Name: Sarah Stull, Administrator

Brief History in Aging Services:

My career in long-term care began at Kimball County Manor in 2005 as a housekeeper. Since then, I have been fortunate to grow through nearly every department in the facility. I became a Certified Nursing Assistant, served as Dietary Manager, earned my Registered Nurse degree, worked as a Charge Nurse and Director of Nursing, and now have the privilege of serving as the Nursing Home Administrator. Experiencing long-term care from so many different perspectives has shaped my leadership style and strengthened my passion for serving older adults and supporting those who care for them.

What keeps you excited about serving older adults in Nebraska?

The relationships. Every resident has a lifetime of experiences, wisdom, and stories that deserve to be honored. It is a privilege to help create an environment where older adults feel safe, respected, and truly at home. Living and working in rural Nebraska has also shown me the importance of preserving access to quality long-term care in our communities. Knowing that our work makes a meaningful difference in the lives of residents and their families continues to inspire me every day.

What do you enjoy most about serving on our board?

I appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with other leaders who are passionate about improving aging services across Nebraska. Serving on the board allows us to share ideas, advocate for the unique challenges facing long-term care providers, and work together to strengthen our profession. It's rewarding to be part of a group that is committed to ensuring older adults receive the highest quality care possible.

What is something you would like our members to know about you?

I believe leadership is about serving others first. Whether it's helping a resident, supporting a staff member, or advocating for our industry, I try to lead with compassion, authenticity, and a willingness to do whatever needs to be done. No job is ever "beneath" a leader, and I hope to always be someone who is willing to roll up my sleeves and work alongside my team.

Name: Becky Bruce, Administrator

Brief history in aging services:

For many years, I have had the privilege of serving older adults, starting at the young age of 16. Throughout my career, I’ve been passionate about creating an environment where every tenant feels safe, respected, and truly at home. As an RN and administrator, I’ve learned that quality care is about much more than meeting physical needs—it’s about preserving dignity, building relationships, and helping people continue to find purpose and joy in each day.

What keeps you excited about serving older adults in Nebraska?

Every tenant has a story that deserves to be heard. I love learning about the lives they’ve lived, the challenges they’ve overcome, and the wisdom they share. Being able to make someone’s day a little brighter, advocate for those who may not have a voice, and help families through some of life’s most difficult transitions reminds me why I chose this profession. It’s an honor that I never take for granted.

What do you enjoy most about serving on our board?

Serving on the LeadingAge Nebraska Board gives me the opportunity to be part of something bigger than my own community. I value collaborating with leaders across the state who are passionate about improving aging services, sharing ideas, and advocating for the resources and support our providers and older adults deserve. Together, we can make a lasting difference. The kindness, experience and passion of my fellow board members inspires me every time we get together. 

What is something you would like our members to know about you?

I believe we all have the opportunity to leave things better than we found them. Whether that’s through advocating for our profession, encouraging a coworker, or bringing joy to a tenant’s day, I hope my work reflects compassion, integrity, and a willingness to make a difference. If I can help improve the lives of others—even in a small way—then I’ve been successful.

Name:  Deb Thacker, CFO, Midwest Geriatrics, Inc., Omaha

What keeps you excited about serving older adults in Nebraska?

Every day brings a new opportunity in our industry.  Serving in a leadership role for a non-profit organization that serves a vulnerable population is very rewarding and fulfilling.  To know I have helped someone in their life’s journey brings me great joy and drive to wake up tomorrow and do the same thing all over again.

What do you enjoy most about serving on our board?

I feel honored to serve on the Leading Age Board along with my peers from all different aspects of senior care services.  We all bring something a bit unique to the Board and complement each other’s strengths.

What is something you would like our members to know about you?

One of my passions is travel.  Whether it’s a road trip to a national park, relaxing on a sandy beach or bicycling somewhere in Europe, I’m all in!

Brief history in aging services: I began my career as a CNA in a nursing home, where I developed a passion for serving older adults. My professional background is in physical therapy and I spent several years working as a Director of Rehab. After earning my Nursing Home Administrator license, I transitioned into senior living leadership. Today, I proudly serve as the Associate Executive Director of an affordable senior living community that offers both Independent Living and Assisted Living services.

What keeps you excited about serving older adults in Nebraska? What keeps me excited about serving older adults is a deep personal calling to serve others, especially the vulnerable and marginalized in their afflictions. Throughout more than 20 years in aging services, beginning my career as a CNA, I have been privileged to walk alongside older adults through some of life's greatest joys and challenges. Those experiences have given me valuable perspective and a greater understanding of the issues facing older adults today. I am passionate about being part of the solution by advocating for dignity, compassion and meaningful support for every older adult, regardless of their circumstances. Helping improve the lives of those we serve is both my profession and my calling.

What do you enjoy most about serving on our board? I enjoy serving on the board because I am continually inspired by the knowledge and experiences of others. Being surrounded by people with diverse backgrounds fosters rich conversations, new ideas, and a willingness to challenge conventional thinking. I believe that when we learn from one another and openly share our experiences, we uncover problems that need solving and opportunities to make a greater impact. I especially enjoy helping galvanize people around a shared mission and turning great ideas into action.

What is something you would like our members to know about you? My family is my greatest ministry and my greatest prayer is to guide them to heaven. I am a proud wife and mother to five children. Years ago, my husband and I looked around and realized two things- there is an abundance of children in our community who need to know love and our family has an abundance of love to give! This is one way, as a family, that we give back to the world.

Name: Karla Frese, Owner, Home Care Partners, Lincoln, Nebraska

Brief history in aging services: Karla Frese has dedicated her career to improving the lives of older adults and supporting the people who care for them. Since 2008, she has gained experience across the continuum of aging services.

As the owner of Home Care Partners in Lincoln, Karla is passionate about helping families bring assisted living home. She works closely with healthcare providers, senior living communities, rehabilitation teams, home health, and hospice to strengthen care transitions and improve outcomes for older adults and their families. Karla holds a bachelor's and a master's degree from UNL. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner, and Social Services Designee. She is also a Parkinson's Community Educator and is committed to advancing education of Parkinson's disease, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease.

What keeps you excited about serving older adults in Nebraska? What keeps me excited is knowing that the work we do can make a meaningful difference in someone's life, not only for the older adult but also for their family and the people who care for them. Every family we care for experiences quality care and peace of mind; they stop worrying about the “what ifs”. I am passionate about helping families focus on what matters most. I love seeing what is possible when healthcare professionals and families collaborate to achieve goals of care. There is so much opportunity to improve how we support older adults who want to age-in-place with home and community based services, and I am excited to be part of a profession that continues to learn, innovate, collaborate, and find more ways to serve.

What do you enjoy most about serving on our board? I enjoy the opportunity to learn from leaders across Nebraska's aging services community and to be part of conversations that can make a difference beyond any one organization. Each provider brings unique experiences, challenges, and ideas, and I believe we are stronger when we share our knowledge and work together. I especially value opportunities to advocate for education, strengthen collaboration across the continuum of care, and explore ways to improve the aging experiences of families. Serving on the board allows me to contribute a home care perspective while learning from the expertise of others who share the same commitment to quality care and workforce development.

What is something you would like our members to know about you? My passion for senior care comes from a deep belief that caring for older adults is about meaningful, memorable, and unique experiences that honor what matters most to them. My guiding philosophy is simple: Every family deserves to know they have a choice. I want families to feel empowered to explore the option of aging in place at home, if that is what they want, surrounded by love, familiarity, and the health coordination they need with our trusted care support.