YOU ARE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION

Clarendale Arcadia is where you want to be—not just because the senior residences, services and amenities are extraordinary, but because our focus is always on you.

YOU ARE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION

Clarendale Arcadia is where you want to be—not just because the senior residences, services and amenities are extraordinary, but because our focus is always on you.

Expert Local Leadership

You’ll quickly discover our exceptional team has a passion for serving seniors and loves the Arcadia and Paradise Valley area as much as you—from our Clarendale Arcadia leadership to our housekeeping and maintenance staff, Executive Chef, culinary crew and restaurant servers.

Life Care Services Management

Life Care Services®, An LCS Company®, leads the way in senior living with over 50 years of proven experience. This innovative leadership brings passion and performance through strong financial stewardship, lifestyle-centered services as well as high quality health services in communities as unique as the individuals who live in them. Find out more about living at communities managed by Life Care Services. Contact Us >

Clarendale Arcadia Founders Club

The first discerning individuals who choose the service-rich senior lifestyle of Clarendale Arcadia will become founding members—with exclusive resident benefits. From preferred floor plan selection and exclusive savings to catered welcome receptions and spotlight features in your honor, you’ll want to learn more about the many Founders Club membership rewards. Contact Us >

Meet The Team

Stefanie Smith

Executive Director

I began my career in Senior Living in 1998 as the administrative assistant to the Vice President of Operations for a company that is no longer in operation. I moved from this role

into a sales role and then into operations. As Executive Director, I am proud to lead an extremely talented and caring team. Our collective purpose is to provide our Residents with outstanding service and care in a modern and beautiful community. It is my privilege to be a part of this step in our Residents lives. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and am a licensed Assisted Living Facility Manager in Arizona. I strongly believe in sharing the importance of the lifestyle and services available in senior living with the general public. Personally, I am a proud fourth generation Arizonan who loves to bake, cook and DIY home projects. My husband and our fur kids are my passion and when not at work, I am happily spending time with them. I have called Phoenix home since 1994.

Cristian Mendez-Escobar

Associate Executive Director

I have more than 15 years of experience in the senior care industry and more than 10 years of experience in leadership/management roles.

I am a certified Assisted Living Manager in Arizona and Multi-State Licensed Nurse. I am passionate about perfecting best practices and continuously improving the quality of care for residents. My commitment is to serve every resident with kindness and respect. What excited me the most about joining the community is the opportunity to be part of the foundation of what is going to become a great senior care community and to be able to initiate and create a culture of genuine care, compassion, and love. I’m excited that this is a place and a community that our residents, families and staff are going to be proud to call home. I am involved with our youth as a national certified basketball coach. I believe in investing in our youth and sharing my time, game, and life experiences with them.

Ngaio Birkhead

Director of Sales & Marketing

I have 20+ years sales experience with 6 years specializing in senior living. I started the senior living journey in placement and eventually moved into community selling.

I am excited to join a dynamic team who is passionate about building an exceptional community, where both residents and employees experience inclusivity, compassion and outstanding care and service. I am passionate about helping residents and their families embrace the joys and benefits of senior living as they navigate the journey of life.

Lauren Pille

Sales Counselor

Over eight years assisting seniors and their families in the transition to senior living.

Contributing to the successful opening of a beautiful LCS community is very exciting! I know the area well and grew up not far from Clarendale Arcadia, so I look forward to educating potential residents and their families about the advantages of choosing our location. I can’t wait to meet our new residents! My favorite part of each day is interacting with residents and their families. I enjoy learning about their lives and what matters most to them. I am passionate about helping seniors live enriched lives with opportunities to grow, laugh and smile every day.

Shawna Lafoai

Director of Health Services

I have been in the direct healthcare side of Senior Living since 1994. I began my career as a CNA in a skilled nursing facility and after

falling in love with it, I went on to earn my nursing license. I have served as a Director for many years and also as a consultant for communities who required assistance with regulation compliance. I am passionate about ongoing training for our care staff to ensure we are prepared to offer excellent care. I am excited to be a part of this growing team in this beautiful community. It is a privilege to be involved with opening a brand-new community and I am committed to providing the best care possible to our residents in their home. Personally, I am an Arizona native and love spending time with my family and our pets.

Kimberly Revans

Memory Care Director

I have dedicated more than 17 years to serving seniors in assisted living - specializing in memory care.

I am committed to bringing the highest level of love and passion to my residents. My heart and soul lays with our memory care residents. I look forward to taking on the position of Memory Care Director at Clarendale Arcadia. I am thrilled to be collaborating with a supportive team that puts the needs of the residents above all else by showing the way of excellence and striving for perfection. I am loyal when it comes to serving my community and it will be my pleasure to welcome all staff, residents, and family with open arms and enthusiasm. I am zealous about my work and look forward to building meaningful relationships that I will carry with me for a lifetime.

Lyndon Roberts

Director of Culinary Services

I have 15+ years of management in high end culinary settings – cruise ships, private country clubs, restaurants and

senior living communities. The opportunity to create a great culture and environment for staff and residents from the ground up excites me the most. I want to offer our residents fantastic quality dining and to use my creativity. I serve residents by creating an exceptional dining experience for each resident every time they dine. I am originally from Jamaica, I love to prepare Italian and Caribbean dishes and showcase food decorating for banquets etc. I enjoy traveling and love to spend time with family & friends and am very involved in my church.

Donja Montano

Life Enrichment Director

My journey in Senior Living began when my mother moved into a community several years ago.

She enjoyed her life and the friends she made, which made both of us happy. After my experience from the family side, I made the decision to join the staff side of a community in 2016 as a Concierge and then as a Life Enrichment Coordinator. Now, as the Life Enrichment Director of Clarendale Arcadia, I oversee all programs, activities, events, and transportation for our Residents. I love seeing the smiles brought through enjoying guest lecturers, fitness programs, afternoon tea, happy hour, or a good old game of Scrabble. I am passionate about helping Seniors live their best lives and am glad to be part of a community where that is valued.

Mark Opel

Director of Plant Operations

I began my career in Plant Operations and Maintenance in health at a large hospital in Phoenix in 1998 as a Building Engineer. It was there I learned that I love to be in the service of others.

My next opportunity was as the Maintenance Director for Retirement Resort with 346 apartments. I was tasked with managing both the Maintenance and Housekeeping Departments. I loved it!!! This was in 1994 and I have never looked back. I knew I found my niche in Senior Living. I became part of the Clarendale Arcadia family in July 2023. On a personal note, I am a single parent of five beautiful daughters and have been blessed with 26 grandchildren and one great grandson, that’s not a typo it’s really 26! I look forward to being in the service of those around me every day. Creating a clean, well maintained, and safe home for our Residents is always my goal.

Katie Perez

Business Office Director

Serving others, specifically in Senior Living , is a passion gained from my mother. As an RN, she has spent a great deal of her 20 plus years in a Senior Living environment and I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the industry through her experiences.

Prior to joining the Leadership Team at Clarendale Arcadia, I worked in hotel management and bring a strong customer service background to my role as Business Office Director. I am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology and have a sincere desire to make a difference in the lives of the residents and team members I serve. I love to learn and connect with others. In my free time, I enjoy knitting, reading, and listening to music.

Ryan Companies

Founded in 1938, Ryan Companies offers comprehensive commercial real estate services as a national developer, architect, builder, capital investment consultant, and real estate manager with a focus on bringing lasting value to its customers and the communities in which it works. Ryan’s market depth includes retail, industrial, healthcare, and senior living. Ryan’s development and corporate build-to-suit work spans a wide range of product types including office, mixed-use, hospitality, multifamily housing and mission critical facilities. With a focus on bringing lasting value to its customers and the communities in which it works, Ryan has over 1300 employees in 16 offices and has completed projects in 39 states. For more information, visit ryancompanies.com.