Cyndi Walters was named president and chief executive officer (CEO) of National Lutheran Communities and Services (NLCS) in May 2021, assuming the position full time in August 2021. Prior to this role, she served as chief operating officer (COO) since 2016.

Cyndi has served at NLCS in varying capacities for nine years; first as a consultant before joining as chief operating officer in 2016. Cumulatively, Walters has over 30 years of experience in the senior living industry including a strong background in strategically growing and diversifying the organization and an enhanced focus on operating as a senior-living system and leveraging its benefits and efficiencies. Prior to joining NLCS, she provided project management and advisory services to senior living organizations through Walters Advisors, LLC. She has also served in a leadership role at Presbyterian Senior Living in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, and during her 19 years at KPMG (a global network of professional firms providing audit, tax and advisory services), spent significant time as a partner and leader of their National Senior Living Advisory Practice.

As president and CEO, Cyndi’s focus is strategically growing and furthering NLCS’ mission to honor, inspire and support choice and opportunity in partnership with older adults. Cyndi is an advocate for “aging with choice,” which means supporting older adults in making their own choices in aging, whether it means moving to a senior living community or bringing in supportive services to their home. She is also an advocate for team members across the organization and leads a team dedicated to ensuring NLCS remains a Great Place to Work® and an employer of choice for those who have a heart to serve older adults.

Cyndi is a native of the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from York College of Pennsylvania.

Cherie has served as the Executive Director of The Legacy at North Augusta (formerly known as Bentley Commons) in Staunton, Virginia since the opening in 2009.

Cherie has worked in the senior industry for the past 20 years and has opened multiple senior living communities. Prior to opening The Legacy at North Augusta, Cherie served as the Executive Director and administrator at RoseWood Village at Hollymead in Charlottesville, Virginia. Cherie is dedicated to the high quality of care in the senior industry. She utilizes her interpersonal skills to quickly build relationships and form trust with people from various backgrounds to develop a compassionate and caring community.

Born and raised in Virginia, Cherie is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Her bachelor’s degree is in health care administration from Mary Baldwin University, and she also holds an MBA from American Public University with a concentration in health care administration.

Emily Anderson joined The Legacy at North Augusta team in 2012. She is a graduate of James Madison University where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in communication studies with a concentration in health communication. She obtained her Assisted Living Facility Administrator license under the supervision of our Executive Director Cherie Powers. Emily is one of the founders of the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Aging in Place Round Table. She is also on the planning committee for the Greater Augusta Walk to End Alzheimer’s and facilitates the Fishersville Parkinson's Support Group.

Chris Faris joined The Legacy at North Augusta as director of dining services in 2009 and served in this capacity for seven years. He was then promoted to the home office and served at National Lutheran Communities & Services as the Culinary Quality and Performance Leader to oversee best practices, purchasing, and education for dining services over all of the communities including The Legacy at North Augusta, The Village at Orchard Ridge and The Village at Rockville. Having returned to The Legacy at North Augusta as the support services director, he oversees Dining Services and Environmental Services, which includes maintenance and housekeeping departments. He lives in Waynesboro with his family and loves camping, hunting, and spending time with family and friends.

Deb joined The Legacy at North Augusta team in 2012, bringing more than 30 years of administrative and office managerial experience. She began serving as the day shift concierge and was promoted to executive assistant in 2013. Her primary responsibilities include assisting the executive director, resident billing and handling departmental accounting matters. She also supervises the concierge team and presides as secretary during board meetings, team meetings and resident council meetings.

Deb attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and currently lives in Singers Glen, Virginia, with her husband, a pastor at First Church of the Nazarene in Harrisonburg, Virginia. They have three children and six grandchildren.

Stephanie Wentz joined The Legacy at North Augusta in April 2022. She brings more than 20 years of human resource experience. Stephanie has a passion for caring for team members and believes ultimately, this helps them provide better care and service to the older adults The Legacy serves. Stephanie lives in Shenandoah, Virginia with her family. She enjoys cooking, traveling to France, warm weather and working in her small garden growing organic vegetables.

Melisa has been with The Legacy at North Augusta since the opening of the community in 2009. As the ConnectedLiving Manager, Melisa oversees a wide array of programming to meet the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional well-being of residents at The Legacy. Melisa builds close relationships with residents and quickly learns their personalities, which helps her facilitate programs tailored to each resident. Her goal is to ensure residents continue to live vibrant and active lives. Melisa received an Activity Directors Certification through the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner.

Melisa is a graduate of Buffalo Gap High School and grew up in the Shenandoah Valley. She resides in Greenville, Virginia with her husband and two children. When Melisa is not at work, she loves spending time with her family, cooking, traveling to the beach and quilting.

Fonda joined The Legacy at North Augusta team in January 2015. She is a native of Augusta County and has worked in a variety of sales and marketing roles over the past 20 years, including her own photography business and the printing industry, where she discovered her desire to become part of the senior housing industry.

Fonda has served on many committees and boards over the years including Valley Alliance for Education, an organization that awards grants to local public school teachers. She is an active member of the Greater Augusta Chamber of Commerce and the Harrisonburg/Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, as well as other professional groups.

Fonda resides in Fishersville, Virginia, and enjoys traveling, gardening, art, and considers herself a “foodie.” She loves spending time together with her son and daughter, loves her family and friends and believes that laughter every day is a must.

Sherri joined The Legacy in November 2019. Born and raised in the Shenandoah Valley, she graduated from Virginia Tech and has worked in non-profit for over 14 years. Prior to her career in fundraising, she worked for Ntelos for 18 years in sales and customer service. Sherri serves on the Cinderella Project Board, the Wayne Theatre Gala Committee and also handles the marketing and communication for Cat’s Cradle of the Shenandoah Valley. Sherri resides in Fishersville, Virginia. She loves decorating, photography and enjoys camping with her children.