Meet the Team

Jesseca Tighe, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Dr. Jesseca Tighe is Aspens at Fort Collins’ executive director. Her passion for seniors began in graduate school while she was studying for her Ph.D. in psychology. After many years of working in mental health, she went back to her roots. Dr. Tighe has been working in senior care for the last 12 years in various leadership roles. During that time, she served in independent living, assisted living and memory care, and as an executive director since 2017. She enjoys helping seniors and their families at every level of care, but memory care is her heart and soul. Residents with dementia are unique, and they deserve special attention and guidance. Dr. Tighe finds a great sense of fulfillment helping seniors with dementia continue to live a purposeful life and even try new things.

David Catanese
Culinary Services Director

Shawn Wyburn
Business Office Director

Larissa Brothers
Generations Program Director

Tigerlily Lopez
Generations Program Coordinator

Samantha Lehmann
Vibrant Life® Director
Samantha Lehmann is Aspens at Fort Collins’ Vibrant Life® director. She has over a decade of experience in senior living services such as memory care, assisted living and skilled nursing settings. While she has served as a memory care director, administrator and case manager, her greatest joy has been working as an activity director and now the Vibrant Life® director!
As a Certified Dementia Practitioner, she is well versed in the unique needs of each resident. Samantha spends her winters as an adaptive ski instructor, which has taught her how to work with any ability and modality. She understands the importance of creating programs around people and their specific needs. She loves challenging herself and others to be inspired daily. Samantha’s creativity and patience allow her to offer a loving and welcoming Vibrant Life® program each day.
Her grandmother, who suffered with dementia for many years, is ever present in her mind and inspires her work in the senior living industry. Every day, she is reminded that those she helps could be someone’s “Grandma Betty.”
