About The Preserve

Melanie White

Executive Director

With over 30 years of experience in the senior living industry, Melanie White brings extensive knowledge spanning corporate, regional, and community-level operations to her role as Executive Director of The Preserve at Palm-Aire. 

Grounded in family values of service and giving back, Melanie is passionate about creating environments where seniors receive the respect, dignity, and personalized attention they deserve. Through her commitment to building strong teams and maintaining operational excellence, she ensures that residents feel valued and supported every day.

Andrea Allman

Assistant Executive Director

With a passion for creating meaningful connections and enhancing quality of life for seniors, Andrea Allman has dedicated her career to supporting seniors since 1995, bringing both a bachelor's degree and master's in health services administration with a minor in gerontology to her work at The Preserve at Palm-Aire.

Beginning as a Housekeeping Supervisor in senior living in 2011, she has grown into her current role as Assistant Executive Director, bringing both extensive experience and genuine heart to her position. Andrea believes that senior living is not just about care—it's about community, purpose, and belonging, which is what she strives to achieve with residents and their families every day.

Karen Coffey

Director of Sales

Karen Coffey brings over 25 years of senior living expertise to her role as Director of Sales at The Preserve at Palm-Aire. Known for her compassionate approach and deep industry knowledge, Karen has helped countless families navigate the important decision of choosing the right community. 

She is passionate about creating meaningful connections, understanding each person's unique needs, and guiding them toward a vibrant lifestyle. Karen combines her extensive experience with a warm, personal touch to ensure every prospective resident feels informed and supported throughout the process.

Grace Brown

Resident Care Director

Grace Brown has been a cornerstone of The Preserve at Palm-Aire since 2016, serving as Resident Care Director with unwavering dedication and compassion. With over 20 years of nursing experience, Grace brings both clinical expertise and a genuine heart for service to her role, leading her team with the kind of care and trust that makes the community feel like home. 

Her steady presence and passion for making a meaningful difference in the lives of residents exemplifies The Arbor Way principle that our people set us apart.

Sarah Chambers

Engagement Director

Sarah Chambers has served as Engagement Director at The Preserve at Palm-Aire since 2019, bringing dedication, creativity, and heart to her role every day. She creates vibrant and meaningful programs for the community's more than 300 residents across all levels of care, designing experiences that inspire joy, connection, and a true sense of home. 

Sarah's diverse background spans cruise ships, entertainment, wellness programs, and activity management at resorts and camps, fueling her passion for bringing fresh ideas and energy to everything she does. Beyond her community role, she mentors other Engagement Directors throughout The Arbor Company, sharing best practices and fostering creativity. For Sarah, this role is more than a job—it's a calling to enrich lives and make every day special for the people she serves.

Darien Backer

Dining Director

Since stepping into the role of Dining Director in 2025, Darien Backer has brought passion, creativity, and a spirit of teamwork to every plate served at The Preserve at Palm-Aire. Starting as a line cook with The Arbor Company just three years ago, Darien's dedication and leadership have earned him the respect of both residents and staff alike. 

His love for culinary excellence and commitment to the community is evident in everything he does—from creating meaningful dining experiences to building a kitchen team rooted in unity and heart.

Ray Knight

Maintenance Director

Ray Knight brings over 30 years of expertise in mechanical engineering and maintenance to his role as Maintenance Director at The Preserve at Palm-Aire. 

With a 10-year military background that cultivated his discipline and leadership skills, Ray thrives on turning complex challenges into solutions and seeing projects through from start to finish. 

He is equally motivated by the technical side of engineering and the human side of service, taking great satisfaction in resolving issues—large and small—to make residents' lives easier and more reliable.

Lourdes Ogaza

Business Office Director

Lourdes serves as Business Office Director at The Preserve at Palm-Aire, bringing over 16 years of leadership experience in senior living business office operations. Since joining the community in 2020, she has been dedicated to ensuring financial accuracy, streamlining billing processes, and providing clear explanations of statements to residents and their families. 

Driven by her commitment to transparency and financial clarity, Lourdes understands the real impact her work has on the well-being and peace of mind of seniors and their loved ones. Outside of work, she is passionate about family and values meaningful daily connections, whether in person or over the phone, striving to make every moment count.