Meet the Leadership Team

Sheri Peifer, MSG, is Eskaton’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Peifer leads strategic growth and innovation, operational excellence and partnership development for the organization to meet the increasing demand for high-quality senior living solutions. Ms. Peifer joined Eskaton in 2005, and since 2014 served as Chief Strategy Officer expanding management services and affiliations, joint ventures, partnerships, marketing and communications. She is a graduate of the national LeadingAge Leadership Fellow program, based in Washington, D.C., and serves as Chair of the LeadingAge California Board of Directors. Ms. Peifer holds a BA from Messiah College and a MS in Gerontology and Education from California State University, Sacramento. She enjoys spending time with her husband and three sons.

Mark Jenkins is Eskaton’s Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Jenkins comes to Eskaton with an excellent track record of accounting, auditing and managing a growing portfolio of services within nonprofit organizations. Initially with experience as Senior Associate with PricewaterhouseCoopers and then eight successful years at VSP Vision Care in Sacramento. Mark is a licensed CPA, and he brings a diverse set of skills to Eskaton as we strategically grow our Northern California footprint. An alumnus of California State University Sacramento and well-connected in the finance industry, Mark brings a strong commitment to professional services and managing multiple partnerships. He enjoys the outdoors and snowboarding in Lake Tahoe.

Tom Garberson is Eskaton’s Chief Legal Officer. Tom fills a variety of diverse roles, including legal and strategic advice for the executive team, supporting and training leadership in Eskaton’s communities, and risk management. Previously, Tom was a partner at Low McKinley Baleria & Salenko, LLP in 2012. As a member of the firm, Tom defended assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, and healthcare professionals in civil cases, professional licensing actions, and appeals. Tom’s litigation experience is invaluable in identifying risks, improving systems, and providing training and guidance in difficult situations. The end result is safer operations and better outcomes for residents and operators alike. He currently sits on the Senior Citizens’ Commission for the city of Davis, California, as an advocate for older adults in the community.

Christhannah Luten serves as Eskaton’s Chief People Officer, providing strategic leadership for all aspects of the organization’s human resources function and championing initiatives that support Eskaton’s mission, values and people-first culture. In this role, she oversees talent acquisition, learning and development, organizational effectiveness and employee engagement across the organization. With more than 20 years of human resources leadership experience across the UK and US, Christhannah brings a global perspective shaped by work in both for-profit and nonprofit sectors. She has led diverse, international teams and is recognized for building strong, engaged and high-performing cultures that enable organizations and people to thrive.

Sadek is Eskaton’s Chief Operating Officer. Sadek leads Eskaton’s operational teams across all communities, focusing on efficiency, innovation, and strategic alignment. With over 20 years of hospitality experience and more than a decade in senior housing, he brings deep expertise in driving performance, building high-functioning teams, and advancing resident-centered care. Prior to joining Eskaton, he held leadership roles at Calson Management and Sunshine Retirement Living. He holds a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from CSU, Hayward.

Phil is Eskaton’s Vice President of Operations & Strategy for the Bay Area. Phil brings over 25 years of senior living operations experience, with a strong track record in multi-site leadership, performance improvement, and team development. Prior to joining Eskaton, he held executive roles at Cogir, MorningStar, and Elder Care Alliance, where he led initiatives in occupancy growth, operational turnarounds, and large-scale community transitions. He holds an MBA from CSU Sonoma and a bachelor’s from CSU Chico.

Trish Bayless is Eskaton’s Director of Human Resources. She has over 30 years of diverse human resources experience, 18 within non-profit senior living.  Proficient in all areas of HR, Trish’s strengths are in communication and relationship building, management coaching and support, employee relations, training and development, and legal compliance. Certifications include HRCI Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM-SCP, Senior Certified Professional and most recently Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida, MUMA College of Business. Trish is a proud mom to a wonderful son and two dogs. She likes to travel and explore new hobbies when not enjoying the pool.

Elizabeth Catron is Eskaton’s Vice President of Affordable Housing. She has worked in senior living for over sixteen years and joined the Eskaton team in 2006. Elizabeth assures quality and compliance with current federal, state and local guidelines and regulations that govern the subsidized housing programs. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from California State University, Sacramento. Elizabeth is a Registered Housing Manager through the National Center of Housing Management, a graduate of the EMERGE LeadingAge CA Leadership program and a member of the LeadingAge California Affordable Senior Housing Cabinet. Elizabeth enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and two boys in various activities such as hiking, kayaking and biking.

Charles Garcia is Eskaton’s Chief Information Officer. Bringing over 26+ of experience in the technology sector, Charles is responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of all Eskaton IT systems and electronic needs. Garcia joined Eskaton in April 2002 and has held several other positions, including network manager and director of information technology. Charles holds a bachelor’s in information technology. Prior to Eskaton, he worked with several multi-national companies, including Hewlett-Packard, 3Com and Northrop Grumman.  Charles enjoys coaching baseball and football, and riding all types of two-wheeled bikes along with his family.

Jennifer Marlette, MSN, RN, CNL, is the Executive Director of Quality Improvement. Jennifer has extensive leadership experience in post-acute settings, including skilled nursing, residential living, and home healthcare. She holds a DON certification from both NADONA and LeadingAge, Infection Preventionist training through CAHF and the CDC, and is also a graduate of the California LeadingAge Emerge Fellowship Academy. Jennifer’s educational background includes a Master of Science in nursing and an AACN certification in Clinical Nurse Leadership through Touro University. Additionally, she is part-time faculty at California State University, Sacramento in the gerontology department. Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family.

Zach Melchiori is Eskaton’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Brand Management. He has over 15 years of experience developing and executing marketing campaigns for brands both large and small. Prior to his role at Eskaton, Zach served as Director of Marketing at Pebble Beach Company, where he oversaw all brand and consumer marketing for the resort. Before Pebble Beach, he worked agency-side in media and digital strategy roles, on everything from large global brand campaigns to websites for local non-profits. Zach is an alumnus of California State University, Sacramento. He enjoys playing golf, running, surfing, spending time with his wife and chasing around his kids.

Alicia Rist brings 20 years of senior living experience, including 11 years as an Executive Director at communities throughout Northern California. At Eskaton, she currently serves as the Regional Director of Operations, where she oversees Eskaton communities in the Greater Sacramento region. Alicia is focused on improved workplace culture, resident satisfaction, first impressions, change management and standardization.  She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Phoenix and currently holds a certificate in life coaching with a specialization in career coaching.

Erin Scherer is Eskaton’s Vice President of Capital Assets & Strategic Projects and brings over 13+ years of experience in capital planning and budgeting as well as project management with construction and design for Eskaton’s 30+ locations throughout Northern California. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist through the National Association of Home Builders. Erin has presented at conferences around the nation, including DWELL on Design and Leading Age California. She enjoys hiking and the outdoors with her husband.

Dan Seiler is Eskaton’s Vice President of Finance. Dan is an active Certified Public Accountant with experience in public accounting, financial forensics, and corporate finance. Prior to joining Eskaton, Dan spent nearly 15 years working with a diverse clientele of for-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations, including developers of subsidized housing for low-income seniors. Dan graduated with honors from California State University, Sacramento, with a degree in Business Administration, emphasis in Accountancy, and launched his professional career with Ernst & Young’s audit practice upon graduation. Outside of work, Dan enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and three sons, volunteering as an Assistant Scoutmaster in his son’s scout troop, and serving as a volunteer member of the Yolo County Search and Rescue team.

Beth Vandenberg is the Senior Executive Assistant to the President & CEO and the Board of Directors. Her diverse professional background allows her to provide executive-level support and assist with complex, detail-driven projects. Beth holds a variety of certifications, including in Presentation Development, Leadership and Coaching, and Pragmatic Marketing. Her skill set is essential for supervising meetings and events involving Eskaton members and the Board of Directors, making certain that each detail receives careful attention. In her spare time, Beth enjoys spending time with her loved ones and immersing herself in the beauty of the outdoors.