About Us
What makes us different.
At Avamere, our dedicated healthcare professionals are here to guide you through your post-acute care journey. The Avamere way means we take a person-centered approach, from individualized care plans to getting on a first-name basis. Our goal is to bring a personal touch to everything we do.
Our company mission is ‘to enhance the life of every person we serve,’ and our team members take that to heart. Treating you and your loved ones with compassion and respect has been our standard for over 25 years. No matter your healthcare goals, our team of dedicated caregivers and clinicians are here to support you in reaching them.
Avamere is able to offer a variety of services to meet your care needs. All our facilities offer 24-hour skilled nursing, as well as in-house therapy services. Between physical, occupational, and speech-language therapies, Avamere is able to offer a full range of services. And, since our therapists are in-house, you can count on receiving an enhanced level of care and cooperation during your stay.
We understand that every person’s journey is unique, so we are committed to enhancing your life in the way that works best for you. Whether it is a place that your or your loved one can recover during a post-acute stay, or a home away from home, Avamere has a spot for you. We look forward to coming alongside you in your healthcare journey.
“I formed Avamere with an intrinsic desire and goal to enhance lives. Whether we are serving our patients and residents, their family members, or our own fellow teammates, here at Avamere we’re all about family and creating a home where everyone feels they belong.”
– Rick Miller, Founder
Our Mission
& Core Values
Our mission and seven core values guide us in every interaction with our patients, residents, their family members, and our fellow teammates.
We honor our mission by working together to get to know our seniors personally, understand and meet their unique needs, and cultivate an environment of compassion and trust.
Our Mission
to enhance the life of every person we serve
OUR CORE VALUES
- Integrity above all else
- Passion for the quality of people’s lives
- Quality that is obvious
- Innovation, not emulation
- A culture of trust and respect
- Reaching to learn, grow, and embrace change
- Teamwork, camaraderie, and fun
Our History
Avamere began in 1995, as a single Skilled Nursing Facility in Hillsboro, Oregon. Since that small beginning, Avamere has grown over the years to become the industry leader in the Pacific Northwest for Skilled Nursing and Post-Acute Care. Operating 33 Skilled Nursing Facilities in Oregon and Washington, including 5 campuses with Independent Living, Assisted Living, and/or Memory Care onsite, Avamere provides those who need extra care a dignified place to rest and recover.
Community Engagement
Avamere is fully committed to a diverse, equitable workplace and healthcare environment. To see our partnerships, initiatives, and community engagement, visit our DEIB page below.
Tim Doman
Board Member
Tim Doman joined Avamere board in 2019 and remains on each of the boards for Avamere, Arete Living, and Signature Health. Tim is the former executive vice president and chief operating officer of Care Capital Properties, Inc. (CCP). He oversaw a portfolio consisting of approximately 350 assets and over 40 tenant and borrower relationships in 36 states that included primarily skilled nursing facilities, as well as senior living communities, hospitals, and other properties. CCP was previously part of Ventas, Inc. in 2015 and merged with Sabra Healthcare REIT, Inc. in 2017.
From 2002 to 2015, he held various senior management positions at Ventas, most recently serving as its senior vice president and chief portfolio officer. Prior to the spin-off of CCP, Ventas was approximately a $36 billion company where he oversaw a portfolio consisting of more than 1,650 healthcare assets in 46 states, two Canadian provinces, and the United Kingdom. Before his experience with Ventas, Tim was a senior asset manager for GE Capital Real Estate from 1998 to 2002, where he managed a commercial real estate equity and loan portfolio.
From 1992 to 1998 he held various management positions, most recently serving as the vice president of asset management at ZKS Real Estate Partners, LLC, a spin-off from Kemper Corporation. At Kemper Corporation and ZKS, Tim was responsible for evaluating the performance of a diversified national commercial real estate investment portfolio.
Tim received his Bachelor of Business Administration in real estate and finance from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a Master of Business Administration in finance from Indiana University.
Jim Carlson
Board Member
Jim served as CEO of the Oregon Health Care Association (OHCA) from 1997 to 2020. He continues to be engaged with OHCA as a strategic advisor and serves on Avamere’s Advisory Board. In addition, he continues to work with the American Health Care Association as a strategic advisor, helping provide technical assistance to state affiliates across the country.
Before joining OHCA as director of government affairs in 1994, Jim served as associate director of government affairs for the Oregon Medical Association. He began his career as a legislative assistant for the U.S. House of Representatives.
He is a past member of the board of directors of the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) and is past-president of the American Society of Health Care Association Executives (ASHCAE). At present he serves as a member of the Oregon Health Science University board of directors, a four-year position he was appointed to by the governor in 2021.
Troy Perry
Director of Leadership Development
Troy started with Avamere when he was 16 years old. At the first Avamere facility in Hillsboro, he fell in love with the company and culture while washing dishes. Wanting to continue in the company, he became the Activities Assistant and was promoted to Activities Director as he attended college.
Troy spent time as the Admissions Director before deciding that he wanted to participate in the AIT program and become an Administrator. Troy went into the program in 2015 and in 2016 was assigned his first building, Twin Oaks in Sweet home, Oregon. He spent seven years in five different buildings as an Admin. During the height of the pandemic from 2020-2022, Troy ran the designated COVID Emergency Health Care units in Laurelhurst Village and The Pearl. In April 2022, Troy stepped into his current role as Director of Leadership Development.
With a growing family, Troy spends his fleeting free time fixing an ’89 Bronco, playing fantasy football, going on beach adventures with his wife and son, and rooting for the Oregon Ducks! He is also working on finishing a Master’s Program for his MBA.
When asked why Troy loves Avamere, he responded: “Because of the mentors and leadership supporting me over the last 10-12 years. It has shaped me as a person. Many of the morals and values I hold today are because of things I have taken or was given by leaders at Avamere. It’s a great culture I have always wanted to be a part of and it has never let me down!”
Michelle Lair
VP of Clinical Services
Michelle Lair is the Vice President of Clinical Services for Avamere. Michelle came to Avamere with an extensive background not just in nursing, but also in the long-term care environment. She has a personal passion for excellence in care, and is looking forward to being able to focus on promoting and advancing our high clinical standards across the company. She is currently a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator in Washington State.
Michelle joined Avamere in January of 2024, after spending time in Texas as a healthcare Vice President. She has 3 adult children she loves spending time with, as well as 3 dogs that keep her busy at home. After living in the South for many years, Michelle is so excited to reside in the greater Seattle area and experience all that the outdoors have to offer.
Colby Strunk
Compliance & Privacy Officer
In his time with Avamere, Colby has served as a Director of Sales and Marketing, Executive Director of a community, People’s Operations Manager, and Compliance Specialist. With a vast knowledge of HR, Operations, and Compliance, Colby brings an unparallel incite as the Compliance & Privacy Officer. Colby sees himself and the role of compliance as a piece of the puzzle to promote quality care and outcomes for those Avamere serves.
He received his BA in Management and Leadership from PSU and an MBA from Concordia. He is certified in Health Care Compliance and is also an Associate Professional in Human Resources.
When not at work, Colby spends time with his wife Cassandra, son Xander, and English Bulldog Lilo. In his spare time, Colby competes in Strongman competitions, is active in his neighborhood and church community, and has several entrepreneurial endeavors.
Kim Games
Director of Nursing Services
Bio coming soon!
Maggie Hilty Katz
VP of Market Strategy
Maggie, like many of our leaders, grew up in long term care and skilled nursing. With parents who worked as Activity Directors when she was a child to eventually becoming Administrators and more, those that Avamere serves have always held a special place in her heart.
As the VP of Market Strategy, Maggie works alongside all of Avamere’s facilities to develop strategic plans and partnerships for market growth including contracting, niche programming, and general market and census saturation. Additionally, Maggie oversees Avamere’s business development and community outreach programs as well as the marketing team. Maggie works closely with industry partners from all over the nation to develop plans and practices to better meet the needs of the senior population by allowing them options and the opportunity to receive quality care within Avamere.
Maggie received her Bachelors of Public Relations from the University of Oregon. She currently serves as the Board Chair for the Long Term Care Administrator Board for the State of Oregon and is active in many organizations locally and nationally.
In her free time, Maggie spends time with her two young children, husband, and family. You can usually catch them at the zoo, heading to try a new park, or hanging out having a BBQ no matter the weather.
Kevin Hill
General Counsel
Kevin Hill is General Counsel for Avamere. Kevin joined Avamere in 2018 as in-house counsel and later as Associate General Counsel. Kevin served as an associate attorney at two national law firms in Southern California and in Portland before joining the Avamere team. Prior to attending law school, Kevin spent a number of years working in different finance roles at a major defense contractor in Southern California.
Kevin earned his bachelor’s degree from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California, his MBA at Hope International University in Fullerton, California, and his Juris Doctor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Kevin currently resides in Tualatin with his wife and three children. When he’s not working, Kevin enjoys being in the outdoors, watching sports, and spending time with his family.
Dr. Elizabeth Burns, MD
Chief Medical Officer & Advisory Board Member
Dr. Burns has over 20 years of hospital-based clinical care and leadership experience. Her career spans from hospital-based medicine caring for those that are critically ill and at the end of life to the development of a cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation program with an emphasis on secondary risk reduction. Just before joining Avamere, Dr. Burns served as a physician executive.
Dr. Burns has presented at the national level regarding prior authorization transformation and stakeholder experience, as well as published a New York Times article regarding patient safety for investigational procedures in current clinical practice.
Dr. Burns is an active member in her community and serves on the board for ASD Oregon, Bustin Barriers, and Jim’s World ALS Association. She earned her medical degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and is board certified in internal medicine.
In her free time, Dr. Burns enjoys running and cooking but is mostly on the sidelines cheering her teenagers on while they pursue their passions.
Roxy Stennet
COO
Roxy Stennett has been with Avamere for 26 years. She got started in Skilled Nursing at the age of 19, working as a caregiver, CNA, and Med Tech while going through school. After completing her Undergraduate Degree in Pyschology from Oregon State (Go Beavs!), she moved over to the leadership track. She started as a Business Office Manager, then Admissions Director, Marketer, and then eventually became an Administrator-in-Training.
She spent the first 13 years of her career in one building, rising from CNA all the way to Licensed Administrator by the time she left. In 2018, she became a Regional Director of Operations, and then in 2022 she became the Chief Operations Officer for all of Avamere. In her role as Chief Operations Officer, Roxy’s goal is to establish strong leaders in all of our facilities, focus and drive a strong company culture, and reinforce Avamere’s Core Values.
In her free time, Roxy enjoys boating, camping, water sports, and paddle boarding with her two teenage daughters. She lives for the sun and warm weather and also owns a rare breed of cat, Devon Rex.
Rick Miller
Founder
A highlight of his leadership occurred in 2010 when he wanted to understand, firsthand, the resident and employee experience. Rick moved into and lived full-time, for a year, in three different locations including independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing. This experience resulted in many operational changes and was an evolutionary time in the history of the company.
In 2010 Rick co-founded the venture capital firm, Rogue Venture Partners. Rogue invests primarily in Oregon-based entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses with funding and mentorship.
Rick earned his Master of Business Administrator from Portland State University in 1991. He currently resides in Idaho with his wife Erika and children.
Carl Tabor
RN, BSN, CWCN, LNHA
President & CEO
His passion for helping others followed him through life, as Carl took a self-study course to become a CNA while in high school and worked as a CNA and CMA for eight years before eventually putting himself through school to become a Registered Nurse.
Today, Carl has over 47 years of experience in the healthcare field. He has led clinical risk management for over 500 skilled nursing facilities across the nation and was a licensed Nursing Home Administrator in several states. He has held roles as a nurse, Regional Director of Operations, VP of Clinical, Executive Vice President of Quality, and today as the President of Avamere.
Carl holds his bachelor’s degree in nursing from Oregon Health Sciences University. While earning his bachelor’s, Carl also took post-grad classes in gerontology, counseling, and business administration.
Kevin Tomlinson, MBA
Executive VP & CFO
Kevin Tomlinson joined Avamere in 2013 as Vice President and Corporate Controller. Kevin is responsible for accounting, the annual budgeting and audit process, third-party reimbursement, and he supports acquisitions and development. Kevin has worked in long-term care since 1997.
Immediately prior to joining Avamere, Kevin served as vice president and corporate controller for a regional seniors housing company in Oregon. Previous to this, he served as vice president of reimbursement and business planning for a senior housing company in Arizona and as the reimbursement consultant for a large sub-acute care company in Connecticut.
Kevin has an MBA in finance with an emphasis in accounting.
Rich Jolly, PhD, MBA
Chief Information Officer
Rich Jolly brings broad and deep experience across technology, advanced analytics, and product and business strategy. Rich’s experience spans Intel, consulting, and financial services. His educational background includes a PhD and MBA. Rich earned a CHCIO certification in 2023, one of the highest technology officer certifications available in healthcare. He is well-versed in product development and is an expert in systems thinking, strategy and product planning, and problem-solving.
Today at Avamere, Rich heads the Avamere information group, which is responsible for maintaining an available and secure infrastructure, delivering advanced analytics, enabling the optimization of enterprise applications, and guiding Avamere towards the development of a winning strategy.
Rich lives in Portland with his wife and two children. When he’s not working, Rich enjoys hiking, backpacking, and fishing.
Andrew Loomis
VP of Human Resources
Andrew leads the Human Resources and Talent Acquisition functions, including Labor Relations for our facilities. Andrew’s HR experience has come from several industries, including small business consulting and work with Fortune 500 companies. He has extensive experience supporting healthcare organizations. Before assuming the role of VP of HR, Andrew joined Avamere as the Director of Employee & Labor Relations. Andrew earned Bachelors’ degrees from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, and professional certifications in HR from Portland State University, The Society of Human Resources Management, and the Human Resources Certification Institute.
Andrew currently resides in the Sisters, Oregon, area with his wife Sandra. In his free time, he enjoys winter sports, hiking, running, cycling and most importantly, visiting with his 3 children: his son, Luke, a student at Washington State University, his daughter, Sophia, a student at Arizona State University, and his eldest daughter Adena Shea, a fellow Human Resources Professional in Portland, Oregon.
JoLynn Munro
PRESIDENT, AVAMERE REHABILITATION
JoLynn strives to provide skilled and thoughtful leadership within her organization and through her network of colleagues in the skilled nursing industry. She believes a key component of successful leadership is the continuous development of other skilled and committed leaders. She is passionate about therapy and enabling clinicians to deliver the best science based, compassionate care alongside their facility partners. She has been a member of WHCA as a business partner for 15 years and has presented relevant topics of education at both state and national conferences.