Meet Our Staff
The staff of Blue Skies of Texas brings experience and passion for excellence. With their leadership, Blue Skies of Texas has become known across Texas and surrounding states, bringing excellence of care to our residents and their families.
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“My father served in the Air Force, I served in the Air Force, and one of my sons serves in the Air Force. Service means being part of something bigger than yourself. It’s about service to others. At Blue Skies of Texas, we serve wonderful, caring, loving residents. We’re part of their family and they are part of ours!”
Darrell D. Jones
President and Chief Executive Officer
Darrell D. Jones, Lieutenant General, USAF (Ret) leads six Blue Skies corporations that are part of a life plan community dedicated to quality retirement living and superior health care. This vibrant multi-million dollar organization is driven by a passion to provide residents with a comfortable, enjoyable home. Darrell culminated a 34-year military career as the head of U.S. Air Force personnel. He served in a wide variety of operational and headquarters assignments. He commanded a squadron, a group, two wings and the Air Force District of Washington. He served as Director of Manpower and Personnel, U.S. Central Command, during combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He served at the RAND Corporation and as a Senior Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. Gen Jones earned a Master of Business Administration from Webster University and a Bachelor of Science from Mississippi State University.
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“Something I really like about working here is helping new residents understand the different contract options so they can make a choice that is financially right for them so they can rest easy and enjoy life at Blue Skies.”
Brian Englund
Chief Financial Officer
As Chief Financial Officer, Brian’s primary responsibilities include providing strategic and tactical direction needed to assure fiscal control, financial strength and effective stewardship of resources. He is responsible for analyzing and interpreting financial performance and communicating results with residents, management, the Board of Directors and external financial partners. Brian came to Blue Skies with thirteen years of experience working in the field of Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC’s). He held the positions of President, CEO and CFO with Presbyterian Retirement Communities Northwest (PRCN), which consisted of three CCRC’s and a charitable foundation in Seattle, Washington. Prior to PRCN, Brian held key positions with the certified public accounting firm Deloitte & Touche, and the life and health insurance and real estate divisions of Safeco Corporation. He is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Business Administration.
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“Every day, I feel lucky to be part of the Blue Skies family — the warmth, generosity, and liveliness is evident the minute you walk through the doors.”
Sarah Silver Manzke
Chief Growth Officer
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Sarah Manzke joined the Blue Skies team as the Director of Marketing in the summer of 2020. After moving to San Antonio in 2013 to join the San Antonio Symphony as the Associate Concertmaster, she also served as the orchestra’s Interim Director of Marketing, further sparking her passion for work “off the stage.” As a lifelong advocate of the arts, Sarah has learned how to market what she is passionate about. Sarah is thrilled to use the varied skills developed during her international career as a professional violinist to now serve Blue Skies of Texas and its mission. She continues to perform with the Agarita Chamber Players, a San Antonio based chamber music ensemble she founded in 2018. An avid teacher, she is adjunct faculty at San Antonio College and maintains a private music studio. Sarah earned a Bachelor of Music and Music Education Certification from Carnegie Mellon University, Master of Music from the New England Conservatory, and Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio.
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“Blue Skies is a community that lives up to its exceptional reputation. Residents enjoy living here and our staff enjoys taking care of them!”
Maureen Parrish
Director of Corporate Compliance
Maureen Parrish accepted the position of Director of Corporate Compliance in December 2019 after working for more than 15 years for a local hospital system with three area facilities and a total of 394 licensed beds. While working in acute healthcare, she cultivated a strong background in operations, behavioral health, quality and performance improvement, regulatory accreditation compliance, and risk management. Maureen received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 2005.
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“The warm and inclusive atmosphere, the collaborative team, and the chance to contribute to the well-being of our community are some of the reasons why I choose to work at Blue Skies of Texas”
Danielle Weintraub
Director of Resident Services, East
Danielle Weintraub is a seasoned professional with a passion for serving others, particularly in the realm of senior care. As the Director of Resident Services at Blue Skies of Texas East, Danielle brings a wealth of experience and expertise to her role, making a meaningful impact on the lives of residents and their families.
As an Air Force spouse, Danielle has developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges and needs of military families. She joined Blue Skies of Texas in 2015 as the Relocation Manager in the Capital Projects department, where she quickly established herself as a compassionate advocate for residents at both the east and west campuses. Her dedication to creating a seamless transition experience for residents during relocation earned her recognition and praise from both staff and residents alike.
With her exceptional leadership skills and dedication to enhancing the quality of life for residents, Danielle quickly rose through the ranks. In 2020, she was promoted to the position of Assistant Director for Resident Services, where she relocated to the east campus. Her commitment to enhancing the quality of life for residents through innovative programs and personalized care was evident in the positive impact she made on their daily lives.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Danielle was recently appointed as the Director of Resident Services at Blue Skies of Texas East. In her current role, Danielle leads a dynamic team and collaborates with various departments to ensure that Blue Skies of Texas East remains a premier senior living community. Her dedication to providing exceptional care, fostering a sense of community, and promoting resident well-being is evident in her day-to-day interactions. With her unwavering commitment to excellence, Danielle continues to make a lasting difference in the lives of seniors and their families at Blue Skies of Texas East.
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“I love that every day is different and in 21 years I have literally never had a boring day. I love the serious conversations, I love the banter with the residents, I love that we do an awful lot of laughing.”
Brian Graybeal
Director of Resident Services, West
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Shari Proctor
Director of Wellness & Life Enrichment
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“My job is to make sure residents are safe, and ensure we preserve a solid infrastructure and maintain modernization for our residents. I want to continue building on the exceptional life here that our residents love.”
Heather Ransom
Chief Operations Officer
Following a 27-year USAF career where she retired as a Chief Master Sergeant, Heather fell in love with Blue Skies when she first visited in 2005. “I was chaperoning my daughter’s Girl Scout troop when they sang Christmas carols for the residents, and I felt an immediate connection to this community. When I returned for another visit in 2018, I knew I wanted to serve here.” Her extensive administrative experience includes work with NATO, the USAF Intelligence Agency, and her final stint as Chief of Security Forces at Joint Base San Antonio.
Heather and her husband have three grown children who are committed to lives of service, inspired by their career USAF parents. She earned a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership through Columbia Southern University.
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Erika Provencher
Director of Capital Projects
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Kendall Turton
Director of Human Resources
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Air Force Villages, Inc.
Board of Directors
- Brig Gen Chuck Potter, Chair
- Diane Biery, MD, Vice-Chair / Secretary
- Mrs. Helen Bryan
- Mr. Michael Dubensky
- Maj Gen Al Flowers
- Col Roger Hansen
- Mrs. Kathy Hostage
- Mr. Richard Kardys
- Lt Col (Dr.) Robert Kruger
- Col Steve Meigs
- COL Dan Meyers (Member at Large)
- Col Josh Moran
- MSG Jan Olsen
- Col (Dr.) Len Profenna
- Maj Gen Garry Schnelzer
- Mrs. JoAnn Gonzales (Resident Council Invitee – West)
- Col Bruce Wilcox (Resident Council Invitee – East)
Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation Board Members
- Gen Gilmary M. Hostage (Chair)
- Gen John P. Jumper (Vice Chair)
- Gen Ronald R. Fogleman
- Gen David L. Goldfein
- Gen T. Michael Moseley
- Gen Richard B. Myers
- Gen Michael E. Ryan
- Gen Norton A. Schwartz
- Maj Gen D. Bruce Smith
- Gen Mark A. Welsh III