Thomas E. Gatewood, III –   Executive Director

Tom is a native of North Carolina growing up in Winston-Salem, NC where he attended R.J. Reynolds High School.  In 1996, he graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Campbell University and following graduation began the administrator in training program becoming a licensed nursing home administrator.  Tom has been the Executive Director of Big Elm since 2005 and has practiced in long term care administration for over 23 years.   Tom has served Cabarrus and Rowan Counties for all of those years through his work as Administrator for Five Oaks form 1998-2005 and as Executive Director for Big Elm from 2005 to present.

Tom’s management philosophy is simple…he wants to run facilities that he would entrust the care of his own family.  “Long term care is all about community and the people who we are caring for now built this community.  Long term care is all about people and that is why Big Elm is such a special place.  Our partnerships with Big Elm Ministry and the outreach provided by our nursing and assisted living facilities are all integral in this community.”

Aside from operating healthcare facilities, Tom has two boys, Tee and Greaves ages 11 and 8 respectively, a wonderful and supportive wife of over 16 years Page, two dogs (Amos and Rosie), a cat (Poppy-Snowflake), two hermit crabs, and a frog.  He use to like to play golf however the aforementioned has done damage to the time necessary to play!

Myrna Vogel – Activity Director

Myrna grew up in Phillipsburg, NJ where she graduated from Phillipsburg High School.  Soon after, Myrna married her husband Terry where the two moved to Lake Wallenpaupack, PA and started a family having three children Jason, Sarabeth, and Terri-Leigh.  In 1986 she returned to college at Marywood University where she obtained her Licensed Personal Care Home Administrator Certification.

Following college, Myrna worked as an administrator for a personal care home (assisted living) and later became the administrator at a 100-bed assisted living in Pennsylvania before moving to North Carolina to move closer to her daughters.

Myrna came to Big Elm 8 years ago and has worked as living center supervisor and now she has assumed the Activity Director position.  Myrna says working in long term care is a calling and she is hopeful her work has helped improve their lives.  She says she likes Big Elm for the family environment and that the staff are family, the residents are family, and their family are our family!

Kristi Fuller, Infection Control/Staff Development

Kristi was born in Burlington, VT and later came to Wilmington, NC where she attended Brunswick Community College and earned her nursing degree.  Following school Kristi worked in post-surgical care, home health, and skilled nursing care for over 10 years. Kristi came to Big Elm two years ago and worked in the skilled facility as a nurse.  With the increased emphasis in infection control Kristi was promoted to focus on infection control prevention as well as assist in facility education.

Kristi says she, “absolutely loves working with the elderly and this is why I chose long term care and continue to work in this profession.  The elderly have so much history and knowledge to share.  I learn something new every day and enjoy listening to the stories they tell.  I feel they should be treated with great respect.”

Krisit enjoys working at Big Elm for the teamwork and family atmosphere as you often hear laughter and singing throughout the halls!

AJ Cole – Business Office Manager

AJ grew up in Syracuse, NY where he graduated High School and went into the computer repair business until he moved to Raleigh, NC in 2011.  During a personal stint in the hospital in Raleigh he met several nursing assistants during his stay.  He decided that he wanted to enter school to become a Certified Nursing Assistant where he got his certification and started working in a skilled facility.

With his computer background he often assisted with data entry for care plans/MDS.  AJ was offered an assistant bookkeeper job where he worked and later was promoted to office manager.  He has worked for Big Elm for several years as accounts receivable but recently accepted the full time office manager position.

AJ says he got into long term care for the good our services provide.  He enjoys working for Big Elm in that he sees from all the employees a deep dedication to the residents and that they are doing their jobs with sincere dedication.

Jacqueline “Jackie” M. Hall – Living Center Supervisor

Jackie, a self-proclaimed old fashioned country girl, is a Concord, NC native where she graduated from Concord High School in 1983.  Following graduation she received her certified nursing assistant certification and worked as a nursing assistant for over 20 years. Jackie has received special training on working with dementia in the elderly population.   Jackie found her calling for long term care first by being raised by her grandparents whom she later had to care for before their passing.  Following she began working in long term care and continues.

In her career she has obtained experience in several areas.  Jackie has worked as a Med-Tech, Activity Director for a Dementia Unit, Supervisor in Charge in an assisted living, staffing coordinator and has recently been promoted to the Living Center Supervisor.

Jackie enjoys working at Big Elm as she enjoys being part of a family oriented facility that has allowed her to grow in her profession.  She enjoys the team work atmosphere and working together for the patient’s needs.  Jackie enjoys a little smile and laughter and making a difference in someone’s life.

Santricia Mabry – Skilled Nursing Supervisor

Santricia is from South Hill, VA which is a small town near Richmond.  She attend nursing school through the MCV/VCU hospital in Richmond and received her associate degree in Licensed Practical Nursing.  Following she worked for the hospital but her heart was in long term care following her experience with caring for her grandfather for over 8 years.   Santricia went into long term care where she worked as a unit nurse for a nursing home. She gained experience with tracheotomy, TPN, post cardiac surgeries, and soon was promoted to shift supervisor.  Santricia moved to North Carolina following the birth of her son to be closer to family and took a job at Big Elm and is responsible for managing the skilled nursing facility under the direction and in coordination with the director of nursing.

Santricia says she feels at home at Big Elm and the staff here are like a second family.  “I’ve grown to respect and love the staff, residents, and I respect them so much.”  Santricia is appreciative for the opportunity to serve in an environment that gives her the necessary resources and an opportunity to grow and feels supported by her administration. “Big Elm is an all-around great place to work!”

mds@bigelmnursing.com 

Cindy O. Coble, BSN/RN-  Minimum Data Set (MDS)/Care Plan Coordinator

A native of China Grove, NC, Cindy has provided healthcare in the Rowan County community for over 35 years.  Cindy has lived in Rowan County for over 58 years having attended South Rowan High School where she graduated in 1981.  Soon after she attended UNCC where she received her Bachelor of Nursing Degree in 1985.  Cindy worked in labor and delivery unit for the hospital for 5 years followed by working in home health for over 12 years.  In 2000 Cindy took a job in long-term care facility as a unit manager and has worked in long-term care ever since.

Cindy is responsible for completing resident plans of care and she is responsible for a comprehensive patient assessment called a Minimum Data Set (MDS).  Cindy reviews the patient’s plans of care and updates them quite frequently when there is a change or specific patient need. She often meets with our residents and family to review care needs of their respective loved one.

Cindy says, “I love working with the elderly.  They are great teachers.  I learn something new every day.  A word of encouragement, a hug, a smile can make a huge difference in a resident’s day and life which makes a difference in my life!  The bottom line is we are here for all the residents.  They deserve a happy life and often we are their family!”  Cindy enjoys working at Big Elm as it is a smaller and family-oriented facility.

Kelly Calhoun, MSP CCC-SLP-  Speech-Language Pathologist/Director of Rehabilitation

Kelly is a native North Carolinian, born and raised in Charlotte, NC. Kelly graduated from North Carolina State University with a Bachelors in Communications. She went on to pursue her masters degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of South Carolina with a specialization in Adult Neurogenics. Kelly moved to Dallas, TX and returned to North Carolina in 2018 and has worked at Big Elm since.  Kelly has over 15 years experience as a speech-language pathologist addressing various cognitive-communicative and swallowing disorders.

Kelly has worked in a variety of clinical settings such as acute inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facilities, and a mobile medical clinic specializing in Modified Barium Swallow studies. She is passionate about working with the geriatric population to help her residents “age gracefully” and enjoy their “Golden Years”.  She has been at Big Elm Nursing Center for over two years and enjoys the family atmosphere between the staff and residents.