About Baruch Senior Ministries

Providing Senior Care Across Michigan with Faith and Community

Baruch Senior Ministries is a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to serving older adults through personalized senior care in Michigan. Our mission is rooted in honoring God while providing supportive environments where seniors can live with dignity, connection, and peace of mind.

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Two elderly people and a caregiver sit at a table, smiling and stacking colorful blocks in a well-lit communal space.

Our Mission

Faith-Guided Senior Living for Every Stage of Aging

“Baruch Senior Ministries seeks to honor God by serving people as they age.”

Across our 28 communities, this mission guides every decision we make. We strive to create homes where residents feel valued, supported, and surrounded by people who care deeply about their well-being.

The Values That Guide Our Ministries

A Foundation of Faith, Compassion, and Service

Every Baruch community is shaped by a shared set of values that guide how we serve residents and their families.

Baruch Values

These six principles help create senior living communities where residents are treated with dignity and kindness every day.

  • B – Based on Faith

  • A – Always Quality Care & Caring
  • R – Respect
  • U – Using the Gift of a Team
  • C – Compassion
  • H – Honesty & Trust
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Our Story

Growing a Mission of Service Across Michigan

Baruch Senior Ministries began with a simple but powerful vision: to serve older adults with faith, quality care, respect, and kindness. Since the first community opened in 1997, Baruch has grown into a comprehensive network of senior living communities serving seniors and their families across Michigan.

While our organization has expanded over the years, our goals have remained the same: creating homes where seniors feel supported and connected.

Meet the Team Behind Baruch Senior Ministries

Dedicated Leaders Committed to Supportive Care

Our leadership team is dedicated to supporting residents, families, and communities throughout Michigan. Guided by Baruch’s mission and values, our leaders work to ensure every community provides a loving environment where residents feel respected and cared for.

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Bob Spencer
CEO

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Brooke O’Neill
VP of Finance

“Brooke serves as Vice President of Finance for Baruch Senior Ministries, where she oversees the organization’s financial operations and works alongside leaders across Baruch to support its communities and mission. She brings a broad background in finance and accounting, including financial reporting, budgeting, operational finance, and process improvement.

Brooke believes Finance is about more than numbers and sees her role as an opportunity to serve others by providing clarity, building strong processes, and helping leaders make informed decisions. Her leadership approach is rooted in servant leadership, accountability, and a commitment to doing things the right way, even when it is not always the easiest path.

Brooke values being part of an organization whose work has a meaningful purpose. Baruch’s mission to honor God by serving people as they age closely aligns with her belief in serving others well. She is grateful for the opportunity to use her experience to support Baruch’s employees and communities and to be a good steward of the resources entrusted to the organization.”

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Chris Meengs
VP Human Resources

Chris joined Baruch Senior Ministries in March of 2013. Prior to working at Baruch, Chris spent 15 years in the IT and Education industries. Chris initially started as an Operations Support Coordinator, but as the company continued to grow, his responsibilities in Human Resources continued to grow. He spent several years as the Director of Human Resources before transitioning to his current role as Vice President of Human Resources in 2022. Chris received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Calvin University and received his MBA with a concentration in Human Resources from Davenport University. He also holds his PHR certification from HRCI. Chris has a passion for helping Baruch fulfil its mission to take care of people as they age, and enjoys working with our operations team to help find fellow employees who share that vision.

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Rev. Joan Cornelison
VP Spiritual Care & Church Partnerships

Rev. Joan Cornelison joined Baruch Senior Ministries in September 2020. Joan leads the effort to carry the Baruch mission and philosophy of spiritual care throughout the organization. This includes program design and management of our Spiritual Care program as well as further development of local church partnerships and volunteer programs to ensure that we are effectively meeting the spiritual needs of our residents, families, and staff.

Joan is also responsible for leadership development and quality management of our Life Enrichment program. She holds a Bachelor of Education Degree, Master of Literature Degree, Certificate in Christian Ministries-Administration, a Master of Divinity Degree, and certification in Clinical Pastoral Education.

Prior, Joan served for 15 years as the Executive Director of Pastoral Services for Hope Network, a Michigan organization that serves those who live with disabilities and disadvantages.

She is also the Founder of Esther’s Hope Ministries, a Christian non-profit organization that educates, and mentors underserved young women in Kenya. Esther’s Hope Ministries has provided more than 1000 education scholarships since 2016.

Before accepting this role, Joan served on Baruch’s Board of Directors. Joan’s passion is to see everyone become all that they can be in Christ.

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Laura Whaley
VP of Training and Compliance

Laura joined Baruch Senior Ministries in September 2021, bringing over three decades of clinical expertise and dedicated healthcare leadership. She initially served as the Administrator at Evergreen Terrace in Big Rapids. Driven by her proven history of operational excellence, she quickly advanced into a Regional Operations Director role before transitioning into her current position as the Vice President of Training and Compliance.
Her exceptional leadership and commitment to high-quality patient care have earned her several prestigious industry accolades. Her honors include Director of Nursing of the Year (2014), MI-NADONA Nurse Administrator of the Year (2016), and Mecosta County’s Best Registered Nurse (2020).
Laura holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Education from Central Michigan University and an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Mid-Michigan Community College.
In her new role, Laura will leverage her deep operational knowledge and vast clinical background to oversee and elevate company-wide training initiatives, while reinforcing Baruch’s standards of excellence.

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Katie Reimink
Director of Business Development

Katie Reimink joined the Baruch team in 2006 as a Social Work intern from Cornerstone University at our Bishop Hills campus in Rockford. Katie graduated from CU with her Bachelors Degree in Social Work and Family Studies.

Katie has served in multiple capacities within Baruch including Life Enrichment Coordinator, Administrator, Community Relations, and is currently serving as the Director of Business Development. Katie finds great joy in leading the business development team and helping families navigate their next best step in senior care with the amazing partnerships we have across the state.

Katie believes in meaningful relationships, mutual trust, and a shared commitment to excellence. Our mission and partnerships are the foundation of success, creating opportunities to make a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve.

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Marcus Ribant
Director of Capital Projects

Marcus joined Baruch Senior Ministries in May of 2018. He spent the first six years with the organization as an Administrator for multiple communities. During this time, he developed a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in managing healthcare environments while maintaining a strong focus on quality, efficiency, and patient-centered outcomes. Marcus holds a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training from Grand Valley State University and a MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Administration from Tiffin University.
In 2024, Marcus transitioned into the role of Director of Capital Projects, where he utilizes his operational experience and healthcare administration background to lead and oversee capital initiatives. In this capacity, he is responsible for coordinating projects from planning through completion, collaborating with internal teams, contractors, and vendors to ensure projects align with organizational priorities, timelines, budgets, and quality standards. Marcus brings a strategic and results-oriented approach to improving Baruch’s facilities and supporting organizational growth.

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Daisy Alvarez
Director of Operations

Daisy brings more than 23 years of experience in senior living and a lifelong passion for serving people. She joined Baruch Senior Ministries in 2013 as an Associate Administrator and has grown within the organization through community and regional leadership roles to her current role in Operations. Her career has given her a unique understanding of senior living from the day-to-day experiences within a community to the complexities of leading operations across multiple locations.

Daisy believes the heart of senior living is found in the relationships we build and the way we care for and serve others. She is passionate about developing strong leaders, supporting team members, and creating communities where residents are known, valued, and treated with dignity and compassion.

For Daisy, leadership is about more than successful operations. It is about serving people well, leading with integrity, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of residents, families, and team members.

Supporting Residents Through the Baruch Foundation

Extending Our Mission of Senior Care and Service

The Baruch Foundation helps support programs and initiatives that strengthen our communities and provide resources for residents and families. Through generosity and stewardship, the foundation helps expand opportunities for exceptional care and engagement within Baruch communities. As part of our nonprofit mission, Baruch offers the Lifetime Promise, a confidential program designed to support qualified residents if financial circumstances change.

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Connect With Baruch Senior Ministries

Have questions about our services or the homes that make up our communities? We’re here to help guide you as you explore senior living options.