This fall, Kelly Bergstrom, Senior Services Manager with Graceworks Enhanced Living, had opportunities to do all three.

Kelly recently began Cohort 9 of EMPOWER, a leadership development program offered by the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Aileron. The 10-month program brings together women leaders from across the Dayton region for professional coaching, workshops, peer learning and conversations designed to help participants better understand their leadership values and goals.

“Learning about the opportunity instantly drew me in and secretly terrified me at the same time,” Kelly shared. Knowing that an in-depth application and selection process would narrow the cohort to just 20–25 women across the Dayton region made her question whether she should try. “But I owed it to myself to apply.”

“I know I want to grow within Graceworks, and this is an amazing opportunity to learn more about myself, my leadership growth opportunities and really dig into my fears and self-doubts.”

Kelly demonstrated that same openness just days before beginning EMPOWER, when she stepped into another leadership opportunity—this time, as a speaker.

Kelly joined Graceworks colleague Robyn Powell, Manager of Social Services, Music Therapy & Admissions at Bethany Village, to present at Wright-Patt Credit Union’s Women at the Table Talks “RE-ignite” event. More than 200 women gathered for a day centered on connection and insights from fellow Dayton-area leaders.

Their presentation, “Being a Long-Term Caregiver: Now What?”, explored the realities of balancing caregiving with the many other responsibilities of daily life. Robyn and Kelly discussed caregiver well-being and practical considerations, from having conversations with aging parents to understanding long-term care options and planning ahead.

One message from their conversation captured the compassion at the heart of caregiving:

Whatever decision you make in the moment is the right one, if done out of love.

For Kelly, the experience was as much about listening as it was about sharing.

“I laughed, cried and hung on every word of the amazing speakers,” Kelly shared afterward. “I didn’t realize how much I needed to be in community with these amazing women!”

That exchange of experiences is also central to Kelly’s EMPOWER journey. Over the coming months, she will have opportunities to build greater self-awareness, connect with peers and continue developing personally and professionally.

Graceworks is committed to investing in employees as they develop their talents and bring those gifts back to the people, teams and communities they serve. Kelly enters EMPOWER with years of experience supporting people through Graceworks Enhanced Living — and an opportunity to gain new perspectives that can further shape her leadership.

For two decades, Matt has made an impact at Bethany Village that extends far beyond the therapy department. He joined Bethany Village in 2005 as a therapy supervisor and has continued to expand his expertise across areas including regulatory compliance, reimbursement, technology, interdisciplinary collaboration and operational improvement. 

At the heart of that work? A commitment to people.

Despite his broader leadership responsibilities, Matt remains closely connected to those receiving care at Bethany Village. Known to stay late to meet people newly admitted for short-term rehabilitation, he helps them and their loved ones understand what to expect from therapy and gathers information that can help the team prepare for the following day.   

Matt’s leadership is also evident in the everyday moments that can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life. “When he learned that a broken headrest on a resident’s power chair was making it difficult to use, Matt took the initiative to assess the chair and fix the issue,” recalls Lauren Coyle, Vice President of Strategy & Senior Services. “As a result, the resident could once again move more freely throughout the nursing area and visit others—including his wife.” 

That same willingness to step in and help extends to his colleagues, where Matt is known for sharing his knowledge and mentoring others. Matt also has a reputation for asking how processes can work better. His leadership has contributed to improvements involving reimbursement and documentation, data tracking, technology and interdisciplinary communication.

“Matt embodies servant leadership. His calm patience and encouragement foster confidence in those around him and help create stronger teams and future leaders.”

—Administrator Holly Artkamp

Through his willingness to listen, share his knowledge, and continually look for better ways to serve others, Matt demonstrates the kind of leadership at the heart of Faithful Caring:  leadership founded in compassion, competence, and a commitment to the people around him. 

Congratulations, Matt, on this well-deserved recognition!

Lauren Coyle, Matt Cassidy, Judy Budi, Bob Reichard

Matt shows off his Emerging Leader Award and supportive wife

At Bethany Village, that relationship has a face: Rev. Scott Nellis. Less than a year into his role as Spiritual Care Specialist, he has already become one of the most recognized and welcomed people on campus. He does not wait for residents to come to him. He walks through the halls, pauses to visit, remembers the names of grandchildren, and follows up.

He leads Bible studies and organizes field trips, but his most meaningful work often happens in the space between those things—whether it is a hand on a shoulder, a question asked with genuine curiosity, or a return visit that says you mattered enough for me to come back.

His aim is simple but profound: to help people recognize that faith is not reserved for Sunday mornings or chapel services. It lives in ordinary days when a good memory surfaced, a fear gently held, a laugh shared in the hallway.

Senior living ministry was not his original plan. Pastor Scott came from traditional congregational work in Ohio, where he preached, led, and engaged communities. But over time, he found himself drawn to something more personal. “I’ve been honing the skill of calling on people,” he said. “Building trust.” When the opportunity at Bethany Village came, it turned out to be less a career pivot than a homecoming.

That sense of home is, in many ways, what Graceworks’ spiritual care ministry is about. Not services rendered, but people known. Not programs delivered, but presence offered.  At Bethany Village, residents do not just have a place to live; they have a community where someone knows their name, notices their absence, and shows up.

That is what belonging looks like. And Pastor Scott is living proof of it.

Graceworks is honored to congratulate Deb Lyle, Administrator of Graceworks Enhanced Living, on being named a 2026 Woman to Watch!

Presented by Women in Business Networking (WiBN), this recognition honors women who make waves—often quietly, yet powerfully—through their leadership, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to improving lives. WiBN’s 2026 Women to Watch bring a force of change in their communities and professions, and Deb exemplifies that in every way.

For 35 years, Deb has dedicated her career to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities—27 of those years with Graceworks Enhanced Living. Under her leadership, our programming has expanded from 16 to 44 homes across Montgomery, Greene, Butler, and Hamilton counties, in addition to two day programs, impacting hundreds of lives through compassionate, community-based care.

But Deb’s leadership doesn’t stop there. She co-founded and now chairs the Values & Faith Alliance, a statewide coalition advocating for disability policy improvements in Ohio. Nationally, she presides over the Lutheran Services in America Disability Network, representing over 40 providers across the country.

A graduate of Leadership Dayton’s 2013 class, Deb also actively supports the military community and volunteers regularly with local nonprofits, exemplifying servant leadership in all aspects of her life.

Judy Budi, Graceworks President and CEO, shared, “Over the years, I’ve seen Deb manage the complexities of leading 350 employees across 45+ locations while maintaining the same calm, steady presence in every room she enters. She has 24-hour responsibility, seven days a week and gives passionately to the individuals and staff who work to create a home and place of stability and safety for many.”

“Deb inspires me to never lose sight of the people at the center of the work we do.”

—Judy Budi

Whether she’s testifying before a city council, educating communities to dispel stigmas, or giving her time to area organizations, Deb brings humility, courage, and integrity to all she does.

We’re delighted to see her recognized for the remarkable impact she makes every day.

Graceworks Director of Marketing & Advancement Dana Lynch has been selected to participate in the 2026 class of Leadership Dayton, alongside organizational leaders from throughout the Miami Valley.

Leadership Dayton, a premier leadership development program of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, is designed to identify, educate and connect community leaders while expanding their capacity to serve the Dayton region.

Over the course of 10 months, members of the Class of 2026 deepen their understanding of the region by examining multiple industries, from government to health & human services, through a social servant lens. Program participants live, work and serve in Darke, Butler, Clark, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, Shelby and Warren Counties.

Dana is driven by guiding people through big decisions, from finding a new retirement home to witnessing passion projects come full circle. She’ll soon join the ranks of eight Graceworks Lutheran Services leaders who have graduated from Leadership Dayton.

After surgery in 2022, Dr. Carroll didn’t follow the usual path of getting a physician’s opinion for physical therapy through a home health agency. He didn’t need it; his sister highly recommended Bethany Village Home Health Care. That decision led him to meet physical therapist Doug Fitzsimmons, and a trusted partnership in healing began.

Doug speaks with admiration about Dr. Carroll’s many accomplishments: two PhDs in Physiology Health Sciences—one from Ball State and another from The Ohio State University—his leadership as Acting Chairman during a major college transition, and his service as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force.

Dr. Carroll is just as quick to highlight Doug’s impact. Dr. Carroll always requests Doug as his therapist. He credits Doug’s care, compassion, and focus on wellness and prevention as essential to his recovery. “After one of my surgeries, I couldn’t walk, bathe myself, or care for my basic needs,” Dr. Carroll shares.

“Now, thanks to Doug and the Bethany Village Home Health Care team, I can walk with a walker, take care of myself, and live more independently.”

Dr. Carroll, Bethany Village Home Health Care client

Doug believes their success also stems from Dr. Carroll taking an active role in his own care. “He stays informed, asks questions, and really invests in his health,” Doug says. Dr. Carroll laughs, modestly attributing that to “guilt” over having had to close the Physical Therapy program at Ball State. Doug gently adds, “What he’s not saying is that he personally helped every student find a new program so they could continue their education. That’s just the kind of man he is.”

Ongoing physical therapy helps Dr. Carroll to continue living independently in his Xenia home. Bethany Village Home Health Care brings in-home nursing care and therapy services to Dayton and six surrounding counties, allowing people to work toward their individual goals in the comfort of a familiar setting.

What began as a professional connection has grown into deep mutual respect. The supportive relationship of Dr. Carroll and Doug is a testament to the kind of care where healing is personal, and meaningful work leads to fuller, more fulfilling lives for everyone involved.

Graceworks is proud to congratulate Holly Artkamp, Chief Nursing Officer at Bethany Village, on being honored with the Dayton Business Journal Forty Under 40 Award!

This list recognizes the region’s brightest young business leaders who have demonstrated success in their field before age 40. More than 150 professionals from around the Miami Valley were nominated for their career drive and achievement in their career pursuit.

Holly is no exception. She has spent the entirety of her 16-year nursing career in aging services, where her compassion and collaborative talents were quickly recognized. In her first role as a nurse aide at Bethany Village, Holly became passionate about serving older adults. She went on to become an LPN, then RN, and had the opportunity to experience hospital healthcare. From there, she returned to Bethany Village and continued her career from nurse, nursing supervisor, rehab unit and long-term care manager, to her appointment as Chief Nursing Officer in 2019 upon earning her BSN.

In 2020, her leadership role demanded more of her clinical knowledge as she took on navigating the logistical difficulties of resident care during the pandemic—researching ever-changing government safety regulations and ultimately seeing lower resident and staff Covid cases than many providers experienced—all while carrying a child. She now capably handles her responsibilities as CNO, wife and mother of two with ease.

Today, Holly empowers her teams to provide care for complex needs with confidence. Her commitment to mentoring individuals in the field recently led her to launch an onsite nurse aide training program to help introduce others to healthcare careers in the long-term care setting.

“She is not content performing at status quo.” Lauren Coyle, Class of 2023 honoree and Administrator of Bethany Village, adds, “Holly’s constantly looking for ways to make life better for her teams, from providing encouragement and support to creating a sense of camaraderie across multiple departments.”

Her consideration for the daily interactions and experiences of families, residents, and staff is an example of how authenticity and genuine passion for our work helps shape not just our culture throughout Graceworks, but the stories and heart of the region.

Community is more than just a word; it’s a commitment to support and uplift one another in times of need. Closing out National Volunteer Week, Graceworks employees exemplified this spirit by volunteering their time and effort on National Rebuilding Day. Our dedicated crew partnered with Rebuilding Together Dayton to make a difference in the lives of those unable to tackle home maintenance tasks themselves.

National Rebuilding Day, observed annually on the last Saturday of April, serves as a beacon of unity, rallying volunteers nationwide to rehabilitate homes and community facilities. Locally, this day is a chance to revitalize Dayton neighborhoods and foster a stronger sense of camaraderie. Through our volunteer opportunity with Rebuilding Together Dayton, we seized this occasion to roll up our sleeves and get to work.

“The seniors RTD helps don’t have the financial resources themselves to do any home repairs,” shared Jackie D’Aurora, 10-year Rebuilding Together Board member, “so these homeowners are all the more appreciative.”

The Graceworks team delved into outdoor projects at four homes, from pulling weeds to cleaning out flower beds and trimming bushes. For those unable to tend to their homes due to physical limitations or financial constraints, our efforts represented more than just yard work; they symbolized a gesture of support and care from their community.

“Bending and weeding and cleaning up the yard…that is physical work that gets more difficult as we age. Several in our group took time to visit with the homeowner, showing that this experience is not just about the work – it is about impacting the lives of the older adults.”

— JUDY BUDI, GRACEWORKS PRESIDENT & CEO

Each weed pulled and every shrub trimmed was a testament to our collective commitment to make a positive impact, one home at a time. But beyond the physical labor, it was the connections forged and the appreciation shared that truly encapsulated the essence of community.

Our participation in National Rebuilding Day reaffirmed Graceworks’ vision and core values; and our commitment to compassion, service, and community. Through our actions, we not only improved the physical spaces we touched but also nurtured a sense of belonging and solidarity among all involved.

Nine Bethany Village residents have been selected for an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Honor Flight Dayton‘s mission is to take veterans who served from WWII through the end of the Vietnam Era to see their memorials.

PICTURED: Veterans Teb Baines, Dennis Barber, Fred Witwer, John Linville, Gary Baker with brother Leonard Baker (not a Bethany resident) and JD Livesay, with Centerville City Council Member Belinda Kenley and Montgomery County Treasurer John McManus

Bethany Village Independent Living Life Enrichment staff hosted a happy hour September 22 to celebrate the group of veterans:

• • Teb Baines

• • Gary Baker

• • Dennis Barber

• • Tom Broadwell

• • John Linville

• • JD Livesay

• • Jack Wilson

• • Harmon Withee

• • Fred Witwer

Although their original departure was set for September 23, tropical storm threats have postponed the Honor Flight to April 20, 2024. “Our veterans want to have a day they will never forget,” said Diana Deen Pry on behalf of the Honor Flight Dayton Board. “We take the safety of our veterans very seriously and do not want to compromise the well-being of any of the veterans on the trip.”

UPDATE: Five additional residents are planning to depart on the April 20th Honor Flight! A welcome home reception & happy hour is scheduled for residents on April 26th from 3-4pm.

• • Tom Angotti

• • Fred Berta

• • Lew Hann

• • Jerry Swain

• • Donald Weckstein

Thanks to Life Enrichment staff Cathy Howard and Leigh O’Brien for organizing all the fun!

Entertainment by guitarist Tony Peters

Veteran Ron ‘Socks’ Bowersock, 2015 Honor Flight passenger

Army Veteran Tom Adinaro chats with Cathy, Leigh, and Jackie

Belinda Kenley, Centerville City Council; John McManus, Montgomery County Treasurer; Jackie D’Aurora, Graceworks Vice President-Marketing & Advancement; Abby Eshbaugh, Graceworks Communications & PR Manager; and Air Force Veteran JD Livesay

Heather began her career at Bethany Village 34 years ago in dietary services, becoming a nurse in 1998. Heather’s love for bedside nursing led to continual learning, training and supervising newly hired nursing staff at the Bethany Rehabilitation Center, and most recently, accepting a leadership role as Restorative MDS Nurse on the Memory Support unit.

Now with an office of her own, staff and residents “may find her small dog, Izzy, sitting in a decked out stroller complete with coordinated outfit, ready to stroll about on Heather’s rounds, bringing a smile to anyone on the unit,” notes Facility MDS Coordinator Jenita Sullenger, who nominated Heather and accepted the award Tuesday on her behalf. “Heather has an uncanny ability to mitigate distressing moods or behaviors that residents [with dementia] can sometimes display. She is the ultimate role model for those around her in these interactions, often using her calm, joyful and sensitive approach.”

Heather’s dedication and enthusiasm for excellence in resident care is evident as she contributes to the growth of the nursing leadership team.

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, Heather!