Meet Our Senior Living Professionals

LISA DOERLER

Executive Director

Lisa brings over 15 years of Operations experience to Discovery at Deerwood. A trusted and accomplished leader in Senior Living and Senior Health Care, she has been recognized for leveraging strong team leadership and fostering a work culture of collaboration and participation. Lisa believes the key to quality Senior Living is to inspire residents to live their best lives each and every day. Lisa holds an MBA from DeVry University and a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration. She is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator Preceptor and a Certified Director of Assisted Living. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys traveling and riding motorcycles with her husband, Lenny. She also enjoys get-togethers with their grown children who live locally and spending time at home with their German Shepherd Dog, Otto.

SONDRA SHARP

Senior Lifestyle Counselor

Sondra Sharp brings to our community a diverse background spanning multiple specialties within the healthcare and senior living industries. Sondra exhibits a true passion for serving the senior segment, and for helping families navigate the search for quality care. Sondra grew up on and around the beautiful beaches of Jacksonville, Florida, and earned her business degree from the University of North Florida. She has three, grown children; Lauren, Julia and Bill, and in her spare time, loves enjoying the outdoors, spending time with family and her dogs, and shopping.

Deborah Northrup

Senior Lifestyle Counselor

Deborah Northrup brings to our community an extensive and diverse background in management, sales, business development and strategic planning. A proud leader and advocate for the senior living and care industries, Deborah is a native Floridian, having resided in Jacksonville since 1969. She enjoys spending quality time with her husband and grandchildren, as well as visiting theme parks and riding rollercoasters, and beachcombing, dancing, listening to live bands and simply enjoying life.

Ann Gannon

Director of Memory Care

Ann moved from Boston in 2000 where she was a Practice Administrator for a geriatric practice at Massachusetts General Hospital for 15 years. Ann came to Discovery Village with a great knowledge of Memory Care neighborhoods and a degree in Health Care Administration. When dementia and Alzheimer’s became prevalent, Ann increased her knowledge of the illness and discovered her passion for working with people with memory care issues, and realized there was a need for advocates and special programming which validated residents struggling with this illness. Ann has been responsible for the startup of quite a few memory care communities around Jacksonville and has made it her mission to assist caregivers and family members in creating moments of success and validation for her residents.

Darren Usher

Director of Facility Operations

Darren Usher brings to our community an extensive and diverse background in management, business development, strategic planning and project management.  As a committed advocate for resident and customer satisfaction, Darren brings over 20 years of senior management experience to the facility he proudly manages.  Having grown up in New Jersey, Darren has been a Florida resident for over 25 years.  He enjoys spending time with his wife and 4 children, as well as playing golf, working on vintage cars, the beach and projects around his house.

Greg Mack

Culinary Director

Greg has lived and worked across the United States in various roles within the Culinary Industry. This has allowed him to achieve his many goals in perfecting the diverse cooking style that he brings to Discovery Village. Greg graduated from Lincoln Culinary Institute where he received his Associates Degree. Greg is originally from Connecticut and moved to Saint Johns, Florida in 2018. He currently lives in Anastasia Island in Saint Augustine, Florida with his wife, Molly, their twin sons, Finnian and Roman, and their dog, Lucky Harry. Greg enjoys spending time with his family and friends at the beach, hiking, fishing, and finding adventure wherever his travels may take him.

Diana Bakai

Director of Celebrations

Diana has worked with the Senior Community for over 22 years. Initially in Administration, becoming certified in Dementia and Alzheimers led to a career in Life Enrichment as Activity Director for both AL and MC. Diana also moonlights as an entertainer, singing for local facilities as well as our own.  Her approach has always been “Be the Joy, Love and Laughter that enters the Room. Be their Light!”  Her enthusiasm and love for all she does, is evident in her relationship with the residents here at Discovery.

A native of Jacksonville, she enjoys our local beaches, art, music and dining. She is Mom to four amazing sons, three beautiful daughter-in-laws and four precious grandchildren, with another on the way.