Meet Our Staff
Karen Van Gorden, CDP, Executive Director
KVanGorden@HallKeen.com
Born and raised in Smithfield, RI, Karen is the mother of two active sons, 14 and 18 years of age. Whenever she’s not assisting families with the important details and considerations of quality senior living, she can be found at an ice rink or traveling with her family for a hockey tournament.
Pamela Tetreault, CDP, Assistant Executive Director and Senior Business Office Manager
PTetreault@hallkeen.com
Chloe Mete, CDP, Director of Marketing
CMete@HallKeen.com
Ernie Parfitt, Director of Maintenance
EParfitt@HallKeen.com
Ernie was born and raised in Pawtucket, RI. He was influenced at a very young age to respect his elders and admire their accomplishments. His beloved grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease when he was eight, so Ernie feels especially close to the mission here at The Highlands.
He has fond memories of visiting his grandfather on weekends, first at home and, eventually, in a nursing home. Like his father and father before him, Ernie is a hands-on, can-do kind of man. Ernie can fix just about anything and enjoys doing so!
Ernie worked in the maintenance department for HallKeen Management for over four years when he jumped at the opportunity to transfer to The Highlands. His skills, knowledge and dedication to our residents are invaluable. If your television remote is not working, Ernie will fix it. If you need a picture hung, Ernie will hang it. In short, he can do it all and is happy to do it.
Casey Dube, CDP, Resident Care Director
CDube@HallKeen.com
Casey’s genuine compassion for our residents can be seen by her dedication to ensuring our nursing department is well trained and fully staffed. She brings with her over 10 years of experience in assisting the elderly with their care needs. She started her nursing career as a Certified Nursing Assistant / Medication Technician in Assisted Living. There she found her passion and continued her education graduating as a Registered Nurse in 2017. By working with residents and their loved ones, Casey and her team provide individual care plans that meet our residents’ needs.
Born and raised in Rhode Island, Casey is the mother to her beautiful 13-year-old daughter. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, 4 dogs and traveling to new destinations.
Jean Joy, CDP, Life Enrichment Director
JJoy@HallKeen.com
Born and raised in East Providence, Jean brings a wealth of experience and a heart full of passion to our team at The Highlands. A graduate of East Providence High School and The Sawyer School, Jean has spent over 15 years as a medical assistant and 8 years in life enrichment, with a specialized certification in dementia care. Jean is dedicated to helping others, where the opportunity to help others continues to be a driving force.
With a love for food (especially donuts!), all kinds of music, and a unique fascination with cars and trucks, Jean brings a fun, vibrant energy to our community. She brings this enthusiasm into her work, where she believes that “laughter is the best medicine.” Jean is always finding ways to bring joy and engagement to the residents of The Highlands through engaging activities.
When she’s not working, Jean enjoys spending time with her cat, Queso, and sharing her love of life with those around her.
Kevin Hardy, Food Service Director
KHardy@HallKeen.com
Kevin Hardy, originally from Hartford, Connecticut moved to Rhode Island in 2021. He studied at Johnson and Wales University where he received his Bachelors of Science in Foodservice Management and Master of Business Administration. He has worked for over 20 years creating delicious menus and in multiple industries. Kevin’s passion and love for food is what drives him.
“Cooking is a family affair in my household. The women in my family taught me how to cook and how to add a lot of love in every dish I prepare.”
Highlands Vaccinated Employees: 100%
last updated 4.15.2024