Joe Brinker currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Bethesda—a position he began in July 2010. Prior to that position, Joe served the organization in numerous leadership capacities, including Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President, Long Term Care.

In addition, Joe, who began his career with Bethesda in 1989, held many leadership positions at Bethesda General Hospital, including the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer.

Joe currently holds many professional and civil leadership positions, including the following:

Professional

• Member, Leadership Circle, LeadingAge (formerly American Association of Homes for the Aging)
• Member, Budget and Finance Committee, LeadingAge
• Member, House of Delegates, LeadingAge
• Board Member, Bethesda Health Group
• Board Member, St. Andrews & Bethesda Home Health

Professional

• Board Member, St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Member, Board of Adjustment, Town & County, Mo.
• Board Member, University of Missouri-Columbia Health Management Alumni Association

In addition, Joe recently completed serving a term on the board of Des Peres Hospital.

Kiel joined Bethesda in September of 2017, and is responsible for managing the operations of the organization. This includes the six skilled nursing communities that Bethesda owns and/or manages; Bethesda’s six retirement communities; Bethesda’s two assisted living communities; and Bethesda’s home and community based services, which includes Home Health, Care Management, Senior Support Solutions (in-home private duty services), Hospice Care, and Respite Care.

In addition, Kiel is responsible for the environmental services and facility management, and clinical process and application components of Bethesda.

Prior to joining Bethesda, Kiel had served in a variety of management capacities with Heritage Enterprises since 2012. Most recently, he had been serving as the Regional Director of Operations in Illinois and Indiana.  During his tenure at Heritage, Kiel developed and led two new lines of business, including inpatient hospice and respiratory therapy.

Kiel is originally from Springfield, Ill.  He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and his MBA from Benedictine University.

Michelle, who has been with Bethesda since 1995, is serving in the position of Corporate Vice President, Senior Living and In-Home Care.  In this position, Michelle is responsible for providing overall management and leadership for Bethesda’s six retirement communities, as well as the organization’s prime community based services: Bethesda Senior Support Solutions (private duty, geriatric care management & transportation), Bethesda Care Management Services, Bethesda Hospice Care and St. Andrews & Bethesda Home Health (operated in partnership with St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors).

Prior to this position, Michelle served as the Vice President and Director, Senior Support Solutions, where she was instrumental in the development of this specialized program.  Senior Support Solutions provides seniors with innovative solutions for receiving services that will keep them in the privacy and comfort of the place they call home.  She has also served as Vice President and Administrator of The Charless Home, and General Manager at both Bethesda Orchard in Webster Groves and Bethesda Barclay House in Clayton.

Michelle is currently a member of Missouri Alliance for Home Care, Missouri Hospice & Palliative Care Association, St. Louis Palliative Care Network and is serving as a member of the LeadingAge Missouri Professional Development Committee.  She is a graduate of Webster University with a degree in Health Care Administration.

Laura joined Bethesda in 2023 as Corporate Vice President, General Counsel and Compliance. Her current responsibilities include the preparation and oversight of written guidelines pertaining to federal, state and regulatory issues for the organization. She oversees the quality assessment and performance improvement programs for all residences and services as well as the professional liability self-insurance program and claims and litigation. She also provides legal guidance to the organization.

Laura has a nursing degree from Maryville University and a Juris Doctor degree from St. Louis University. She has worked for several large hospital systems in various roles including risk management, Associate General Counsel, Assistant General Counsel, General Counsel, and Compliance Officer.

Prior to working at Bethesda, she was Assistant General Counsel for SSM Health Systems. In 2015, Laura was a recipient of the Women’s Justice Enterprise Award.

Linda, who joined Bethesda in November 2021, is responsible for managing the strategic vision, direction and fundraising effort of the Bethesda Health Group Foundation.  She is a Certified Fundraising Professional Executive (CFRE) with 30 years development experience.

Prior to joining Bethesda, Linda was the Chief Development Officer for the St. Andrew’s Charitable Foundation, which is part of St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors (STARS).

Linda has served on the Manchester United Methodist Church Endowment board and the board of St. Andrew’s of Jennings.

A St. Louis native, Linda graduated from Southeast Missouri State University.  She and her husband reside in St. Peters.

Jeff, who has been with Bethesda since 2007, is responsible for coordinating and implementing the marketing and communications strategy of the organization, including increasing the awareness and visibility for all Bethesda communities and home and community-based services through conventional media, community engagement and outreach, the website and social media.

Prior to joining Bethesda, Jeff worked at Missouri Baptist Medical Center, where he served as Manager of Public Relations and Media Communications.

Jeff is serving as Vice President of the Continuum of Care Marketing Association (COCMA), whose membership comprises more than 100 marketers who work at senior care and service organizations across the St. Louis area. He is the Chair of Communications Advisory Committee for the Parkway School District, and serves on the Marketing committee at Congregation B’nai Amoona.

In addition, Jeff is a past President and board member of the St. Louis chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. In February 2016, Jeff accepted the position as President of Santa’s Helpers, Inc.

Jeff resides in Chesterfield, MO.

Jen, who has been with Bethesda since 2003, was promoted to Bethesda Vice President of Skilled Nursing in January of 2025. Prior to her current position, she served as Vice President and Administrator of Bethesda Southgate, a skilled nursing community (nursing home) with memory support. In this position she was responsible for the daily operations, continued census growth and development, and financial oversight for Bethesda Southgate, Assisted Living at Charless Village, and the Bethesda Rehab & Therapy Center at Bethesda Southgate, all of which are located on the same campus in south St. Louis County.

Prior to assuming her position at Southgate, Jen served as Administrator at Alton Memorial Rehabilitation & Therapy in Alton, Ill. During her tenure at Bethesda, she also has served as an Assistant Administrator, a Medicare Referral Coordinator and a Social Services Coordinator. In addition, she completed a year-long practicum with Bethesda Hospice Care while working on her Master’s degree in Social Work, and has volunteered as an Alzheimer’s Support Group facilitator.

Jen received the “Manager of the Year” award from LeadingAge Missouri in 2017 and became a LeadingAge Leadership Academy Fellow in 2024.

Before joining Bethesda, Jen held a position with the St. Louis ARC, a local not-for-profit organization that assists people with Developmental Disabilities.

Jen lives in the Affton/Crestwood area with her husband and son. She enjoys hiking, biking and visits to Grant’s Farm with her family.

Candice, who has been with Bethesda since 2006, is responsible for the operations, census development and fiscal oversight of Barnes-Jewish Extended Care in Clayton, MO.

Candice joined Bethesda as a Management Trainee, and shortly after was promoted to Assistant Administrator at Bethesda Dilworth. She served in this position for six years before being promoted to the Administrator position at Bethesda Meadow in 2013. She was promoted to Vice President and Administrator in 2015. And moved to Barnes-Jewish Extended Care in 2020.

Candice also is responsible for ensuring that the community is in compliance with all state and federal regulations, as well as Joint Commission standards, as well as providing educational and career advancement opportunities for staff.

Candice was selected to be a member of the 2015 Leadership Academy, sponsored by LeadingAge (a national organization representing non-profit senior care and service providers. After completing the year-long program, she was asked to serve as a Board Member of the Leadership Academy’s Alumni Network.

Candice also serves as the Eastern Unit Board Chair for the Missouri League for Nursing, and is a member of the St. Louis University School of Public Health and Social Justice Alumni Association. In March 2016, she began serving on the Advisory Council of the Missouri Center for Nursing.

Candice holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Xavier University and a Masters of Health Administration from Saint Louis University. In 2008, she was named one of the “30 under 30” Business Leaders in St. Louis by the St. Louis Business Journal.

Andrea, who has been with Bethesda since 2001, was promoted to Vice President in 2022.  As Senior General Manager, she is responsible for the daily operations and financial oversight of Bethesda Terrace, an Independent Living Community in South St. Louis County.

During her tenure at Bethesda, Andrea served as General Manager of Bethesda Barclay House, General Manager of Bethesda Gardens and Oaks, and Assistant Manager of Bethesda Terrace.

Andrea joined Bethesda after completing her BA in Psychology and completed her Master’s in Gerontology from Webster University.

Andrea lives in Millstadt, IL on a few acres with her husband and two daughters.

Former President, St. Louis Market, Bank of America

Retired Managing Partner, Grant Cooper Executive Search

Joe Brinker currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Bethesda—a position he began in July 2010. Prior to that position, Joe served the organization in numerous leadership capacities, including Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President, Long Term Care.

In addition, Joe, who began his career with Bethesda in 1989, held many leadership positions at Bethesda General Hospital, including the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer.

Joe currently holds many professional and civil leadership positions, including the following:

Professional

• Member, Leadership Circle, LeadingAge (formerly American Association of Homes for the Aging
• Member, Budget and Finance Committee, LeadingAge
• Member, House of Delegates, LeadingAge
• Board Member, Bethesda Health Group
• Board Member, St. Andrews & Bethesda Home Health

Professional

• Board Member, St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• Member, Board of Adjustment, Town & County, Mo.
• Board Member, University of Missouri-Columbia Health Management Alumni Association

In addition, Joe recently completed serving a term on the board of Des Peres Hospital.

Co-Founder, C&T Courier, Inc.

Retired Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Emerson Electric

Chief Medical Information Officer, St. Luke’s Hospital

President of Falker Consulting Group, Inc.

Retired Executive Director, Independence Center

Retired attorney, Thompson Coburn LLP

Grants Manager at a local nonprofit organization

Retired Senior Vice President of Health Plans, Centene Corporation

Retired President & CEO, Bethesda Health Group

Global Product Management Director, Enterprise Mobility