Biographies

Executive Biographies
Alvin Loewenberg President and Chief Executive Officer - alvin.loewenberg@mmliving.org Alvin Loewenberg is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Morningside Ministries. He is responsible for the oversight of nine senior care communities providing nursing care, assisted living and independent living, totaling 807 units. Loewenberg has been involved in long-term care administration since 1979. For the past 20 years, he has served as the President/CEO of Morningside Ministries. Loewenberg has held various positions of leadership at both the Texas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (TAHSA) and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA). Loewenberg currently serves on the Nominating Committee for AAHSA. From 1999-2001, he served as Chair of the board of directors for TAHSA and has served several terms on the AAHSA House of Delegates and as a member of the Long-Term Care Financing Cabinet, which was tasked with the responsibility of finding alternative methods to fund care for older adults in the years ahead. He has served on the board of directors for Goodwill Industries, Alamo Work Force Development, the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Hospice San Antonio and was a member of the mayor's health care task force from 2001-2003. Loewenberg has been awarded TAHSA's Award of Honor and the Award of Special Commendation from the Association and has been recognized as a Health Care Hero by the San Antonio Business Journal. He has spoken at many community forums, state and national meetings on topics such as change, integrity and leadership. In 2007, he served as host of a weekly radio show that dealt with issues and concerns of older adults and their families. Originally from Mississippi, he holds a bachelor of science in mathematics from Millsaps College, a masters of divinity degree from Emory University and a master of business administration from Delta State University. Loewenberg is also a clergy member of the United Methodist Church.
Leo Cutcliff Executive Vice President of Operations - leo.cutcliff@mmliving.org Leo Cutcliff joined Morningside Ministries in October 2005 as the Executive Vice President of Operations. His educational background includes both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in management. Cutcliff is a retired Colonel in the United States Air Force. During his 24-year military career, he held numerous positions in both operational and personnel areas. He served as a combat navigator, flying 130 combat missions in Southeast Asia. He has been a commander at the squadron, group and base command levels. Following retirement from the military, he has held positions as the vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of Air Force Villages and as executive director of Fisher House, Inc. Cutcliff also serves as an associate director on the board of directors for Security Service Federal Credit Union.
Joan Dixon Vice President of Finance - joan.dixon@mmliving.org Joan Dixon has served as the Vice President of Finance for Morningside Ministries since 1995. Her responsibilities include preparation and presentation of detailed financial statements, review of all tax returns, supervision of financial, Medicaid, Medicare, pension and insurance audits and communication of all financial information to staff and outside persons or organizations. Dixon is also responsible for budgets, billing, accounts payable, payroll and the 401(k) pension plan. Dixon began her career as a staff accountant at Hardin, Wolff & Bradley, CPAs in 1986 and held positions of increasing responsibility within the firm. She has more than 20 years of accounting and management experience. She holds a bachelor and masters of business administration degrees from the University of Texas at San Antonio and is also a graduate of the North San Antonio Chamber Leadership Lab. She is a certified public accountant in the state of Texas and a member of TSCPA and AICPA. She is also an active member of the Finance Committee of the Texas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.
Suzanne Huber Executive Director, Morningside Ministries at The Chandler Estate - suzanne.huber@mmliving.org Suzanne Huber was named the Executive Director of Morningside Ministries at The Chandler Estate in October 2009, after serving as the very first administrator of the Kendall House Wellness and Rehabilitation Center at Menger Springs. She is responsible for directing and coordinating all functions of the independent living apartments and the skilled nursing community at Chandler, including hiring and developing staff, ensuring a sound financial position, managing the appropriate safety and care of all residents and the policies, planning and procedures for The Chandler Estate. Prior to Kendall House, Huber served as the Executive Director of the Golden Manor Jewish Home for the Aged and also served as an adjunct professor in sociology at St. Philips College and an administrator for Social Work Services. She was a parole officer with the Texas Youth Commission and case manager with the Center for Health Care Services, as well as a social worker with the Bexar County Adult Detention. Huber has served on the board of directors for the Bexar Senior Advisory Committee Area Agency on Aging, as well as the board of Texas Children's Mental Health Matters. She has been a lecturer at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio's Geriatric Education Program. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Texas Lutheran College and received her master of arts degree in sociology from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University). She became licensed in nursing home administration in December 2004.
Bob Hultgren Executive Director, Morningside Manor Health Care - bob.hultgren@mmliving.org Bob Hultgren has served as the Executive Director of Morningside Manor Health Care since 1998. He has been a licensed nursing facility administrator since 1995, having previously worked for two large long-term care providers. He is a member of the Association of Long Term Care Professionals, the American Society on Aging and the Medical Center Rotary Club. Hultgren has presented at both the Texas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging annual meetings and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging conference on subjects as diverse as employee retention and telemedicine. Hultgren has a bachelor of business administration degree with a major in finance from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Jil Utterback Executive Director, Morningside Meadows Retirement Community - jill.utterback@mmliving.org Jil Utterback has served as the Executive Director of The Meadows for eleven years. Prior to her role as executive director, she was an assistant administrator and marketing director for The Meadows and a marketing assistant in the corporate office of Morningside Ministries. Prior to her career at Morningside, Utterback was an American Red Cross Caseworker for the San Antonio Area Chapter Office and was a manager for a stationary store in Fairbanks, Alaska. She is a current executive board member for the Jefferson Area Outreach for Older Adults and has served on numerous committees for the Texas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. She has a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and is a licensed nursing facility administrator, a certified retirement housing professional, a certified assisted living manager and a graduate of the North San Antonio Chamber Leadership Lab.
Maria Wellisch Vice President of Corporate Education - maria.wellisch@mmliving.org Maria Wellisch is the Vice President of Corporate Education for Morningside Ministries. She is responsible for staff training, including skill development related to governmental and industry standards of care for the elderly. Wellisch established and directs the Elizabeth McGown Training Institute and the Georgie Briscoe Resource Center, an educational and skill-training centers for professional, pastoral and family caregivers. Wellisch began her career as a registered nurse in 1971, going on to earn a bachelor's degree in management in 1980. She is also a state-certified nursing home administrator and certified assisted living manager. Through much of her career, Wellisch has served in senior-level management positions responsible for resident care, staffing and employee training with Kaiser Permanente, Primus Health Care Services and Air Force Villages Retirement Community. Before coming to Morningside, Wellisch served as president of MLW Health Care Consultants, providing staff recruitment and retention services for skilled nursing care, assisted living and continuing care retirement communities.
Tamara Stroike Vice President of Marketing, Morningside Ministries - Tamara.stroike@mmliving.org Tamara Stroike joined Morningside Ministries as the Vice President of Marketing in April 2011. With over 21 years of Senior Living and Healthcare experience, Tamara has worked in Independent Living, Assisted Living, Alzheimer's & Dementia care, Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation and Home Health Care. She has experience in both For-Profit and Not-for-Profit settings. She also has experience in advertising and PR which will prove valuable to a large Not-for-profit such as Morningside Ministries. Tamara has spent much of her career as a Regional Sales Director supporting and advising Senior Living communities across the U.S. Tamara comes to the Morningside Ministries team from Houston, TX and is now calling San Antonio home.
Sylvia Ann Rodarte Vice President of Human Resources, Morningside Ministries Sylvia Ann Rodarte joined Morningside Ministries (MSM) in August of 2010 as the Vice President of Human Resources. With over 20 years experience in Human Resources, Sylvia brings to Morningside Ministries her experience as a forward thinking, results oriented HR professional and proven record of success. She approaches HR with an innovative vision, high ethical standards and the ability to deliver strategic guidance on leadership development, employee relations, performance management, talent acquisition and change management. Prior to joining MSM, Sylvia served as a Regional Director of Human Resources for a national Long Term Care organization providing support for multiple LTC communities in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Laredo, Kerrville, and surrounding areas. Sylvia's educational background includes graduating Magna Cum Laude with a BBA in Human Resources Management from the University of Texas at San Antonio and Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Certification from the HRCI. Sylvia resides in Boerne, Texas with her husband Peter.