Program Alumni

Graduates of our Executive Certificate in Home Modification Program, Catia Garell and Damian Sempio, founders of Thrive for Life, LLC, with a home modification client

 

The USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology boasts a network of over 2,000 Executive Certificate in Home Modification graduates throughout the nation and around the globe.

We invite you to connect with some of our talented and diverse Program Alumni. Enjoy browsing through the Alumni Directory!

Please click an entry below to learn more about our program alumni!

List All

Renata Papp

Title: Secretary / Co-Owner Company Name: 3 Pyramid Construction & Renovation Corporation Company Address: 495 Redwood Ave. , Sacramento , CA 95815 Phone: 916-544-8114 Through 3 Pyramid Construction & Renovation Corporation, we help older adults, individuals with disabilities, and other homeowners improve safety, accessibility, and independence through home modification and aging-in-place solutions. Our services include accessibility improvements, bathroom modifications, walk-in shower conversions, grab bar installation, widened doorways, ramps, handrails, and other modifications designed to reduce fall risks and support safe daily living. As an Executive Certificate in Home Modification (ECHM) graduate and licensed California general contractor, we are committed to providing practical, code-compliant, and individualized solutions that help people remain safe, comfortable, and independent in their homes.

Cindy Paras Hilliard

Title: Assistant Professor Company Name: Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Company Address: 216 Shadow Rock Lane , Mars , Pennsylvania 16046 Phone: 7245530340 I am currently teaching Assistive Technology in the OTD Program at SRU. The knowledge and skills I gained through the ECHM certification and 30 years of experience as a home health OT have guided course development in higher education. I also have experience as an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at SRU and was a Capstone Co-Chair at Baylor University prior to my current role.

Harshada Patil

Graduation Year: 2020
Title: Occupational therapist Company Name: Interface rehab, inc. Company Address: 20530 Anza Avenue , Torrance , CA 90503 Phone: 3237674587 An elementary level in Home Modification field, however enthusiastic to learn about practical and real life process.

Richard Pearson

Graduation Year: 2020
Title: Rehab Project Coordinator Company Name: Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay Company Address: 9031 BRELAND DR , TAMPA , Florida 33626 Phone: 8132152722 Responsible for the assessment and overseeing on more than 100 home modification projects a year.

Val Pehrson

Title: Program Manager Company Name: Rebuilding Together DC-Alexandria Company Address: 628 North Carolina Ave SE , Washington , DC 20003 Phone: 2026410419 I'm a government grants program manager based in Washington, DC. I provide free home repair and home modification projects to low-income homeowners in Washington, DC.

Rachel Peraino

Title: Occupational Therapist Company Name: I work in a pediatric outpatient clinic Company Address: 424 Manhattan Ave , Hermosa Beach , California 90254 Phone: (310) 766-3882 I am interested in continuing to learn about this field. I would be willing to shadow or intern to gain additional experience.

Marian Perillo

Graduation Year: 2015
Title: Physical Therapy Company Name: Perillo Physical Therapy Services LLC Company Address: 6607 Mimosa St. , INDIAN TRAIL , NC 28079 Phone: (704) 607-9989 I have worked for several home health agencies in my 40 year career as a physical therapist. My experience enables me to provide more specific recommendations relative to both cognitive and physical abilities.

Lisa Peterson

Title: Program Director Company Name: Independent Living Choices Company Address: 4107 S. Carnegie Circle , Sioux Falls , SD 57106 Phone: 6053623550 I work with participants with disabilities to coordinate home modifications to make their home accessible so they can remain independent in their homes.

BevVan Phillips

Graduation Year: 2016
Title: Home Modification Specialist Company Name: Craft Lifestyle Managment Company Address: 7228 Burt St. , Omaha , NE 68114 Phone: (402) 306-4028 I'm an occupational therapist with a 20+ year practice involving home modifications. I'm interested in how people interact with the environment and how it affects function. Recently have become more involved in designing therapeutic environments in the home.

Sherry Pidgeon

Graduation Year: 2020
Title: self employed OTR/L, ECHM, CAPS, CDP Company Name: Home Mobility VT Company Address: 376 Pumpkin Hill , Williston , VT 05495 Phone: 8025783440 My initial focus was going to be Aging In Place however I have broadened my plan and will now market to those 65+ to address those at risk for falls. I am now a Medicare B provider which will open many doors for me as there are very few OT's in private practice in Vermont.

Tamara Polidore

Graduation Year: 2016
Title: OTR, CLT Company Name: Life Care Center Company Address: 1761 Brightmeadow Ct. , Orlando , FL 32818 Phone: (407) 421-6507 Educate patients on home modifications to decrease risk of falls towards end of rehab stay by proving a home assessment

Katrina Polk

Graduation Year: 2024
Company Name: Dynamic Solutions for the Aging, LLC Company Address: 1885 Tubman Road SE , Washington , DC 20020 Phone: 202-870-6974 We are a research and development firm with over 40 years of experience designing and integrating aging-in-place concepts into customized solutions for the population aged 50 and above, caregivers, and businesses that serve them. Specifically, we collaborate with developers, builders, architects, urban planners, health-related service providers, and individuals to design and renovate age-friendly, certified aging-in-place spaces.

Rachel Poythress

Title: Safe at Home Program Manager Company Name: Rebuilding Together Peninsula Company Address: 2361 Poplar Ave , East Palo Alto , California 94303 Phone: 650-481-8879 I work with clients that are income-qualified to make their homes safer and more accessible with government grants, donations from corporate sponsors and individuals, and through volunteer labor.

Rachel Poythress

Graduation Year: 2024
Title: Safe at Home Program Manager Company Name: Rebuilding Together Peninsula Company Address: 2361 Poplar Ave. , East Palo Alto , California 94303 Phone: (650)481-8879 Specialty: I work with clients that are income-qualified to make their homes safer and more accessible with government grants, donations from corporate sponsors and individuals, and through volunteer labor. I work with clients that are income-qualified to make their homes safer and more accessible with government grants, donations from corporate sponsors and individuals, and through volunteer labor.

Melissa Prudencio

Graduation Year: 2019
Title: Occupational Therapist Company Name: Brooks Rehabilitation Company Address: 3856 Michaels Landing Circle E , Jacksonville , FL. 32224 Phone: (904) 859-3121 I graduated from the program in 2019 with almost three years of experience as an occupational therapist working in a skilled nursing facility. I plan to complete the courses to be a certified aging in place specialist as well and eventually assist the older adult for aging in place in my community in Jacksonville, FL.

Jenna Pruitt

Title: Occupational Therapist Company Name: VA Black Hills Health Care System Company Address: 804 N 10th Street , Spearfish , SD 57783 Phone: 605-202-0795 In my current role, I provide comprehensive home modification assessments and recommendations to help veterans safely age in place in the Black Hills of SD. I evaluate the fit between a person’s abilities, their environment, and daily task demands to ensure modifications truly enhance independence and reduce fall risk. I also collaborate closely with caregivers, contractors, and interdisciplinary VA teams to implement practical, client-centered solutions.

Roslyn Quarto

Graduation Year: 2018
Title: Executive Director and Vice President of Advocacy Company Name: Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People and The Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging Company Address: 11890 Fairhill Rd. , Cleveland , OH 44120 Phone: (216) 383-1853 Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People, a subsidiary of the Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, has developed a small dollar loan program for low-income older adults who would otherwise not be able to modify their homes so they can age in place independently and safely.

Stephanie Rauscher

Graduation Year: 2013
Title: Owner/founder Company Name: Dwell in Peace LLC Company Address: 312 E Main St. , Frankfort , NY 13340 Phone: (315) 867-4331 Dwell in Peace is a consulting company that helps people accommodate their homes to meet their accessibility needs. I meet within the home environment and work with people with varying abilities to identify problem areas that hinder safe, independent engagement in daily life skills and find solutions to the problems together with families and caregivers.

Nina Rea

Graduation Year: 2015
Title: Occupational Therapist Company Name: Home and Community Based Rehabilitation Company Address: 7180 Homewood Dr. , Oakland , CA 94611 Phone: (650) 619-2868 The interaction between us and our environment is fascinating to me. As an OT I am constantly looking at the best way to use the environment to our benefit.

Emily Reilly

Graduation Year: 2018
Title: Owner Company Name: Purposefully Home Company Address: 1114 N. 72nd Pl. , Scottsdale , AZ 85257 Phone: (480) 339-9316 I am an occupational therapist and offer the community residential accessibility consultation. I provide home assessment and recommendations and hope to grow within 5 years to develop my own contractor team in order to implement the recommendations. Currently any recommendations made are then referred to a contractor of the clients choice or I provide the clients with a list of “preferred contractors”.

Janalee Reineke Lyth

Graduation Year: 2016
Title: Occupational Therapist, Accessibility Specialist, Project Manager Company Name: Accessibility Design Company Address: 4631 London Rd. , Duluth , MN 55804 Phone: (218) 525-0370 Provide assessments and consultation to clients experiencing functional challenges within their home and recommend solutions to enable them to stay at home with their loved ones. Manage their chosen projects from bids to completion as a member of the Accessibility Design team.

JoAnnita Reitsma

Title: Owner . OT . Interior Designer . Contractor Company Name: DeyeNamic design Company Address: 10821 NW McKay Creek Ct , North Plains , Oregon 97133 Phone: 9712453839 DeyeNamic design combines interior design principles and interior design strategies to home modifications and new home building to support function and well being for all residents of the home. From sensory rooms to home modifications to stay at home, we can modify to suit current and anticipate possible future needs, allowing your home to dynamically support changing situations.

Marnie Renda

Graduation Year: 2010
Title: Owner, Accessibility Specialist, Occupational Therapist Company Name: Rebuild Independence LLC Company Address: 2542 Erie Ave. , Cincinnati , OH 45208 Phone: (513) 276-0515 Rebuild Independence LLC has been helping elders and persons with disabilities figure out how they can continue to live at home for over 10 years. Services include an evaluation of need, acquisition of products, and home modifications.

Mindy Renfro

Graduation Year: 2019
Title: Retired professor/private contractor Company Address: NA , Billings , Montana 59102 Phone: (406) 545-9592 Geriatric physical therapist with extensive experience in home modifications, assistive technology, Smart Technology, and fall prevention. Supporting successful aging-in-place since 2009. One older adult supporting other older adults to achieve their goals and wishes - no matter how small or grand the project might be.

Paulette Rhaney

Graduation Year: 2018
Company Address: 224 South Peck Ave. , Manhattan Beach , California 90266 Phone: (310) 374-8786