Leadership
Kyle Garifo MA, LCPC, Chief Executive Family Board Member
Kyle's journey in senior living began not in a boardroom, but at his grandmother's bedside — watching her move through various assisted living facilities and knowing, deeply, that there had to be a better way. That conviction became The Heathers Senior Homes.
With a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from The Illinois School of Professional Psychology and over two decades as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Kyle brings a rare combination of clinical insight and genuine human connection to senior care. Since earning his license in 2003, he has dedicated his career to understanding people — what they need, what they fear, and what makes them feel truly at home. That foundation shapes everything about the way The Heathers operates.
Kyle has been immersed in assisted living since 2015, and what sets him apart is a genuine passion for the people in his care. He makes it a priority to connect with residents personally — listening to their stories and learning from the remarkable lives they've lived. For Kyle, this work has never been about beds and billing — it's about people.
One of the things Kyle is most proud of is that The Heathers is truly a family endeavor. He is joined by his parents, who share his commitment to a more personal, dignified approach to senior living. At home, Kyle has been married to his wife Kristin for over 25 years, and together they have three children — Ava, Zack, and Easton. When he's not at The Heathers, you'll likely find him on the golf course, coaching high school football or baseball in the community, or soaking up time with family and friends on the beach.
The Heathers Senior Homes was built on a simple belief: our loved ones deserve more than adequate care — they deserve a place that truly feels like home.
Sandy and Larry Garifo, Family Board Members
Sandy spent her entire career teaching in HS District 214, with the last eleven years helping to develop and operate an alternative program for “at risk” teens in the district. Much of her time was focused on creating and implementing a community service program in which the teenage students spent part of every school day helping out at assisted living residences, nursing homes, hospitals and elementary schools. She regularly witnessed how beneficial this interaction was, not only for the residents, but also for the teens themselves, who grew in compassion as well as confidence. She will be establishing a program with the local high school students in bringing youthful energy to our residents. Sandy was compelled to enter the Senior Living field after watching her mother quickly lose her cognitive abilities and zest when she entered a large facility in Minnesota. She was safe and comfortable, but certainly not thriving. With others in her family, she developed a passion for doing Senior living (both assisted and memory care) differently. The Heathers honors that passion.
Larry has been in the IT and Human Resource industries for the past forty years, managing large IT projects until his retirement. Upon retiring, Larry joined his son Kyle in pursuing real estate ventures. During one of those opportunities, he became interested in the senior living industry through his wife Sandy’s unsatisfactory experience with her mother at a large senior living facility in Minnesota. Other family members had seen the same situation with their spouses’ relatives and this situation became a frequent topic of conversations within the family.
Not ready to truly retire, and with the family’s encouragement and promise of support, Larry decided to delve into the research and determine what the experts were saying about the future of the industry. He discovered what the family had all become passionate about—smaller is better for a myriad of reasons, all related to concern for the residents’ physical, mental and emotional health. He spearheaded the project that is now The Heathers Senior Homes and continues to enthusiastically participate in its development and growth.
Jennifer Bohyer, CDP, Executive Director
Jennifer is married to Dan and together they have a one-year old son named Matthew. Matthew is a happy toddler who's always on the move, bringing joy and energy to their family. Jennifer has three step-children, Cassidy, Hayley and Zach. Time with her family is her greatest joy and reward. She also enjoys her two dogs, an outdoor walk and a good movie. Her faith and family are the cornerstone of her passion and love for senior healthcare. Jennifer’s philosophy of senior living is to create a home that brings purpose, dignity, and beauty for all life to the very end; and to walk alongside families with love, compassion, and direction through life’s challenging decisions.
Julie Ortiz, LPN, Director of Nursing
Julie's previous healthcare roles include working as a CNA, working as a floor nurse in Assisted Living and Memory Care facilities, and as a Director of Resident Care. Throughout her career, she has had the privilege of supporting residents and their families during some of their most challenging moments, building meaningful relationships that she says she will always cherish. She has a special passion for working with individuals living with dementia and strives to enhance their quality of life in meaningful ways, whether by developing creative communication approaches or simply offering comfort and presence during their times of need.
She is married to her husband, Juan. Together, they’ve built an amazing blended family and are parents to seven children, daughters Angelica, Ava, Zoey, and Shiloh; and sons Jake, Nick, and Brock. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and listening to music.
Kathy Biron, Business Development Manager
Kathy Biron joins The Heathers Senior Homes and brings with her over fifteen years of senior living experience as well as patient-centered care. As the Business Development Manager, she has a passion for building quality relationships with everyone she meets on a daily basis. Kathy’s career achievements include driving service innovation, program development and building trusting relationships with families, hospitals and community organizations.
In her personal life, she enjoys spending time with Al and their three children, Ashley, Anthony and Zachary. She also enjoys spending time with her beloved, English Bulldog, Bruno.
In her down time, Kathy enjoys the beach, boating, Pilates and scrapbooking.
Rhonda Kalitowski, NP-Community Physicians
Community Physicians is a medical services provider that offers high-quality, compassionate and responsive primary care and psychiatric services in a variety of environments including post-acute facilities, assisted living communities and patient homes. CP also offers medical oversight and consulting services to insurance companies and medical facilities to manage and improve population health and ensure regulatory compliance.
Rebecca Artner, FNP-BC, Community Physicians-Psychiatric Services
Rebecca received her Master of Science in Nursing from Northern Illinois University in 2018 and subsequently earned her board certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Rebecca came to us with over 10 years of nursing experience in areas such as instructing, hospital and clinic settings, women’s health, well-child visits and of course our older adult population. She really loves what she does and especially enjoys building relationships with patients and their families. She is married and has 4 daughters. She shares this fun fact: “Our names all start with R, even our dog!” She is looking forward to providing the psychiatric needs of each of her patients as well as offer support to their loved ones and caretakers.