Risa Kory, RN, BSN, CALA

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Risa Kory serves as Executive Director of Van Dyk Park Place, overseeing all areas of assisted living and memory care on Van Dyk’s main campus in Hawthorne. She brings 20 years of experience in senior living to the Van Dyk leadership team.

Risa previously served over 10 years as a senior administrator for several assisted living and memory care communities. She worked as a hospital liaison for Holy Name Medical Center and Englewood Health Medical Center. Her clinical credentials include eight years as Director of Nursing for the Jewish Home Assisted Living. Her combined expertise in administration and nursing make her an indispensable leader in the Van Dyk family.

Risa is recognized by her peers and other health care providers for her excellent communication skills, extensive knowledge of assisted living and memory care, her supportive approach when caring for staff, and her compassionate approach when caring for seniors and families.

As a dementia expert, she provided invaluable counsel to families whose loved ones are experiencing memory loss. As a wellness advocate, she believes strongly in continuing the Mind, Body and Soul program at Van Dyk Park Place to enrich the lives of our seniors.

Risa earned her bachelor’s degree from American University. She also remains one of the few executive directors in New Jersey with a nursing degree.

Carmen Dalton, RN-BC, CALA

DIRECTOR OF NURSING

As Director of Nursing at Van Dyk Park Place, Carmen works closely with our medical director and all our partnering physicians to review care plans and clinical needs, improve wellness outcomes, grow our specialty care programs, evaluate infection control measures, develop new areas for staff training, and provide the necessary education that our community deserves. She ensures that Van Dyk Park Place always has the clinical capabilities necessary to make sure that residents can age in place, and that families have access to her daily. Her work ethic, honesty, compassion and professionalism epitomize what families have come to expect of our amazing staff at Van Dyk Park Place.

Carmen joined the Van Dyk family in 2017 as Director of Nursing for At Home With Van Dyk. She played a major role in helping the agency secure advanced distinction with the Commission on Accreditation for Home Care. Under her clinical leadership, AHVD grew to unparalleled volume in 2020. Carmen managed the agency’s coordination of care and delivery of care.

Carmen began her medical career as a volunteer EMT. She worked as an LPN before eventually becoming a registered nurse. Carmen dedicated herself to a wide range of health care settings, spending 22 years in medical, surgical, ER, telemetry, mental health and geriatric care. Carmen discovered her passion for home care while working as a field nurse supervisor for a hospital, prompting her to switch exclusively to home care where she has remained for the last 12 years. She is a member of the Organization of Nurse Leaders of New Jersey. She earned her Nursing degree from Mountainside Hospital School of Nursing in Montclair.

Dayna Hess

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING

Dayna Hess brings 30 years of experience in sales and marketing to the Van Dyk family, specializing more recently in senior living and memory care.

As director of sales and marketing at Van Dyk Park Place and a member of the company’s leadership team, Dayna manages all admissions, tours, advertising and communications for Van Dyk’s award-winning assisted living community. Her energy, warmth and compassion are well known to families and health care professionals. Her commitment to exceeding expectations and helping families find solutions has made Dayna a true leader in this profession. She is dedicated to cultivating strong relationships with Van Dyk’s residents, families and strategic partners.

The latest chapter of Dayna’s extraordinary career has perhaps been the most fulfilling — working closely with seniors and their families. She is incredibly sensitive to and understanding of the unique challenges that families face in caring for a loved one with dementia. Her expertise in this field continues to shine, making her an invaluable resource to the many families who lean on the Van Dyk family.

Dayna previously served as director of sales and marketing for a large memory care community, building an outstanding professional network and strengthening her grassroots marketing ties throughout the North Jersey area. Her 15 years of leadership as a franchise owner of The Little Gym International enabled her to fortify strong connections across Bergen and Hudson counties. During this time, her franchise earned President’s Circle honors and was ranked within the top 10 nationwide for 11 consecutive years. Dayna honed her sales credentials at Johnson & Johnson, earning a stellar record in providing solutions for surgeons, administrators, staff and agents across New York City hospitals.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Applied Sciences in Engineering, specializing in Biomedical Engineering, at Rutgers University.

Colleen Lutz

COMMUNITY LIFESTYLE DIRECTOR

Colleen Lutz joined the Van Dyk family in 2025, bringing 20+ years experience of overseeing lifestyle activities and programs for New Jersey seniors.

As Community Lifestyle Director at Van Dyk Park Place, Colleen manages a versatile team of activities professionals to support Van Dyk’s signature Mind, Body & Soul programs in both assisted living and memory care. Her enthusiasm radiates in everything she does on behalf of residents and families. Colleen believes strongly in offering a wide range of activities throughout the day and evening, including weekends, to encourage seniors to say active. Her commitment to fall prevention and overall safety is abundantly clear as she consistently emphasizes the importance of preventive measures taken by seniors in their apartments, in their daily routines and in their overall lifestyle. She has embraced Van Dyk’s family values throughout her career, encouraging her colleagues to demonstrate a positive attitude, a warm smile and a welcoming approach to serving seniors.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Recreation & Leisure Administration at York College of Pennsylvania.

Kevin Brendlen

VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Kevin Brendlen serves as Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for Van Dyk Health Care, steering growth initiatives on behalf of Van Dyk Park Place, At Home With Van Dyk, and the Van Dyk Memory Care Center. His 30+ years of experience in customer service have been invaluable to the seniors and families we serve.

Kevin joined the Van Dyk family in 2008 as Vice President of Marketing & Strategic Partnerships. He was largely responsible for our family’s involvement in new areas of specialty care in skilled nursing, including our cardiac and pulmonary programs, as well as Alzheimer’s and dementia. Kevin later served as Interim Administrator at Van Dyk Manor in Ridgewood, Executive Director of At Home With Van Dyk and two stints as Executive Director of Van Dyk Park Place.

Kevin entered the Assisted Living profession in 1999, working for Marriott Senior Living and then Sunrise Senior Living. He first earned his New Jersey Certified Assisted Living Administrator license 18 years ago and has remained closely involved with our work with the National Center for Assisted Living, the Alzheimer’s Association, The Valley Hospital Foundation, Alzheimer’s New Jersey, and many other organizations. Kevin has forged strong relationships with leading hospitals, physicians and other health care professionals throughout the North Jersey area.

He continually seeks to develop new programs and activities for Assisted Daily Living, as well as Alzheimer’s and dementia practices. Kevin represents Van Dyk with its exclusive membership on the Alzheimer’s Association’s Dementia Care Provider Roundtable.

Pam Tokarczuk

FAMILY LIAISON, MEMORY CARE

Pam Tokarczuk has been the top memory care expert in the Van Dyk family for 20 years. She works closely with families whose loved ones require memory care in our LightHouse and Reflections neighborhoods at Van Dyk Park Place, as well as our adult day care program.

In her decorated career, Pam has served as Executive Director of Van Dyk Park Place, Executive Director of Van Dyk Memory Care Center, Administrator of Van Dyk Manor in Ridgewood (recognized for five consecutive years by US News and World Report as a 5-star post-acute rehabilitation and skilled nursing facility), and Executive Director of Van Dyk at Bald Eagle Commons Assisted Living and Senior Apartments in West Milford, NJ. Pam has managed the quality and consistency of care services and operations, maintaining quality standards and compliance on behalf of Van Dyk Health Care.

As a Certified Dementia Practitioner, Pam is known for her compassionate care and resident advocacy. She serves on the NJ LTC Culture Change Committee, HCANJ Best Practice Committee and Convention presenter for “Changing the Culture of Dementia Care to Reduce the Inappropriate Use of Antipsychotic Medication”.

She graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with both bachelors and master’s degrees, and has since earned nursing home administrator license, assisted living license for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and is certified with the National Council of Dementia Practitioners.