Meet Our Staff

Fred Marentic

Campus Safety Manager

Fred has approximately 30 years of experience and knowledge dedicated to a career in the Security industry. Before joining Maryland Masonic Homes (MMH), Fred was prior service with the Marine Corp, and worked in hotels and casinos throughout Las Vegas. 

Over the past 12 years, Fred has enjoyed working in the Continuing Care Retirement Communities sector. Fred brings tremendous expertise and a wealth of knowledge to MMH. Each day, Fred leads his highly skilled team to accomplish their shared mission of ensuring optimal safety for MMH residents, staff, and visitors throughout the community. Meeting with the residents daily is a part of Fred’s work that he always enjoys.

Donna Holmes, LPN/ALM

Director of Health and Wellness
Assisted Living and Independent Living

With a strong focus on providing excellent resident care, family involvement, and a safe community, Donna brings expert oversight to all aspects of Assisted Living and Independent Living for more than 36 years. Donna believes a rich and active lifestyle allows each resident to be as independent as they can be and is the key to a fulfilling life for Maryland Masonic Homes’ residents. Donna oversees the program and develops, implements, and routinely evaluates policies and procedures to maintain compliance with state regulations and basic nurse practices.

Tracey Taylor

Director of Culinary Services

With over 20 years in the culinary business, Chef Tracey has vast knowledge of the food & beverage industry. Chef Tracey has won several culinary competitions including being awarded the Best Chef on the East Coast for the Genesis Healthcare Division. Tracey is also an active member of the National Cancer Consortium, which develops recipes for the nutrition of cancer patients. Chef Tracey is a CDM/CFPP, serve safe manager, procter, and instructor, teaching classes several times a year.

Amy Highstein-Berman, LCSW-C

Director of the Social Service program

Amy has acted as a consultant to many nursing homes for over 10 years and currently works part time at Maryland Masonic Homes.  Her work history in nursing homes includes auditing charts, state preparedness and supervising social service staff.  In addition to consulting work, Amy is also a private therapist in the community.

Roya Brooks

Director of Resident Life & Recreation

Roya Brooks came to Maryland Masonic Homes in April 2022 with 9 plus years of skilled nursing home experience the recreation, activities, and guest service areas. She received her Bachelor of Science in psychology with a minor in health care management from Towson University in 2018. Since joining the team, Roya has brought in a new outlook on the department with help from her Assistant Director, Kayla Knox, full-time assistants, Amanda Jansen and Kayla Cox-Moore, and part-time assistant, Quintez Davis. Roya was raised by her grandmother, which formed her love for the older adult community.

Stacie Leach

Interim Director of Environmental Services and Laundry

Maryland Masonic Homes (MMH) has benefited from Stacie’s wealth of knowledge and experience for over eight years. As Interim Director of Environmental Services and Laundry, Stacie’s role is crucial in providing all residents, staff, and visitors, with a high level of quality service and a clean, safe environment. Stacie and her team take great pride in ensuring and maintaining high standards and efficient service. Stacie thoroughly enjoys leading the department and will often note, “I love being here at MMH because it reminds me of one big happy family.”

Cathy Xanthakos

Director of Human Resource

Cathy was born and raised in Baltimore, MD., and attended school in Maryland. She is an active member of SHRM and CHRA.

The start of Cathy’s HR career began in 1984 in a clothing manufacturing company. Later Cathy moved to the law firm environment, then transitioned  to marketing and finally healthcare. For over 30 years, Cathy has been an HR professional and truly enjoys all aspects of HR and working with all types of team members.

Cathy explains, “HR is very rewarding, as you help team members every day with questions, and education. Each day for me is a learning experience.  I like all aspects of HR and always enjoy coming to work. Maryland Masonic Homes is very near and dear to my heart, my mother was in a nursing home setting and my brother was a Mason. I am reminded of this every day when I come to work.

I am honored to be a part of the welcome team at MMH.”

Devon Bennett

Executive Director

Devon joined Maryland Masonic Homes in May 2022 as our Campus Executive Director and Nursing Home Administrator. With outstanding leadership, Devon oversees all phases of our Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living care, as well as our Independent Living. In addition, he works closely with our Grand Lodge Board and Strategic Planning Committee to ensure compliance with all state and federal regulations and the overall growth and success of the community. Devon has spent the last 11 years working in long term care in various roles that include admissions and marketing, social services, human resources, and many levels of operations both at community and corporate levels. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health Management and Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Phoenix. In addition to being a licensed nursing home administrator in both Maryland and his home state of Pennsylvania he is a certified dementia practitioner, and both a Pennsylvania licensed personal care home and assisted living administrator.

Devon lives in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania with his wife and their soon to be child. In his spare time, Devon coaches and officiates high school girls’ basketball, enjoys spending time outdoors and taking random adventures with his family. Devon chose Maryland Masonic Homes for their wonderful history of providing quality care at an affordable price for all in need, allowing them to age in place and live life to their fullest potential.

Chris Anderson

Director of Admissions

Bio Text

Timothy O’Rear, PTA

Rehabilitation Director

Tim graduated from Lincoln University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Health Science. He joined Union Memorial Hospital Sports Medicine Outpatient Rehab from 2008-2012 and then graduated from Baltimore Community College in 2012 with a degree as a Physical Therapist Assistant. Tim brings 10 years of expertise and experience to Maryland Masonic Homes (MMH) including treating PTA, specializing in Geriatrics, and 7 years in a management role. As MMH’s Rehabilitation Director since 2017, Tim leads a highly skilled rehabilitation team who are very knowledgeable in multiple treatment approaches, are well-rounded with all comorbidities, and take the time to build a rapport will all residents.

Tim enjoys working at MMH because of the rich history behind the building and the Masonic order, as well as the family like atmosphere amongst staff and residents. Over the years, Tim has worked in several sub-acute rehab communities and firmly believes MMH is by far the most clean community, with a warm, home feeling environment. Tim notes, “working with the geriatric population is very rewarding as we assist residents with achieving their prior level of function and assist with recommending the safest discharge plans to age in place.”

Reverend Ken Tipton

Chaplain

Reverend Tipton started his ministry career of 60+ years directing a youth choir. He worked for the government and at age 26 decided to make the ministry his full-time vocation. In 2005, Reverend Tipton retired from his work as a music pastor and church staff member. After bringing his skills to many different churches, he joined Maryland Masonic Homes (MMH) in January 2022. Reverend Tipton leads two services each week in the MMH’s beautiful stained-glass chapel. The balance of Reverend Tipton’s work is spent doing what he enjoys most…visiting with the residents, families, and staff.

Reverend Tipton has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 58 years. Their family of three daughters, four grandsons and two great-granddaughters, brings Reverend Tipton and his wife tremendous joy.