Marketing Team

Dean Dellaria
Director of Sales

Dean has been with Friendship Village for more than 10 years, serving as a Residency Counselor before becoming the Director of Sales in 2006. During those years, he has been part of the team that transformed Friendship Village first with the opening of the Crosswell Trace Garden Homes and then with all the new amenities of Bridgewater Place and Friendship Center. Dean earned designation as a Certified Marketing Professional in 2006.

"The best part of my job is seeing a resident after they have adjusted to their new surroundings and their feelings of apprehension have been replaced by happiness, relief and a renewed sense of purpose. There is no greater reward for my work than that."

Dayna Spina
Residency Counselor

Dayna joined Friendship Village in 2006, bringing with her 15 years of experience in sales and marketing. Before joining Friendship Village, she was the Community Relations Director for another retirement community. She also raised funds for a local hospice so that low-income seniors could get the care they needed. As evidenced by her background, Dayna has a passion for working with seniors.

"It's a pleasure and blessing to come to work everyday. To be able to offer prospective residents and their families peace of mind, knowing that they can have a secure future is great. It's wonderful to be able to enhance their lives with so many new friends and social events. Every day is an opportunity to share happiness and to learn from residents' great experiences and knowledge."

Mariann Wherry
Residency Counselor

A licensed social worker who joined Friendship Village in 1998, Mariann has 27 years of experience in senior services and health care. Throughout her years at Friendship Village she has accepted various roles. Her knowledge of the continuum and services brings an expertise to the Marketing team.

"I truly love working with seniors and their families. I find it rewarding to be able to help someone select the perfect home for their future."

Nancy Ryan
Residency Counselor

A teacher by training, Nancy found a career in retirement living after volunteering through her church to serve homebound seniors. Before joining Friendship Village, she accumulated 10 years of experience in senior living, serving as marketing director in two different communities and helping in development of a new campus for a respected Continuing Care Retirement Community on Chicago's South Side. Long familiar with Friendship Village's reputation, Nancy says she "jumped at the chance" to become a residency counselor in January 2007.

"I feel a great sense of pride in being affiliated with Friendship Village. It is a pleasure to be part of such a highly professional team. I am energized by the challenges that each new day brings. Most importantly, it is a privilege to assist my clients in acquiring a secure a plan for their future, and to observe them enjoying the wonderful lifestyle that Friendship Village offers."

Patrick Long
Residency Counselor

Patrick has extensive experience in sales, marketing, customer service and human services. For seven years, he sold and marketed a start-up retirement community as well as a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Florida. A graduate of Florida State University with a degree in marketing, Patrick returned to his Midwestern roots and joined Friendship Village in 2010.

"I truly enjoy helping older adults plan for their future by helping them obtain the significant physical and financial security, as well as tremendous peace of mind, that Friendship Village offers."

Rosemary Newman
Community Relations Coordinator

Rosemary has been sharing information about Friendship Village with the medical community, churches and other organizations providing services for seniors since 2005. She brings to her work years of experience as an educator, a regional customer service coordinator and a programming/volunteer manager for another retirement community. She currently is studying for the ministry. As Rosemary reflects on her life and the opportunities she has been granted, she counts her time at Friendship Village among her most cherished experiences.

"From the first day I walked into the community, I was treated as if I had been here for years. The hospitality took me back to my southern roots. From the CEO to the residents, the word "friendship" and the core values of Faith, Community, Growth, Service and Stewardship were not just words on a piece of paper. They were living and breathing through the character of everyone I saw. It is such a blessing to be among people who have not forgotten the importance of the human spirit and the simple, yet, enormous value of a smile. Every day, not only do I get to drive into one of the most enchanting communities, but I get to be among people who are kind, considerate, honest, trustworthy, conscientious, and friendly."

Kate Madison
Marketing Specialist

Kate first joined Friendship Village in May 1998 as a high school student and held positions in Dining Services, The Willows assisted living and the Adult Day Services program before graduating from college. She began working in the Marketing Department at GreenFields of Geneva in 2005 and transferred to Friendship Village in January of 2008. An Eastern Illinois graduate with a B.A. in Health Administration, Kate enjoys working at Friendship Village because its name really reflects the personality of the community.

"Friendship Village truly does have a spirit of friendship that is exchanged daily among residents, families, and associates. A simple "hello" or a welcoming smile reminds me just how much our community enhances the lives of our residents and those around them. Every day I enjoy coming to work because I realize that I am coming to work in not just a retirement community, but someone's home."

Andrea Evanoff
Marketing Assistant

In 2007, Andrea joined the Friendship Village Marketing team as a recent graduate of Northern Illinois University where she earned a B.A. in Organizational Communications. She has found that her work at Friendship Village has given her more benefits than she bargained for.

"Working at Friendship Village has been a rewarding experience for me, with the benefit of doing the work I love while being part of a wonderful community of older adults and fellow associates. Friendship Village is unique in the way it offers older adults endless opportunities to enjoy life, combined with a beautiful residence and the kind of welcoming atmosphere that family members of all ages will want to be a part of."

Marilyn Froehlich
Move-in Coordinator

Each day, Marilyn helps new residents make the transition from their home to their new apartment home at Friendship Village. Her career at Friendship Village began in spring 2007, during one of the busiest times in the community's history, shortly before the opening of Bridgewater Place. During her first few months of the job, she was coordinating as many as four move-ins a day. Marilyn also works closely with the Village Friends to provide new residents with a warm welcome to Friendship Village.

"There are a number of reasons I love working here, but the top reason is because I love and admire the residents who live here. They've taught me some important lessons in life. My dad also lives here and I get to have lunch with him every day."