Staff
“It’s very exciting to work for an organization in social services where quality is what counts and the client is number one. It’s our goal to serve above and beyond expectations every day.”
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Gary G. Charland, JD
President and Chief Executive Officer, Masonic Homes of California
Gary Charland has more than 25 years of experience in innovative and strategic health care leadership. Prior to joining the Masonic Homes, Charland served in various positions with the Washington Hospital Healthcare System. He was instrumental in the formation and growth of the Washington Township Medical Foundation where he served as the Chief of Physician Development and as the Executive Director of the Washington Township Medical Foundation. Charland was the former Chief Operating Officer of East Bay Medical Network/Bay Physicians Medical Group.
He served as a trustee of the Masonic Homes for six years prior to his appointment as President and CEO.
A community leader in the greater Union City area for more than 15 years, Charland has served as chairman of the Board of the Newark Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Grants Committee for the Niles Rotary and has been a former Board Member at Alameda Health System.
Mr. Charland currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Masonic Communities and Services Association as Treasurer, President of the Washington Township Healthcare Foundation,a member of the Advisory Boards for the New Haven Schools Foundation and Ohlone College,Board member and Chair of the Medical Committee of the Board of Governors for Shriners Hospital for Children – Northern California, and as a founding member of the Innovators Alliance as well as Secretary of the Thrive Alliance Board.
An active member of the Masons of California, Charland belongs to Acalanes Fellowship Lodge No. 480 in Lafayette, Calif., Destiny Lodge No. 856 in Covina, Siminoff Daylight Lodge No.850 in Union City, Oakland Scottish Rite, York Rite, and serves as Assistant Chief Rabban for Aahmes Shrine Temple in Livermore. Mr. Charland is also a member of the lodge of the Holy Land in Israel.
Education
JD, Quinnipiac University School of Law, New Haven, Connecticut
BS, Communications/Journalism & Psychology, University of Bridgeport, Connecticut
Professional Affiliations
Washington Hospital Healthcare Foundation, Fremont, California – President
New Haven Schools Foundation, Fremont, California – Advisory Board Member
Masonic Communities and Services Association – Board Member
Newark, California Chamber of Commerce – Past Chairman of the Board
Shriners Hospital for Children – Board Member & Chair
Innovators Alliance – Founding member
Thrive Alliance Board – Secretary
California Assisted Living Association
Ohlone Community College – President’s Advisory Committee
LeadingAge California
Carol Hunter
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Masonic Homes of California
Carol Hunter is a finance professional leading accounting and operational teams for more than 25 years. As Chief Financial Officer of the Masonic Homes, Carol partners with the leaders of the various masonic entities to provide financial oversight and leadership. She started her career in public accounting in Toronto Canada and upon moving to California in 2003, transitioned to finance management roles in for-profit public and private companies. In 2015 she made the transition to mission-based work in the underserved Bayview District of San Francisco. Prior to joining the Masons of California, she was the CFO of Larkin Street Youth Services, a prominent California nonprofit focused on ending youth homelessness.
Education
BAS York University, Toronto Canada
Professional Affiliations
Certified Public Accountant
Mission Graduates – Board treasurer
Rotary Club of GOALS – VP membership
Vince Gonzaga
Executive Director, Masonic Homes of California – Covina
Vince Gonzaga has nearly 30 years of healthcare industry experience, of which he’s spent the past 13 years in senior-living leadership roles. He began his career as a physician in the Philippines, but after arriving in the United States in 2004, transitioned into the senior-living field, starting as an admissions and marketing director and later becoming an administrator. Since 2011, he has worked as a CCRC executive director.
Education
B.S. Biology, University of San Carlos, Cebu, Philippines
Doctor of Medicine, Cebu Doctor`s College of Medicine, Cebu, Philippines
Family Medicine Externship Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire, Wisconsin
License
Nursing Home Administrator
RCFE
Chris Gershtein, RN, MSN, CPHQ, CHC, NEA-BC
Vice President of Clinical Services, Masonic Homes of California
Chris Gershtein is a registered nurse with more than 30 years of experience in a variety of health care areas, including hospitals, disease management, nursing research, and nursing education. Prior to joining the Masonic Homes of California, she was director of quality and research at the Washington Hospital Healthcare System. Gershtein has also held quality, leadership, and analytics roles at both Stanford Medical Center and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. Her research interests and publications include the areas of chronic disease management, health care outcomes, quality of life, and computer and technology use by health care consumers for disease management and wellness.
Education
MSN, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana
BSN, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire
Professional Affiliations
Assisted Living Public Policy Cabinet for Leading Age California – Member
Service Excellence Committee for LeadingAge California – Member
Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society – Member
American Heart Association – Cardiovascular Nursing Council Member
Soledad Martinez
Executive Director, Masonic Homes of California
Soledad Martinez has worked for the Masonic Homes for over 26 years, serving seniors and their families in various capacities. She received her Associate Degree in Human Services and Early Childhood Development from Chabot College in Hayward, California. She is a member of Leading Age of California – the state’s leading advocate for quality, not-for-profit senior living and care.
Education
AA Human Services and Early Childhood Development, Chabot College
Certificate for Case Management for Human Services
Social Services Designee Certificate
National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners
RCFE Administrator License
Professional Affiliations
Leading Age
California Assisted Living Association
Notary Public
Sabrina Montes, MSW
Chief Strategic Officer, Masonic Homes of California
Sabrina Montes has been in the field of social work for the more than 20 years, where she has served a wide range of clients, including children, adolescents, families, and seniors. She has a strong background in residential treatment programs, mental health, and community based services. Montes has served the Masonic Homes of California since 2003, where she assisted the in the Masonic Homes Children Program in Covina. In 2009, she joined Masonic Outreach Services.
Education
MSW, Social Work, University of Southern California
BA, Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine
Professional Affiliations
Field Instructor University of Southern California School of Social Work
National Association of Social Workers
Masonic Communities & Association Board Member, 2021
Joseph Pritchard, MD
Chief Operating Officer, Masonic Homes of California
Joseph Pritchard has spent more than a decade studying and developing innovative and effective strategies to combat the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Pritchard began his service to the Masonic Homes in 2014, when he was hired as a health care manager. He was promoted to director of memory care in 2015. Pritchard is a member of multiple local and state organizations and he works with advisory bodies in the cities of Fremont, Union City, and Newark to create dementia-friendly communities. He also partners with the Alzheimer’s Association to provide education on how to support and care for elders coping with memory loss. Pritchard is a member of the Masons of California, and currently serves as Senior Warden for Siminoff Daylight Lodge No. 850.
Education
MD, Our Lady of Fatima University, Philippines
MHA, California State University, East Bay
BS, Biology, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines
Certifications
Certified Dementia Practitioner, NCCDP
RCFE Administrator
Big Data Program Certificate – San Francisco State University
Professional Affiliations
Union City, Senior Commission – Former Senior Commissioner
Tri-City Dementia Friendly Communities Task Force (Fremont, Newark, Union-City) – Co-chair
Fremont Chamber of Commerce – Member
LIFE Eldercare – Member
LeadingAge CA – EMERGE Coach
LeadingAge CA – Service Excellence Committee Member
LeadingAge CA – Planning Committee Member
LeadingAge CA – Workforce Situation Room Member
Kimberly (Wheeler) Rich, MFT
Executive Director, Masonic Center for Youth and Families
Kimberly Rich is a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than 25 years of experience treating children, youth, and their families. She specializes in pediatric anxiety, depression, and family therapy, and has 22 year’s experience developing clinical and graduate training programs. Rich has extensive experience acquiring and managing public and private funding. As a nonprofit executive, she has raised more than 20 million dollars in support of therapeutic programs for children, youth, and their families. She is passionately dedicated to creating services that help parents raise happy, healthy, and productive youth and believes that by supporting and healing families, communities are able to become stronger and thrive.
Education
MS, Counseling Psychology, California State University, Hayward
BA, Psychology and Sociology, Cabrini College, Pennsylvania
License
California Board of Behavioral Sciences, Marriage and Family Therapist
Professional Affiliations
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
Andrew Uehling
Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Andrew Uehling is a seasoned human resources professional with more than 23 years of management experience. As vice president and Chief Human Resources Officer for the Masonic Homes of California, Uehling partners with leaders and managers in five California Masonic entities to drive and implement effective leadership and management strategies. Prior to the Masonic Homes of California, Uehling served for eight years as director of human resources for Charles Schwab & Co. For the past six years, he has served as the chairman of the Gay-Straight Alliance Network Board of Directors.
Education
MBA, Business Administration and Management, Stanford Graduate School of Business
BA, Economics, Georgetown University