Meet The Team

Nicole Bergquist, NCIDQ, EDAC

Senior Design Director

With more than 20 years of design experience, Nicole is talented at delivering environments curated to her clients’ specific needs. By applying her robust senior living and high-end residential expertise, she’s able to balance aesthetics and functionality to deliver appealing spaces where seniors can thrive. Nicole is responsible for over 150 renovation projects per year—implementing resident-centered environments and staying current with industry trends and expectations. She has a passion for helping improve the lives of others and is thrilled to bring that value to work every day. Nicole lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and three lively dogs.
Tina Ruiz Ellen, NCIDQ, IIDA

Senior Design Director

Tina brings 25 years of diverse experience in interior design and architecture to craft thoughtful and purposeful senior living environments. She has worked in the restaurant, retail, hospitality, and high-end residential sectors. Tina leads a team of designers responsible for renovations and new development projects. She is passionate about improving the quality of life for seniors by leveraging her extreme attention to detail and high standards of quality in every phase of her projects. She brings her commitment to excellence in the development and management of program and design standards. Tina enjoys art, culture, food, and outdoor adventures with her husband, son, daughter, and dog.
Joan Bueno, NCIDQ

Senior Design Manager

Joan leverages her 20 years of senior living design experience to create safe and aesthetically meaningful communities. She finds her inspiration in the excitement and positive impact that interior design has on residents’ lives. Skilled at integrating brand standards, aesthetics, and local history into her design, Joan brings comfort and cohesion to senior living residents. She currently oversees multiple projects from design development to installation, as well as utilizes her expertise to mentor junior designers and set them up for success. In her free time, she loves trying different local restaurants and planning beach vacations with her husband and daughter.
Cherilyn McCall, NCIDQ

Senior Design Manager

Cherilyn is a passionate and creative individual with a skill for crafting spaces that are both beautiful and functional. With over 15 years of experience in design, she excels at understanding her clients' needs and translating them into stunning environments. Her expertise spans across senior living and high-end residential projects, allowing her to strike a perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality and ensuring a residential feel is achieved within each project. Cherilyn leads a team responsible for multiple renovation projects of a variety of scopes and sizes. Driven by a desire to improve the lives of others, Cherilyn brings her dedication and enthusiasm to every project through thorough research selections. Outside of work, Cherilyn enjoys life in Northern Virginia with her family and a highly opinionated beagle named Hunter.
Kristin Cornell, NCIDQ

Design Manager

Kristin has a passion for creating beautiful environments that promote independence and enhance well-being. A seasoned interior designer specializing in senior living for 18 years, she believes in creating functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces that foster a sense of community and belonging. As a manager on the new construction team, Kristin is responsible for design development, bid documents, and construction administration. She also has a background in renovation and has worked on many capital budget projects throughout the years. While maintaining high standards, Kristin makes sure that each community is unique and fits well into the surrounding neighborhood. In her free time, Kristin loves hiking and going on adventures with her husband and dog, Pono.
Jennifer Corrales

Design Manager

Jennifer brings 24 years of experience in the design industry to our team. With a strong background in new construction multi-family design, she knows how to create beautiful and functional spaces. Jennifer leads a highly collaborative team focused on renovations—taking care to find the materials and architectural elements that will tell a story and connect the design to residents. Her love of texture, color, and art shine throughout her designs. Having personal experience providing care, she has a passion for designing specialized and functional environments for seniors. Jennifer lives in Virginia with her husband and children.
Meredith Driscoll, NCIDQ, EDAC

Design Manager

With 14 years of experience, Meredith loves working on large-scale renovations. A natural problem solver, she has a flair for creating spaces with superior functionality and exceptional amenities. Meredith earned her bachelor’s degree in interior design from The Ohio State University and her master’s degree in gerontology from Kent State University—perfectly blending her design proficiency with a keen understanding of seniors. Living in Ohio with her husband, son, and two cats, she enjoys traveling, exercise, fostering kittens, and Ohio State football.
Carolina Grandelle Steckley

Design Manager

Carolina brings her deep expertise in interior architecture and design to our team. With more than 20 years of experience, she has a robust background in commercial design, high-end single and multi-family projects, and senior living. With a strong interest in urban design and sustainability, Carolina is passionate about improving the function and aesthetic of the built environment. She cares deeply about the quality of life of those who live in, work in or enjoy the spaces she designs. Carolina is adept at developing outstanding architectural drawings. She earned her bachelor’s degree in architecture and urban design. Carolina leads a highly talented and collaborative team focused mostly on renovations. Outside of work, she’s interested in well-being, nature, and outdoor activities.
Kate Lough, NCIDQ

Design Manager

Kate is always looking to push our designs to new levels. With 14 years of experience, she has worked on both renovations and new construction—being involved in all phases of the design process, from conception to detailed construction follow-through and furniture selections. Managing a talented team of new construction designers, Kate strives to give each building its own personal and local identity that exudes warmth and comfort. She loves pulling from mid-century influences, using contrasting palettes and textures and vibrant art. Kate lives in Washington, D.C. with her two cats, Monk and Louis, and enjoys making pizza from scratch every weekend.
Kimberlee Taylor

Design Manager

Kimberlee has more than 17 years of experience in interior design, with a background in architecture and model home design. She brings a sense of structure and excitement to each project she works on. She has spent more than 12 years with our team, managing her own CapEx design projects, which includes selecting all interior finishes, overseeing design packages, and leading construction administration and drawings. Kimberlee manages her studio and projects with positive energy, fostering collaboration and excellence in every aspect of her work. She is dedicated to creating high-quality, functional, and beautiful spaces that enhance the lives of seniors. Kimberlee loves exploring new places through travel, appreciating architecture and reading. She shares these experiences with her husband and two daughters.