Advocate of the Year Awards

CALA’s Advocate of the Year Award honors CALA members who actively build relationships with legislators, support CALA’s policy priorities, and demonstrate a commitment to grassroots action.

Current Honoree – 2025

Mark Cimino, CEO, CiminoCare

Past Honorees

2024 – Rick Jensen, Northstar Senior Living
2023 – David Tamo, Merrill Gardens
2022 – Darolyn Jorgensen-Kares, Continuing Life
2022 – Benoit Levesque, USA Division, Cogir Management USA
2021 – Terry Ervin, Vice President of Operations, Oakmont Management Group
2021 – Justine Ortiz, Executive Director, La Vida at Mission Viejo
2020 – Stephanie Oden, Gardens of Riverside, a Northstar Senior Living community
2018 – Stephanie Oden, Gardens of Riverside
2017 – Stephanie Brice, Carlton Senior Living, Fremont
2016 – Richard Ensley, Atria Covell Gardens
2015 – Monique Dixon, Brookdale Yreka
2015 – Cathy Katz, Casa de Santa Fe
2014 – Mark Cimino, CiminoCare
2014 – Deborah Godt, Revere Court Memory Care
2014 – Terry Ervin, Oakmont Management Group
2013 – Bill Keck, Emeritus Senior Living
2013 – Cheryl Martin, Lakeside Park
2011 – Todd Shetter, ActivCare Living
2011 – John Zikmund, Atria Senior Living
2010 – Laura Trujillo, Vintage Senior Living
2009 – Lynette Hubbard, Atria Senior Living
2009 – Michael Johnson, Vintage Senior Living
2009 – Carol Pickard, Sunwest Management