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.

Fred Ryder

Chief Operating Officer

Fred Ryder, Colonel, USAF, (Ret) held senior USAF positions as a Mission Support Group Commander and as Commander of the Air Force Services Agency. After graduating from Boston State College with a degree in Sociology, he spent nearly 30 years in service to his country before joining our staff in 2009. He is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, and the Air War College, and has also earned a Master of Science degree in International Relations from Webster University in MO. Fred earned the prestigious title of Certified Aging Services Professional (CASP) from North Texas University, and served as a member of the Coalition for Leadership in Aging Services (CLAS) Advisory Group. As Chief Operating Officer at Blue Skies of Texas, Fred is responsible for oversight of all support operations for both campuses, to include Food Service, Environmental Services, Maintenance, Capital Improvements and Resident Support Services.

Alethea Knight

Chief Health Services Officer

Alethea “Ally” Knight, RN, BSN, MBA is our Chief Health Services Officer. Ally initially started her nursing career with Blue Skies of Texas as an LVN in 2007 at the East Campus Healthcare Center. She was part of the transition of the Healthcare Center to what is now The Mission at Blue Skies East. Ally completed her RN in 2010, and in 2012 was announced as the Director of Nursing at The Mission, one of the most demanding positions within all senior care. As the Chief Health Services Officer, Ally oversees the operations of our five licensed healthcare facilities, Blue Skies Hospice, Independent Living Wellness, and our Blue Skies Childcare Center. Among her accomplishments while with Blue Skies, Ally has overseen the implementation of new healthcare contracts such as Medical Directorship and Pharmacy, developed networking relationships with physicians and hospitals, and implemented the expansion of hospice services to the greater San Antonio area. With innovation and sound oversight, Blue Skies Healthcare continues to provide high-quality and resident focused care.

Kathie Estrada

Director of Human Resources

Kathie Estrada, Lt Colonel, USAF (Ret) joined the Blue Skies of Texas team in June 2007 as Blue Skies East’s Resident Services Director. She moved into the role of East’s Executive Director in October 2007, Director, Corporate Compliance in February 2014, and her current role as Director, Human Resources in December 2019. Kathie hails from Louisville, Kentucky and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations from Western Kentucky University. She completed a Masters of Professional Studies in Hotel Administration from Cornell University. Kathie is an accreditation surveyor for CARF International. She has been a speaker at both LeadingAge Texas and LeadingAge National. She serves as the Blue Skies’ liaison with the Alamo Chapter of Military Officers’ Association of America (MOAA). Additionally, she stays active in her Community as a lector at church, a member of the Blanco Rotary Club, and a member of Post 352 of the American Legion.

Sarah Silver Manzke

Director of Marketing

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.

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.

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.

Lori DeWitt

Director of Resident Services, West

Lori DeWitt, Master Sergeant, USAF, (Ret) is the Resident Services Director at Blue Skies of Texas West. She is responsible for all day-to-day operations on the West Campus, comprising Food Service, Environmental Services, Maintenance, and Resident Support Services to over 400 residents, over 400 homes, on over 200 developed acres. Prior to coming to Air Force Village in 2001 Lori spent 24 years in the USAF, 19 of those years as an Air Traffic Controller and 5 years as a 1st Sergeant. She paved the way for other females in the Air Force by becoming the 1st female to become fully rated as an Air Traffic Controller at England AFB, LA. But, it was her years as a 1st Sergeant that kindled her passion for working with and serving people. That passion continues every day as she ensures services provided are of exceptional quality. This resulted in her selection as the Texas Association of Homes & Services for the Aging (now known as LeadingAge Texas) Customer Service award winner.