
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
- 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

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.

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.

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.

Alex Castas, Client Care Coordinator
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.

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.

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.

Kristi Sage, Administrative Assistant
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.

Alex Snyder, Lead Care Professional
Alex is a vibrant and compassionate caregiver, born in Pensacola, Florida, and raised as the oldest of two daughters in a Military household. After traveling for most of her childhood and graduating from Copperas Cove High School in Texas in 2012, Alex pursued a career in culinary arts, attending culinary school. However, personal circumstances led Alex to drop out and provide support to her spouse and their ailing mother-in-law. For several years, Alex worked as a cook at popular establishments like Texas Roadhouse and Cracker Barrel. Tragically, her spouse's mother passed away in 2019, prompting Alex and her spouse to relocate to Washington State to be closer to Alex's family.
Alex began her journey, in Washington, as a dental assistant but soon discovered her passion for helping others at Home Instead as a caregiver. Alex joined the Home Instead team on February 2021. She excelled as a caregiver and due to her dedication, compassion for care, and skills was promoted to the position of Lead Caregiver on August 2022. Alex’s role as Lead Caregiver includes training and supporting new caregivers, checking up on our current clients, filling in for shifts if a caregiver called out and helping in the office.
In her free time, Alex enjoys exploring new culinary creations, painting, spending quality time with their loved ones, and embracing the beauty of nature in her picturesque surroundings.

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.

Sharon Howarth - Lead Care Professional
Sharon Howarth is a highly experienced caregiver with over 36 years of service in the healthcare field. Her extensive background includes work in nursing homes, private residences, senior living communities, group homes, adult family homes, and agency settings. This wide-ranging experience allows Sharon to provide exceptional, personalized care to seniors with varying needs and backgrounds.
Sharon has worked closely with individuals from diverse cultures, developing a deep sense of empathy, patience, and cultural sensitivity. Her calm, respectful approach ensures that each client feels heard, valued, and supported.
At the heart of Sharon's work is a passion for caring for others. She believes that every senior deserves dignity, compassion, and high-quality care tailored to their unique situation. Families trust Sharon not only for her professional skills but also for the genuine relationships she builds with her clients.
For Sharon, caregiving isn't just a career-it's a calling. Her ability to form meaningful connections, provide reliable support, and enhance the daily lives of seniors makes her an invaluable member of our care team.

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.
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.
