Dining Options
- Chef-prepared meals with daily open dining
- High quality and nutritious ingredients
- Opportunity to collaborate with the culinary team on resident’s own recipes
BISTRO
- 24/7 snacks and drinks
- Various events hosted throughout the month including ice cream socials and wine tastings
herb garden
- Fresh herbs and vegetables for use in the kitchen
- Lovely area to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather
- Residents welcome to tend the garden throughout the season
community activities
- Large activity room dedicated to community events
- Full calendar of educational, social, and cultural activities
DOG PARK
- Medium sized dog park for our residents’ furry friends
- Staff is available to assist with pet care
REHAB CLINIC
- Easy for residents to schedule and attend physical therapy sessions
- Equipment is also available for exercising
Melissa Corkish
Assistant Executive Director
Melissa began her career in the health care field over 20 years ago. She has a wide range of experience with behavioral health, mental health, medical fragile, as well as the senior population. Both of Melissa’s grandmothers had Alzheimer’s/Dementia, which has inspired her to re-focus back into working with seniors. Melissa has a genuine passion to care for others and is committed to enriching the lives of seniors. Melissa was born in Upstate New York and relocated to Florida in 2018, where she now calls home with her Fiancé and her dog, Hope. Melissa has her bachelor’s degree in Sociology at SUNY Brockport College in NY. Melissa enjoys sunflowers, chocolate and diet coke.
Petr Erdei
Executive Chef
Laid-back and approachable, I’m a European native with a passion for hockey, a love for golf, and a deep appreciation for the connections we build through shared experiences. Whether I’m out on the ice chasing a puck or enjoying a quiet afternoon on the green, I find balance in staying active and grounded.
People often describe me as someone who brings steady energy and a calm presence to any situation. I take pride in being a good listener, offering thoughtful insight, and approaching challenges with clarity and humor. While I enjoy a good debate, I also know when to keep things light—and yes, I like to think my takes are usually spot on.
I value authenticity, mutual respect, and a no-drama mindset. Life’s too short not to enjoy the ride, and I aim to make the most of it by surrounding myself with good people, staying curious, and never turning down the chance to try something new.
Above all, I believe in showing up as someone others can rely on—whether it’s in friendship, work, or the everyday moments that matter most.
Natacha Thelamour
Health & Wellness Director
Natacha is a devoted servant clinical leader, with a laser focus on quality care delivery, team empowerment, and ability to transform challenges into opportunities. Natacha has nearly 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, with specialty in SNF, ALF, Hospitals, Hospice, and project management specific to RTH and LOS. Natacha has led Florida’s largest skilled chains centralized admission process to support over 9,000 LTC beds in Florida. She worked closely with Regional Operations, Clinical, and Business Development partners to build census while minimizing hospital stay. Natacha is not only a nurse with a passion to provide exceptional care, but also a Certified Dementia Practitioner who is Core trained and Certified. Natacha is committed to building a culture of trust, with passionate resilient team members to create meaning and lasting impact on those she gracefully serves. Natacha is a wife, mother of four, Sunday school teacher and worship leader in her church. She enjoys movie nights with her family, swimming, singing, and traveling to church fellowship meetings.
Pauline Almestica-Cooke
Life Enrichment Director
Pauline was born in the Virgin Islands and moved to Orlando 32 years ago. She has two older sisters and a brother. She enjoys spending her free time with family which include her son, Aiden, who is 14, and her dog, Sid (Miniture Schnauzer). Pauline enjoys hobbies like jewelry making, journaling, macrame, gardening, scrapbooking, and many others. She has been working with seniors for 22 years and enjoys spending time with the seniors she works for and getting to know their stories.
Kalub McPherson
Community Relations Director
Kalub is the Move-In Coordinator for Strive at Fern Park. He is originally from Texas but made his move to Florida at 17-years-old to be closer to his mother. He graduated high school in 2012 and thought he had figured out what he wanted to do for his career. He started studying to become an attorney at 18 years old and made it to becoming a certified paralegal and notary and was at the Gordon law firm for 5 years. He decided to change careers and moved into the sales field with retail and then moved on to the restaurant industry. He is a jack of all trades as many people would say, he is meticulously organized and is passionate about the work that he does no matter what position he is in. He is new to his senior living career but feels that the possibilities in this career path are endless. His main goal in life is to help people live the best life they can, and he has found that senior living is the best fit for what he wants to do. His hobbies include training horses, swimming, and cooking for big family parties. Family is the most important thing to Kalub it means everything to him, which is why he has chosen Strive, we are one big family.
Kassandra Martinez
Memory Care Coordinator
I grew up in Florida and am a proud parent of four beautiful children. For the past 12 years, I’ve dedicated my life to caring for others. This journey began when I started working as a caregiver for seniors. That experience changed my life forever.
My passion for the elderly grew even stronger as I spent more time caring for them. Each day, I go home feeling fulfilled, knowing I’ve made a difference in someone’s life. This isn’t just a job to me, it’s a calling. Caring for people with dignity, respect, and love is what I was meant to do.
Adrian Barrantes
Maintenance Director
With over 20 years in maintenance and construction, Adrian Barrantes is dedicated to creating safe, welcoming environments for those who need them most. Known for his precision and meticulous attention to detail, he takes pride in ensuring facilities are functional, supportive, and truly enriching for residents.
As Director of Maintenance and Special Projects at Central Florida Communities, Adrian led transformative efforts, including a $3M renovation at a Southwest Florida ICF for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. His background also includes maintaining public infrastructure for the City of Winter Springs, where he constructed pavilions in public parks as well as other community spaces for families and the community to enjoy, and ensured city facilities met rigorous safety standards. Before relocating to Florida, Adrian worked at Bridgeway Senior Healthcare in New Jersey, providing high-quality, responsive facility care tailored to the unique needs of a senior living environment.
Adrian’s expertise spans HVAC, plumbing, electrical repairs, specialized carpentry, and complex renovations. Equally comfortable leading projects or performing hands-on work, he finds the most satisfaction in projects that directly improve lives. When he’s not building or fixing something, Adrian enjoys spending time with his wife and their two girls, their beloved husky-mix rescues, Alaska and Athena. His dedication, reliability, and problem-solving skills make him a valuable leader, committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all.
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407-848-1743
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