Advena is a family-owned company dedicated to the vision that each person has value and is able to learn and grow throughout life. Whether living in our communities or working in them, we are committed to the notion that the customer is always right, and that even in a heavily regulated environment, we must make “home” a real thing. We do this through the pursuit of person-centered care, the preservation of autonomy, and participative decision-making throughout the organization.
Willie Novotny, Owner and Chief Financial Officer
I took a part-time position as a Certified Nurse Assistant over 20 years ago while I was in school, and it has turned into the most exciting career I could have imagined. I have met some amazing people, been a part of some fascinating changes in the industry, and had the opportunity to learn from some big wins and some even bigger mistakes.
I consider myself a work in progress and understand that everyone else is too. I look forward to getting out of bed every day to help our staff work on problems and find solutions that will make us successful. Our team offers many years of experience, systems and solutions, but even more important, we bring a positive, supportive attitude and energy. We work hard to ensure each person living in our communities gets to live how they want to, on their own schedule, and is able to maintain those special daily pleasures, rituals and traditions that make them who they are.
Michelle Novotny, Owner and Chief Nursing Officer
I grew up in a very small town in northeastern Kansas, where most of our neighbors were older. As a kid, I would go to their houses often, usually just for some stories and to visit, but also to see if they needed anything. That’s what you do in a small town — you take care of each other.
As I grew up, that feeling of wanting to take care of others only grew stronger. I started college in pursuit of a different career, but as I progressed through school, in the back of my mind I always had that desire to make a difference and take care of people. I decided to change my path and pursue a career in nursing. While preparing for nursing school, I became a nurse aide, landed a job as a Certified Nurse Assistant in a local nursing home and fell in love. I fell in love with the elders I cared for and the people I worked with who shared that same passion for others. Now, I’m fortunate enough to be able to share my passion with others, and I have the honor of being able to meet so many more people in our communities, elders and caregivers, all of whom teach me just as much as I teach them.
Rodney Whittington, Chief Executive Officer
My journey in healthcare has spanned over 20 years, deeply rooted in my role as a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA) specializing in Post-Acute Care. Being recognized as a Future Leader of Long-Term Care by the American Healthcare Association (AHCA) in 2001 was a meaningful moment for me, reflecting the respect I’ve built over the years.
My work is driven by a genuine commitment to improving care standards and advocating for quality, which has led me to serve on various boards and committees.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of my career is mentoring emerging leaders in healthcare. I love guiding them through the complexities of leadership and care, and it’s rewarding to see them grow. I also enjoy sharing my insights as a presenter at The Pioneer Network Annual Meeting and contributing to the Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) panels for KDADS.
Today, I’m honored to lead Advena Living Group as President and CEO, where I oversee our skilled nursing and assisted living facilities across Kansas. Navigating the challenges and achieving success in these ventures has reinforced my dedication to providing exceptional care and making a positive impact in our field.
Glenn Blacklock, Regional Director of Facilities
I was raised to value hard work. If something needed to be done, you did it. If you didn’t know how, you figured it out. I also was taught that if someone needed help, you helped them. I made my way into college and then accidentally became a nursing home administrator. An appetite for hard work, a “dig in and figure it out” attitude, and a “help those who need help” mentality were essential to my survival in the long-term care world.
In trying to figure out a better way to provide long-term care, I was blessed to be involved in the early stages of the culture change world. I learned from the best. My passion for creating good lives for those in nursing homes and assisted living environments continued to grow. I am blessed to be able to continue to learn each day from great caregivers and, of course, from so many amazing elders who willingly share their wisdom with me.
Sonya Christopher, Regional Business Office Manager
Jamie Spillman, Regional Director of Support Services
I remember visiting my great-grandmother who unfortunately was past the point of being able to care for herself. I will never forget watching my aunt rub my Maw-maw’s favorite lotion into her hands and brushing her hair as she talked about her day. You see, Maw-maw was always very well put together, and my aunt didn’t do these things out of a sense of duty, but because she understood these things were important to her.
A display of kindness such as this has nothing to do with education, wealth or status in life. Instead, it is a mindset that I am excited to help cultivate and establish in our communities.
The fundamentals of our HR team are to assist those who assist others. Our company is built on the care of people, and that care includes the employees. I believe the support system we are building helps drive high-quality care. I offer support by looking for quality caregivers, writing policy and procedures, and helping others to appreciate their value on our team. It may seem like a simple thing, but I find it rewarding to assist them.
Ashley Reddig, Regional Director of Nursing
I’m excited to be back with Advena Living as the Regional Director of Nursing. I enjoy working with different communities and learning how the buildings operate, while being able to utilize my skills as a DON. I like sharing my knowledge with the clinical teams about what to do and what not to do. And I’m always eager to learn new regulations and guidelines.
My career in nursing started in 2006 as a CNA. I then worked my way to LPN and RN. The majority of my career has been in long term care. I ventured to a career in pediatrics for a short period and was drawn back to LTC. I feel like LTC is my calling in life because I truly enjoy working with this clientele.
Outside of work I love spending time with my Great Pyrenes rescue dog and reading a good suspense novel.
Jennifer Buckley, Director of Staffing and Client Relations
I am the oldest of seven, so I had to help take care of my brothers and sisters and keep track of everything we had going on while my mom was in nursing school. Having to be more responsible at a young age has really helped me as an adult personally and professionally. Growing up in a big family has shown me that things run a lot more smoothly and are less stressful when you are organized.
I have worked in several positions during the growth of our company, and being the Staffing Director is my favorite. I have always been an introvert, and this has really helped me get out of my comfort zone. I have great relationships with our clients and staff, and I look forward to helping our company continue to provide the best care to our community members, clients and staff.
Mark Dodds, Senior Accountant
After fourteen years of operating a solo certified public accounting practice, I joined the accounting team at Advena Group. I am also a retired Air Force officer with 24 years in aircraft maintenance and logistics. When not crunching numbers, I enjoy landscaping and baking. I take pleasure in working with the exceptional members of the Advena team.
Robert Gay, Senior Accountant
Andrea Gallaway, Accountant
I’m an Accountant at Advena Living, where I handle accounts payable processing and maintain vendor relationships. My career includes roles at Kansas State University and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Spokane, and I hold a degree in Accounting and Business/Management from Whitworth University.
Transitioning from nonprofit work to the healthcare industry at Advena Living is an exciting new chapter for me, aligning with my passion for impactful work and community service.
Born and raised in Washington State, I moved to Kansas in 2022. I enjoy yoga, kayaking, camping, and snowshoeing. I’m also a fan of true crime podcasts.
With the support of a family-owned business, balancing a dynamic career with family life is seamless. I deeply appreciate the excellent and supportive culture at Advena Living and am excited to contribute to this vibrant team.
Shannon Osborne, Payroll Coordinator
As a late bloomer in life, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do, but have always been drawn to numbers. In my youth, I loved to play with a calculator and see how numbers worked together. I spent hours just running calculations to see what they would become for fun. As a young adult, I enrolled in the Job Corps Program in Manhattan, KS. During that time, I became a part of the Student Mentor program, where I would work with new students to show them the ropes and how the system worked, as a student resident. This experience allowed me to become more comfortable with meeting people from all walks of life and helped me develop successful working relationships. After approximately a year, I felt like I had reached my personal goal at Job Corps and it was my time to move on to the next step in life. I began working in several roles in accounting and even dabbled in customer service at a call center.
At Advena, I look forward to coming into work every day to manage the payroll process, from the hours people work to transferring our payroll system into the carefully calculated paycheck employees receive. From my call center days, I can help employees identify payroll issues and discuss the best course of action for resolution. I enjoy the culture here at Advena, where I get to let my guard down, be myself, and work in a comfortable environment, where others have an opportunity to see the real me.
Pamela Gallegos, Business Support Generalist
After raising a family & helping my husband start and operate many different businesses I knew it was time for a change. When we became empty-nesters in 2019 I started looking for my ‘next job’ in which I could meet new people, learn new things & expand my knowledge & skills. I have always been drawn to the medical fields & when I started my job search I looked exclusively along that field. I was lucky enough to get an interview. When I walked into the interview of the entire office of 9 and saw how they interacted with each other, I knew I had found the right place to learn & grow. I have a great supportive cast of characters here at Advena!
Alisa Reintjes, Executive Assistant
With over 30 years of experience in administration and logistics across IT Staffing, military, and trucking sectors, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. My passion for the Long Term Care (LTC) industry stems from a deep commitment to contributing to an area where compassionate, high-quality support is essential. My awareness of this need was profoundly shaped by the compassionate care my grandparents received, highlighting the importance of dedicated professionals in this field. My goal is to leverage my career experience to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the support services I provide and ensure that that I help Advena Living meet the highest standards of excellence.
Outside of my professional endeavors, I enjoy spending time with my cats, diving into a good book, listening to music, drinking coffee and being an active aunt to my nieces and nephews.
Justin Hazelwood, Business Support Specialist
As a kid I would always watch movies where the hero would have to do things for the greater good, and old men would discuss amongst themselves if they left the world in a better place then they found it. These stories have stayed with me as I’ve grown older and often, I think about whether I am leaving this world in a better place. Are you?