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A Commitment You Can Trust, Guided by Faith

A Faith-based Life Care Community

As a Christian, not-for-profit life care community, Good Shepherd Home serves those of all faiths with a full range of independent living options and all levels of care. We are guided by local Fostoria citizens, regional professionals and congregations of the Northern Ohio District of the Church of the Brethren. Our Board of Trustees is dedicated to Christian service and sound financial stewardship. Security, compassion, love—since 1904, we have brought a welcoming home and abundant living to seniors in our community.

Mission and Vision

Our Mission

The Good Shepherd Home, which was founded by the Church of the Brethren to minister to the needs of the community, is committed to providing an atmosphere that enhances the quality of life of our residents and focuses on their individuality. We strive for a holistic approach of caring for those in need of our services while maintaining a Christian environment in which to live and work.

Our Vision

As a leader in Christ-centered senior living, Good Shepherd Home will continue to care for residents with a commitment to service and innovation, focused on preparing for the needs of tomorrow’s seniors and their families.

Our Leadership Team

Our dedicated administrative team provides expert leadership. 

Chris Widman, Executive Director

Start Date: February 1999

Years of Professional Experience: 30 years

Why do you love working at GSH: I love working for an organization that helps others! Good Shepherd Home helps our residents maximize their potential, helps our families focus on their loved one’s needs, helps our staff cultivate meaningful relationships and helps our community show love and care for those in need.

Beau Walters, Operations Director

Start Date: October 2012

Years of Professional Experience: 12 years

Why do you love working at GSH: I love working at Good Shepherd Home because of all the great residents and staff. Working here truly feels like you are with family all the time. I couldn’t think of any other place I would rather work.

John Ballinger, Chaplain

Start Date: January, 2024

Years of Professional Experience: 30+ years

Why do you love working at GSH:
The opportunity to serve those under our care as well as their families.

 

Teresa Baumer, Poplar Ridge & Wesley Campus Apartment Manager

Start Date: August 2016

Years of Professional Experience: 20+ years

Why do you love working at GSH: As our senior population makes life-changing decisions about living arrangements, I have the pleasure of offering them a secure, affordable solution. Our diverse senior population provides enjoyment to me on a daily basis. Not one day is a repeat of the next, which brings not only excitement, but also the challenge I enjoy.

Melanie Birch, Marketing & Communications Director

Start Date: May 2015

Years of Professional Experience: 10+ years

Why do you love working at GSH: When you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work.  At Good Shepherd Home, we truly are one big family! I’m so proud to be a part of such a special place that really cares for its residents and staff alike.

Lisa Cooper, Admissions Coordinator
Start Date: August 2013

Years of Professional Experience: 10 years

Why do you love working at GSH: I love that I am able to help many residents and their families through the admission process. I enjoy working with our dedicated and caring staff. I enjoy getting to know our residents and interacting with them on a daily basis.

Danielle Doeing, Culinary Director
Start Date: June 2020

Years of Professional Experience: 10+ years

Why do you love working at GSH: I’ve enjoyed everyone here at Good Shepherd Home because everyone is so willing to help one another. Many of the staff being here for so long speaks volumes about the organization!

Steve Dryfuse, Business Office Manager

Start Date: November, 2017

Years of Professional Experience: 10+ years

Why do you love working at GSH: I enjoy the interaction between the staff, residents and resident family members. It’s been very rewarding to assist others in any way I can to help people get through their day.

 

Wendy Foss, LSW, Social Services

Start Date: September 2015

Years of Professional Experience: 20 years

Why do you love working at GSH: I love to work at Good Shepherd because we have such great residents and staff members. I love to help others. Being able to help clients stay in their homes longer is priceless!

Rachel M. Holman, Community Resources

Start Date: April 1999

Years of Professional Experience: 29 years

Why do you love working at GSH: Having a job where I can help others who cannot help themselves is so rewarding. It takes so little effort to give a pat on the back, a hello and most of all, a smile to make a resident’s or caregiver’s day.

Lisa M. Brodbeck-Hood, L.P.N., Meadows Director

Start Date: September 2015

Years of Professional Experience: 24 years

Why do you love working at GSH: The staff here are wonderful to work with.  The residents’ and their families’ gratitude for caring for their loved ones makes me feel pride in what I do.  The interaction of staff and residents as a whole family.

Brittney Kelbley, L.P.N., Shepherd Court Director

Start Date: October 2021

Years of Professional Experience: 12

Why do you love working at GSH: “I love working at Good Shepherd Home because the people here believe in me. I’ve wanted this role for a long time and they’ve given me this opportunity. I couldn’t be more blessed to be part of a great team.”

Joshua Kinney, Housekeeping & Laundry Supervisor

Start Date: November 2020

Years of Professional Experience: 10+ years

Why do you love working at GSH: I enjoy working in a family environment.

Amber Lantz, Activity Director

Start Date: January 2022

Years of Professional Experience:10+ years

Why do you love working at GSH: I believe in doing what you love and loving what you do. And at GSH, I can say that I love what I do.  Being given the opportunity to enrich the lives of others is a blessing.  But the true blessing comes from the forever relationships that are made with the staff, residents and their family members. GSH truly is a family and I am proud to say that I get to be part of the family.

Crystal Macias, Administrative Assistant/Human Resources

Start Date: September 1973

Years of Professional Experience: 40+ years

Why do you love working at GSH: I love interacting with and assisting our residents as well as working with the Good Shepherd Home fellow staff members. We are one big family who truly care about each other. We are a special group at Good Shepherd Home!

Luis Medina, R.N., Director of Brethren Court
Start Date:

Years of Professional Experience:

Why do you love working at GSH:

Nickole Medina, R.N., Director of Nursing

Start Date: July 1998

Years of Professional Experience: 20+ years

Why do you love working at GSH: Good Shepherd Home is not only a job, but they are a second family to me. They take care of their employees, just as well as their residents, who also become a part of that family.

Nicholas Montz, R.N., Willows Director
Start Date:  June 17, 2013

Years of Professional Experience:  10 years

Why do you love working at GSH: “I love working at Good Shepherd because it gives me the opportunity to improve the lives of the residents and help them in the times they need it the most.”

Danielle Page, L.P.N., Assistant Director of Nursing
Start Date: August 2021

Years of Professional Experience: 10+ years

Why do you love working at GSH: “I love the home-like atmosphere when being at GSH. You become a small family when you work here, always having each others backs and being a team. And of course, I love all of our residents and their families. Getting to know everyone and making a special bond with each and every one of them.”

Tina Pine, LSW, Social Services Director

Start Date: July 2017

Years of Professional Experience: 38 years

Why do you love working at GSH: I am so grateful to work with a team of professionals who truly care about the health, well-being and dignity of those seniors in need of our services. Good Shepherd Home offers a work environment filled with kindness and compassion. I feel that my work makes a difference in the lives of our residents and their families.

Kim Reiter, L.P.N., Cascades Director

Start Date: August 1977

Years of Professional Experience: 40+ years

Why do you love working at GSH: I am contributing to making the lives of residents, who are living with dementia, happier and more fulfilled. I love the challenge of helping families on their journey with dementia.

Ian Yoshimoto, Plant Operations Director
Start Date: October 2020

Years of Professional Experience: 11 years

Why do you love working at GSH: My favorite part of working at Good Shepherd Home is our residents. We all become family here and the residents get so excited when we fix things or help them. You really get a good sense of fulfillment from them and they appreciate everything you do. I love working with my hands and troubleshooting problems for a living. We also have a very hardworking staff that dedicates themselves fully for the greater common goal…our residents. We are a team here.

Community Outreach

Good Shepherd Home is a vital part of the greater Fostoria community. We encourage families, friends and neighbors to become involved in the lives of residents and to feel at home here. To connect with our community and civic organizations, we:

  • Sponsor youth artwork programming 
  • Serve as a host site for the American Red Cross Bloodmobile, Life Line screening, Shepherd Center, United Way and other community programs and events 
  • Provide meeting space and meals for organizations including Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Optimist, Altrusa and Inter-Agency clubs
  • Host National Day of Prayer services in our chapel 
  • Host a Voters’ Forum sponsored by Good Shepherd Home League of Voters 
  • Serve as a local voting precinct 
  • Participate in Relay for Life 
  • Host the Good Samaritan Dinner and Auction 
  • Sponsor an Annual Membership Dinner, open to anyone who has an interest in Good Shepherd Home and our mission
  • Distribute a bi-annual community newsletter

Want to learn more about Good Shepherd?

Ask us anything about living and serving here.

Equal Opportunity

Good Shepherd Home is an equal opportunity housing provider, and as such, does not discriminate on the basis of membership in a protected class, including race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender,  gender identity, color, or disability

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