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
Veronica Chery-Rosa
Executive Director
Veronica Chery-Rosa’s passion for enriching the lives of others is a family trait. She is one of three children, all of which hold careers in healthcare. Veronica began her senior care journey in 2001, in an assisted living facility in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. She served as a med tech and caregiver in this community for 12 years. She then worked for Legend Senior Living at the Windsor-Ortega community. In 2014, her path quickly transitioned from part-time receptionist/caregiver into a full-time Business Office Manager for Windsor- Ortega. She was a key player in Legend’s successful launching of their independent living community in Jacksonville, Florida in 2021. Veronica’s person-centered approach with team members and residents alike has led to successful retention of staff and regulatory survey outcomes. She is embracing the next chapter of her professional career with Strive Senior Living and is looking forward to building the Strive brand within the healthcare continuum!
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.
Matt Godfrey
Executive Chef
Growing up in a family that loves food, Matt Godfrey finds himself wanting to create food that his family will love, inspiring him to become a chef. In high school I excelled in a culinary arts course where I discovered my love and passion for food and my talent for preparation and presentation. This led to an after-school job in a local restaurant where I worked my way up from dishwasher/ busser to lead cook. Attended Lincoln culinary graduate top of his class. With fifteen years of professional experience in the kitchen, Matt Godfrey was born in the New England area. Was raised by a single mother of four. Trained in multiple cuisines and preparations and extremely knowledgeable of basic, advanced cooking techniques. Able to prioritize safety in the kitchen while upholding high standards for meals and ingredient preparation. Taking direction well can work under extreme pressure while maintaining a positive attitude. Passionate about the culinary industry. I cook from my heart and soul while creating all the dishes and using the skills and techniques I’ve acquired from my years of traveling. I especially enjoy sharing my talents in a more personal setting. When I’m not creating meals and memories, I’m spending time with my 8-year son.
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.
Karen Corbin
Memory Care Director
Born and raised in Wildwood, FL, I have devoted over a decade to serving in assisted living facilities and memory care settings, including as a memory care director. My commitment to providing compassionate care for the young at heart is more than a profession—it’s my calling. Completing nursing school has further fueled my dedication to this work, allowing me to blend expertise with empathy in every interaction.
Outside of my career, I find joy in staying active through volleyball and basketball, as well as cherishing moments with family and friends. These passions keep me grounded, foster a sense of teamwork, and remind me of the importance of resilience in both life and work.
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.
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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