Meet the Team

In reflecting on both careers, Linda has found it rewarding to work with individuals and families during times of meaningful transition.  Working with adults spanning from eighteen to 100 years of age, she is touched by and appreciates the life-long journeys of growth and experience that God unfolds for each person.  Linda desires to come along side people to provide support during times of change and, through that support, bring peace of mind.  She finds working in senior living particularly enjoyable because it is a setting where staff and residents alike appreciate each other.  Linda served as our Associate Executive Director before moving over to be the Executive Director at our sister community, Covenant Living of Colorado in 2018.  She is thrilled to be back at the Samarkand serving our residents.  

As our Healthcare Administrator, where he had full responsibility for our skilled nursing facility operations. In 2022 Scott moved into the role of Associate Executive Director where he provides oversight of Dining Services, Resident Life, Facilities Management, Assisted Living, and the Wellness Clinic.  Scott began his career in health care as a teenager when he was privileged to participate in the care of his aging grandmother and subsequently his terminally ill father. This early experience exposed him to the vulnerabilities of seniors and others in need of stable living situations to support their aging and general care needs.

Since then, she has held many healthcare positions within the Santa Barbara community, previously holding a dual role as Healthcare Administrator as well as Executive Director in a 150 bed Skilled Care Facility.  Her approach to making a significant contribution to an organization is by working collaboratively and leading teams in achieving the best outcome both clinically and operationally. Leila is passionate about what she does and enjoys having daily, meaningful conversations with residents, their families as well as staff.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in health science with a leadership focus, she joined Covenant Care at Home and has been an integral part of the Covenant Living team since 2016, holding various roles across multiple departments. With a master’s degree in health administration, specializing in financial management from the University of La Verne, her impact has been notable in her recent role as a Human Resources Assistant, excelling in HR compliance, recruitment, and fostering a positive work culture through unforgettable events. Recognizing her dedication and skills, she was promoted to the position of Employee Experience Leader at Covenant Living at the Samarkand in 2023. In this role, she is dedicated to creating a culture of purpose and upholding the organization’s values while ensuring the best employee experience throughout their careers. Viridiana’s journey serves as an inspiring testament to her commitment to excellence and her vision of making a positive impact in the healthcare and human resources management fields.

She has a passion for providing an exceptional resident experience for seniors with a focus on continuous quality improvement built upon dignity, respect, and teamwork. She is grateful for the opportunities she has been given to be of service to the residents at the Samarkand and shared, “It is my pleasure to be here and to be able to enhance the quality of life for every resident, as well as provide comfort and support to their families.”

He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from California Polytechnic University, Pomona. Prior to joining Covenant Living, Joshua worked for the Walt Disney Company in various roles for over 6 years. His passion has always been to create happiness to those around him and working with the Sales team here at Covenant Living has allowed him to do just that. “I have really enjoyed making a difference in the lives of our residents. My main goal is to make one’s journey to our community as seamless as possible. Being able to provide peace of mind to families that their loved ones are cared for is truly rewarding.”

Her love for the outdoors, physical activity and the ocean kept her in the beautiful Santa Barbara area, and led her feet to the Fitness and Wellness Industry. For 30 years she has been a group fitness instructor, personal trainer and Group Fitness Program Manager, and ran her own business for most of those 30 years providing Personal Training/Wellness Services and creating innovative Corporate Fitness and Wellness Programs for local companies. Dani was our Campus Wellness Coordinator from 2014-2020 and has now expanded her role as our Resident Life Director.

Edgar joined Covenant Living in 2023 as Director of Dining Services and has been in the hospitality industry since he was 16 years old. In his role, Edgar oversees dining operations, including menu development, execution, food safety, and sanitation compliance.  Throughout his career, he has experienced casual, full service, resort, banquet/catering, and corporate dining. He has previously worked in the bay area at Meta’s (Facebook) culinary program. In 2017. Edgar started at his first senior living community here in Santa Barbara CA and is passionate about improving the quality of life for residents in long-term care communities and is committed to providing delicious and nutritious meals that meet their individual needs.