Leadership Team

John B. Wasileski

Owner, Developer, and Manager
The Highlands is locally owned by John Wasileski, who prides himself in providing the best retirement communities possible. A resident of Maine and an active community leader, Mr. Wasileski has over thirty years of experience in the design and development of adult communities in Maine. He is closely involved in the planning, development and oversight of The Highlands community. It’s this type of leadership commitment that has earned him the Governor’s Award for Business Excellence.

 

Jeffrey Ketchum

Director of Operations
Jeff was born and raised in Maine. He has degrees in both Public Administration and Physical Education and Recreation. Jeff has over fifteen years of experience in management including work for the Portland Ice Arena and the Millinocket Recreation Department. He joined The Highlands in 2008 as Director of Operations. Working with residents in a variety of situations is Jeff’s favorite part of the job. Advising The Estates boards of directors, responding to resident questions, and managing the community with exceptional customer service are all areas Jeff takes great pride in every day.

Jeff’s interests and hobbies outside of work include fishing, hunting, water sports, skiing, skeet shooting and spending time with his family.

 

Holly Zielinski

Susan Sorg

Sales Consultant
Susan first came to The Highlands in 1999 as a customer. As a resident in Topsham, she was looking for a retirement community for her own mother, and chose The Highlands. Susan was so pleased with the results she decided to work here a year later, in 2000. It’s quite a change from her previous career as an Emmy-award winning television news producer.

Her free time is devoted to genealogy and history, which also makes her quite passionate about the Family History room in the Holden Frost House. Being quite a story teller herself, Susan loves the many stories she hears from the people in the community, and she also shares in their joys since moving here.

 

Don Wessels

Sales Consultant
Don is a Midwest native. He spent his childhood moving around the country as the son of a railroad industry executive. After marrying his college sweetheart, he moved to the New England seacoast, eventually settling in Maine. Before coming to work for The Highlands he spent ten years at The Portland Newspapers, as well as over three decades teaching and performing music.

When he’s not helping his Highlands customers he enjoys skiing, body surfing and traveling to visit his far-flung children.

 

Jay Pappas

Sales Consultant
Jay spent much of his career in Radio / Television, both on-air and at the academic level on the East Coast and in the Midwest. He later worked in college admissions, recruiting prospective students and assisting them in the college enrollment process. After years of vacationing at his lake cottage in Maine, Jay and his wife relocated from Ohio and built a home here in Midcoast Maine. Jay has two grown daughters; one in Maine and the other in North Carolina. “They’ve blessed me with two beautiful grandchildren.”

Jay is an alumni of the National Ski Patrol and enjoys spending time on the ocean, hiking, hunting, fishing, kayaking, wood carving and cooking. 

Sandra Hansen

Move-In and Events Coordinator
Sandra Hansen is  a part of the residents services team, and serves in a dual role as  Move-in and Events Coordinator. Her favorite part of her day is listening to people’s stories and finding what is important to them as well as helping new residents enjoy the benefits of their new home!

Sandra’s hobbies include ballroom dancing, cooking, gardening, and being out on Casco Bay.

 

Cathy Gustafson, RN

Director of Assisted Living
Cathy was born and raised in the small down of Richmond, Maine. She attended the University of Maine at Augusta, where she earned her RN. The best thing about being part of The Highlands team is, “being able to add to the quality of life of our residents. It is a privilege to be part of this wonderful community”.

 

Andrea Higson, LPN

Cadigan Lodge Resident Care Coordinator
Andrea graduated from River College’s School of Nursing. She has worked in Geriatrics for almost all of that time, including nearly nine years at The Highlands. She has always believed that our society’s greatest resource is the wisdom that resides within our elders.

 

Melissa Meister, RN

Community Wellness Director
Melissa was born in Rutland, Vermont and moved to Maine when she was fourteen. She considers herself a true New Englander. She has been married for twenty years and has a ten year old daughter who is full of life and a true joy.

Melissa has worked as a nurse for eighteen years and absolutely loves it. Her true love is geriatrics. Melissa serves as the The Highlands Community Wellness Director where she is able to be a resource to so many great people.

 

Lisa Secone

Cadigan Lodge and Governor King Program Manager
Lisa has been part of The Highlands team for nine years and her role is to oversee all aspects of the Governor King Community program. She has a degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Green Mountain College, in Vermont. Lisa lives in Harpswell, Maine with her husband and two children. She is a life-long Mainer.

 

Brenda LaCombe

Fitness Manager
Brenda LaCombe has worked in the fitness industry for fourteen years, eleven at The Highlands. She loves her job, especially having the opportunity to get to know the residents. Fitness is not only fun, but it is very rewarding to see the results exercise has for the residents. Brenda’s love of fitness extends to her family’s business, a high ropes adventure course. She enjoys mountain climbing, hiking, ice skating, downhill skiing and gardening.

 

Crystal Toothaker

Director of Resident Services
Crystal has been employed at The Highlands since 1996, serving in many different capacities from caregiver, to office manager, to her current role as Director of Resident Services.  Planning programs and outings for the residents of The Highlands is extremely rewarding. Crystal says the best part of her job is getting to know the residents.  When not involved in activities at The Highlands, she enjoys spending time on Casco Bay with her lobsterman husband, camping, reading, cooking and simply relaxing!

 

CraigLentz

General Manager, Dining Services

 

Jason Whitten

Executive Chef
Jason Whitten is an award winning Executive Chef and Manager of The Highlands Dining service. He has been a central Maine resident for the past 34 years. While enlisted in the Navy, he served as a Mess Management Specialist. Jason attended Southern Maine Community College studying Culinary Arts, Dietary Therapeutics, and Food Service Management. After gaining valuable experience in senior living communities, Jason joined The Highlands and is now a 14 year veteran.

He takes great pride in working with local vendors, using the freshest ingredients, including organic produce, and growing his own herbs just outside the kitchen.

Debbie Washburn

Housekeeping Director
Deb Washburn serves as Director of Housekeeping. Her favorite part of her days is getting to know all the residents, learning about their lives and what is important to them. Her mission is then to add to their smiles every day.

Deb’s family enriches her life and keeps her busy when not at work. Besides her family, Deb’s passion is cruising the world.

 

Tracy Stone

Maintenance Director
Tracy Stone is the Maintenance Director and has been employed by the community for six years. He most enjoys being able to help residents with whatever they may need, whether it’s simply holding the door when he sees them, or just walking down the hall with them. Knowing he has made a difference in someone’s day is the most rewarding part of the job for Tracy. He also enjoys the team atmosphere, working together to make sure residents have a comfortable, worry free environment.

In his spare time, Tracy enjoys spending time with his family along with fishing, hunting, and hiking.