It’s National Long-Term Care Administrators Week (March 10-14), and we are celebrating our administrators and assistant administrators at our seven nursing and rehabilitation centers.
Our administrators are entrusted with the responsibility of managing the care of your loved ones. They interact daily with the individuals in our care, their friends and loved ones, and lead the center’s team to provide the highest level of quality care.
“Our members give their all in the face of great adversity to assure their communities are able to provide high quality care and services to the elders in their care. Their professionalism as they deal with the many issues before them, and putting the needs of their patients, residents, families, and co-workers ahead of their own deserves our highest recognition,” said Bob Lane, CNHA, FACHCA, President & CEO of ACHCA.
Virginia Health Services thanks our team of administrators across our seven nursing and rehabilitation centers and two assisted living communities. They all wear multiple responsibility hats on any given day, and approach it all professionally and compassionately.
Meet our VHS administrators and assistant administrators, in their own words:
Coliseum Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
L. Dudley Haas | Administrator
Years of service with Virginia Health Services: I have been with VHS 13 years as of March 2025.
What drew you to a career in long-term care? I originally went into long-term care because of the work hours, which allowed me to take care of my young children. I have stayed all these years because of the caring people I work with daily.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Busy, all encompassing, rewarding.
What aspect(s) of the job would surprise others? Most people believe I sit at a desk all day. Actually, I am out in the building and departments throughout the day.
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? I enjoy being with my family outside of work.
Ajaia Carrington | Assistant Administrator
Ajaia Carrington is the Assistant Administrator of Operations for Coliseum. She started with VHS at the end of 2024 and brings more than 10 years of experience in the healthcare industry to the role. Ajaia’s background includes roles in the ICU, critical illness hospitals, and patient admissions within emergency departments. She has developed a strong expertise in operations management, team leadership and patient-centered care.
Outside of work, she enjoys painting, reading, hiking, and skating, which reflects her creative and active approach to life. Inspired by the quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” Ajaia is motivated by the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on healthcare delivery and to contribute to a compassionate and efficient healthcare system.
James River Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Stacy Guzik | Administrator
Months of service with Virginia Health Services: Nearly 2 months.
What drew you to a career in long-term care? After several years in healthcare accounting, an administrator invited me to work as the Director of Business Operations at a facility. My love and connection with the geriatric population inspired me to pursue my Administrator’s license. The geriatric population is incredibly knowledgeable, and building connections with them is inevitable. Sometimes, we are their only family, making long-term care both enjoyable and rewarding.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Coordinated chaos, rewarding, challenging, fast-paced.
What aspect(s) of the job would surprise others? No two days are alike. I enjoy being on the floor, interacting with all departments, residents and families. Being visible and engaged helps everyone feel appreciated and part of the team, knowing I will help out whenever needed.
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? I love spending time with my family, especially at the beach and paddleboarding.
Lancashire Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Amy Payne | Administrator
Years of service with Virginia Health Services: Almost 3 years.
What drew you to a career in long-term care? I’ve always enjoyed working with the elderly population as well as those cognitively challenged. Knowing that I’ve made a difference and helped residents and/or family members at the end of each workday is what makes a career in long-term care rewarding and worthwhile.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Every day is different.
What aspect(s) of the job would surprise others? The diversity of duties and responsibilities involved, from one day to the next, to ensure the successful management and operation of the facility.
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? I love being outside on a beach or a boat. I love spending time with my grandson, family and friends — outside.
The Newport Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Stephen Berczek | Administrator
Years of service with VHS: Five years, 8 months.
What drew you to a career in long-term care? Started out in physical therapy as a tech for VHS and then branched off into administrative roles. I have always enjoyed helping others, especially the elderly.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Rewarding, challenging, fast-paced.
What aspect(s) of the job would surprise others? The extensive workload.
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? Snowboarding, traveling, working on motorcycles/cars, hiking, boating, fishing.
Northampton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
DeShae Morse | Administrator
Years of service with VHS: About 2 years with VHS (20 years overall as a long-term care administrator).
What drew you to a career in long-term care? As a teenager, a group at my church, Friends of the Elderly, visited Norfolk Healthcare Center every month to socialize with the residents, serve them and assist them with activities. As I interacted with the residents, it allowed me to gain so much respect and admiration for them as they shared precious stories of their past experiences, successes, as well as their unique passions. The satisfaction and joy that I felt while serving the elderly propelled me to taking the steps to be able to serve them on a daily basis!
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Divine assignment to serve others.
What aspect(s) of the job would surprise others? With my team, we actually have loads of fun in the midst of the whirlwind that’s healthcare as we know it today. In this arena of healthcare, we often laugh, cry and have to pray for sanity in the same day!
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? I relish quality time with family and close friends, as well as serving as the unofficial spokesperson and GM for the Miami Dolphins!
Walter Reed Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Bryant Hudgins | Administrator
Years of service with Virginia Health Services: 29 years.
What drew you to a career in long-term care? It started as an opportunity to help those out that could not help themselves, but also a flexible way to earn income during college.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Rewarding, unpredictable, constantly evolving.
What aspect(s) of the job would surprise others? The amount of other areas that the position encompasses. The basis is always resident-centered healthcare, but that resident service line could have the day starting out with a plumbing repair, alarm issue, family interaction, human resources issue, resident assistance or cleaning up a spill, all the way to working into resident hospitalization case studies. The administrator’s job is far more reaching then just resident care oversight. It covers their well-being in any area that your loved one would experience in the home setting.
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? I enjoy spending time with my family and coaching youth basketball.
Jazmin Cuevas Perez | Assistant Administrator
Months of service with Virginia Health Services: 9 months.
What drew you to a career in long-term care? My love for the elderly is why I chose this career in long-term care. I never thought that this was the path I was going to be after I started almost seven years ago working with seniors, but I know there is no other place I rather be.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Exciting, emotional, rewarding, demanding, diverse.
What aspect(s) of the job would surprise others? The time I can invest in listening to the stories of the residents, families and employees. To me, that is important to grow any relationship with all of them.
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? I like going to church, exercising, going to the beach and spending time with my kids.
York Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Carter Stulen | Administrator
Years of service with Virginia Health Services: I started with VHS in 2018 for my Administrator-in-Training and returned to VHS in 2024 as the Administrator for York and The Hamilton Assisted Living.
What drew you to a career in long-term care? I knew I wanted to make an impact on people’s lives, even if I was not providing direct patient care. Working in long-term care allows me to see the difference our team can make on the lives of our residents and their families.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Fulfilling, team-oriented, rewarding, impactful.
What aspect(s) of the job would surprise others? The variety of emergencies for which we need to be prepared.
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? Spending time with friends and family, and playing pickleball.
Mackenzie Mason | Assistant Administrator
Years of service with Virginia Health Services: 2 years.
What drew you to a career in long-term care? I love the older adult population since a serving job in high school that catered to an older clientele. In undergraduate school, I found a major that I could work with this population and healthcare. I completed an internship in senior living and I was hooked! As a Resident Navigator at Coliseum, where I completed my AIT program, I was able to interact with the residents daily and loved it.
How would you describe your job in 5 words or less? Never the same day twice.
What aspect(s) of the job would surprise others? Almost every day you are doing something in each department of the community. From troubleshooting a problem with doors to helping a resident with their bill, then running back to help in laundry, to going to dietary to grab a sandwich for later, to cleaning a room, to helping tie a resident’s shoe — you are really a part of so many aspects of the facility every day!
What is something you like to do outside of the facility? I love a good beach day with a book to read and sand under my feet.
