Meet Our Team

Patricia Kennedy was raised in Berwyn, majored in veterinary science at the University of Illinois and holds an MBA from Oklahoma City University. As a Captain in the US Army, Pat was one of the first female helicopter medical evacuation and search and rescue pilots and crew leaders. She flew operationally in Korea and in the Persian Gulf 1991, for which she was awarded the Combat Air Medal and the Bronze Star for Valor. Pat has also worked for Humana, A.G. Edwards and Pfizer. In 2002 she became a Branch Owner with Home Instead, the nation’s leading in-home care provider. She is a member of the Aging Well Governing Council and the National Speakers’ Association. Pat is a Certified Senior Adviser, has a postgraduate qualification in Geriatric Care Management and is studying for her Doctorate while maintaining close involvement in Client Care.

​hilary.herold@homeinstead.com

Hilary Herold, our Director of Operations, is a nurse attorney with extensive experience at leading healthcare institutions, namely Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Lurie Children’s Hospital, and the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab (formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago).  Since her early days as a nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, to attending law school, to transitioning behind-the-scenes to risk and compliance, the goal is always the same - become better positioned to improve the client experience.  At Home Instead, Hilary brings a compassionate and collaborative approach to her leadership, with the goal of improving the quality of life of each client.

michele.gallione@homeinstead.com

Michele Gallione started with Home Instead in Human Resources in 2016, and moved to Client Care Manager in 2017.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with a minor in Business Administration.  Michele has over 30 years of diverse business and management experience, but found her passion lies in helping clients and families care for their aging loved ones.  Her personal experience caring for her own mother gives her even greater insight into the needs of our clients.  Her warm, reassuring approach and kind demeanor makes her the perfect person to help clients and families get set-up with services.  She continues in her role as client advocate throughout the services, making recommendations to ensure each client is set-up for long-term success. 

Michele and her husband have 3 children.  In her free time, she loves spending time with her family at the beach.

ashley.kryger@homeinstead.com

Ashley Kryger, our Office Coordinator, has been dedicated to Home Instead since 2009.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Lewis University with a minor in Business Administration.  She had done just about every role in some capacity through the years and is often the go-to on any questions that arise on topics such as recruiting/HR, scheduling, and operations support.  You will often find Ashley with her sidekick in tow, Oakley – a lab mix.  Ashley loves to have a good time and is often our social coordinator as well! 

In her free time, Ashley loves to travel, take pictures, try new restaurants and spend time with family and friends.

melissa.pociask@homeinstead.com

Melissa Pociask became our Client Care and VA Coordinator in 2021. Between her Bachelor's Degree in Healthcare Administration from Lewis University and her past work as a CNA, Melissa has brought a natural ability to assess her clients’ needs and ensure clients are well set-up for success. Melissa also works closely with our caregivers to ensure they have the skills they need for each client. Melissa’s drive, initiative and attention-to-detail have been invaluable. She has also proven to be an asset in helping Home Instead onboard new technologies.

Melissa and her husband were recently married. In her free time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her friends and family, baking, and snuggling with her two dogs.

rochelle.iovinelli@homeinstead.com

Rochelle has been our CAREGiver Training Specialist since 2020 and was recently promoted to our Caregiver Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator.   She began her 15-year career in healthcare working with clients with disabilities.  She then became an Activities Director for the last 5 years at an assisted living community.  Since starting with Home Instead, Rochelle has quickly distinguished herself as a warm, engaging, enthusiastic and committed team member. Rochelle is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is devoted to ensuring our CAREGivers are well-trained for each client they serve.  Whether working in the office, in the clients’ homes or in the training room, Rochelle’s infectious smile brightens every room she is in!

Rochelle is married to a Chicago police officer and they have two children.  When she is not at Home Instead, she is busy travelling with her family and volunteering with her church.

sharon.harting@homeinstead.com

Sharon Harting, had been Home Instead’s Scheduling Coordinator since 2016. Although she pondered retirement, we were able to convince her to move into a part-time role as Quality Assurance Coordinator. She loves finally meeting some of these clients and families that she has had the pleasure of speaking to on the phone for years! Her experience in the business and her relationships with caregivers have made her an ideal choice to assess the current needs of the client and adjust the plan of care accordingly.

Sharon also continues to contribute meaningful ideas on ways to improve at Home Instead. She is great at troubleshooting - there isn’t a problem Sharon can’t solve!

Sharon recently moved with her husband to Chicago and is enjoying the “city life.” She has three grown daughters and a grandpup. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, Cubs games, concerts and long walks.

Sandra Klima joined the team as a Scheduling Coordinator in 2022.  She has years of experience as a coordinator in a medical office setting and most recently in surgery scheduling.  Sandra’s experience caring for her own family is just one of the reasons Sandra was a good fit for our team.  She has a caring, engaging personality, and is an accomplished multitasker – a needed skillset in this role!

Sandra is married to her husband, Tim, and they have a blended family of six children.  In her free time, Sandra loves cooking, traveling, and gathering with friends and family, especially her grandchildren! 

nicole.slattery@homeinstead.com

Nicole Slattery, our Operations Coordinator, started with Home Instead in 2019 and has experience in accounting, insurance, office management, and sales.  Her solutions-oriented approach has quickly made her an indispensable member of the team.  Nicole is currently working remotely from Guam – we look forward to having her back stateside with us! 

Nicole enjoys putting her talents to use by volunteering with the United States Organization (USO) and exploring Guam with her husband. In 2022, Nicole received the USO Volunteer for the 4th Quarter Award for USO Tumon Bay, USO Guam, and USO Pacific. They have 2 grown sons.

courtney.svoboda@homeinstead.com

Courtney Svoboda, our On-Call Scheduler, attended the College of DuPage where she focused on Psychology and Sociology.  Courtney started with Home Instead as a caregiver and was quickly promoted to VA coordinator.  She has continued with Home Instead as our On-Call Scheduler for the last 5 years.  Courtney takes great pride in her ability to provide both a high level of service and continuity of services into the weekends.  We are lucky to have such a devoted, warm, hardworking member of the team.  Her best characteristic, however, is most definitely her witty sense of humor!

In her free time, Courtney loves being with her family, making music and traveling.