Leadership

Meet the Leadership of Methodist Senior Services

The Leadership Team helps the MSS Campuses navigate the world of business and to provide thehighest standard of care to Mississippi elders on a daily basis.

Steve McAlillyPresident & CEO

steve.mcalilly@mss.org

Steve McAlilly has served as the President/CEO of MSS since 1993. He began his career as an attorney in Meridian, MS where he served on the Aldersgate Board of Directors. His love for elders led him to assume the helm in Tupelo when Rev. Bill Carroll retired. During his tenure, Steve has helped foster innovative service models including the revolutionary Green House Homes which were born on the Traceway campus in Tupelo. He has led the organization through two natural disasters, rebranded and refocused the mission, and launched NextAge Mississippi to assist elders who do not live in a retirement community. Steve was honored with the LeadingAge Award of Honor in 2012, the industry’s highest award. When he’s not mapping out the next visionary step for MSS, Steve likes to be outdoors, sharing good laughs with his sons or singing with his wife Beverly.

Christie VanceVice President for Operations/COO

christie.vance@mss.org

Christie was introduced to Methodist Senior Services while working in the public accounting field on the MSS audit. She realized quickly that she wanted to be part of a ministry like MSS. She feels her life's calling is to work in the non-profit arena and to give back to the community. She has served MSS for since 1999. She stated recently at an anniversary recognition, "I cannot imagine anywhere else I would rather have served over the past 20 years and to continue over the years to come." Christie received her Bachelor of Accountancy degree from the University of Mississippi. She is married to Cory Vance, and they have two daughters, Abby (17) and Olivia (12). She serves on the Calhoun County School Board, College Hill Baptist Church finance and nominating committees, New Century Club and Calhoun City High School Softball Booster Club.

Merrin CantinVice President for Human Resources

merrin.cantin@mss.org

Merrin has served as VP, Human Resources since 2015 and has worked in health care human resources for all her career, including hospital and home health facilities. Merrin enjoys traveling to the campuses to work with the employees and staff members who provide quality care to our Elders.

Jim ZuelzkeVice President for Finance/CFO

jim.zuelzke@mss.org

Jim joined Mississippi Methodist Senior Services as the Director of Accounting in 2015 after spending 4 years in for-profit healthcare. As a teenager, Jim saw his Grandmother suffer from Alzheimer’s in an assisted living/memory care facility for more than 10 years. He immediately knew how special elder care was. Jim enjoys working to make MMSS better financially so that the organization can continue to positively effect elders. Outside of the office, Jim enjoys spending time with his family.

Michelle Daniel,NHA,MHAVice President of Philanthropy and Leadership Development

michelle.daniel@mss.org

Michelle has worked in the Long-Term Care field since 1995 and has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from Louisiana Tech University and a Masters of Health Administration from the University of Memphis. Michelle is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator and joined Methodist Senior Services in October of 2015.Michelle’s focus at MSS is to build significant support for the benevolence fund,grow the donor base through meaningful relationships, write grants, and build the endowment. In her free time, Michelle enjoys the outdoors with her husband, children and pets and volunteering with her church and Boy Scout Troop 316.

Teresa BakerDirector of Clinical Support

teresa.baker@mss.org

Teresa has served as the Director of Clinical Support since 2013. She started her career with MSS as an RN coordinator at Martha Coker in 2008. Teresa enjoys traveling to all of our facilities around the state and getting to know the elders and their families. What she likes best is the hands on interaction that comes from working with the elders. Teresa has three teenage children that keep her busy when she’s not working.

Brittany CuevasDirector of Finance

Brittany.Cuevas@mss.org

Brittany joined MSS as the Director of Accounting in 2020 after previously serving as Executive Director of The Autism Center of North MS, another wonderful non-profit in Tupelo, MS. During her undergrad and grad studies at USM, Brittany always knew she was called to a career in non-profit accounting. Along with that, one of her passions has always been caring for elders in her midst. As a young child, Brittany delighted in visiting with and volunteering at a nearby nursing home in her hometown of Newton. She would later care for her own grandmother who had Parkinson’s Disease for over 30 years. Over the years, Brittany has learned how sitting in the presence of elders invites her to slow down to ultimately enjoy the Ever-Present One, Jesus. In her free time, she thoroughly enjoys family adventures with her husband, Colby, and their three children: Oliver, Evie, and Caroline.

Cathy Coleman, CFREDirector of Annual Giving and Donor Relations

cathy.coleman@mss.org

Cathy is one of only 12 professionals in the state of Mississippi designated as a CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) and has been with MSS for 19 years. She enjoys researching to find donors who have a passion for serving elders and connecting them to the MSS mission. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her husband, spending time with their grandchildren and dogs, and is a very passionate Saints fan. (Who dat?!)

Bill Reid, PMPDirector of Information Technology

bill.reid@mss.org

Bill joined Methodist Senior Services in 2009 planning and executing the technical architecture and services for our campuses. He sees his role as a creator of effective and reliable systems that allow our caregivers to focus on the individual attention and care our elders need. Away from work he is involved with a number of bands, recording projects, church orchestras and local theater programs.

Valerie SullivanDirector of Pharmacy Services

valerie.sullivan@mss.org

Valerie has been with Senior RX since the Pharmacy opened in February 2015. LTC pharmacy is a mixture of retail and clinical pharmacy which makes every day different and a new challenge. The most rewarding part of the job is getting to know the wonderful residents when providing for their medication needs and knowing that in some way we have added comfort and friendship into their lives.

Renee ReidDirector of Public Relations

renee.reid@mss.org

Renee began her work in the MSS ministry in 2011. She orchestrates the public image, the ministry message and special events for MSS and all of the campuses. With more than 25 years of experience in advertising, graphic design and with non-profit organizations, Renee works hard to protect and extend the excellent reputation MSS has earned over the years. In her spare time, Renee loves spending time with family and serves as the costumer for a local ballet/dance studio and several area theater productions.

Sonja JenkinsLegal Counsel

sonja.jenkins@mss.org

Sonja Jenkins has served as Legal Counsel for Methodist Senior Services since 2003. “Providing legal expertise and managing risks are central to carrying out our mission of serving older adults.” Sonja received a B.A. and a J. D. from the University of Mississippi.