When Amy Lepper joined the Mary Culver Home in 2019, she brought with her an extensive background in gerontology and social services and more than 20 years of experience in long-term-care communities.  She earned her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from the University of Central Missouri and worked as a Director of Social Services for 10 years prior to becoming a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA).

Amy’s passion for helping others was fully realized in high school, when she spent considerable time in an assisted living community visiting her paternal grandmother and also advocating for her maternal grandmother, who lost her vision at the age of 64. She loved meeting the residents and hearing their stories, and quickly decided that pursuing a degree in social work would allow her to help residents and their families, like those she met while spending time with her grandmothers. Amy was drawn to Mary Culver’s exceptional philosophy and dedication to caring for those with visual impairments. She is thrilled to join The Mary Culver Home.

When Amy is not working, she enjoys traveling, cooking and spending time with her husband, Chris, and two children, Christian and Quinn.

Ashley Coleman came on board as Director of Nursing in September 2025.

She has more than 15 years of experience in long-term care, and also has worked in retail health, memory care, primary care and assisted living environments.

“Throughout my career I’ve realized that resident-centered care is the same across the board and should always be the main driving force behind any care facility,” Ashley said. “Being a nurse is a calling and requires someone with compassion, understanding and empathy.

“Taking care of others has always been my passion,” she said. “As long as I can remember I’ve always taken care of others more than myself.”

In her role as Director of Nursing, Ashley wants to foster the special bond between nursing staff, residents and family members.

“Family members also become family because they entrust us to take care of their loved ones,” she said.

When she is not at work, Ashley enjoys spending time with her friends and family, including her very supportive husband and three beautiful children.

“My goal at The Mary Culver Home is to continue to make an impact on the lives of those whom I serve,” she said.

If you look at Julie Kovac and get a familiar feeling, it’s for a good reason. She’s the third generation of Kovacs to be affiliated with the Mary Culver Home.

Her grandmother was a resident in 2006, her mother was the home’s bookkeeper, and her father handled Mary Culver heating and cooling issues. It wasn’t family ties, however, that landed her in the business manager position. She has an ideal skill set all her own—a knack for math, great computer skills, an eye for detail, and an aptitude for learning. Human resources and finance are the two top priorities of her job.

Kovac’s steadiness in the face of deadlines and pressures came from her years as a journalist with the Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis. She knew that she would not be returning to newspaper work full time and found the challenges of the MCH business manager position appealing. “The job merges many different skills,” she said. “I like the variety and the chance to learn new things.”

Director of Dining Services Terry Beals came to the Mary Culver Home from Oklahoma in November 2022. She started working in food service at age 11 at the family restaurant, where she became manager at 15 years old. Her career also included serving as a cook in the U.S. Navy and as manager at hotels, restaurants and private clubs for more than 20 years.

Terry has worked in healthcare since 2003. She values the relationships she forms with residents, as she gets to know their likes and dislikes so the dietary department can cater to their needs. She wants her staff to aspire to add a special touch to the meals that earns a resident’s smile when she is served her favorite meal or dessert.

Terry says baking is her passion, which resonates with many residents. Many of her desserts have inspired fond memories for them. Her favorite cuisine is “comfort food,” and she also enjoys dishes she grew up on in the Northeast. It’s no surprise that after working in a kitchen all day, Terry also enjoys dining out, particularly at unique (non-chain) restaurants and those serving food from different cultures.

In her free time, Terry enjoys kayaking, spending time with her grandkids, road trips and gardening. She has a small printing business on the side that serves as an additional outlet for her creativity.

Brooke Lorenz joined the Mary Culver Home as Activity Director in July 2022, after several years of working in assisted living and for a pet resort.

“I look forward to creating a lifelong bond with the residents and utilizing my skills and talents to create unique experiences and events for them,” Brooke said.

Brooke started her career working as a buyer and manager for her family’s home furnishings store. Her father lived in a retirement home for 12 years, and she was an active volunteer there. “Spending time with those residents made it clear to me that my lifelong passion has been to bring joy to other people’s lives.”

In her non-working hours, Brooke enjoys crafts, Pinteresting, traveling, going on walks with her dog, and spending time with her husband and daughter.