Jay Biere

Jay Biere

Chief Executive Officer & President

Jay began his appointment as Plymouth Place™ CEO on January 1, 2018. Most recently, he was the CEO of Meadows Communities in Normal, Illinois. He has extensive leadership experience in senior living, including Kisco Senior Living, Lifespace Communities and Vibrant Life Senior Living, where he led major infrastructure upgrades, including a new IT platform and an expansion of resident services. He also launched an ambassador program to increase employee and resident satisfaction and implemented a Q.A.P.I. process to improve quality outcomes in clinical and support service areas. He started his career with ServiceMaster Management Services. Jay grew up on a farm in Volo, Illinois, before earning a marketing degree from Northern Illinois University. He has four sons and nine grandchildren, ranging in age from newborn to 10 years old. In his spare time, Jay enjoys golf, biking, hiking, and travel. Additionally, he has served in leadership roles at faith-based ministries and has supported related non-profit organizations.

Cheri Boublis

Cheri Boublis

Senior Director of Hospitality Services

Cheri joined the Plymouth Place team in 2019 to head both dining services and housekeeping as the Senior Director of Hospitality Services. She is the former Director of Hospitality Services at Palos Health. Cheri successfully managed a full renovation of the Woodland Café, Production Kitchen, and Dining Room. Cheri has an extensive background in the retail and foodservice industry, including management positions with Rush Medical Center in Chicago, ServiceMaster Global Holdings Inc and the ARAMARK Corporation. During her work with ARAMARK, Cheri supported Healthcare design development nationally. In addition, Cheri provided consulting services to hospitals in design development and retail brand strategy through her firm, B.ourguest.

Katie Freese

Katie Freese

Senior Director of Support Services

Katie is a registered and licensed dietitian, graduating from Eastern IL University with a BS, Applied Science. She completed the MBA program from Lewis University in Romeoville, IL. Katie has more than 30 years of healthcare experience that includes managing food service, housekeeping, and laundry; patient registration and central scheduling for advanced imaging; and managing the logistics through large construction projects. Plymouth Place is her first experience with senior living. She lives in Lockport, IL, with her husband, Joel, and son, Jacob.

 Nitsa Foundos

Nitsa Foundos

Senior Director of Sales

Nitsa joined Plymouth Place in December 2020, bringing to the team more than 20 years of experience in the senior living industry. She has held many positions in her career, including director of sales, regional sales director, sales training and development director and, most recently, national sales specialist for large senior living portfolios. With her track record of consistent sales success and problem-solving, with an emphasis on green field/blue sky projects, she is a great fit for Plymouth Place. Nitsa is a graduate of Purdue University, where she earned a BS in medical technology. Nitsa is certified as an Integrity Sales Facilitator and Dementia Practitioner. A Midwest gal, Nitsa resides in northwest Indiana with her husband. She has one daughter and four grandchildren.

Paddy Homan

Paddy Homan

Senior Director of Development & Philanthropy

Paddy joined Plymouth Place in April 2019. He began his lifelong commitment to serving seniors while visiting seniors as a teenager in Ireland and singing to them. Homan graduated with a Diploma in Philosophy from Maynooth Pontifical University in 1999 and later with a degree in Gerontological Social Work in 2004 at University College Cork, Ireland, all while working as a caregiver in cities such as Chicago, London, and Cork to get through college. Emigrating to America in November 2006, Homan managed a downtown home care agency for four years before joining Lutheran Life Communities in 2011 as Foundation Regional Director and later Corporate Giving Director. Homan graduated with an MA in Philanthropy from De Paul University in 2013 and is the recipient of the 2016 David O. Justice Award from De Paul University. Homan serves as a board member of the Chicago Council on Planned Giving. He and his wife, Kathleen, live in downtown Chicago. He loves to travel, fish, watch Gaelic football and hurling games in Ireland, volunteer in the Chicago Irish community, and play lots of Irish music all over America!

Chris Irvine

Chris Irvine

Senior Director of Rehab & Wellness

Chris attended Elmhurst College and received her B.S. in Exercise Physiology. She started her career with Symbria Rehab in 2004 and served as Area Director of Operations until 2019 when she joined Plymouth Place as the Director of Rehab and Wellness. The youngest of three girls, she grew up in Lombard and went to Willowbrook High School. She currently lives in Geneva and enjoys the outdoors, anything adventurous, and traveling.

Dr. Martha Klima-Gamble

Dr. Martha Klima-Gamble

Senior Director of People Services

Martha joined the Plymouth Place team in May 2021, having most recently served as Joliet Area Community Hospice’s director of human resources. She has more than 13 years of human resources management experience in the healthcare and senior living industries, experience that includes strategic planning, employee relations, policy and procedure development, employee recruitment and retention, and employee/management coaching. She holds a doctorate degree in business administration from Capella University, a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Lewis University, and a bachelor’s degree in healthcare leadership from Lewis University. Martha is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and has human resources professional certification, SHRM-CP, through SHRM. She is also a Certified Professional Coach (CPC) through Fowler International Academy. Martha grew up in Joliet, Illinois, and lives in Crest Hill, Illinois, with her family.

Board of Directors

Elizabeth Asperger

Elizabeth Asperger

Chairwoman of the Board of Directors

Liz Asperger received a degree in political science from Miami University (Ohio) and earned a law degree from Notre Dame Law School. She enjoyed the practice of law for 16 years, specializing in Real Estate Development. In 1996, Liz resigned from her law firm partnership and began to devote more time to community service. She served as Trustee on the La Grange Village Board from 1996 – 2005 and then as President of the Village of La Grange from 2005- 2013. Liz and her husband, Jonathan, have resided in La Grange since 1983, and have one adult son, Kyle.

Board Member – May 2016

John Barrett

John Barrett

1ST VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John Barrett has a BS and MS from Loyola University, Chicago in Psychology and Human Resource Management, respectively. John recently retired after seven years with the Northern Indiana Division of Franciscan Alliance, a 14 Hospital system serving Indiana and south suburban Chicago communities, where he served as Vice President, Administrative Services. Prior to that, John worked in management consulting doing executive search, design of compensation systems, and was an executive Coach; and for over twenty years in senior Human Resource leadership positions at Rush Medical Center, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Loyola University Medical Center. John has served on the Boards of Directors for Catholic Charities of the Archdioceses of Chicago and Aspire of Illinois, and he lives in Westchester, IL.

Board Member – May 2017

Mike Thiessen

Mike Thiessen

2ND VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mike Thiessen has a BS in Economics and Political Science and a Masters of Management. He has worked on political campaigns and as a Washington, DC staffer. After moving to the Chicago area 23 years ago, Mike worked for Mesirow Financial before opening his own consulting practice. Mike specializes in both public and private partnerships in the real estate field. Mike is an active investor with interest in real estate, media, and the hospitality industries. Mike also teaches a masters-level program in the Business of Sports at Northwestern University. Mike is married with two children and lives in Western Springs.

Board Member – May 2017

Joyce Linn

Joyce Linn

President of the Residents' Council, Ex-Officio Member of the Board

Joyce Linn moved to Plymouth Place in 2014 with her husband, Bob. Shortly after Bob passed away, Joyce became chair of the Resident Council Program Committee and served from 2016 until her appointment as Vice President in 2019. During Plymouth Place’s 75th Anniversary Celebration, Joyce chaired the Time Capsule Committee. Prior to moving to Plymouth Place, Joyce lived most of her married life in academia with her professor husband, living in Princeton, Urbana-Champaign (where they raised 2 sons), and Boulder with stints at UCLA and Stanford. Joyce and Bob retired to a tiny village (900 year-round population) high in the mountains of Colorado but were eventually enticed to move to La Grange to enjoy their 3 grandsons. Among her job experiences after their sons reached high school were Special Events Coordinator, Executive Director of a downtown promotion organization, Director of Marketing/Sales for a hotel, VP for Marketing for a Convention and Visitors Bureau, Conference Coordinator for a University, Assistant to VP for Fundraising for a 4 campus University Foundation, and Staff to the Board of Directors’ Campaign Committee to create and manage a University Capital Campaign. Always an active volunteer, the focus of her interests were politics, public relations, and economic development. She served on the board of a Chapter of the League of Women Voters as Voter Service Chair/Publicity Chair and led the Urban Crisis Committee. She served on the Mayor’s Commission for Downtown Redevelopment in one town and chaired the Community Economic Development Committee in another, leading to serving on the initiating boards to establish an Arts Center and another to purchase and renovate an historic opera house, for which she chaired the fundraising committee for the needed $4 million to accomplish the project. Joyce was also county campaign chair for successfully electing a Congressman, 2 US Senators, and a Governor.

Art Grundke

Art Grundke

VICE PRESIDENT OF THE RESIDENTS' COUNCIL, EX-OFFICIO MEMBER OF THE BOARD

Art and his wife Pat celebrated 58 years of marriage in June of 2019. For 56 years, they resided in Western Springs and moved to Plymouth Place in September of 2019. With a Master of Science from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign, Art worked for La Grange Highlands school district 106 for 35 years a teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent; he was middle school principal for 29 years. Art and Pat have three children, all of whom attended Western Springs public schools and Lyons Township High School. Their oldest son, Eric, resides in Omaha and is an engineer at a long-established construction company, Peter Kiewit. Their daughter, Jennifer, is CFO for the University of Illinois Community Credit Union. John, the Grundkes’ youngest, is the athletic director at Lyons Township High School. The Grundkes have 6 grandchildren and are very much enjoying their home at Plymouth Place.

Rev. Dr. Richard Kirchherr

Rev. Dr. Richard Kirchherr

Senior Minister, First Congregational Church of Western Springs, Ex-Officio Member of the Board

Rich has served as the Senior Minister of the First Congregational Church (UCC) in Western Springs, Illinois since 1997. With his deep understanding of congregations and the key role of stewardship as not merely an administrative task but a spiritual discipline, Rich consistently and strategically builds the case for faithful generosity.

Rich participates in a number of meaningful wider ministries. He has served as a trustee of Chicago Theological Seminary for twenty years and a convener of the United Church of Christ Senior Pastors Conference for 5 years. He has extensive experience as a teacher of preaching, and also serves as a lay educator, traveling to churches and community groups to offer a presentation on the sociological and demographic trends that are shaping the next generation of church members.

Rich received both his Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from the Chicago Theological Seminary. His wife, Clare, is a lawyer, and they have three adult children.

Board Member – December 2019

Doris Bryant

Doris Bryant

Doris is a retired attorney. Before retirement, she served as Assistant Vice President of Investment Law at Allstate Investments, LLC, specializing in corporate bond investments, and private equity transactions. Prior to her years at Allstate, Doris was an associate in the Chicago office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois and IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law. Doris and her husband David live in La Grange. They have five adult children and six grandchildren. Doris is an active member of First Congregational Church of La Grange. She has served on many church boards and ministries, including a term as moderator of the church. She currently serves on the Saturday Meals Program Advisory Board and plays in the hand bell choir.

Board Member – May 2013

Marvin Baldwin

Marvin Baldwin

Marv Baldwin founded Soul Journeys in 2018 to support people as they explore and deepen their spiritual lives.  Previously, he served as President and CEO of Growing Hope Globally (formerly FRB – Foods Resource Bank), where he led efforts to support agriculturally-focused food security programs in developing countries. Marv also worked for Nalco Corporation in various management and field roles.  Marv has served as the Board Chair for the Alliance to End Hunger (Washington DC), and he is currently Board President at the Well (La Grange Park, IL).  Marv graduated from Hope College in Holland, Michigan.  He and his wife, Amy, are grateful for their three grown children and live in Western Springs, where they are members of the First Congregational Church.

Board Member – May 2013

Mark Cloghessy

Mark Cloghessy

Mark Cloghessy is a retired Institutional Investor. He was a Senior Vice President for Allstate Investments where he served in various capacities for 21 years. Prior to that, Mark served in a regulatory capacity for 12 years with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. He holds a BA in Business from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, and an MBA in International Finance and Economics from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. He Lives in Western Springs with his wife and two daughters.

Board Member – May 2014

Dr. Rajeev Kumar

Dr. Rajeev Kumar

Rajeev is a board-certified internist, geriatrician, and hospice/palliative medicine physician who has practiced in the western suburbs of Chicago for 25 years. He served as the managing partner at Midwest Geriatrics, a 12-physician group practice based in Burr Ridge, until 2019, when the practice merged with DuPage Medical Group. During his years at Midwest Geriatrics, he served on the board of AMITA Health ACO, a multispecialty medical group; as vice-chair of medicine at La Grange and Hinsdale hospitals; and as teaching faculty for the Loyola Geriatrics fellowship program and residencies at Hinsdale and La Grange hospitals. He also served as medical director for Adventist St. Thomas Hospice and the palliative care program at Hinsdale and La Grange hospitals. In recent years, Rajeev has been the chief medical officer of Symbria, which provides pharmacy, rehabilitation and clinical Integration services for senior living communities. He is also the north-central region’s medical director for Humana ISNP, a Medicare Advantage plan for long-term-care residents in nursing facilities. Rajeev serves as medical director for two skilled nursing facilities and is a Certified Medical Director from ABPLM. He is past-president of the Illinois Medical Directors Association, and serves as AMDA’s delegate to AMA and on AMDA’s board as secretary. Rajeev volunteers as a board member at Wisconsin Illinois Senior Housing (WISH) and lives in Oak Brook with his wife, Kiran, a geriatrician at Hines VA hospital. Their twins attend Hinsdale Central High School.

Board Member – June 2021

Rebecca S. Lake, Ed.D.

Rebecca S. Lake, Ed.D.

Rebecca is Harper College Dean of Workforce and Economic Development. The department houses four large federal grants, the Harper Job Placement Resource Center, the Small Business Development Center, and the Office of Apprenticeships. She is an ApprenticeshipUSA Leader and is director of Harper’s strategic apprenticeship initiatives. Before coming to Harper, Rebecca wrote and taught in the Community College Leadership (CCL) doctoral program at National Louis University, serving as program director for 10 years. She spent the first half of her professional life in health planning, hospital and health care administration, and nursing before moving into community college teaching and administration. Rebecca has held community college positions of faculty, assistant dean, career and technology (CTE) dean, and academic vice-president.

Board Member – August 2020

Dr. Larry LaPalio

Dr. Larry LaPalio

Dr. Larry LaPalio is the Emeritus and founding Director of Adventist Midwest Geriatrics. He attended medical school at St. Louis University and completed a residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Illinois. He has advanced training in Geriatrics as the Robert Woods Johnson mid-career fellow in 1988 at the University of California at Los Angeles. Larry holds board certification in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, Hospice, and Palliative Care. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, has published many articles, and has given many presentations at local and national meetings in his related fields. He has been a leader in medical education and has had a career of medical executive experience, including the Director of Geriatrics from 1988 to 1994 at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine.

Board Member – May 2016

Nicholas J. Lynn

Nicholas J. Lynn

Nick Lynn is the vice chair of Duane Morris’ national Health Law Practice Group and was a member of the firm’s Partners Board from 1999 to 2015. He is chair of the Chicago office’s health law practice. He focuses his practice on pharmaceutical law, laws affecting the post-acute care industry, healthcare litigation, and regulatory compliance matters. Nick is a registered pharmacist with more than 40 years’ experience in healthcare law. He is a former division chief and assistant chief counsel to the Illinois Department of Public Health, where he served as chief counsel to the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board (n/k/a the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board). Nick is a member of, and general counsel to, the Illinois Health Care Association and Illinois Nursing Home Administrators Association. Nick also serves on the American Health Care Association’s legal committee. In addition, he is past president of the American Society for Pharmacy Law and a former Board member and editor of its publication, Rx Ipsa Loquitur. Nick served on the Advisory Board of DePaul University College of Law Health Law Institute and on the American Pharmaceutical Association’s Pain Management Academy. He is listed in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, 2007-2019 editions. Nick is a 1980 graduate of The John Marshall Law School and a graduate of Drake University College of Pharmacy.

Board Member – June 2019

Thom Serafin

Thom Serafin

Thom Serafin is the founder and CEO of Serafin & Associates, Inc. He has created a unique space in the world of public affairs in Chicago and across Illinois where his counsel, strategic planning, and crisis management skills are widely sought by businesses, government agencies, non-profits, and the news media. Thom earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a minor in Film Making from the University of Illinois/Springfield. Thom serves on the University of Illinois Alumni Board. He is also active in the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce, where he is a past board member.

Board Member – May 2016

Laura Weyrauch

Laura Weyrauch

Laura Weyrauch is a consultant for construction project programming, management, and owner representation for the senior housing industry. She has over twenty-five years of experience as a registered Architect and Project Manager. Laura is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University and holds a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Virginia. She is a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Environments. Laura and her husband have three adult sons and live in La Grange.

Board Member – May 2015