Leadership Team
Arend started his career as a researcher in Philips research labs, and through various functions around technology management and planning and strategy at Philips Headquarters, he ended up being responsible for 1 BLN $ revenue for Philips high technology products in North America. He left Philips to become CEO for a wireless technology company in Silicon Valley, where he raised new capital and performed a successful turnaround. That company was acquired by a public listed company two years later.
He continued working for various technology companies and later as an investment banker with VFinance Investments. He worked with various companies on technology assessments, strategy advice, marketing, product strategies, international expansion, raising capital, interim management, and strategic mergers and acquisitions. He also was involved in the assessment of several business plans for a major venture capital group and was a founder and broker of a real estate company in California.
As a result of the consulting activities, Arend became CEO of the Cluster Competitiveness Group in 2006. Competitiveness is a Barcelona-based International Consulting Company focused on economic development, with government-funded projects in Europe and South America. Arend changed his role for chairman of the board in 2008 to focus on the long-term strategy He resigned from the board in 2010. He then became CEO of BHOLD, a software company in The Netherlands, and after a turn around managed to sell all Intellectual Property in a transaction with Microsoft in Redmond WA..
Next, he co-founded IDdriven Inc. A next-generation Identity and Access Management software company. As the CEO he managed to get it listed on the OTC market in the USA.
Arend recently made a career switch to senior living and after working in different roles, he is currently responsible for marketing and Sales at Oakwood Village in Auburn, CA
During his career, Arend has traveled extensively both in Europe and Asia and is very flexible in doing so. He lives in California, is a very hands-on person, and enjoys working on his RV and cars.
Arend has a master’s in Mechanical Engineering and Metallurgy from the Technical University in Twente, The Netherlands, and an MBA from the William E Simon school of business administration at the University of Rochester, in Rochester, USA.
Carlee Duff became a part of the Platinum family in December of 2015. She began at Gladding Ridge as an Activities Assistant later became a Culinary Assistant, then became the full-time Concierge. Being the Concierge, Carlee got the chance to become closer with the residents and their families at Gladding Ridge and she loved it! She now has the opportunity to be the Business Office Manager at Oakwood Village. She is excited to get to know the residents and the families at Oakwood Village and create new memories. Not only does Carlee love creating a bond with the residents, but working with them has reminded her to live life to the fullest, appreciate everything life has to offer and work hard to achieve what makes you happy.
Mariah is the Activities Director here at Oakwood Village, she is responsible for developing and coordinating a successful activity program that engages residents and encourages socialization. Mariah enjoys coming up with new ideas for the monthly calendar. She has always had a love for her elders and was a caregiver many years before joining the Oakwood Village Team. In March 2018 Mariah started working here at Oakwood Village in the Caregiving Department. A year later she joined the Activities Department where she had the opportunity to use her creative side and quickly found her place as Activities in March 2019. Mariah is proud of her position here at Oakwood Village and considers the residents as her extended family.
I am the new concierge at Oakwood Village and am ready to greet all of you with a warm smile and a helping hand in any way I can.
Prior to coming here, I was a preschool teacher, and what a joy that was! I became a teacher in 2018, but had been working with children longer than that; through after-school programs and nannying back in 2009. Eleven years later and I still found so much joy teaching, guiding, playing, laughing, and making memories with your little ones. One of my favorite things about the job was watching the children discover that they could do something new and then proceed to show you with so much enthusiasm and pride!
I plan on showing the same enthusiasm that I took into teaching and applying it here at Oakwood Village and with the residents. In the short time, I have been here they have already become dear to me as I have learned a little about each of their lives as they sit and visit with me upfront in the late afternoon telling me about their wives, husbands, families, and jobs. It has been like soaking up personal history books; a subject I love. Already this community feels a little bit like home from residents to staff, a feeling that I value highly in a job.
I am currently working on finishing my degree in Early Childhood Education and am happy to say that I am almost completed. In a few more months I will be receiving a diploma.
Feel free to stop by and say hello to me!
As the Maintenance Director, Ryan has been making sure that Oakwood’s facilities are modern, efficient, comfortable and running smoothly since July 2000. With over 25 years in the business of managing facilities for the senior community, he feels a special connection to our residents and takes great pride in making sure everyone stays safe, happy and comfortable. Besides being the go-to-guy who can fix anything, his friendly demeanor and caring smile make him a favorite at Oakwood Village.
As the Marketing Director, I have the honor of guiding families and future residents as they begin their journey down the pathway of assisted living and memory care. Often, loved ones struggle with making a decision of this nature. I have the privilege of stepping in to help bridge the gap and make the process easier. Getting to unveil a new, exciting, and safe environment for a resident while providing the assurance that families need, knowing that their loved ones will be happy and secure in our community.
I have resided in Placer County since 2012. It’s an absolute joy to contribute to the community of Auburn by striving to provide optimal care and compassion to the residents and families of Oakwood Village. The staff and residents in our Oakwood Village family are second to none. I am thankful and honored to be working for and beside each one of them.
My passion for public health started shortly after I graduated high school. So, I chose a degree that could help me accomplish that. I graduated from Sacramento State University with a degree in Biochemistry. After various different positions and jobs and recent work as an EMT, helping people of various ages and communities, I decided I would like to assist and care for our older generation in the Assisted Living setting. I was very excited and thankful when I was allowed the opportunity to become the Wellness Director of Oakwood Village this last March of 2021. It is a beautiful community dedicated to serving its residents and staff alike. I hope to serve the community and use my skills, personality, and humor to help it thrive even more. Welcome to Oakwood!
