Host Matt Mauthe welcomes Patty Moe, Regional Director with New Horizon Foods and a strategic partner of Illuminus.  

They discuss her career path, from 10 years with the Minneapolis Police Department (and a brief start in mortuary science), to culinary leadership in senior living.  

Patty shares early influences, self-taught training, roles in school food service, and joining Illuminus as Executive Chef before moving into leadership.  

She explains why food is central to residents’ quality of life, how listening to residents through dining-room conversations and committees improves service, and the challenges of recruiting cooks due to stigma about “nursing home” kitchens.  

Listen as she highlights opportunities like better work/life balance, scratch cooking, fresh ingredients, multiple dining venues, managing special diets, regional preferences, and presentation “wow factor”. 

00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:37 Meet Patty Moe
02:08 From Cop to Chef
02:55 Mortuary Science Detour
04:39 Career Pivot to Food
06:21 Joining Illuminus
07:29 Why Food Matters
09:00 Serving Seniors Well
11:16 Kitchen Staffing Challenges
12:38 Opportunities and Mentoring
16:11 Fresh Ingredients Philosophy
16:39 Farm to Table Reality
18:01 Creativity and Presentation
19:30 Dining Venues and Future
24:46 Regional Tastes and Diets
26:25 Regulations and Wrap Up

Learn more about Illuminus at https://www.illuminus.us/

Host Matt Mauthe welcomes Drew Flores to discuss Drew’s career journey and what it reveals about diverse career paths in senior living for young professionals.  

Drew shares how he entered the Healthcare Administration program at UW–Eau Claire, completed a residency with Illuminus and briefly served in campus leadership roles, including Executive Director, and later transitioned into information analytics.  

He explains his current work supporting organizational systems, compliance, quality measures, and process improvement, including Lean Six Sigma and Illuminus’ focus on Baldrige Performance Excellence. They explore how Lean and Baldrige can improve workflows, staff engagement, and resident outcomes, and discuss the growing role of AI in care delivery alongside cybersecurity considerations. 

Drew also reflects on industry trends, leadership retention challenges, and how Illuminus can better attract and support emerging talent. 

NOTE: Since this recording, Drew Flores has been promoted from Information Systems Analyst to Vice President of Quality and Risk Management as part of a multi-year organizational succession plan. 

00:00 Welcome 
00:38 Meet Drew Flores 
01:02 Career Path at Illuminus 
02:20 Why Healthcare Administration 
03:50 Choosing UW-Eau Claire 
04:22 Residency Site Decision 
05:41 Life Plan Campus Benefits 
06:36 Class Outcomes and Careers 
08:22 Information Analyst Explained 
10:08 Lean Six Sigma Training 
10:41 Baldrige Journey Restart 
12:47 What Baldrige Means 
14:29 Lean Meets Baldrige 
15:24 Illuminus Adoption Story 
16:33 Staff Buy-In Challenges 
18:36 Frontline-Led Improvement 
20:44 AI In Healthcare Workflows 
23:54 Managing AI Risks 
24:45 Generations and Technology 
27:08 Future of Long-Term Care 
29:24 Growing Young Professionals 
30:32 Attracting and Retaining Talent 
31:46 Advice for Students 
32:48 Healthcare Vision Ahead 
34:00 Closing Thanks

Learn more about Illuminus at https://www.illuminus.us/

In this conversation with Illuminus CEO Matt Mauthe, long-term care nurse leader Lynne Wagner shares how she entered nursing, discovered a passion for older adults during clinicals, and moved into long-term care leadership.  

Lynne recounts joining Illuminus, the demands of Director of Nursing roles, the changing regulatory environment and the importance of relationships with residents, families, staff, and community partners. She built a leadership philosophy centered on visibility, teaching, and supporting staff.  

She also discusses her later work with Commonheart Home Health, joining the Illuminus Board, advice for future long-term care nurses and hopes for healthcare’s future. 

00:00 Welcome
00:58 Choosing Nursing
01:55 Early Elder Care Calling
02:47 Army Life and BSN Path
03:36 First Nursing Home Leadership
05:26 Joining Iluminus and Director of Nursing Role
07:10 Demands and Regulation Shifts
09:29 Community and Family Bonds
10:39 Staff Relationships After Retirement
11:44 Commonheart Home Health Growth
14:07 Mentoring Matt and Leadership Style
17:48 Growing Through Certification
18:21 State Fair and Costume Memories
19:28 Joining the Board
22:31 Advice for Long-Term Care Nurses
24:57 Hopes for Healthcare’s Future
26:41 Tech and Changing Patient Needs
28:41 Radical Change in Senior Care
29:39 Being Heard and Human Connection
30:52 Closing Thanks 

Learn more about Illuminus at https://www.illuminus.us/

Matt talks with Emily Koch about her 10-year career path from graduate of the healthcare administration program through various roles, including assistant executive director, information analyst, and Vice President. They discuss Illuminus’ culture of innovation, trial-and-error learning, technology adoption and cybersecurity responsibilities, and how lean process management supports frontline teams by reducing waste. 

Emily shares her thoughts on how healthcare administration blends empathy and strategic thinking, and shares insights on long-term care challenges, the importance and complexities of succession planning and balancing demanding healthcare leadership roles with raising young families.

Note: Since this recording, Illuminus has implemented its succession plan and elevated Emily to the role of Senior Vice President of Administration.

00:00 Introduction 

00:16 Choosing Healthcare Admin 

01:38 Declaring the Major 

02:30 Residency in Twin Cities 

05:50 First Job at Illuminus 

07:32 Opening a New Building 

08:25 Shift to Quality and Risk 

11:55 From Building to Support 

13:56 Culture of Innovation 

17:57 Tech and Responsibility 

21:07 Lean Process Management 

26:29 Succession Planning Ahead 

30:25 Succession Push and Pull 

31:32 Mentorship and Legacy 

33:52 Disrupting with Big Goals 

37:12 Learning from Failure 

39:27 Avoiding Burnout Risks 

40:50 Long Term Care Headwinds 

43:11 Future of Senior Living 

46:35 Work Family Balance 

54:12 Support Systems and Flexibility 

59:05 Intergenerational Benefits 

Learn more about Illuminus at https://www.illuminus.us/

In this episode, host Matt talks with Cheryl Meyer, a 45-year veteran in nursing and former Director of Marquardt at Home, now known as Commonheart Home Health and Hospice. They discuss her journey in nursing, pivotal moments in the growth of the organization, and critical services offered to enhance senior living. Cheryl dives into personal stories from her career, the essential role of home health care, and her views on the future of senior living. 

00:00 Introduction to the Illuminators Podcast 

00:37 Meet Cheryl Meyer: A Leader in Senior Care 

02:03 Cheryl's Journey into Nursing 

03:19 Navigating Organizational Transitions 

06:24 Growth and Expansion of Home Health Services 

09:59 Challenges and Successes in Home Health 

13:35 Heartwarming and Challenging Stories from the Field 

18:42 The Nightingale Concept and Community Care 

20:09 Unusual Nursing Experiences 

21:46 Evolution of Nursing Practices 

23:36 Challenges in Modern Nursing 

24:27 The Rise of Nurse Practitioners 

25:49 Personal Connection with Patients 

27:06 Mentoring the Next Generation 

29:03 Reflections on a Nursing Career 

29:41 Future of Home and Community-Based Services 

32:20 Rebranding to Commonheart 

35:37 Final Thoughts  

Learn more about Illuminus at https://www.illuminus.us/

In this episode, Matt is joined by Emily Kuehl, discussing her significant contributions in the evolution of Marquardt Management Services to Illuminus. Emily shares her journey from a marketing assistant fresh out of college, to a key figure in managing a major organizational rebrand. They reflect on the surprises, challenges, and learning experiences shared along the way, discussing the rationale and emphasizing the importance of unifying the organization's various communities under one brand. Emily also discusses the role of young professionals in the senior living industry, and the potential for changing public perceptions about senior care.  

Listen in as Matt and Emily highlight the innovative approaches taken by Illuminus and the value of embracing new ideas and perspectives in shaping the future of the senior living industry. 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 

00:15 Emily's Journey into Senior Living 

01:09 First Impressions and Growth 

03:05 Rebranding Challenges and Process 

05:02 Purpose and Impact of Rebranding 

07:39 Future of Senior Living and Career Advice 

11:48 Rebranding Launch and Reflections 

19:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 

Note: Since this podcast was recorded, Emily has moved on to pursue her dream of being a business owner and entrepreneur, a goal supported by Illuminus throughout Emily’s tenure with the organization.  We are proud to have supported Emily and to have played a role in developing a future leader!

Learn more about Illuminus at https://www.illuminus.us/

In this episode, Matt speaks with Sherry Cira, who has dedicated over three decades to the field of senior living. They discuss her various roles within the organization, from a social worker to leadership roles, and highlight the impact of social work on healthcare.  

They address the evolution, challenges and future of senior living while highlighting the innovative strategies undertaken by Illuminus – including in the areas of staff education, the development of the Illuminus Institute, and international nurse recruitment efforts.  

Listen to Matt and Sherry’s comprehensive look at a career in healthcare that spans nearly four decades, including insights on succession planning, regulatory challenges, and the ongoing transformation of senior living care services. 

Note: Since this recording, Sherry’s role has evolved yet again.  Sherry is now the Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for Illuminus, using her accumulated knowledge and vast experience to address critical opportunities throughout the organization.    

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 

00:55 Sherry's Early Career and Education 

02:47 First Professional Job and Initial Experiences 

04:28 Joining Illuminus and Career Growth 

09:06 The Importance of Social Work in Healthcare 

17:23 Family Connections and Personal Reflections 

22:42 Breaking Down Silos: A New Philosophy 

23:59 Growth and Challenges: A Journey of Learning 

26:13 Reflecting on Achievements and Future Goals 

27:03 Leadership Transition and Succession Planning 

30:11 Training and Education: Building a Strong Workforce 

37:54 International Nurse Recruitment: A Creative Solution            

42:09 The Future of Healthcare: Hopes and Challenges 

47:01 Conclusion: Reflecting on a Meaningful Career 

Learn more about Illuminus at https://www.illuminus.us/

What if the future of aging doesn't have to look like the past? What if senior living could be more human, more hopeful, and more sustainable for the people who call it home? And for the nurses and caregivers who show up every day to make that care possible? I'm Matt Mauthe, host of "The Illuminators - Changemakers in Senior Living" podcast.

I've spent more than 20 years in senior living. I've seen this industry at its very best and at its most challenging. I've lived it as an administrator, and I've experienced it personally as a family member. Today's senior living is at an inflection point. We're facing workforce shortages, rising expectations, regulatory complexity, and a rapidly aging population.

At the same time, we're seeing innovation, creativity in a new generation of leaders, asking bold questions about dignity, purpose, and community. That's why I created "The Illuminators - Changemakers in Senior Living".

Each episode, I sit down with Illuminators - people who are shaping the future of senior living in real and meaningful ways - veterans of the field, innovators rethinking care models, advocates for residents and caregivers, leaders who aren't afraid to challenge assumptions and imagine something better. 

Together, we dig into the real issues impacting aging and senior care. Today we talk about regulatory reform and workforce resilience, organizational culture and leadership courage, frontline nursing realities, caregiver burnout and caregiver hope, and the urgent need for strategic vision in an industry that can no longer afford to stand still. 

This isn't about easy answers. It's about honest conversations, hard truths, and practical ideas that can move us forward.  

If you're a healthcare professional, a senior living leader, a policymaker, a caregiver, an innovator, or simply someone who cares deeply about how we treat one another as we grow older, this podcast is for you. 

Welcome to "The Illuminators - Changemakers in Senior Living".

Learn more about Illuminus at https://www.illuminus.us/