Meet the Team
Surrounding ourselves, our residents and our families with positive, compassionate, experts in Senior Living supports our mission of “Perfecting the art of serving the spirit.” That’s why we select the highest quality candidates, true leaders that demonstrate our core values of Wisdom, Excellence, Purpose, Innovation, Integrity, Grace, Gratitude, and Synergy to join our Amaran Team.
Shellie Sims
Executive Director
I loved seniors from an early age and was blessed with a very close relationship with Bama, my grandmother. Naturally, this passion led me into a career of over 26 years in service to the senior population. As a native New Mexican, I grew up on my great grandparent’s pecan farm outside of Anthony NM, living next door to my maternal great grandparents and grandmother. As a child I had an affinity for elders and found myself drawn to them and into a career of loving and serving seniors. My passion has afforded me experience in many settings, including skilled nursing facilities, hospice, home health, assisted living, and memory care. I graduated from NMSU with a bachelor’s degree in community health/public health. I have been an administrator for assisted living and memory care communities over the past 5 years. I love the executive director role as it gives one the opportunity to lead influence and inspire a team who serve and love the seniors we are so honored to care for. I was drawn to Amaran because of their innovative approach to senior living, specifically the Intergenerational Montessori Programs. I believe our role on this planet is to enrich the lives of those we encounter.
I also have a passion for animals and I’m a mom to three amazing dogs. I love integrating pet therapy with seniors..
My goal is to provide seniors with a place to live in comfort, in a home which honors them while giving them the attention, love, and care necessary to live with dignity and joy.
Carla Jaime-Buenrostro
Business Office Manager
From the early age of 18, I fell in love with caring for seniors living with dementia and have had the honor of helping those with care needs, either in an assisted living or a memory care, for 24 years. I have had the pleasure of working many different positions, but above all, I found being a Business Office Manager to be my favorite.
I am happily married to my husband Carl and have one son, who is my pride and joy. I enjoy arts & crafts, spending time with my family and volunteering at our church. I love the wonderful team I get to be a part of and the opportunity to build beautiful friendships with our amazing Elders here at Amaran.
Lily Quiroz
Dining Services Director
Since I was a child, I have loved cooking, especially for my family. I still do, but now that I have added Amaran as my extended family, my kitchen table has grown a lot larger. I feel so fortunate that the universe aligned itself and the opportunity to work at Amaran came knocking at my door. Amaran is the first senior living community I've ever worked for, and I enjoy the combination of my love for food and serving our Elders.
I graduated from Le Cordon Blue in Los Angeles, CA and have over 20 years in the culinary & hospitality industry. When not cooking or baking, you can find me modifying cars and tending to my pets. Food is my love language.
Sam Scozzafava
Maintenance Director
When I started in senior living a year ago, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to take care of our communities’ Elders. What brought me into senior living was my background in caregiving. My father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease when I was younger, and I have cared for him ever since. My dad and I have gotten to be much closer as time has gone on, and it has made me appreciate serving those in need that much more.
Before senior living, I worked quite a few different jobs; I worked in the film industry as a production assistant and cinematographer, as a music producer for my record label, and I helped manage a Broadway show for over a year and a half. Still, nothing has been more incredible and inspiring than working in senior living, especially here at Amaran.
I like to play golf sometimes, as well as I play a few different kinds of instruments. I am a huge Philly sports fan and closely follow their football and hockey teams.
Jennifer Fox
Health Services Director
Originally from Ohio, my passion for senior living and caring for Elders started there when I worked at a local community in high school. Because of that experience I decided to pursue nursing, and I have been a nurse now for 15 years. I enjoy working with Elders because I love hearing their life stories and journeys.
I have lived in New Mexico for the past 9 years with my 9-year-old son, Jayden. I drag him on weekend adventures, exploring New Mexico. I enjoy kayaking and anything related to water.
What I like about Amaran is the philosophy of Elders being encouraged to do for themselves as much as safely possible, to live their life to the fullest, and seeing them make new, lasting friendships. It reminds me of the spirit of my favorite quote by Joseph Pary, “Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold.”
Amaran, where there are endless opportunities, continual growth, and unending purpose