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A Home Instead caregiver and an elderly woman prepare a meal together in a sunny kitchen, symbolizing teamwork and independence in home care.

Meet Our Team

We believe every family in the area deserves tailor made in-home senior care with a compassionate touch. That's why we established Home Instead® of Everett, WA.

Proudly Serving Aging Adults & Their Families

Our Promise

As a locally owned business, our team offers friendly, responsive service right in your neighborhood. Families love our team because we:
  • Do what we say we’re going to do – each and every time
  • Solve care problems using compassionate, person-centered solutions
  • Engage in thoughtful relationships with the families we serve
  • Give back to our community
About Us
Meet Our Team
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Laura Cen, Co-Owner

Prior to joining Home Instead, Laura worked as a financial advisor after graduating from University of Washington with a business degree. She decided to pursue her passion in helping others by going back to school to become a Registered Nurse (RN). Laura worked at Providence in Everett as a staff RN after nursing school. Later she moved to Evergreen in Kirkland to be closer to home. There she worked as a staff RN and later as a home health nurse before starting her venture with Home Instead Senior care. Laura enjoys helping seniors and hearing their stories.

In her free time, Laura enjoys spending time with her family and her dogs Theodore and Sammy.  Laura loves to try out new restaurants, bicycling, hiking, and cooking for loved ones.  She's also perfected the art of relaxing when she's not in the office.  

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Gus Vanderkolk, Co-Owner

Gus is the Co-Owner of Home Instead Everett and comes from a long background in Medical Sales.  In the past he has been focused primarily on introducing new genetic tests to identify patients who may be at high risk of prostate and skin cancer.  Home care has always been an area of interest ever since his grandmother lived with him at his home as a child, rather than being sent to a nursing home.  Gus takes great pride in helping as many people as we can while at the same time providing the highest quality of care. 

Outside of work you might find Gus on the golf course, snowboarding, camping or just spending time with his wife and 2 boys.

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Kristi Sage, Office Manager

Kristi Sage was a stay-at-home mom who homeschooled her five children for 13 years. When she re-entered the workforce, she decided to go into healthcare to help others.  She worked as a Certified Nurse Assistant in various healthcare settings. She later decided that an education in healthcare was essential and obtained her bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration. With a decade of experience as a caregiver and as a healthcare auditor, she advocates for in-home care, highlighting its benefits for clients. An impassioned team player, she helps with scheduling, new hire documentation, covering after-hours on-call shifts, answering phones, and the vital role of auditing paperwork.

In her free time, Kristi enjoys a variety of music, outdoor adventures, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. 

 

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Marquel Basurto, Recruitment and Training Manager

Marquel is a beloved member of the Home Instead -Everett team. His warmth and infectious laugh keep us all in good spirits. Marquel started his career with Home Instead as a caregiver, then quickly moved into the office fulfilling multiple roles…. And now is our Recruitment and Training Manager. Marquel is instrumental in bringing new caregivers on board and giving them a warm introduction through orientation. Among many of Marquel’s assignments, he is our “go-to” person to troubleshoot all things technical.

Marquel is devoted to his family and enjoys spending time with his friends. He has a LOVE of music, especially Jazz. On Marquel's off time, he aspires to do more photography projects, go on nature hikes and learn to scuba dive. 

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Alex Castas, Business Development Advisor

Alex, a native of Seattle, has spent the better part of his career immersed in sales and management roles, honing his skills over many years. However, when his father was diagnosed with severe Alzheimer's and dementia, Alex made the decision to step away from his career to become his primary caregiver. After his father's passing, Alex felt a calling to support seniors navigating the challenges of aging.

Driven by a desire to make a meaningful difference, Alex joined Home Instead, where he could directly impact the lives of seniors and their families.

Outside of work, Alex enjoys reading physics and science books, indulging his curiosity about the mysteries of the universe. He also enjoys embarking on adventures, exploring new corners of the country, and immersing himself in the tranquility of nature through hiking.

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Olya Mordkhin, Client Care Advisor

Olya brings a heartfelt passion for caregiving that began early in life. Growing up close to her grandparents, she played an active role in supporting them as they aged-an experience that sparked a lifelong commitment to helping others feel seen, supported, and respected during vulnerable times.

Before entering the senior care field, Olya built a successful career in the finance industry and later transitioned into health and wellness, where she empowered people to feel stronger and more confident in their everyday lives. When her own grandmother required hands-on support, Olya stepped in with deep devotion, gaining firsthand insight into the emotional and practical challenges that many families face. That experience cemented her desire to make a meaningful difference through compassionate home care.

Today, as a Client Care Advisor at Home Instead Everett, Olya draws on both her professional experience and personal caregiving background to help clients and families access the care they need to feel safe, confident, and well-supported at home.

Outside of work, Olya enjoys spending time with her family, staying active through a variety of sports, exploring the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and expressing her creative side through fashion and art.

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Becky Kilgore,Training/Scheduling Coordinator

Becky brings 20 years of dedicated experience in the healthcare field. Her extensive background spans from in-home care to facility care, including roles as Resident Manager for two Adult Family Homes and Quality Assurance Program Coordinator and Trainer for an Enhanced Services Facility in Everett.

Becky holds a Home Care Aide certification and has enhanced her skills through various instructorships, including ALICE and Therapeutic Options. Originally from the East Coast, she has embraced the beauty of the Pacific Northwest for the past 12 years and proudly calls Washington home.  Becky looks forward to bringing her extensive expertise and heartfelt dedication to the Everett Home Instead team and supporting the community with compassionate care.

Outside of work, Becky is passionate about the outdoors, reading, old movies, music, and mixed media art journaling and doodling. Her greatest joy, however, comes from her family—her son, daughter-in-law, and two beautiful grandchildren, who are the center of her heart.

 

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Amanda Portsmouth, Service Coordinator

Amanda comes to us with over 24 years in the medical field. She is a licensed Certified Nurse Assistance (CNA) with a Nurse Delegation Certification and a WA licensed HCA Trainer/ Instructor. She's worked in various medical settings; Assisted Living, Adult Family Homes, In-home Care, Hospitals and Pharmaceutical. Amanda started as a Lead Care Pro with us and was promoted to Service Coordinator.  She is responsible for matching the right Care Pro to our client.  She handles any scheduling needs that arise.  

Amanda is big on family. She loves to spend her free time creating memories with her husband and two children. She is full of energy and has a vibrant and contagious personality that our clients and caregivers absolutely love. She enjoys nature, meeting new people, loves animals and exploring the beauty of the PNW and the world.

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Kit Goodwin, Office Coordinator

Kit grew up on a horse farm on an island near the Outer Banks of North Carolina, in a tight-knit community of fishermen and nurses. She later moved to the mountains to earn a bachelor’s degree in Commercial Media and Marketing from Appalachian State University, where she hosted a "for fun" web show interviewing students and promoting creative events. While still in college, she worked in hospitality management.

In 2016, she drove a Cadillac across the country with her pets to Washington and has since worked across a variety of industries, with a knack for modernizing businesses and improving workflow operations. Since Kit grew up near a senior care facility central to her island community, she was drawn to Home Instead. She saw a meaningful opportunity to contribute in a more stable, purpose-driven role. With family deeply involved in healthcare, she brings both personal insight and professional drive to her position.

Outside of work, Kit shares her home with three older dogs, affectionately known as her “fluffy elderly community.” She enjoys coding, drawing cartoons, photography, and loves any excuse to dress up and explore the arts, whether it's at a museum, live music, or theater performance.

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Jamie Hamer, Afterhours On-call Coordinator

Jamie is our after-hours On-call Coordinator. If you have any issues or questions after hours and on weekends, she is the one who will solve it for you. Jamie has over 10 years of experience in home care. She’s done everything from being the caregiver, providing direct care to seniors, to working in an office as a care manager. She loves seniors and enjoys doing her best to help them in any way she can.

When Jamie’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her 1-year-old daughter and husband. She loves the beach and warm weather, yet here she is in Washington.

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Shyla Norman, Lead Care Pro

Shyla joined Home Instead in 2023, bringing with her over 20 years of caregiving experience in home care. She began her journey as a Care Professional and, through her outstanding dedication and leadership, advanced to the role of Lead Care Pro in 2025.

Over the years, Shyla has become deeply loved by her clients and colleagues alike. Her compassion, experience, and unwavering commitment to care have truly shown that she has a heart of gold.

Outside of work, Shyla cherishes spending time with her family and kids. She enjoys camping adventures where she can connect with nature and loves expressing her creativity through crafting during her spare time.

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Makayla Velasquez, Lead Care Pro

My name is Makayla, and I am a dedicated caregiver and mother of three with a deep passion for helping others. I am currently pursuing a degree in medical assisting to further my career in healthcare and strengthen my ability to provide high-quality, compassionate support.

I take great pride in building meaningful relationships with those I care for, especially seniors. I value listening to and learning from my elders—their stories, wisdom, and life experiences continually inspire me both personally and professionally.

Outside of caregiving, I enjoy cooking and spending quality time with my family, which helps me stay balanced and grounded. My goal is to continue growing in the healthcare field while making a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others.

Our Team

Your Home Instead team in Everett, WA possesses a heartfelt desire to work with seniors in the community. It is our ultimate goal to forge extraordinary relationships between our clients and their Care Professionals.

When you are ready for help, our caring staff is on call to quickly answer your questions and accommodate your senior services needs.

A Home Instead caregiver kneels to help an elderly man tie his shoes in a cozy living room, highlighting patient and personalized care for daily tasks.

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