Meet Our Dedicated Staff
Brittney is Joyful Journey’s Assistant Director. She has a unique combination of experience in memory care, personal care, and human services. Having previously spent a year and a half with the Friends as a Program Assistant here at Joyful Journey, Brittney utilizes that knowledge to plan engaging programs, coordinate enrollments for new Friends, and orchestrate the volunteer experience. When she is away from her desk you can often find her singing, dancing, and joking with Friends. Her favorite programs with Friends are sing-alongs, arts and crafts, and word games.
It gives her JOY to build relationships with Friends and create new memories and moments of joy with each and every Friend.
In her free time, Brittney enjoys relaxing with her husband and dog, reading, drawing, painting, and watching anime.
Kylie is the Program Lead at Joyful Journey. It gives her JOY when she can truly make a difference in our Friends’ lives by getting to learn their life stories. She loves being a part of building connections and fostering creativity with Friends and sees the impact of this daily interaction. Kylie has been in healthcare for 10 years now and she finds it very rewarding. She says, “I have met so many amazing and intriguing people throughout this journey of mine and it continues to grow here at Joyful Journey.” When Kylie is not at Joyful Journey she enjoys spending time with family. She is also into health and fitness!
Kristen is Joyful Journey’s Office Administrator, taking the important area at the front desk on Tuesday through Thursday. Kristen helps keep JJ organized, greets families and Friends, directs inquiries to staff, helps where needed, all while building important relationships with our caregivers and Friends.
Having walked the care giving path, she has a special place in her heart for all caregivers and it brings great JOY to her being a part of an organization that is sensitive to their needs.
When not at Joyful Journey, Kristen enjoys reading, visiting tea rooms and botanical gardens, trying new recipes and spending time with her favorite people – her husband and two adult children. Helping round out Kristen’s zeal for people is her time spent in respite-care ministry, the welcome ministry, and Mothers of Preschoolers ministry at her church.
Trisha spends her time at Joyful Journey as a Program Assistant. She takes pride in ensuring Friends needs are met. She says “I just love helping people.” It gives her JOY when she helps a Friend enjoy their day.
When Trisha is not at Joyful Journey, she enjoys spending time with her family and playing with her dogs. She also loves to curl up with a good book!
7 Statements of Philosophy about Serving Our Friends
- We accomplish things with our Friends based on their current abilities and interests because everyone needs a sense of purpose.
- We respond to our Friends, including to his/her changes in abilities, in a way that is not hurtful or offensive.
- We appreciate that our Friends have important histories and thoughts to share. It is our responsibility to offer the right environment plus time and encouragement so their voices are heard the most.
- We understand that a Friend is doing the best he or she can. When something is not working, it is our responsibility to change our behavior and approach.
- We are aware of the environment and its impact on our Friends. We will make changes supporting our Friends, as needed.
- We know body language and visual cues, not our words, are the best communication tools. We strive to use fewer words and more visual cues.
- We respect the privacy and dignity of our Friends and their families.
Volunteer Associates
Cathy & Gerard Benner
Cathy, President, and Gerard, Treasurer and Board Chair, are Co-Founders of Joyful Journey. Both are committed Volunteers on many levels for the organization. What came from personal caregiving experience, driving hearts of compassion for caregivers and families, and listening to where their faith was leading them has been a humbling mission of talking the talk and walking the walk.
Cathy finds JOY in seeing parts of her mom in each Joyful Journey Friend and knowing her mom’s memory will be a legacy of love for our community of caregivers and those being cared for. Hearing of life breathing moments in caregiver lives because of the positive impact Joyful Journey has afforded them provides Gerard great JOY. Both are inspired by the love exhibited by our communities, Board, Staff and Volunteers as shown through everyone’s personal calling and willingness to help make Joyful Journey a reality.
Always together, whether at work or play, Cathy and Gerard find great pleasure in serving others and those special times with one another, their grown children, grandchildren, extended family, and a fuzzy dog, Rowen.
Board of Directors
Stuart Boehning, Secretary | Don Windler, Member | Suzan Windnagel, Member | Robert Truitt, Member | Susan Gauger, Member | Cathy Benner, Member | Gerard Benner, Chair
