Karen Knutson, MSN, MBA
Director of Client Services

Karen was President and Founder of OpenCare, a care management firm that was acquired by SeniorBridge in 2007. She is a geriatric nurse practitioner by background, specializing in older adults, with a master's degree in nursing from Indiana University and an MBA from the University of Illinois. Karen has extensive professional experience in advanced clinical practice, executive level management, consulting, and research. She is a past President of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers, served on the organization's Board of Directors for 7 years, and is currently Editor-in-Chief of the Geriatric Care Management Journal.

Lynda D. Kuehni
Director of Professional Relations

Lynda has more than 20 years of experience in business-to-business sales, marketing, and customer service roles. She was previously Development Director of Union County Habitat for Humanity and Business Development Manager of the Charlotte Habitat ReStore, involved in strategy, fundraising, community relations, and creating promotional materials for both organizations. Lynda has been a commercial sales representative for ADT/ Tyco Fire and Security, and developed community security services for Metro Special Police. She has served on the Board of NARI (National Association of Remodeling Industry) and BLOC (Business Leaders of Charlotte) and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Purdue University.

Katherine D. Benbow, LCSW
Care Manager

Katherine Benbow draws upon 27 years' diverse experience as a clinical social worker and psychotherapist. Most recently, Katherine was a licensed clinical social worker with Paradigm Health Services, providing psychotherapy for patients at long-term care facilities. Previously, she counseled patients and families and did discharge and community resource planning at Senior Behavioral Medicine, NorthEast Medical Center, (now Carolinas Medical Center - NorthEast). She has served as a social work consultant for Piedmont Residential Development Center, Big Elm Nursing, and CMH Home Care Med. She was also a therapist with ProActive Health Services, a psychotherapist with Carolina Psychotherapy Center, and a psychiatric social worker for Cabarrus Memorial Hospital, (now Carolinas Medical Center NorthEast). Katherine received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver and is board certified in North Carolina and certified by the Academy of Certified Social Workers.

Marites Olarte Garcia, RN
Care Manager

Marites's diverse experience in acute care, emergency medicine, case management, and long-term care enables her to be an effective Geriatric Care Manager. Most recently, she was Clinic Nurse Manager for Southminister, Inc, a continuing care retirement community, responsible for health management and wellness programming and quality assurance, and also provided case management and emergency medical services to clients. Marites was formerly Rehab Nurse Manager/Director of Nursing/MDS Coordinator at Carrington Place Rehabilitation Center and an Emergency Room Registered Nurse at Presbyterian Matthews Hospital as well. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and is a Registered Nurse in North Carolina.

Norma B. Schwartz, RN
Care Manager

Norma has working experience in a range of senior living environments, having managed healthcare programs in assisted living, special care units, home health, and skilled nursing care facilities in her career. In two previous assignments, she was Resident Care Services Director at The Place at Southpark in Charlotte and Wellness Director at The Laurels in the Village at Carolina Place in Pineville. Norma was also Director of Resident Services at The Parc at Sharon Amity and Quality Improvement Nurse at Medisys, and has had broad experience as a home health nurse and supervisor at several agencies. She completed her RN training at the Charlotte Memorial Hospital School of Nursing and is an approved trainer from the Division of Facility Services.

David Mattioli, RN, BSN
Associate Vice President of Clinical Services

David Mattioli brings more than 17 years' experience in a variety of healthcare settings to SeniorBridge. For 9 years previously, he was the Administrator of Almost Family in West Palm Beach, responsible for operations and delivery of care for the in-home program in 4 counties, and for a time served dually in that role at Almost Family's Medical Adult Day Center in Boynton Beach.

Mr. Mattioli began his nursing career at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he developed a passion for caring for the elderly, and became a care manager before returning to Florida. He is a certified trainer for the Alzheimer training course for home health agencies in Florida and coauthored the curriculum used for the training. Mr. Mattioli is a member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. He received a BS in biology from Palm Beach Atlantic University and a BSN from Eastern Michigan University, and is a certified Legal Nurse Consultant

Philip Dooling
Vice President of Regional Operations

Mr. Dooling has over 29 years of senior management experience, including sales, marketing and operations roles with a Fortune 100 company, entrepreneurial start-ups and owning a multiple site specialty retail business. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Mr. Dooling was the Chief Operating Officer for a South Texas Regional Home Health Agency, where he provided strategic direction and managed marketing and business development efforts. Mr. Dooling has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois.