Our Team - August Leewood

Nichole Phelps, RN

Skilled Nursing Unit Manager

Nichole has been an RN since 2014. She has been working at Leewood since May 2022. She graduated in 2013 from Monroe College in New York and plans to pursue her Master’s in Nursing. Nichole was born in Brazil and is fluent in both Portuguese and English. She enjoys spending time with family, reading, swimming, and watching movies.

Cristal Pereira

HR Coordinator

Cristal Pereira has been the HR coordinator at Leewood since February 2022. During her free time she loves to dance and travel. She enjoys helping others.

Arline Blackeney

Director of Medical Records and Transportation

Arline Blakeney- Director of Medial Records joined Leewood Healthcare Center on June 5, 2000. Arline is a native Washingtonian that loves her city where she grew up in. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration. Her passion for long term care and helping to meet the needs of the elderly has keep her her at Leewood for over 21 years.
In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, writing poetry.
One of her favorite quotes she uses is by Henry Ford

Coming together is the beginning
Keeping together is process
Working together is success

She believes that Success is measured by the team you share it with.

Aliette Bastien, RN

Memory Care and Long Term care Unit Manager

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Martina Scott

Healthcare Liaison

Martina joined the Leewood team as Admissions Director in November 2021. With a passion in working with the geriatric population and over 13 years of diverse healthcare experience – three of which were specifically within the skilled nursing and long-term care settings – she consistently adds a dimension of excellence to the department.

Martina earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Administration and is a licensed phlebotomist. A creative person with a warm smile and bubbly personality, Martina enjoys spending her spare moments with her teenage son and family.

Roselyn Cuenco

Social Services Coordinator

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Denise Morgan

Staff Development Coordinator

Denise puts her whole heart into her responsibilities as Leewood’s Staff Development Coordinator. A practicing nurse for more than 30 years with experience in the acute care settings of cardiology and oncology, and psychiatric nursing, with a sub-specialty in wound care, she finds joy in contributing to the quality of life in the community. .

Denise has a Bachelor’s Degree as well as a Master’s Degree in Nursing and is passionate about her role in Long Term Care. Originally from Alabama, she adores college football and is a huge Crimson Tide fan.

Elderson Roland

Admissions Coordinator

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Donyelle Alston

Admissions Director

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Alexis Chism

Social Services Director

Alexis is the Social Services Coordinator at Leewood. As an integral part of the team since she joined, Alexis enjoys making a positive impact on other people’s lives by uplifting those around her.

Alexis graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor’s Degree back in 2015 and is currently working on her Master’s in Social Work. She is also a cat mom to ‘Leo’ and loves to bake.

Taiwo Ayantunji

Director of Nursing

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Tameika Brannon

Business Office Manager

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Josh Siaw

Director of Environmental Services

Originally from Ghana, West Africa, Josh Siaw is the Director of Environmental Services here at leewood. He has been at leewood for over 15 years and dedicated his time to the building. Josh has 3 children and loves the Golden State Warriors! You can catch Josh watching basketball or movies in his free time!

Claudia Henry

Staffing and Central Supply Coordinator

Claudia is Leewood’s staffing and central supply coordinator. One of her key takeaways from being part of the team for 23 years is her observation that “no man is an island; no man stands alone; each one is a brother, a friend.”

Originally from Jamaica, Claudia traveled to the US as a teen. After furthering her education here, she obtained a degree in business administration. She has two lovely children, who motivate her to continue doing her best for them and the community, and pursuing her passions.

EJ Tuazon

LTC Social Worker

EJ joined Leewood Healthcare Center in July, 2021, first as receptionist and now serves as the long-term care social worker. She gives time and resources to ensure residents are properly and comprehensively looked after and cared for.

EJ graduated from George Mason University and earned her Bachelor of Science in Global Affairs with a concentration in culture, media and communications. She enjoys music, dancing and foreign languages, and is especially fluent in speaking and writing Korean.

Jean Andrew

Geriatric Nurse

Jean joined the Leewood skilled nursing team in May of 2012. Having spent her entire career as a geriatric nurse, she adds her own personal touch to the loving care of residents.

Jean is a mother of four, and a doting grandma to six grandchildren! She has a love for sea turtles and on a good day, enjoys the beach. On her downtime, she relaxes with a good book and doing diamond puzzles.

Uria Thongkum

Memory Care Unit Manager

Uria has been with Leewood since January of 2002. She loves being part of the team and working with the elderly. She enjoys enriching the lives of those under her care. Predictably, her wish is to someday be a grandma, herself.

Sampson “Sam” Yamoah

LTC Unit Manager

Sam joined the Leewood team in November of 2021 as Nurse Manager. He is a registered nurse with a decade of experience in geriatric nursing and leads his staff with expertise combined with a passion for enhancing residents’ lives.

A native of Ghana, Sam moved to the United States in 2007. During downtime, he enjoys the beach and soccer.

Mercy Francisco

Activities Director

Mercy started working as Activities Director at Leewood in the spring of 2021, after earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Administration from Old Dominion University. She creates fun entertainment and engaging projects that uplift resident spirits while promoting their safety. She enjoys the quality time and laughter she shares with residents and believes the facility’s uniqueness stems from the genuine care given by staff members.

Richard Gomes

Dietary Director

Richard joined the Leewood facility in October of 2017 as Dietary Directory after becoming a Certified Dietary Manager in 2011. His work is especially meaningful to him because it gives him the opportunity to work in a nursing home and converse with the residents.

Richard graduated from the University in Bangladesh with an Accounting degree. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games and listening to classical music.

Tata Benidir

HR Director

Tata has been at Leewood since 2019, with a brief hiatus in between. Working in various capacities, she started as a CNA and transitioned to social work, then onto business office manager/human resources.

Hailing from Algeria in North Africa, Tata enjoys baking in her free time and plans to name her future child, “Lee Wood”.

Marlon Billianes

Director of Maintenance

Marlon has been Leewood’s Director of Maintenance for close to two decades. Specializing in engineering and electrical technology, Marlon views Leewood as an extension of his family and enjoys assisting and charming residents, staff and visitors alike.

Originally from Cuartero Capiz, Philippines, Martin graduated from Western Visayas with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Education. He is ever-devoted to his wife and son and uses his spare time for family activities.

Ina Belviy

Administrator

Since November, 2022, Ina has proven her expertise as Leewood’s Administrator, specializing in dementia and other cognitive impairments. Her passion for long-term care stems from early childhood years of caring for family members with comorbidities and disability and is underscored by experience in various health care settings, as well as a personal goal of compassionately upgrading quality of care for residents.

Ina earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Care Administration from Grand Canyon University in early 2019 and soon afterwards completed her Administrator-In-Training program in a 120-bed community. She received her Nursing Home Administrator in 2020, then became a Certified Dementia Practitioner and in the spring of 2021, completed her Master’s of Arts, a double major in Aging Studies and Administration, from Wichita State University.

Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Ina is married and has a son as well as two dogs. In her spare time, Ina enjoys solving puzzles, watching movies with her family and reading up on history and documentaries.

Monica Maroyka, MHR, LD

Licensed Dietitian

Monica has been part of the Leewood team since 2010 after relocating to Virginia. Born and bred in NJ, she has been a registered licensed dietician for more than three decades. Following 5 years of service as a dietician in the US army, she worked in various healthcare settings, but found her passion in long-term care.

Monica received a Bachelor’s Degree from Rowan University and a Master’s Degree from the University of Oklahoma. She is a huge Washington Nationals fan and uses her spare time to bake, read, and partake in outdoor activities with her husband and two daughters.

Emil Al-Ayazra

Director of Rehabilitation

Emil became Leewood’s Director of Rehabilitation in June of 2017 – just months after joining the team as a dedicated therapist. Using his previous assisted living management experience from two facilities in Prince William County, he leads the team with hands-on example, while incorporating a passion in everything he does. .

Emil graduated from Mountain State University in Beckley, West Virginia with a degree in therapy. A Pittsburgher through and through, he is a faithful member of the Steeler Nation. When not performing therapy, he plays with his two young sons and tries to meet the family goal of hiking every state park in Virginia, as well as West Virginia.

Catherine “Cathy” De Leon

Director of Nursing

Since 2017, RN Cathy has been part of Leewood in various capacities including Quality/Risk Manager, Staff Development Coordinator, Infection Preventionist and Employee Health – all of which roll into one in her present position as Director of Nursing. Known for her winning smile and warm greeting, she is persevering and hardworking, a visionary that is highly motivated by education and challenging experiences. Cathy enjoys Leewood’s strong teamwork, camaraderie, caring and love and strives for excellence in all care aspects.

Cathy was born and bred in Manila, Philippines as the youngest of a religious Christian family with strong values and morals. Her mom and brother are nurses and her husband is the head nurse in Davita Dialysis. She earned her Bachelor’s in Nursing, graduated Magna Cum Laude and was awarded Excellence in the Medical Surgical Nursing Leadership. She then received her Master’s Degree in Nursing and majored in Administration & Management and Advance Psychiatric Nursing. Thereafter, she received her Doctorate in Education and Public Health and obtained her CMSRN certification from ANCC. In the nursing field for over three decades, she is a nursing professor, board reviewer, clinical faculty in simulations in several clinical areas and an American Heart Instructor.

In between all her many responsibilities, Cathay enjoys parties and fun involved with travel, cruises, watching movies, singing alongside a karaoke machine, dancing, baking and Zumba and yoga.

Tsega Ketete

Director of Nursing

After being employed at Leewood as Charge Nurse since 2004, Tsega was appointed Director of Nursing in 2018. She is fluent in English, Amharic and Spanish and possesses a personality shaped by individuals from across the globe. She enjoys getting to know a cross section of people within the facility, helping and caring for her residents, and working in tandem with the team.

When Tsega is not at work, she spends time with her children and family, traveling, watching movies, listening to music and just relaxing.

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Meet the Leewood Team

Ina Belviy

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Martina Scott

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Alexis Chism

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Marlon Billianes

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Richard Gomes

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Emil Al-Ayazra

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Denise Morgan

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Claudia Henry

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Sampson “Sam” Yamoah

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Josh Siaw

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Tameika Brannon

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Aliette Bastien, RN

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Nichole Phelps, RN

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Arline Blackeney

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Roselyn Cuenco

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Cristal Pereira

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Elderson Roland

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Donyelle Alston

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Taiwo Ayantunji

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Meet the Leewood Team

Ina Belviy

E-Mail

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Martina Scott

E-Mail

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Alexis Chism

E-Mail

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Marlon Billianes

E-Mail

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Richard Gomes

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Emil Al-Ayazra

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Denise Morgan

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Claudia Henry

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Sampson “Sam” Yamoah

E-Mail

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Josh Siaw

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Tameika Brannon

Ina
Belviy

Martina
Scott

Alexis
Chism

Marlon
Billianes

Richard
Gomes

Emil
Al-Ayazra

Denise
Morgan

Claudia
Henry

Sampson
“Sam” Yamoah

Josh
Siaw

Tameika
Brannon

Aliette
Bastien, RN

Nichole
Phelps, RN

Arline
Blackeney

Roselyn
Cuenco

Cristal
Pereira

Elderson
Roland

Donyelle
Alston

Taiwo
Ayantunji

Ina
Belviy

Martina
Scott

Alexis
Chism

Marlon
Billianes

Richard
Gomes

Emil
Al-Ayazra

Denise
Morgan

Claudia
Henry

Sampson
“Sam” Yamoah

Josh
Siaw

Tameika
Brannon

Aliette
Bastien, RN

Nichole
Phelps, RN

Arline
Blackeney

Roselyn
Cuenco

Cristal
Pereira

Elderson
Roland

Donyelle
Alston

Taiwo
Ayantunji