Marie joined the Sopris Lodge team in 2022. As a result of her dedication, training, and understanding of the community and resident needs, she has been named the Executive Director. She is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations within the community, including regulatory and budget compliance, sales and marketing, activities, goal setting, and staff development. Marie leads by example and ensures quality care and top-tier customer service for residents and families.
Before working in senior living, Marie built a career in retail sales management that spanned 22 years in Aspen. Developing community outreach programs and increasing sales and occupancy are some of her areas of expertise. Marie earned her bachelor’s degrees in Art History and English. She is a licensed QMAP, a certified Support Group Facilitator (trained through the Alzheimer’s Association) and has completed the Dementia Capable Care Training program.
A resident of the Roaring Fork Valley for 30+ years, Marie loves interacting with residents and finds joy in the outdoors, hiking, and spending time with her husband and their three dogs, Sugar, Goldie, and Guapo.
As Business Office Manager, Taryn oversees all financial operations, including payroll, record-keeping, and accounts payable and receivable. On the human resources side, she serves as the primary contact for employees and residents, offering support and guidance on a wide range of needs. Taryn manages team member recruitment and onboarding, benefits administration, and employee development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology, a certificate in human services, and is working toward her SHRM-CP. Previously, she worked at CDI Products, a Michelin company, and held roles with Shell and the Houston Astros’ marketing department. Outside of work, Taryn enjoys reading, taking dance classes, hiking, spending time with her partner and dogs, and working on her green thumb.
Taryn Lovato Business Office Manager / Human Resources Manager
As the Life Enrichment Director, Aaliyah will collaborate with the Executive Director, Wellness team and other staff within the community to coordinate, develop, implement, and lead life enrichment resident activities for individuals living in Sopris Lodge’s memory care and assisted living residences. These activities, ranging from crafts to outdoor excursions, and community events, are designed to engage residents based on their interests and abilities.
While new to this role, Aaliyah is not new to Sopris Lodge residents as she has worked in the community for two years. She initially joined the community as a Concierge, welcoming and greeting anyone who came into our community to visit a loved one. She grew to know the residents, families and team members well, and was promoted to activity assistant in 2022, where she honed her knowledge of resident preferences. She was promoted again to Lead Concierge, charged with training incoming concierge staff, coordinating resident transportation, and assisting with activities. Aaliyah completed some coursework at the University of Colorado at Denver before returning to the Roaring Fork Valley to be closer to family and friends.
Away from Sopris Lodge, Aaliyah enjoys reading, trying new foods, and spending time with family and friends.
Yaquelin oversees clinical care for residents in our assisted living and memory care communities, ensuring team members deliver the quality care they need to live well and age well. She prioritizes each resident’s unique needs and coordinates our person-centered approach to care by performing accurate assessments, developing care plans, ordering medications, and managing staff schedules. Yaquelin joined the team in 2022 as a caregiver and quickly transitioned into the qualified medication administration person (QMAP) role. As a result of her dedication and continued training, she was promoted to resident care director. Before starting a career in senior living, Yaquelin worked in sales and customer service. Outside caregiving, she enjoys spending time with her daughter and husband.
Darcie serves as Sales Associate at Sopris Lodge. A service-driven professional, Darcie welcomes families, guests, and vendors to the community, assisting with registration, navigation, and inquiries while connecting them with team members. She ensures common areas are safe and organized, trains new concierge staff, coordinates resident transportation, and supports directors. With experience in management, customer service, and senior care, Darcie brings valuable expertise to her role. Before joining Sopris Lodge, she spent several years as a small business owner, worked in both clerical and clinical roles in hospital settings, and served as a home health caregiver for 11 years. Darcie holds a Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies from Minnesota State University and is a certified nursing assistant and licensed cosmetologist. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, camping, gardening, cooking, and spending time with her husband, family, and friends.
As the Activities Assistant, Marissa is instrumental in planning and leading social, physical and cognitive activities that enhance residents’ quality of life at Sopris Lodge. She works closely with the life enrichment team to implement programs that reflect residents’ varied interests and needs. Marissa also plays an important role in the Sanctuary Memory Care Program, supporting residents living with memory loss to reach their abilities daily. In addition, she guides assisted living community residents through a variety of activities, including painting, going for walks, chair exercise, sing-alongs, bird watching, games and more. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human services and previously worked at a nearby therapeutic horse ranch supporting people living with neuropsychiatric disorders. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crocheting, rafting with her dog, camping, attending live music and connecting with friends.
Tom has several years of experience as a maintenance director in a senior living community. At Sopris Lodge, he is responsible for leadership and oversight of the overall physical building and property, safety program and preventative maintenance plan, and building repairs. Tom is very organized, proactive, and knows his way around trade skills and building technology. Tom grew up in southern Illinois but after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history, he moved to Colorado to be closer to his passion for outdoor activities. Tom also worked in ski and mountain bike retail and service for 12 years, was a mail carrier, and even worked for the TSA. Tom likes to spend time with his wife and family, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, rock climbing, and skiing.
Marie joined the Sopris Lodge team in 2022. As a result of her dedication, training, and understanding of the community and resident needs, she has been named the Executive Director. She is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations within the community, including regulatory and budget compliance, sales and marketing, activities, goal setting, and staff development. Marie leads by example and ensures quality care and top-tier customer service for residents and families.
Before working in senior living, Marie built a career in retail sales management that spanned 22 years in Aspen. Developing community outreach programs and increasing sales and occupancy are some of her areas of expertise. Marie earned her bachelor’s degrees in Art History and English. She is a licensed QMAP, a certified Support Group Facilitator (trained through the Alzheimer’s Association) and has completed the Dementia Capable Care Training program.
A resident of the Roaring Fork Valley for 30+ years, Marie loves interacting with residents and finds joy in the outdoors, hiking, and spending time with her husband and their three dogs, Sugar, Goldie, and Guapo.
As Business Office Manager, Taryn oversees all financial operations, including payroll, record-keeping, and accounts payable and receivable. On the human resources side, she serves as the primary contact for employees and residents, offering support and guidance on a wide range of needs. Taryn manages team member recruitment and onboarding, benefits administration, and employee development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology, a certificate in human services, and is working toward her SHRM-CP. Previously, she worked at CDI Products, a Michelin company, and held roles with Shell and the Houston Astros’ marketing department. Outside of work, Taryn enjoys reading, taking dance classes, hiking, spending time with her partner and dogs, and working on her green thumb.
Taryn Lovato Business Office Manager / Human Resources Manager
As the Life Enrichment Director, Aaliyah will collaborate with the Executive Director, Wellness team and other staff within the community to coordinate, develop, implement, and lead life enrichment resident activities for individuals living in Sopris Lodge’s memory care and assisted living residences. These activities, ranging from crafts to outdoor excursions, and community events, are designed to engage residents based on their interests and abilities.
While new to this role, Aaliyah is not new to Sopris Lodge residents as she has worked in the community for two years. She initially joined the community as a Concierge, welcoming and greeting anyone who came into our community to visit a loved one. She grew to know the residents, families and team members well, and was promoted to activity assistant in 2022, where she honed her knowledge of resident preferences. She was promoted again to Lead Concierge, charged with training incoming concierge staff, coordinating resident transportation, and assisting with activities. Aaliyah completed some coursework at the University of Colorado at Denver before returning to the Roaring Fork Valley to be closer to family and friends.
Away from Sopris Lodge, Aaliyah enjoys reading, trying new foods, and spending time with family and friends.
Yaquelin oversees clinical care for residents in our assisted living and memory care communities, ensuring team members deliver the quality care they need to live well and age well. She prioritizes each resident’s unique needs and coordinates our person-centered approach to care by performing accurate assessments, developing care plans, ordering medications, and managing staff schedules. Yaquelin joined the team in 2022 as a caregiver and quickly transitioned into the qualified medication administration person (QMAP) role. As a result of her dedication and continued training, she was promoted to resident care director. Before starting a career in senior living, Yaquelin worked in sales and customer service. Outside caregiving, she enjoys spending time with her daughter and husband.
Darcie serves as Sales Associate at Sopris Lodge. A service-driven professional, Darcie welcomes families, guests, and vendors to the community, assisting with registration, navigation, and inquiries while connecting them with team members. She ensures common areas are safe and organized, trains new concierge staff, coordinates resident transportation, and supports directors. With experience in management, customer service, and senior care, Darcie brings valuable expertise to her role. Before joining Sopris Lodge, she spent several years as a small business owner, worked in both clerical and clinical roles in hospital settings, and served as a home health caregiver for 11 years. Darcie holds a Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies from Minnesota State University and is a certified nursing assistant and licensed cosmetologist. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, camping, gardening, cooking, and spending time with her husband, family, and friends.
As the Activities Assistant, Marissa is instrumental in planning and leading social, physical and cognitive activities that enhance residents’ quality of life at Sopris Lodge. She works closely with the life enrichment team to implement programs that reflect residents’ varied interests and needs. Marissa also plays an important role in the Sanctuary Memory Care Program, supporting residents living with memory loss to reach their abilities daily. In addition, she guides assisted living community residents through a variety of activities, including painting, going for walks, chair exercise, sing-alongs, bird watching, games and more. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human services and previously worked at a nearby therapeutic horse ranch supporting people living with neuropsychiatric disorders. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crocheting, rafting with her dog, camping, attending live music and connecting with friends.
Tom has several years of experience as a maintenance director in a senior living community. At Sopris Lodge, he is responsible for leadership and oversight of the overall physical building and property, safety program and preventative maintenance plan, and building repairs. Tom is very organized, proactive, and knows his way around trade skills and building technology. Tom grew up in southern Illinois but after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history, he moved to Colorado to be closer to his passion for outdoor activities. Tom also worked in ski and mountain bike retail and service for 12 years, was a mail carrier, and even worked for the TSA. Tom likes to spend time with his wife and family, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, rock climbing, and skiing.
