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Bradley Mangus

Executive Director

Executive Director Bradley Mangus brings almost two decades of leadership experience from Discovery Senior Living to Discovery Commons South Biscayne. Bradley is from a small town in Northeast Ohio, and it was there he learned to appreciate and embrace a sense of community. Bradley understands the importance of the community resident as well as team member satisfaction.

One of his greatest passions is charity work. Over the past ten years, Bradley has raised over $250,000 through Discovery Senior Living and other charity organizations including Make a Wish, Relay for Life, Wildlife Center, and Operation 2nd Chance. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife Debbie – going to concerts, gardening, cooking, taking care of their dog Rufus, and visiting family and friends.

Melissa Vanderbilt-Bestor

Melissa Vanderbilt-Bestor

Sales Director

Melissa Vanderbilt-Bestor has been in senior living since 2009. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner, the state of Florida Alzheimer’s Ambassador, Alzheimer’s Community Educator, CORE Certified as well as a member of North Port Leadership. Melissa’s passion for seniors shows in everything she does. Originally from North Carolina, she enjoys spending time with her husband, their adult children, grandchildren and her Cavalier King Charles dog Arissa. When not serving seniors, she is very active in the not-for-profit organization her husband started with Jean-Michel Cousteau. She loves to read, dance and sing.

Check out the story about Melissa on YourSun.com

Jessica Conover MC Director DC South Biscayne

Jessica Conover

Memory Care Director

Born and raised in Texas. Jessica received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas in Program and Sports Management. After college, she dabbled in the parks and recreation field with her local community. Jessica then went into food and beverage management, and she would not be the person she is today without that training. She moved to Florida in 2018, and her heart landed in senior living. Jessica’s heart and passion is with Memory Care because she has a passion for helping others and making them smile. Her empathetic nature shines through in all that she does. She has over seven years of wonderful experience with seniors and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner, but her yearning for learning is continuous. When she is not working, you can find her reading a good book or taking a walk with her pup, Rollo. She and her partner love a good movie and some good southern cooking!

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Bridget Wanecski, RN BSN

Director of Health and Wellness

Bridget Wanecski RN, BSN has been in the Discovery Senior Living family since 2016. After moving to Florida in 1988, Bridget owned and operated two preschools. Eventually following her calling to nursing, she became a Licensed Practical Nurse in 2007, then continued on to become a Registered Nurse and graduated from State College of Florida with a BS and Nursing, earning an Academic Excellence Award. Bridget has worked as a floor nurse, Unit Manager, Assistant Director of Nursing, and Director of Nursing in long-term care and skilled rehabilitation facilities. 

Gabriella Salinas

Gabriella Salinas

Director of Culinary Services

Gabriella Salinas is a Florida native, graduating from Florida Culinary Institute with a double bachelor’s degree in Pastry Arts and Culinary Arts. She is also a certified executive pastry chef and a certified executive chef with the American Culinary Federation of SW Florida. Gabriella’s most notable accomplishments were at the James Beard House in NYC in 2017 with the Hanover Inn team, cooking for the NFL conference in 2014, cooking for the past three presidents at various events in New Hampshire and Florida, and, over the course of her career, cooking and baking alongside notable chefs Anthony Bourdain, Jose Andreas, Sylvia Weinstock, and Jacques Torres.

Gabriella is a newlywed and lives in Port Charlotte with her husband Zach, their pets and her grandmother. In her free time, Gabriella loves to travel, volunteer with Veteran’s Affairs and The Children’s Network of SWFL, plays 12 different instruments, and loves restoring British Triumph motorcycles, as she did with her grandfather in her teens.
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Rhodora (Rho) A. Hugart

Director of Celebrations

Rho was born in the Philippines and moved to the US in 1992. She started working with memory care residents in 1996, and still loves working with them to this day. Rho’s finds satisfaction in working with a fantastic group of caregivers who are truly passionate about caring for memory care residents, with a goal of keeping the residents happy, engaged and productive. In her free time, Rho enjoys hanging out with family and friends, shopping, walking and reading. But, her true passion is traveling and learning about other cultures, cuisines and exploring the scenery.

Derek

Derek Gordon

Director of Facilities

When not working hard for our residents, Derek spends his time in the great outdoors. He is an avid outdoors man who enjoys fishing, biking, kayaking, and gardening.
He would like to leave the world a better place and believes in taking care of our planet that is one of the reasons he raises his own chickens and Tilapia.
Derek enjoys having fun, joking and pulling pranks on our associates and fellow directors, just ask them and they will share their stories.
Prior to working at our community, Derek worked for TSA.
He has a degree from University of Maine in Justice Studies and Computer Science.