Saint Anne Communities has promoted six key staff members as the organization begins to provide health care and living options on a second campus, the former Catholic Charities Villa of the Woods. In several cases, these promotions are to new positions created within Saint Anne’s restructured organizational chart.
“Having the right people in the right places is a key to success for any organization,” says Saint Anne Administrator and Chief Operating Officer David Deffenbaugh. “These six staff members have consistently demonstrated the kind of expertise and commitment that has made Saint Anne a premiere provider of retirement-living options and senior care. We’re very happy to have the opportunity to reward these individuals for their dedication.”
The six latest promotions include:
Tyler Weilbaker has been promoted to assistant administrator. “This is an exciting time of growth here at Saint Anne,” Weilbaker says. “We’re undergoing big changes that will benefit everyone we serve.”
Tracy Schultz has been promoted to residential living director. “I’m celebrating 10 years at Saint Anne, and it’s been a wonderful place to work,” Schultz says. “I can’t wait to see what the future brings as we continue to expand.”
Julie Hartman has been promoted to environmental services director, a position that now oversees maintenance, housekeeping, laundry, and outside grounds. “I’m looking forward to the exciting new changes at Saint Anne and working with our new addition at the Villa of The Woods,” Hartman says.
Annie Budenz has been promoted to care transitions director and will lead the Care Transitions Department, formerly the Admissions Department. The Care Transitions Department encompasses all facets of the short-term rehab program: assessments, admissions, in-patient satisfaction, discharge planning, and post-discharge services. This department also includes the rehab manager, assistant admissions coordinators, transportation, the transitional care nurse, and rehab social services. “I’m looking forward to starting my new role and working collaboratively with the care transitions team,” Budenz says. “This new challenge will help ensure quality care continues while exploring new avenues to improve and expand services and customer satisfaction.”
Jessica Wallace has been promoted to human resources director. “I’m very excited for this opportunity and looking forward to serving our staff and residents,” Wallace says. “I’m excited for the future of Saint Anne and have enjoyed every minute of my time here. I think I’ve been given a great opportunity and have been very grateful for the relationships and mentors here who have helped guide me in my success.”
Amanda Smith, R.N., has been promoted to assistant director of nursing. “I’ve spent my entire nursing tenure in geriatrics, and I enjoy working with the elderly tremendously,” Smith says. “I’m very excited to explore even more opportunities with Saint Anne in the future.”
Weilbaker, was born in Champaign, Illinois, but his family moved to Fort Wayne when he was just 2 years old. He graduated from Bishop Dwenger High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in health-care administration with a minor in business at Indiana University. He recently became a licensed health facility administrator. Weilbaker served in a variety of capacities for an assisted-living community specializing in memory care before joining Saint Anne in 2014.
Schultz grew up in Bluffton and graduated from Norwell High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism with a focus on public relations and advertising at Ball State University. She plans to begin an administrator-in-training (AIT) program this fall. Schultz served as a case manager at a rehabilitation facility for several years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. In 2005, she joined Saint Anne as director of marketing and residential services.
Hartman is originally from North Adams, Massachusetts, but graduated from Tippecanoe Valley High School. She brought more than 22 years of experience as an environmental director when she joined Saint Anne in 2008. Her first job in the health-care field was with an area hospital. Then, during a stint back in Massachusetts, she led the environmental department at a ski resort. Returning to Indiana in 1986, she landed a position with another area health-care facility.
Born in Tampa, Florida, Budenz was only 3 months old when her parents moved back to the Fort Wayne area. She graduated from Concordia High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in public health with a concentration in administration at Indiana University. Before joining Saint Anne in 2002 as the director of admissions and public relations, Budenz served in a variety of capacities for an extended acute-care hospital and as clerical supervisor at an emergent-care center.
Wallace graduated from New Haven High School before earning a bachelor’s degree in public policy with a concentration in health administration at IPFW. She’s currently working on a master’s degree. Wallace came to Saint Anne in 2006 as a certified nursing assistant and joined the human resources team in 2013.
Smith grew up in Fort Wayne and was salutatorian of her graduating class at Elmhurst High School. While still a senior at Elmhurst, she became a certified nursing assistant and started working at Saint Anne. She continued to serve at Saint Anne as she earned a licensed practical nursing degree at Ivy Tech in 2007 and a registered nursing degree at Excelsior College in 2015.
