Born and raised on the outskirts of New York City, Mike received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont. He brings over three decades of experience—from New York to Aspen—working in real estate development and sales to his role at Sopris Lodge. A 26-year resident of the Roaring Fork Valley, Mike previously worked as an Executive Director for a senior living community, where he discovered his passion for interacting with residents and helping families navigate the decisions that come with moving to a community. Mike is excited to create an elevated senior living experience for his residents and help Sopris Lodge evolve to become an integral part of Carbondale and the Valley. When he’s not in the office, Mike can be found hitting the world-class ski slopes nearby, rocking out playing drums with several local bands, studying martial arts (he’s a third-degree black belt!), and spending time with his teenaged son, Michael.
As our Business Office Manager, Selina is responsible for overseeing all community financial operations, including payroll, benefits administration, as well as accounts payable and receivable. On the human resources side, Selina oversees team member recruitment, maintains employment policies and procedures, and supports employees’ professional development. Selina has been working in senior care on and off for 31 years and is well-versed in every department, from nursing to administration. She has a bachelor’s degree in applied science and is a Certified Dementia Specialist and Assisted Living Administrator, and she has been involved in real estate in the Roaring Fork Valley. When not working, Selina enjoys traveling and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Selina Sims-Steele Business Office Manager/Human Resources Manager
As our official liaison with the community, Molly takes pride in cultivating friendly relationships with local businesses and community groups, bringing community members in for tours and making new residents feel comfortable. Molly attended Michigan State University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in human biology/pre-med, specializing in bioethics and health promotion. She previously worked as the manager of Sparrow Health System’s Michigan Athletic Club and at various nonprofits across Michigan and Colorado, most recently as Youth Market Director for the American Heart Association. A native Michigander turned Coloradoan, Molly enjoys skiing and camping, cheering on college basketball, spending time with friends, and playing with her Golden Retriever Lab Mix.
As our Wellness Director, Elise is responsible for overseeing residents in our assisted living and memory care communities, ensuring our team members deliver the quality care they need to live well and age well. A registered nurse for more than 30 years, Elise has experience working in the fields of women’s healthcare, public health and school nursing. She also has a deep-seated passion for working with the senior population in any capacity and previously worked in assisted living in the Aspen area. When she’s not at work, you can find Elise hiking, biking and spending time with good friends and family.
Amyjo oversees care for residents living in our community’s assisted living apartments and memory care neighborhood, where she focuses on managing our team members’ day-to-day functions, prioritizing each individual residents’ unique needs, coordinating our program of person-centered care, and helping with resident care as needed. After receiving her Certified Nursing Assistant license in 2007, Amyjo went on to work in a secure skilled nursing unit before switching her focus to assisted living. Today, she is a certified QMAP, licensed assisted living administrator and certified provider of dementia and Alzheimer’s care. Born in Rifle, Colorado, Amyjo currently lives in Parachute, and in her free time, loves to read the Bible and spend time with her family.
Brett Allais loves food; it’s in his DNA. Born in South Africa, his grandfather was a professional chef, and he fondly recalls baking with his mother at a young age. As our Director of Culinary Services, Chef Brett brings a wealth of international culinary knowledge and skills to the table. He is French-trained and dabbles in six styles of cuisine, always works from scratch and enjoys infusing flavors and creates “rustic-fusion cuisine.” Chef Brett’s goal is simple: to serve home-cooked dishes that make senior residents feel comfortable and bring back memories but also incorporate surprising new flavors.
John’s leadership, communication and problem-solving skills, along with understanding building systems, make him an important asset to our team. He is responsible for managing our community’s maintenance needs, as well as supervising all maintenance and housekeeping team members, and takes pride in upholding a safe and clean environment for our residents and employees. A Colorado native who has lived in the Roaring Fork Valley for 15 years, John previously oversaw school districts and private estates in Aspen and worked for the U.S. Army for nine years. He loves camping and doing outdoor activities with his family, and frequently works with the nonprofit Return to Dirt, an adaptive motorsports program for disabled individuals.
Christy is the first face guests see when they walk through our doors. As Sopris Lodge’s receptionist/concierge, Christy greets our residents and visitors with a smile, helps them navigate our campus, and answers any questions they may have. A Denver area native and Roaring Fork Valley resident of four years, Christy recently transitioned to a career in senior living after spending 15 years as an art educator in public schools. Christy holds a BFA in studio art and a master’s degree in art education. She believes in the power of artmaking to heal through joy and celebration of the visual sense perception. When not at work, Christy is busy raising two children and experiments in the realm of collage, painting, oil, encaustic and printmaking. For Christy, being our concierge is a natural continuation of her love of service and an opportunity to learn from those further down the road of life.
