Our Staff

We recognize that people experience lifestyle changes in varying ways. Our friendly, well-trained staff ensures that every resident receives the independence they value, the services they desire, the assistance they need and the dignity they deserve.

Mary Y. Bryan

Executive Director

Mary has been the Executive Director of Laurel Crest for more than five years. Mary has been a registered nurse since 1980 and has worked in the long term care industry since 1987 in a variety of positions. She was director of nursing at a skilled nursing facility and worked for South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control as a nurse surveyor inspecting nursing homes. She also worked as a nurse consultant for Beverly Enterprises and The Pruitt Corporation. In 1995, Mary received a Gerontological Nurse Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center and obtained a South Carolina Nursing Home Administrator’s License. In 1997, Mary became a Certified Nursing Home Administrator from the American College of Health Care Administrators. Mary has two daughters, Janie and Wendy and one granddaughter, Mary Catherine. Mary has a true passion for people and never meets a stranger, just a friend she doesn't know yet.

Cessandra Carter

Assistant Director of Nursing

Cessandra is new to Laurel Crest and Banyan Senior Living communities. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Cessandra moved to Orangeburg, South Carolina in 2001. She has more than 18 years experience in long term care, 10 of which have focused on management and supervision of nursing services. Cessandra is currently an LPN with plans of completing her RN in late February through the Excelsior College Network. She is also licensed as an Assisted Living Facility Administrator. Cessandra is married with two sons. She is also an active member of Brookland Baptist Church where she works on the Revival Tape and Intercessor Prayer Ministry.

Laura Chapman

Director of Resident Services

Laura has been with Laurel Crest for more than eight years and has served as the Director of Resident Services for the last five. Laura was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina and has a lifetime connection to the community. She attended USC and graduated from Greenville Technical College. Laura is very passionate about Laurel Crest and her residents and feels that quality of living is paramount to success. She truly is a front line advocate for services offered to our residents and has strong people skills to assure our residents, families and guests receive the very best that can be offered.

Bill De Loache

Marketing Director

Bill is a native South Carolinian. After graduating from Clemson University, Bill took a position with a family business working his way up to president of Shealey Electric and Wholesalers. His son now runs the company. Bill was retired when First Presbyterian Church of Columbia asked for a helping hand. Bill handled all pre-opening sales and marketing for three years and has stayed with Laurel Crest ever since — on a 'temporary' basis. Bill’s knowledge of the Columbia market and its people has been invaluable to the success of Laurel Crest. Bill enjoys tennis, visiting Litchfield Beach and spending time with his delightful wife, Molly.

Jim Huntington, CEC

Executive Chef/Director of Dietary Services

Jim brings more than 30 years of experience in five star resorts, restaurants and country clubs to Laurel Crest. Born in Brazil, he has traveled a great deal of the world and has been exposed to multiple cuisines and styles of cooking. Jim has been a member of the ACF and certified CEC since the early 1990's. His flair and foreign accents are evident in a number of his dishes. His ultimate goal is to provide a quality product, at a fair price, consistently, with great service!

Amanda Mahan

Director of Community Relations

Amanda originally hails from Baltimore, Maryland but came to us from Washington, DC. Amanda graduated from York College of Pennsylvania with a degree in Public Relations. When her husband brought her to the Columbia area, Amanda decided to transfer her decade of experience in hospitality, most recently with Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, to the senior living industry. Amanda has enjoyed the relationships and opportunities Laurel Crest has given her. Her interests include decorating, cooking, traveling, spending time with her husband Daren and listening to his band perform.

Jo Rodgers

Acting Director of Nursing

Jo is from South Carolina and attended USC, majoring in Studio Arts and Arabic language and literature. Jo earned her LPN at Midlands Tech and worked for a year in South Carolina before moving to Monterey, California where she received her RN from Maurine Church School of Nursing on the Monterey Peninsula. Jo’s experience spans from neo-natal intensive care to geriatrics with long term care being her favorite and where she has spent the past 15 years. Jo is also a wildlife artist specializing in hunting dogs. She has two daughters, Reed and Amanda. Jo shares her life with her long time partner Churchill. The pair are 'owned and loved' by their Boykin Spaniels, Porter, Ducky and Raynbeau. They collect folk pottery and face jugs and spend their time going to kiln openings in North Carolina and participating in field trials with the dogs. They are members of St. John’s Episcopal Church Congaree.

Royce Herlong

Director of Environmental Services

Royce graduated from Swansea High School in 1985 and went to work at the University of South Carolina in the Maintenance Department. During his 10 years at the University he learned many trades related to maintaining the campus facilities. During the next few years, he worked with his hands doing odd jobs for friends and family. He enjoys working with wood, as well as building and repairing equipment. In 1998 he came to Laurel Crest Retirement Center. He has worked in the maintenance department and he knows every inch of Laurel Crest very well. He works well with all staff and they enjoy his kind nature. Royce has worked with a couple of the former Environmental Services Directors and has learned how to manage the department and manage the employees. In February 2009 he was promoted to the department Director. Royce is a friend to all of the residents. He and his wife Pam have a young daughter Brooke. When he is not at Laurel Crest you can find him with his family and maybe with a fishing pole down at the pond close to his home.

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