate degrees in nursing from the University of Phoenix. Her compassion for our residents is evident in every conversation you'll have with her. Recognizing in her grandmothers that people can remain vibrant and fun throughout their lifetime in spite of age, Dina found her calling in geriatric nursing. She directs all aspects of Royal Oaks' Health, Wellness, and Fitness Departments, carrying out our philosophy that keeping resident happy, active, and healthy is a giant step toward increased longevity. She and her husband share seven children, three grandchildren, three dogs, and three geese, making that smile even brighter as she animates about their busy lives. 623-815-4184.

Lori Waltz

Resident Services Manager

Learn more about Lori

At six feet tall, Lori Waltz's height is eclipsed only by her desire to assist Royal Oaks residents. Serving as Residential Services Manager since 1998, Lori is a social worker by education and uses those skills to make sure residents get the services and care needed. As the management team member spearheading the organization-wide Customer Service Initiative modeled after the Ritz Carlton hospitality program, Lori searches at every juncture to find new ways for Royal Oaks to deliver A+ service and amenities. She also oversees our fine teams of security, greeting, and transportation professionals, along with the Activities Coordinator, whose mission is to help residents achieve their personal "bucket list." Ask Lori about her early career as a television writer and you're sure to get an earful of Hollywood gossip. 623-815-4128.

Janet Adams

Director of Human Resources

Learn more about Janet

Our Human Resource Director, Janet Adams, is responsible for the hiring and training of our over 325 dedicated staff members that graciously serve our 600+ residents. Janet has an extensive human resource background as the past Director for the largest professional sports facility in Arizona. Janet's dedication to excellence is found in her Professional Human Resource (PHR) designation. With a solid employee benefits and insurance background plus an education in Business from Arizona State University, Janet created and won the Best Practice Award for Royal Oaks at the Leading Age Conference. "Exceeding Expectations" is not only a motto but a way of life for how Janet develops programs to recruit and retain excellent employees for Royal Oaks. Proud of her paramedic/fire fighter son, you can find our Human Resource Director cooking gourmet meals for her extended family when she is not working or in our beautiful fitness center. 623-815-4145.

Gretchen Cobb

Controller

Learn more about Gretchen

In 1998, a young CPA was recruited away from an accounting firm to join Royal Oaks' Accounting Department. Today, Gretchen Cobb serves as our Controller, and equally importantly, she is the go-to person for the administrative team when an opportunity needs a second look. "Fetch Gretch" is an oft-called phrase when a brainstorming meeting ensues. With an uncanny ability to look at a situation and find the simplest solution, Gretchen's expertise leads us through the forest to see the trees. When she earned her MBA from the University of Phoenix in 2009, the University, too, saw that she was something special and awarded her the honor of commencement speaker, presenting in front of nearly 10,000 attendees. She, her husband, and pre-teen son share a love of car racing, quad riding, and all things fast. A goal she has yet to attain is that of synchronized swimmer; no doubt Gretchen will excel at that, too. 623-815-4111.

Wayne Esposito

Facilities Manager

Learn more about Wayne

Since 1991, Wayne Esposito has used his expertise in facilities management to grow Royal Oaks into the robust, impeccably landscaped 38-acre campus it is today. Under Wayne's umbrella are the teams of landscaping, maintenance, refurbishing, and environmental services--large departments with often unexpected requests. Wayne's years of knowledge and his ever-present smart phone seamlessly manage all the communication, immediately responding to residents' appeals and quickly satisfying our discriminating community members. Royal Oak residents soon discover that Wayne's wealth of contacts and experience can solve any problem, and he's quick to react to any situation, even climbing up on the roof if that's what it takes, because exceeding expectations is what we do at Royal Oaks. The parents of a standout athlete, Wayne and his wife are eagerly anticipating watching their son play college football. Try to stump Wayne with sports trivia! , 623-815-4179.

Ken Kropp

Information Technology Manager

Learn more about Ken

When technology beckons, Ken Kropp comes calling. As our Information Technology Manager, Ken and his staff keep our residents' computers and our staff wired and working. Even more important, his department keeps us HIPAA compliant, our electronic patient records current, and our lives much more productive through advanced technologies. He claims he was hired because he shares Nebraska roots and schooling with our CEO. Go Big Red. If Ken's talents are indicative of all Cornhuskers, we need to recruit from there! Many trips to Disney are in Ken and his wife's future as the parents of two young, adorable daughters and that is just fine with him. It's a small world after all. 623-815-4284.

Vicki Ullery

Marketing and Community Relations Manager

Learn more about Vicki

Vicki Ullery is the newest member of Royal Oaks' management team, arriving in 2010 from Cincinnati and putting our Marketing Department on steroids. As the Marketing and Community Relations Manager, Vicki enjoys helping seniors learn about Lifecare and then choose Royal Oaks because, after all, it is the best CCRC in the world. Her team's priority is to keep our campus fully occupied so Royal Oaks can continue to brag about being one of only six CCRCs in the country with an "A" rating by Fitch. With an education in marketing and communications from the University of Colorado, Vicki has excelled in sales and marketing roles, including owning a marketing consulting firm. When she and her husband aren't golfing, Vicki can be found on stage as an enthusiastic community theatre performer. If you have a Broadway role for her, let her know! 623-815-4131.