The Laurels of DeKalb Staff
What differentiates one skilled nursing & rehabilitation center from another? The answer is... the people who work and reside there! The people set the tone, the atmosphere, and the expectations. At The Laurels of DeKalb, we take great pride in ensuring that everyone feels like part of our family, and that they are treated as special "guests" in our home.
The Laurels of DeKalb employs a team of highly qualified medical professionals, including a Medical Director, Registered Nurses, Restorative Care Nurses, a Wound Care Nurse, state tested Certified Nursing Assistants, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and a Speech Therapist. Our on-site Rehab, Dietary, Social Work, and Activities departments provide personalized and compassionate care to each guest. From the moment you walk through the front doors, the warmth and caring of the staff will begin to gain your trust and confidence, as they strive to exceed your expectations.
Unlike other facilities that use "contracted" staff members, each member of the team at The Laurels of DeKalb is directly employed, not "contracted". Each Team Member takes great pride in portraying "The Laurel Way of Caring", as they strive for excellence in providing only the highest standard of care and services to every guest, and to every family member and visitor. Come on in! Visit a while! Let us show you our very best... let us show you The Laurel Way.
Erin Tuttle, Administrator
Erin graduated from the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a concentration in Communication Management and a minor in Business Administration. She began her career in Long Term Care as a Director of Marketing for nursing and rehabilitation centers in Northeast Indiana from 1999-2007, including The Laurels of DeKalb since 2003. Obtaining her Health Facility Administrator's license in July of 2005 and then accepting the position of Administrator at The Laurels of DeKalb in June of 2007, Erin continues to be very active in the community in which she lives and works. She served on the Board of Directors of the Northeast Indiana Alzheimer's Association from 2003-2006. Erin has also served as a Board member of the Auburn/Butler Chamber of Commerce since 2007 and held the office of President for the year of 2008, while volunteering on various committees within the organization. Erin is also currently a Board member of the United Way of DeKalb County serving as the Secretary. Erin enjoys spending time outdoors and has been married to her husband Ryan for 10 years.
Jo Tracy, Director of Nursing
Jo has been a nurse for 33 years. She graduated in 1976 from Fort Wayne Community Schools, School of Practical Nursing and in 1995 from Lutheran College of Health Professionals with an Associate Degree of Science. During her career she has worked in various types of nursing settings, which include doctor's office, hospital nursing and long-term care setting. The majority of her career has been spent in a management type position. Jo has been employed here at The Laurels of DeKalb since 2001 serving as the Director of Nursing. Jo moved to the Auburn area in 2003 with her husband Terry whom she has been married to for 32 years. Jo is involved with her children and grandchildren. Family is very important to her. She also enjoys camping and doing things outdoors.
Emily Nelson, Director of Marketing
Emily received her Associates Degree from Indiana Purdue University of Fort Wayne in Organizational Leadership and Supervision in 1999 and then went on to receive her Bachelor's Degree in Business Management in 2004 from Tri-State University in Angola, Indiana. Emily began working as the Director of Marketing in July of 2007. She is a member of the Auburn Classic Noon Lions Club and serves on the Board for the Waterloo Chamber. Emily and her husband Jeff live in Steuben County. She enjoys baking and spending time outdoors with her two children.
Renea Hamman, Rehabilitation Services Director
Renea graduated from the University of Findlay in Findlay, OH in 2002 with a Master's in Occupational Therapy. She started her career in long term care at The Laurels of DeKalb in 2002 as a full-time Occupational therapist and advanced her career as the Rehabilitation Services Director in 2006. Her specialties are wheelchair positioning, home modification and low vision training. She recently received continued education in Myofasical Release techniques and has seen extraordinary benefits from inpatients as well as outpatient guests. She is a certified infant massage therapist and has taught community and private classes in DeKalb County teaching parents and caregivers techniques and benefits of infant massage. Renea also has certification from the National Arthritis Foundation as an instructor and teaches a community arthritis exercise class at The Laurels of DeKalb. Renea enjoys scrapbooking, watching movies, riding ATV, walking her two Siberian Huskies, Cameo and Zoey, spending time with her two children Shawn and Allison, and her husband Kevin, whom she has been married to for 7 wonderful years.