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.

Ruth A. Huey, RN, MS
Care Manager

Ruth's career in long-term care for older adults spans more than 30 years. She served as Executive Director of the Selwyn Life Center at Mercy, an adult day health center with a dementia care program, for 12 years, and had also been Personal Care Director at Charlotte Square Assisted Living. Ruth provided community health nursing services to older and disabled adults and health and wellness programs for Neighborhood Outreach Program Adult Services at the Mecklenburg Country Department of Social Services. Previously, she was also the Director of Health and Community Services and Lifelong Learning/Personal Interest at Central Piedmont Community College. In New York City, she was Clinical Supervisor in Geriatric Psychiatry at Mt. Sinai Medical Center and Head Nurse on the Surgical unit at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. For the past 20 years, Ruth has also taught gerontology at Central Piedmont Community College and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She earned a Masters degree in Geriatric/Gerontological Nursing from the University of Delaware.

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.

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.