Executive Team and Administrators
Meet the Team
At Hillcrest Health Services, our amazing team ensures the best in innovative senior health services throughout our senior living communities and health care centers. We are proud to serve aging adults in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, continually going above and beyond the expectations of our residents and their families. Below is a list of our executive team and administrators who help make it all possible:
Jolene Roberts, MSW, LNHA
Jolene Roberts is President of Hillcrest Health Services, a company she took over in 1988. With a 30-year history of passionate work ethics, her excellent visionary, networking, analytic, creative and decision-making skills give her the proven ability to conceptualize, implement and direct systems from strategic planning through development to daily operation. Ms. Roberts has been a pioneer in healthcare for most of her career. Among other accomplishments, she has developed and opened Sarpy County’s first: Assisted Living Facility in 1998 (Hillcrest Mable Rose), Post-acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Center in 2002 (Hillcrest Health & Rehab), Medicare-certified Home Health Agency in 2007 (Hillcrest Home Care), and Nebraska’s first household-model long-term care cottages in 2008 (Hillcrest Country Estates). Additionally, Ms. Roberts has helped open Sarpy County’s only Adult Day Services program (The Club) and the only Balance Therapy Program (at Hillcrest Physical Therapy). Prior to founding Hillcrest Health Services, Ms. Roberts was a Social Worker for the State of Iowa and taught Long Term Care Administration for the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Ms. Roberts has sat on several Board of Directors including Alzheimer’s Association Midlands Chapter, Child Savings Institute, Visiting Nurses Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Nebraska Health Care Association, and Immanuel Health Systems Retirement Communities. Ms. Roberts received her Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Nebraska – Omaha, specializing in gerontology. She received her undergraduate degree in Social Work from University of Northern Iowa. Ms. Roberts has been personally recognized with several awards including the Ten Outstanding Young Omahans award, Bellevue Person of the Year, Distinguished Alumni from the Bellevue Chamber, American Red Cross Volunteer of the Year, the University of Nebraska Award for Outstanding Public Service, Suburban Newspapers’ Worthy Women of Distinction, and Bellevue Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Service Award. Under her leadership, Hillcrest Health Services has been recognized for Sarpy Chamber Small Business Award (2005), the Bellevue Silver Arrow Award, the Sarpy Country Business of the Year (2008), the Omaha Chamber Golden Spike Award (2009), and the Sarpy County Economic Development Corporation Business of the Year Award (2011). In 2013, Ms. Roberts was inducted into the Sarpy County Business Hall of Fame and in 2014, Hillcrest Health Services was named Business of the Year, 26+ employees, by the Sarpy County Chamber of Commerce.
Sharyl Ronan, BSW, MBA, LNHA
Sharyl Ronan is the Chief Executive Officer of Hillcrest, joining the organization in 2018. Sharyl has experience in the senior living and geriatric post-acute space for over 25 years as a leader for organizations, including a small owner-operated venture as well as an Executive Senior Leader in two of the largest publicly-traded senior living companies in the US. Her experience in senior housing and health care began as a Certified Nursing Assistant, where her passion for the elderly and commitment to enhancing the lives of aging adults developed. She has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and is a credentialed Licensed Nursing Home Administrator in two states. She also holds a Residential Care Administrator’s license in California. Her experiences includes working on the original pilot project with the State of California in creation of the first Alzheimer’s programs in the residential assisted living environment. She helped to develop a hospice agency and home health agency early in her career for an owner-operated provider. Her commitment and experience led her to be a strong advocate for the ‘frailest of the frail’ in which she became a young Vice President serving the post-acute and skilled nursing market. She was hired by Emeritus Senior Living, one of the largest assisted living providers in the country, to develop, oversee and run their new skilled nursing platform and roll out in preparation for national growth. It was there that she led 33 CCRC’s (Continuing Care Retirement Communities with independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing neighborhoods) over 10 states with 5,800 team members while supervising four regional teams and overseeing the national skilled nursing team. Prior to Hillcrest, she was most recently the Vice President for Brookdale Senior Living, overseeing their CCRC’s for the state of California. Her strong background in post-acute and long-term care brought her closer to her Midwest roots to serve as the CEO of Hillcrest Health Services in Bellevue, NE.
Kevin Mulhearn, MBA
Kevin Mulhearn joined Hillcrest as Chief Financial Officer in late 2013 with 22 years of operational and financial experience in the senior living industry. Previously, Mr. Mulhearn was Director of Finance for Riverside Health System’s Lifelong Health Division in Newport News, Va., where he oversaw financial operations for multiple lines of business and was instrumental in developing financial pro-formas for key growth programs. Prior to that, Mr. Mulhearn spent 17 years in various financial leadership positions, including 15 years as CFO, for Alexian Brothers Health System in Elk Grove Village, Ill. He holds an MBA in Healthcare Administration and Finance from Lewis University and a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from North Central College, both located in Illinois. Mr. Mulhearn has been a certified Resident Housing Professional and served as the chairperson of the Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)/Continuing Care Accreditation Commission (CCAC) for six years.
Dr. Anthony Hatcher D.O., FAAFP
Anthony Hatcher, DO, is a board certified family physician and the Chief Medical Officer at Hillcrest Health Services. He received a Bachelor of Science from Truman State University, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri, and a Master’s degree in Executive Leadership from the University of Nebraska Lincoln. Dr. Hatcher completed his Family Medicine residency at Creighton University and served in the United States Air Force as a Flight Surgeon stationed at Offutt AFB. Prior to joining Hillcrest Health Services, Dr. Hatcher spent more than 20 years working for Alegent /CHI Health as a practicing clinical physician. He also served on the Alegent Health Board of Directors and as the Chief Administrative Officer of Alegent Health Clinic.
Reggie J. Ripple, MPH, OTR/L
As Vice President of Home and Community Services, Reggie Ripple leads the operations of Hillcrest’s hospice and home health services, including skilled nursing, in-home personal care, telehealth, and palliative care. Mr. Ripple has served as a dynamic and effective leader in the home health industry since 1997, where he began his career as an occupational therapist for St. John Health System in Tulsa, Okla. He quickly progressed into management overseeing therapy and clinical services, and as Home Care Director, managed the home health, hospice and inpatient/outpatient palliative care programs serving five hospitals in Northeastern Oklahoma. Mr. Ripple received a Bachelor’s of Science in occupation therapy and psychology from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa and holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Oklahoma – Tulsa. He is a Licensed Home Care Administrator, unique to Oklahoma, and was recognized as one of eight national recipients of The Catholic Health Association’s “Tomorrow’s Leaders of the Catholic Health Ministry” for outstanding leadership, community service and passionate commitment to the mission of Catholic healthcare. Mr. Ripple, his wife Tina and three children relocated from Oklahoma to Papillion, Neb. in August 2014 to join the Hillcrest family.
Martha Zubke
Martha Zubke is Vice President of Quality Improvement & Administration. She joined the organization in 2006 and is principally responsible for quality improvement, education, corporate compliance, risk management and human resources for Hillcrest Health Services. Ms. Zubke’s previous experience includes serving as Vice President of Human Resources at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA. She served as Director of Human Resources for Hillcrest before being promoted to the Executive Team as a Vice President in 2011. Ms. Zubke received her undergraduate degree in Business Management from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and her MBA from Bellevue University.
Jim Janicki, APR
Jim Janicki is Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Hillcrest Health Services. He is responsible for marketing, advertising, public relations, market research, admissions and business development for all Hillcrest service lines. Prior to joining Hillcrest, Mr. Janicki served as Executive Director of Marketing for Riverside Health System in Newport News, Virginia, a $950-million, physician-led not-for-profit organization that served over 5,000 older adults every day. In the past, Mr. Janicki worked as a Senior Account Manager and national consultant for SB&A in Richmond, Virginia. In that role, he helped clients in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Delaware, Connecticut, Illinois, Nevada and Oregon build new CCRCs and Active Adult Communities, as well as reposition failing CCRCs for successful turnarounds. Mr. Janicki is a native of Buffalo, New York, where he served as Director of Marketing and Communications for ElderWood Senior Care for six years and as an Account Executive with ad agency Eric Mower and Associates for five years. He is a BA graduate of SUNY Geneseo, near Rochester, NY, and he is an accredited public relations professional (APR) through PRSA. He currently lives in Papillion, Nebraska with his two daughters.
Matt Oestmann, DPT
Matt Oestmann is Vice President of Rehab and Post-Acute Services for Hillcrest Health Services. Prior to joining Hillcrest in 2007, Dr. Oestmann worked with an outpatient orthopaedic clinic and a community hospital in Iowa. He was promoted to the Director of Therapy Services in late 2007 and then Administrator of Home Care in 2011 prior to his move to the Executive Team as a Vice President in 2016. His accomplishments have included building a strong team of dedicated therapists with decades of experience in home health and orthopaedics. He is active in American Physical Therapy Association and National Association of Rehab Agencies, serving on various committees over the years. He has also served the Nebraska Home Care Association as a Board Member and Legislative committee member. He was selected as one of the Midlands Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” in 2016. Dr. Oestmann received his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Psychology from Dana College and his Masters in Physical Therapy and his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from UNMC. He is currently working on his MBA at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Dr. Oestmann is a Nebraska native and currently lives in the Papillion area with his wife, Mylissa, and their five children.
Derrick DeFino
Administrative Team
Dave Creal
Nicole Ellermeier
Lauren Wright, PT, MPT, COS-C
Tim Martens
Tammy Weston, LNHA
Kevin Sauberzweig, LNHA
Grace Knott, PT
Paul Gardner, PT, GCS
Ashley Walters
David Deemer
Barry Emerson
Mike Rehfeldt, M.A.
Sarah Stoakes
Jessica Fredrickson
Jolene Roberts, MSW, LNHA
Sharyl Ronan, BSW, MBA, LNHA


Kevin Mulhearn, MBA


Dr. Anthony Hatcher D.O., FAAFP


Reggie J. Ripple, MPH, OTR/L


Martha Zubke


Jim Janicki, APR


Matt Oestmann, DPT



Derrick DeFino
Dave Creal
Nicole Ellermeier
Lauren Wright, PT, MPT, COS-C


Tim Martens


Tammy Weston, LNHA


Kevin Sauberzweig, LNHA


Grace Knott, PT
Grace Knott is the Administrator of Post-acute Rehab Services for Hillcrest Rehab Services. She is the president of the Nebraska Physical Therapy Association and has extensive experience in acute, skilled nursing and outpatient settings as both a clinician and a manager. A graduate of Kansas University in physical therapy, her passion is working with the older adult, especially in the areas of fall risk reduction, dementia care and optimal aging.
Paul Gardner, PT, GCS
Paul Gardner is the Administrator of Community Rehab Services for Hillcrest Rehab Services. Paul has been a certified geriatric clinical specialist for nearly 10 years. A graduate of UNMC, he has lectured at Creighton University, in the broader community advocating for active aging and frequently educates team members within the Hillcrest organization.
Ashley Walters
David Deemer
Barry Emerson
Barry Emerson joined the Hillcrest family as Administrator of Hillcrest Firethorn in 2020. He began his health care adventure in 1999 in rural Nebraska. He served as the Senior Administrator for several locations, both big and small. He has a background in retail, ministry and education, which helps him fulfill his passion for serving guests (patients) and residents with excellence and heart. He has been married to his wife Angela for more than 25 years and they have four children. Barry grew up in Omaha and graduated from Millard North. He went on to receive a Bachelors in Business Management and a Bachelors in Marketing from Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. He loves spending time with his family and watching movies.
Mike Rehfeldt, M.A.
Sarah Stoakes
Jessica Fredrickson
Up Next: Quality & Excellence
Hillcrest Health Services has been providing senior care and senior living since 1967, and is now a leader among providers of aging-related services in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Some of our recent awards and accomplishments include…
How can we help you today?
We understand that choosing the right living situation for you or your loved ones is a difficult decision. Our expert team is ready to answer any questions you may have so that we can help you find the best solution for your unique situation.
- Hillcrest Country Estates
- Hillcrest Firethorn
- Hillcrest Mable Rose
- The Club at Hillcrest Mable Rose
- Hillcrest Health and Rehab
- Hillcrest Millard
- Hillcrest Shadow Lake
- Hillcrest Home Care - Lincoln
- Hillcrest Home Care - Omaha
- Hillcrest Caring Companions
- Hillcrest Hospice
- Hillcrest Silver Ridge
- Innovate Physical Therapy
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