Staff

Department Heads

Dept. Heads Photo

Standing - Left to Right:

Patti Schwartz, ACT/SS Director, Brenda James, Marketing Director/Assistant Administrator, Sarah Sims, Owner/Administrator, James Sims Owner/RN/Director of Nursing, Richard McCall, Certified Dietary Manager and Lori Zook, ADON day shift

Sitting - Left to Right:

Melinda Peters RN/ADON evening shift

Brenda Bartel, Asst. Administrator/Marketing Director

After growing up in Colorado and living for many years in Montana, Brenda chose to move to Oklahoma to be near her daughter and son-in-law in the fall of 2007. She began her career in long term care 10 years ago as administrator of an assisted living facility and became a nursing home administrator as well in 2004. Brenda has 4 grown children and having recently married, she and husband Jay live in Fairview, OK.

Patti Schwartz Photo

Patti Schwartz, Certified Activity Director/Social Services Director

Patti Schwartz has been the activity/social service director for Summit Living Center since 2004. She was born and raised in Okeene and is a whippet fan. Patti graduated in 1992 with a bachelor of science degree in Human Environmental Science from Oklahoma State University. Some of Patti's interests include reading, computers, needlework, gardening, music, and family. Patti has 5 grown children and one grandson. She and her husband Frank live in Okeene.

Lori Zook, Assistant Director of Nursing - Day Shift

Lori began her career in the long term care industry in 1991 working as a dietary aide and then as a certified nurse aide as she completed high school. Lori continued her nursing career after high school when she obtained her LPN in 1995. Born and raised in Northwest Oklahoma, Lori and her daughter Clarissa have lived in Okeene since the summer of 2003. Having worked with both Sarah and James, Lori states that, “joining the Summit Living Center family is like coming home”.

Melinda Peters, RN/ADON Evening Shift

Melinda Peters is an Oklahoma native who has lived in the Watonga area most of her life. She has three grown sons and her terrier Rosie. Melinda received an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing at Redlands Community College in 1995. She has worked as an RN for the last thirteen years at numerous medical settings including hospitals, clinics, and long term care
facilities. Melinda has always come back to what she believes is her true calling which is geriatric nursing and states, “It is a privilege to work with and care for our elders. We need them as much if not more than they need us.”

Dolores "Dee" Monahan, Environmental Services Supervisor

Dolores "Dee" Monahan is the Environmental Services Supervisor here at Summit Living Center. Dee was born in New Castle, NE but moved to Wichita, KS at the age of 4 and then eventually moved to NY with her husband. Dee and her husband Scott returned to Oklahoma 4 years ago and and Dee has worked for Summit Living Center since May 2007. Dee and her husband have 5 grown children, 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild and enjoy spending time with all of them.

Dee spent 15 years working for a large medical center and lab billing company and says "I am thrilled to be working in the healthcare industry once again". Dee enjoys working with people and helping others. She keeps
busy with her dog Perkins, 13 baby bunnies, ducks, bees and chickens they are raising on their farm.