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Meet Our Staff
Our residents love living here because our employees love working here. Get to know part of the team that makes Vi at Palo Alto a great place to live.
John Koselak Executive Director.
John Koselak Executive Director
As executive director, John oversees every aspect of the community, including quality of service, amenities, care and programming for every Vi at Palo Alto resident. John has been with Vi since 2005 and previously worked at Vi at Grayhawk, a Vi and Plaza Companies Community in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Mark Nelson.
Mark Nelson Associate Executive Director
Mark oversees functional departments and administrative projects for Vi at Palo Alto, including resident transfers, project management, food and beverage, and risk management. He has over 6 years of experience across various levels of care. Mark graduated from University of Utah studying business management and completed his Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree, from the University of Minnesota, in Jan 2021. Mark joined Vi at Palo Alto in 2020 as the Care Center Administrator. Mark began his role as Associate Executive Director in 2022.
Robert Knigge Director of Sales.
Robert Knigge Director of Sales
Robert directs all of our sales efforts at Vi at Palo Alto. He also manages each sales team member, and represents Vi to the larger Palo Alto community. Robert has over 30 years of experience in sales and marketing. Robert joined Vi in 2020.
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Valerie Chastain Alves.
Valerie Chastain Alves Care Center Administrator
Valerie oversees each care center department — from dining service to nursing care — and provides a quality experience to Vi at Palo Alto residents. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a bachelor's in Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics. She has worked in long term care for 30 years and as a nursing home administrator for the past 17 years. Valerie joined Vi in 2022.
Robinetta Wheeler headshot.
Robinetta Wheeler Director of Resident Services
Robinetta assists independent living residents and their family members should they need support during a change in a resident’s health. She also works to ensure residents receive the appropriate level of care and service while in independent living and oversees wellness amenities, and manages our concierge and valet services. Robinetta has a wide range of professional experience in elderly care, patient care, nurse manager, hospice care, program director and academia. She spent much of her career at Stanford Hospital and Clinics in various roles and had academic appointments at Holy Names University, which included Adjunct Faculty and Associate Professor in nursing. Robinetta joined Vi in 2022.
Andrea Fadem Palo Alto Director of Nursing.
Andrea Fadem Director of Nursing
Andrea helps to manage the quality of care and services provided to residents of Vi at Palo Alto care center, which includes assisted living, memory support and skilled nursing accommodations. She also oversees the care center nursing staff and works directly with the care center administrator to provide care for each resident. Andrea got into the nursing field from volunteer work in the activities department at a SNF and now has 5+ years of nursing management experience. Andrea joined Vi in 2021.
CJ Jones headshot.
Carol “CJ” Jones Lifestyle Director
CJ is at the center of everything social at Vi at Palo Alto. She creates, finds, and arranges outings and events for residents like educational lectures, travel clubs, fitness classes, day trips to unique places, and much more. CJ also helps manage the numerous resident-led clubs and events that keep Vi at Palo Alto members engaged and active. Before joining Vi, CJ ran the Fitness & Wellness Center for De Anza College in Cupertino. She started as the Lifestyle Manager at Vi at Palo Alto in 2019. CJ began her role as Lifestyle Director in 2022.
Shari Okumura Director of Human Resources.
Shari Okumura Director of Human Resources
Shari works to enhance both resident and employee satisfaction through oversight and management of human resources at Vi at Palo Alto. Prior to Vi, Shari spent 12 years in human resources at Hyatt Hotels. Shari joined Vi in 2004.
Luis Lopez Director of Dining Services.
Luis Lopez, CFPP, CDM Director of Dining Services
Luis creates an exceptional dining experience for our residents, providing personalized service from table reservations and plate settings to purveyor selection and vendor coordination. He has more than 26 years of experience in the dining industry. Luis joined Vi in 2005.
Chef Jose Azmitia.
Jose Azmitia Executive Chef
Executive Chef Jose Azmitia oversees the culinary program for Vi at Palo Alto, including menu creation and food preparation. His professional background includes retirement communities, country clubs, and running his own restaurant. Chef Jose joined Vi in 2023.
Alma Navarro  Palo Alto Director of Housekeeping.
Alma Navarro Director of Housekeeping
Alma oversees the housekeeping function for the community, with a focus on providing a comfortable living environment for every resident. Prior to Vi, Alma was Director of Rooms for Hyatt House in Belmont for almost 2 years and the Assistant Branch Manager for Oakwood Corporate Housing in Northern California for 4 years. She has a total of 25 years in hospitality. Alma joined Vi in 2021.
John Langford Director of Engineering.
John Langford Director of Engineering
John is responsible for security and maintenance of the community’s physical plant as well as the numerous buildings on our campus. He has over 20 years in facilities management, including technology firms, hospitality and senior living properties. John joined Vi in 2018.
Manuel Villarreal Director of Accounting.
Manuel Villarreal Director of Accounting
Manuel is responsible for all accounting operations for Vi at Palo Alto. Manuel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce from Santa Clara University and has a Certified Public Accountant license. He has worked in both public accounting and private accounting and has held various management positions ranging from Corporate Controller to Director of Finance & Administration. Manuel joined Vi 2009.