Meet the Team
Mirella Manjarrez
Executive Director
Mirella Manjarrez is the executive director at The Groves of Tustin. In her 10-plus years with us, she has worked in various roles ranging from administrative assistant to activities director. Her mother was a caregiver, and that’s where her passion for working with seniors began.
Outside of work, Mirella enjoys going to the gym, hiking and being outdoors.
Monica Aguirre
Business Office Director
Monica Aguirre brings over 30 years of senior living experience to The Groves at Tustin. She began her journey as a CNA and worked her way to her current position of Business Office director. She has even influenced one of her daughters to work in the industry as well.
Monica enjoys traveling, visiting her house in the desert, reggae music, spending time with family and friends, and just having a good time!
Jamie Mitchell
Vibrant Life® Director
Jamie Mitchell is the Vibrant Life® director at The Groves of Tustin Senior Living. Jamie enjoys working with senior residents and aims to consistently provide them with entertaining and enriching activities.
When she’s not at work, Jamie enjoys spending time with her children and is excitedly awaiting the arrival of her grandchild.
Payal Sharma
Director of Sales and Marketing
Payal Sharma brings over 10 years of experience to the position of director of Sales and Marketing at The Groves at Tustin. She began her journey as a resident caregiver and eventually found her passion with sales and marketing. As DSM, she strives to create an inviting community that will welcome new and current residents alike.
Payal recently published a book and is on the cover of three American Girl books. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and family.
Alma Gomez
Generations Program Director
Debbie Garibaldi, LVN
Resident Care Director
Debbie Garibaldi has been a nurse since 2004 and considers herself to be a caregiver at heart. She enjoys helping people and caring for them. Debbie has been working in the assisted living industry for over 20 years.
Debbie has three children, including a set of twins. Her son serves in the military, which makes her a proud mom. She enjoys going to church and currently serves in the children’s ministry. On her days off, she spends her time going to museums, to shows and to the beach.
German Favila Sosa
Senior Building Services Director
German Favila Sosa was born and raised in Mexico City, where he attended Politenico Nacional and studied engineering. Upon immigrating to the United States, German began working in the hotel and hospitality industry. His work was specifically in the maintenance department. Over the years, German has worked in many different maintenance settings, and for the last 16 years it has been in assisted living maintenance. He believes in the importance of working in a field that you are passionate about and believes that he has found his calling in working with seniors. German strives daily to provide unparalleled service and to bring a smile to all his residents’ faces. German has been serving the residents at the Groves of Tustin since December 2009.
As a single dad, German enjoys cooking and spending time with his beautiful granddaughter.
Mark Gagnon
Senior Culinary Services Director
Mark Gagnon’s passion for cooking started at 8 years old. He has now been cooking for 34 great years. Mark started in the food and beverage business at 17, when he was hired to join a local hotel’s culinary department. After getting experience and knowledge, he later expanded his career and became a baker for Marie Callender’s. He also worked for Elephant Bar restaurant before he was introduced to senior living communities. During his first experience in the senior living community, he was a chef for eight delightful years. Then he decided it was time for a change in his career and later found the opportunity to be the culinary services director for The Groves of Tustin.
Cooking has always been his passion, and Mark enjoys cooking every day. He is committed to introducing exquisite and fresh, new meals to his residents daily. Working in senior living has been a great practice for him as well as a fun environment. Mark appreciates and looks forward to creating great experiences for both residents and family members here at The Groves of Tustin.
He has been with his wife for 27 years, and they’ve been married for 25 amazing years. They met working in Palm Desert and later had four boys. In his spare time, Mark likes to ride motorcycles and cook almost every night for his family and friends. Spending time with his family is the highlight of his life.