
We’re here for you
Applewood’s professional team makes all the difference
At Applewood Village, our leadership team works closely with residents and team members to create exceptional experiences for all those who are part of our community.
We invite you to visit our campus and meet the leaders who inspire innovation in our community every day.

Keith Grady
Executive Director
kgrady@fellowshiplifeinc.org
Keith Grady is the Executive Director. He is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LHNA) and a Dementia Care Capable Specialist (DCCS) with more than 35 years of management, operational and development experience in life plan communities. Mr. Grady is responsible for the administration of the day-to-day operations and, in conjunction with FellowshipLIFE, the development of Applewood Village’s future strategies. His innovative ideas and charismatic personality have shaped Applewood Village into one of New Jersey’s top choices for retirement living.
Mr. Grady is on the Board of Directors of LeadingAge New Jersey & Delaware is the co-chair of LeadingAge’s Leaders of Color Network. He often shares his expertise in senior living strategies at both state and national industry conferences.
“I was extremely close to my grandparents and, at a very young age, felt the need and desire to serve others, providing a compassionate approach to care,” Mr. Grady says. “Most people choose their occupation, but this occupation chose me. I wouldn’t want to spend my life anywhere else than in a continuing care community.”

Sally Sefin
Senior Director of Healthcare Services
ssefin@fellowshiplifeinc.org
Sally Sefin is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA). She has experience in both Social and Medical Adult Day Programs, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Skilled Nursing. Ms. Sefin received her degree from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Policy Public at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

Jennifer DePierro
Director of Sales & Marketing
jpierro@fellowshiplifeinc.org
Jennifer DePierro brings over 25 years of sales and marketing expertise in senior living, real estate, and corporate environments. As Director of Sales and Marketing at Applewood Village, she leads a high-performing sales team, focusing on growth by implementing proven sales techniques to achieve measurable success.
Ms. DePierro began her career in human resources and corporate training at Merrill Lynch, later transitioning to leadership roles in senior living at Lantern Hill, where she managed the sales and move-in transition for new residents, and at FellowshipLife, overseeing the Fellowship Freedom Plan program.
Ms. DePierro holds a Master of Arts from Penn State University and a Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Stony Brook.

Heath Braunstein
Senior Director of Dining Services
hbraunstein@fellowshiplifeinc.org
Heath Braunstein has over 40 years of food service management experience with over 10 years in senior living. His core competencies include all facets of food service operations, purchasing, cost management, quality assurance, HACCP and training. He has demonstrated a proven ability to build, train, and motivate teams of salaried and hourly employees to achieve operational & organizational goals. He is passionate about providing excellent resident experience and a positive working atmosphere for his employees.
During his tenure at Applewood Village, Mr. Braunstein successfully implemented menu innovations, food service forums, and sustainability initiatives that have improved communication, service, and resident satisfaction. He is also the creator and facilitator of the “Culinary Institute of Applewood”, one of the most popular engaged living activities for Applewood Village residents. Mr. Braunstein has also held multiple corporate roles including Director of Training, Director of Purchasing & Director of Quality Assurance & Food Safety while previously employed by a major regional food contract management company in the NY Metro Area.
Mr. Braunstein holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration/hotel restaurant management from Michigan State University and is a Certified Dietary Manager / Certified Food Protection Professional. Mr. Braunstein resides in Cliffwood Beach, New Jersey, and lives with his wife and two children.

Anna Zonis, MSN, RN, NE-BC
Director of Nursing
azonis@fellowshiplifeinc.org
Anna Zonis is the Director of Nursing at Applewood Village. She has her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, as well as a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in nursing education from New Jersey City University and has been a nurse working in long-term care for nearly 15 years. Ms. Zonis’ career in nursing leadership has been focused on ensuring that nursing staff have the knowledge and tools needed to provide excellent care to our residents. She is local to the area community, growing up in and still residing in Manalapan. While not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children.

Ramon Vargas
Director of Plant Operations
rvargas@fellowshiplifeinc.org
Ramon Vargas is the Director of Plant Operations at Applewood Village, which includes building services, housekeeping, security and IT, as well as project management. Mr. Vargas has over 25 years of experience in facilities management, 17 of those years in the healthcare field including the last 10. He is married and the proud father of two sons.

Samantha Scanlon
Lifestyle & Hospitality Director
sscanlon@fellowshiplifeinc.org
Samantha Scanlon has 8 years’ experience working in social work with the senior population. Her professional journey commenced at Adult Protective Services as a Social Work Supervisor, where she obtained knowledge and skills to better support the senior population. Ms. Scanlon has been an advocate for the residents of Applewood Village for 4 years. Throughout her time at Applewood Village, she has created a supportive and welcoming environment for the residents.
Ms. Scanlon has applied the seven dimensions of wellness for all residents in every stage of their life through Engaged Living including, but not limited to physical, cognitive, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing. She is truly passionate about ensuring all residents feel they are living life to their fullest potential while implementing many requests from hundreds of different personalities and interests.
Ms. Scanlon has a master’s degree in social work from Monmouth University. She received her professional certification in Assisted Living Administration in 2022 and became a Dementia Capable Care Specialist in 2024.
Meet our Applewood Village Board of Advisors
Our volunteer Board of Advisors complements our leadership team with their skills and experience, following the faith-based principles that have defined us from the beginning.

Stanely J. Morin, CPA
Chairman of the Board and Finance Chair
Mr. Morin currently serves as FellowshipLIFE’s chairman of the board and its affiliates. He is a certified public accountant with certifications in New Jersey, New York, South Carolina and Pennsylvania, and he is a shareholder of Stanley J. Morin, CPA PC.
Mr. Morin has over 40 years of experience in public accounting and taxation and is still active in professional practice with offices in New Jersey, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. He has been a frequent speaker on various accounting, auditing, tax and estate-related topics. His concentrations are primarily in not-for-profit, corporate, and taxation matters. Mr. Morin is a graduate of Husson University in Bangor, Maine, with graduate work completed at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is chairman of the board and finance committee of FellowshipLIFE. He serves and has served on the board and committees of various local and national not-for-profit and charitable organizations. He is a trustee/treasurer of the Jack Weisberg Charitable Foundation. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New Jersey Society of Public Accountants, Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, South Carolina Board of Accountancy and a member of the International Chartered Global Management Accountant. He is an active member of the New Jersey State Society of CPAs, having served as a trustee, and was past chairman of the society’s professional conduct and ethics committees.
Mr. Morin resides with his wife in Bluffton, SC, and has three children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. ”

Jeffrey J. Zenna, Esq., LLM
Vice Chairman of the Board
Mr. Zenna is an experienced plaintiff personal injury lawyer and a partner at Blume, Forte, Fried, Zerres, and Molinari, located in Chatham, New Jersey. He is a graduate of the City University New York School of Law.
After law school, he completed a judicial clerkship for the Honorable Mahlon Fast, J.S.C. Since joining the firm, he has received a Master of Laws degree from New York University School of Law.
Mr. Zenna is a member of the Essex, Hudson and Morris County bar associations. He was also admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals (3rd Circuit). As a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, he lectured on their behalf with regard to trial advocacy, and in 2010 lectured for the New Jersey Association for Justice regarding the use of rebuttal testimony. Mr. Zenna has also been a member of the William J. Brennan, Jr. Inn of Court, since 1997. He is a long-standing member of the New Jersey chapter of The Miami Project, dedicated to the cure of paralysis, and he was approved in 2013 to sit on the New Jersey Supreme Court’s 10B Ethics Committee for Morris County for a four-year term.

Brian G. Lawrence, LNHA, CPA, MBA
President and CEO
Mr. Lawrence is a distinguished leader in the healthcare and Life Plan Community/CCRC industry, with over 25 years of experience. He began his career at FellowshipLIFE, Inc. in 1999 as Chief Financial Officer and in recognition of his leadership abilities Mr. Lawrence assumed the additional role of Executive Vice President in 2006. With his keen understanding of the healthcare business and a decade of progressive leadership in the organization, Mr. Lawrence was appointed President and CEO in 2009, a position he holds to this day.
As a licensed nursing home administrator and certified public accountant, Mr. Lawrence brings a unique blend of financial and operational expertise to his role. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Seton Hall University, where he graduated magna cum laude, and an Executive Master of Business Administration in Finance from the prestigious Stern Graduate School of Business at New York University.
In his current capacity, Mr. Lawrence leads FellowshipLIFE’s senior leadership team and is responsible for the overall Healthcare, Medical and Wellness Services, Independent Living, and Home Community Based Services operations and performance. He actively participates with FellowshipLIFE and affiliates Board of Directors to ensure the execution of strategic planning and development initiatives. Mr. Lawrence’s unwavering commitment to providing exceptional care and services to older adults, while maintaining a focus on innovation, growth, and the sound financial health of the organization, is his top priority.
Mr. Lawrence’s remarkable accomplishments in the senior living industry have been widely recognized. He received the “President’s Award” from LeadingAge NJ in 2019, an honor reserved for outstanding leaders who have made significant contributions to the industry. Mr. Lawrence is a member of the American Society on Aging, LeadingAge, Healthcare Financial Management Association, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Mr. Lawrence resides in Millburn, New Jersey, with his wife, son, and daughter. He is a passionate advocate for the well-being of older adults and is dedicated to ensuring that FellowshipLIFE continues to provide the highest level of care and services for years to come. sit on the New Jersey Supreme Court’s 10B Ethics Committee for Morris County for a four-year term.

Father Dave L. Jones
Father Dave Jones has spent almost his entire life in New Jersey, serving churches in Pond Eddy, Basking Ridge, and Jersey City. Prior to his ordination into the priesthood, Father Dave was the Vice President for Student Engagement at Centenary University for about twenty years. While serving at Centenary, he was integral to the construction of two 120 student residences and a combined Dining Facility/Performing Arts Center. Programmatically, he is most proud of a self-funded program he founded and co-directed in which a total of 1,600 students over 7 years traveled to New Orleans to work with St Bernard Project in reconstruction following Hurricane Katrina.
Recent honors include being named Person of the Year by the Warren Chapter of the NAACP, an Honorary Alum by the Centenary University Alumni Association, reception of the first “Beacon” Award given by the Warren County Human Relations Commission and Granting of Entrance to the Village by the Elders of Brahabebome, Ashanti, and Ghana. Dave was ordained a priest by The Rt. Rev. Mark Beckwith, Tenth Bishop of Newark, on June 9, 2018.
Father Dave earned his undergraduate degree at Montclair State University, his Masters of Divinity at Drew Theological School, and completed courses in Anglican Studies at General Theological Seminary.

Rulene DiFrancesco
Mrs. DiFrancesco joined the FellowshipLIFE board in 2021. She has a master’s degree in early childhood education and certification in supervision and elementary principal. She taught first grade and kindergarten in the Scotch Plains/Fanwood school district for 25 years and as an adjunct at William Paterson University for 11 years.
Mrs. DiFrancesco was the first recipient of Joan Vagelos Currie Award for Excellence in Teaching, the volunteer of the year award in Somerset County and the Educator of the year award in Somerset County. She is a longtime active member of Somerset Hills Baptist Church.

Ralph Acquaviva
Mr. Acquaviva’s passion for quality homemade food and hand-crafted wine led him into culinary school and a career in hospitality. Mr. Acquaviva received an associate degree in culinary arts from Hudson County College and a Bachelor of Science degree in hospitality business management from New Jersey City University.
Mr. Acquaviva’s initial skills were developed in the fast-paced kitchen at the Short Hills Hilton in Short Hills. In 2002, he opened Delicious Heights, a small delicatessen in Berkeley Heights. Five years later, he opened up his first full-service restaurant bar and grill — also in Berkeley Heights and also named Delicious Heights. Today, he is the part-owner of three successful restaurants and two sophisticated banquet venues.
Mr. Acquaviva credits his parents for his cooking talents and ambitious work ethic. If he had a personal motto, it would be, “Dream it, think it, do it. Repeat.” He lives with his wife and their two daughters.

Michael Toscano
Michael Toscano is a finance executive with over 25 years of experience in public corporate finance, primarily in the travel industry. Mr. Toscano most recently served as the CFO for the travel and membership division of Travel + Leisure Co. for 8 years. Travel + Leisure Co is the world’s largest timeshare developer and timeshare exchange company, headquartered in Orlando Florida. In this role, Mr. Toscano was a key member of the executive leadership team for the business along with the division CEO and COO. He was responsible for a worldwide team of 200+ finance professionals in more than 10 countries. Prior to the segment CFO role, Mr. Toscano was SVP of Financial Planning & Analysis for the division for over 10 years.
Before Travel + Leisure, Michael worked for Wyndham Worldwide and Cendant Corporation, both of which were predecessors to T+L Co, serving in a variety of roles in corporate finance including leading the finance organization for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service.
Mr. Toscano started his career at Arthur Andersen’s Roseland NJ office in the audit practice. He has broad experience in finance, including audit, controllership, financial planning & analysis, and M&A. He is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed in NJ.
Mr. Toscano has a BS in Accounting from Villanova University and an MBA from the Columbia Business School. He is an active supporter of his undergrad alma mater, serving as a member of their Accounting Advisory Board. He resides in Basking Ridge with his wife and 3 children. Mr. Toscano is an active supporter of St James Parish and School along with his wife Suzanne.

David G. Kostinas
David Kostinas is the owner of David G. Kostinas & Associates, a consulting company that has served New Jersey’s health care industry since 1985. Mr. Kostinas has represented New Jersey’s major health care providers in system development strategies, business brokering, new venture development, facility sales, acquisitions, mergers, and regulatory issues.
Mr. Kostinas has counseled clients for transplantation services, cardiac surgery, new psychiatric hospitals, major capital projects, free-standing ambulatory surgery centers, ESRD centers, linear accelerators, nursing homes, assisted living, medical day care centers, Life Plan Communities, cardiac care programs, and rehabilitation.
In addition to his professional positions, Mr. Kostinas has also been very involved in community activities. Mr. Kostinas served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton for 23 years, including Chairman of Governance Committee and Chairman of Hamilton Continuing Care Center. Mr. Kostinas is Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Springpoint, Past Chairman and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Children’s Specialized Hospital and past member and officer of the Board of Directors of Integrity House.

Robert Fodera
Mr. Robert Fodera currently serves as a board member of FellowshipLIFE and is a member of the Board’s Audit Committee. He is a certified public accountant with certifications in New Jersey and New York and is a retired partner of Baker Tilly where he was partner in charge of the firm’s Metropark, NJ office.
Mr. Fodera has over 40 years of experience in public accounting and taxation and is still active in the profession with a small practice in New Jersey. He is active with the NJCPA and currently serves as treasurer of that organization’s scholarship fund. He has been a frequent speaker on the New Jersey Law and Ethics program and has been appointed to the State Board of Accountancy by Governor Phillip Murphy. Mr. Fodera’s practice concentrations include real estate, construction, legal and professional service firms, manufacturing and distribution industries, healthcare practices, and nonprofit and governmental organizations.
Mr. Fodera is a graduate of Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. He has served on the board and committees of various local and national not-for-profit and charitable organizations. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New Jersey Society of Public Accountants. Mr. Fodera resides with his wife in Hillsborough, NJ and has two daughters and two grandchildren.

Phyllis Bruce, RPh
Applewood Village Resident Board Member
Phyllis Bruce earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers College of Pharmacy in 1963. Beginning her career in retail pharmacy, she dedicated 23 years to delivering exceptional service and care to the community. Transitioning to a role as a sales representative for a major drug manufacturer, she expanded her industry knowledge. Ms. Bruce then joined New Jersey’s largest long-term-care pharmacy provider as a Certified Consultant Pharmacist, specializing in serving psychiatric facilities with a commitment to top-tier pharmaceutical care.
Recognized for her expertise and leadership, Ms. Bruce rose to Vice President of Professional Service for the LTC division, where she played a pivotal role in setting standards and enhancing patient care quality. In 1998, she became one of the founding partners of a leading long-term-care pharmacy provider in New Jersey, assuming the role of Director of Sales & Marketing.
Upon relocating to Applewood Village, Ms. Bruce immersed herself in community engagement, serving on committees and co-founding the Applewood Village’s Women’s Club. Her involvement culminated in leadership roles within the Residents Association Executive Committee, including Vice President and Acting President before her election as President in January 2024.
Ms. Bruce is delighted to leverage her extensive experience and leadership skills to support the mission of Applewood Village’s Board of Advisors in a positive and impactful manner.