Team

Joseph joined the WindRiver team in 2019 and is responsible for the day-to-day operations, team development, and culture of WindRiver and its communities. He has worked in the senior living industry for 26 years for publicly-traded and privately-held companies. He has operated over 100 senior living communities in 23 states, including CCRCs, Assisted Living, Independent Living, Memory Care, and Skilled Nursing Facilities. His skill set includes operational programming, policies and procedures, repositioning existing assets, and developing new retirement communities.

Before joining the WindRiver team, Joseph served as the Chief Operations Officer for Concordis Senior Living. He also served as Senior Vice President of Operations at Enlivant, where he led the successful operations, occupancy growth, and stabilization for 77 Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Independent Living communities. During his tenure, occupancy in Enlivant’s portfolio of 233 communities increased from 54% to 92% in 14 months. Joseph’s vast experience also includes overseeing a portfolio of CCRCs with Life Care Services, a divisional operations role with Holiday Retirement, and Vice President of Operations at Senior Lifestyle Corporation. He graduated from Gannon University in 1998 with his BA before earning an MBA in Heath Care Administration.

Sara literally grew up with Senior Living. Her father, Gary Fisher, helped transform the industry in the ’80s with Trammell Crowe’s Senior Living Division before he followed his entrepreneurial spirit and started his own company, WindRiver Management, in 1992. Sara joined the WindRiver team in 2002 after graduating from college. Over the last 21 years, she has overseen the marketing of more than 2,750 senior living units from lease up to full capacity, with a consistent occupancy rate of 90% or higher. In addition, Sara has managed the design and development of over $150 million in new construction and rehab projects. Since taking over as President of WindRiver in 2018, she has managed over $100 million in asset purchases, sales, and refinances. Her dedication to detail and quality has helped WindRiver establish an exceptional reputation in the senior living industry. Sara received an Honors BA from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University.

Angie joined WindRiver in 2016 and currently serves as Vice President of Operations. She supports Independent and Assisted Living communities in North and South Central Texas. Before WindRiver, Angie worked for Hearthstone Senior Living, Autumn Leaves Memory Care, Good Neighbor Care, and Avanti Senior Living.

Angie has over 13 years of sales and management experience in senior living. She is also a licensed Texas Assisted Living Administrator and Certified Dementia Practitioner. She received her Honors BBA, concentrating in Business Administration and Management, from Columbia College in Columbia, Mississippi. In addition, Angie is a decorated Veteran of the US Navy.

RJ brings over 15 years of experience in sales, marketing, and operations to the WindRiver team. He joined WindRiver in 2021 as Regional Director, Operations, Sales, and Marketing and is currently the Vice President of Sales. Throughout his career, RJ has held senior leadership roles in construction project management, real estate, marketing, and operations. He effectively manages teams that exceed annual revenue targets while building a positive team culture. He is known by colleagues for being a strategic, collaborative leader who thrives on finding and creating solutions. RJ earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Baylor University in Waco, TX.

Gary brings more than 20 years of experience in the senior living industry to the WindRiver team. Joining WindRiver in 2022, Gary also brings vast knowledge and leadership skills in human resources. He has earned a reputation in the industry as a trusted business partner to management while serving as an advocate for company employees.

Gary started his career in senior living as a Business Office Manager. During his tenure, Gary was 1 of 5 Business Office Manager Mentors, working in both Independent Living and Assisted Living. Gary then became Director of Human Resources in a CCRC. Within a short time, Gary was promoted to Regional Human Resource Manager and had oversight of up to 90 communities at one time.

In addition, Gary participated in over 50 acquisitions of the portfolio. Before joining WindRiver, Gary worked as Director of Human Resources, overseeing all HR operations for the company. Gary holds a Bachelor of Arts, with an emphasis in Human Resources, from DePaul University.

Alan joined the WindRiver team in 2012 as the Art Director and Graphic Designer. With over 30 years of experience in the Graphic Design field, he provides creative direction for WindRiver and its communities. Before Alan joined the WindRiver team, he worked as an Art Director for several agencies in the DFW area. He was also a Creative Director for the largest advertising agency in Fort Worth, Texas. Alan’s work has been featured in Print and Communication Arts magazines. He graduated from the University of Texas in Arlington with a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Communication and Art History.

Matthew joined Windriver in 2023, serving as the Vice President of Culinary Services. He brings a strong background spanning over 25 years, covering many facets of Food Service and Hospitality. Matthew graduated from the CT Culinary Institute in 1996, followed by extensive training in several fine dining restaurants in New England. He took this knowledge and later traveled the world as the Executive Chef of American Cruise Lines and Lindblad Expeditions. In addition, Matthew has overseen multiple colleges as a Culinary Operations Manager before turning his focus to his passion – seniors! He has been involved in senior living since 2009, wearing many hats, from Food Service Director to Regional/District Chef to Operations Manager, and now Vice President of Culinary Services.

Bianca Saucedo joined the WindRiver team in 2022 as Payroll Manager, bringing over 10 years of payroll experience. She started her career working for one of the most decorated HRIS corporations, ADP. Inc. During her time with the company, she found her passion for payroll and learned how to de-escalate problems that occur due to human error. She also received the education necessary to obtain her Fundamental Payroll Certificate. Bianca took the knowledge gained at ADP and became a Payroll Administrator for Associa, an HOA, community, and property management corporation. She oversaw 21 communities totaling 1000 employees, ensuring the proper payroll process, and even assisted the team during COVID. Bianca grew her career by joining an electric company as a Senior Payroll Administrator. She utilized her skills to train other administrators in the proper payroll process and taught them how to implement new strategies to maximize the team’s success. 

Michelle originally joined WindRiver’s accounting team in 2006. She spent more than five years as Assistant Controller before being promoted to Regional Operations Supervisor, where she served for another five years. From here, Michelle followed her entrepreneurial dreams of owning a business after taking some time off for her family. However, after building and stabilizing the company from the ground up, her former passion for senior living was still strong. She returned to WindRIver in 2021 as Director of Talent in the human resources department but was quickly moved back into operations as an Operations Specialist. Michelle currently serves as a Financial Operations Specialist. Michelle earned her BBA in Accounting from Tarleton University in 1999 and graduated with an MBA in 2004. 

Heather Baughman is an experienced Executive Assistant with a demonstrated history of working in professional services. She has approximately fifteen years of executive search firm experience and has also supported partners at a top-tier consulting firm, the Chief Customer Officer of a consumer goods company, and the Development Partner of a national multi-family real estate firm. Skilled in executive support, event planning, project coordination, desktop research, and written and verbal communications, she is a strong, adaptable administrative professional. Heather received a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Communications from The University of Texas at Austin.

Ashlee joined the WindRiver team in September 2021 as the Business Office Manager and currently leads the accounting team. She facilitates coordinating a broad range of services and resources that allow the organization to operate efficiently. Ashlee also assists in developing and implementing company policies and procedures; maintains accounts payable, receivables, and billing for WindRiver, as well as a few of the owned assets. Ashlee brings over 15 years of executive-level support, office management, and accounting experience to the team. Before joining WindRiver, Ashlee was a Transaction Coordinator for a residential real estate group. While at Andrews Distributing, she started as the front receptionist and continually advanced her career, departing as the Executive Assistant to the CEO.