OVATION HEARTWOOD PRESERVE IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA

Stephanie Grade

Stephanie Grade is a born and raised Nebraskan. Growing up in Crete, just about an hour outside Omaha, Stephanie looked at life through a different lens. Her passion for exceptional service drew her to the hotel and services industry, allowing her to travel the U.S., open hotels, and serve on the Board of Directors for the Omaha Restaurant Association and Metropolitan Hospitality Association. After 20 years of hospitality experience and award-winning program development, Stephanie has brought her expertise to Ovation Heartwood Preserve.

“Ovation is such a reinvigorating and wonderful new development,” Stephanie said when asked why she chose to join and lead the Ovation team. “I look forward to sharing my background in hospitality with my fellow team members.”

Ovation Heartwood Preserve offers exceptional, residential living and experiences, as well as innovative technology options that allow guests to communicate with family and the world around them.

Stephanie has a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management from Iowa State University. She’s also a proud mother, wife, and owner of an English Bulldog named Lola – who gets all of the family’s attention. When she’s not earning an ovation for her hard work, she enjoys attending concerts, theatre performances, traveling, supporting the Joslyn Art Museum, and exploring Fontenelle Forest just outside Bellevue.

Collette Mieres

To say that Collette Mieres knows how to care and provide for those under her watch is an understatement. This professional is an Assisted Living Administrator (ALA), Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) with training as a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), and as a Certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional (CMDCP). She has brought all her knowledge and experience to Ovation Heartwood Preserve as the Assisted Living Executive Director.

Mieres knew she wanted to work with the aging and those who need added assistance from a young age. She watched her grandfather go through life changes and took mental notes about the care he received.

“It became my passion and I wanted to be part of the aging gracefully process,” she said about the experience. “The philosophy of care and core values at Ovation achieve those goals. We’re helping residents embrace the lifestyle they want and remain as independent as possible. The goal is to help them live full, productive lives with dignity.”

Ovation Heartwood Preserve helps families and those they care for sleep better at night with around-the-clock options and security. That includes added attention for those within memory care. Here, life changes are embraced, and the Ovation team is ready to help with fitness, nutrition, family communications, and anything else to help residents feel at home.

When she’s not caring for those at Ovation and guiding her team, Collette likes to cook world cuisine, paint, craft, read, and spend time with her family. Together, they enjoy visiting local parks and gardens, as well as entertaining friends.

Kyle Steenson

Kyle began his hospitality career at full-service hotels in the Omaha area. He initially held sales and catering roles, achieving top 10 sales performance awards in 2005 and 2007. He advanced his career into leadership positions, including Director of Catering and Events and Director of Restaurants, where he gained valuable operational experience.

In 2017, Kyle accepted his first General Manager role at the Residence Inn in Northwest Omaha. He oversaw significant updates and renovations to the property’s pool and building infrastructure. Kyle transferred to become the General Manager of the Residence Inn Omaha Downtown in 2018, a property on the Historical Registry in Omaha’s vibrant Old Market District, then the General Manager at Aloft Omaha West in 2023. Kyle has provided taskforce support to properties in Kansas and Iowa throughout his hospitality career.

Kyle is from Omaha and has been married for 20 years to his wife, Kristin. Their son Brennan is currently a junior in high school and keeps both his parents busy by participating in several sports and activities. While not at one of his son’s cross country or track meets, Kyle enjoys running himself, grilling, and traveling with his family.

Ginger Apprich

Ginger Apprich has a passion for being early. It’s one of those traits that people really appreciate, especially in a Community Relations Director. This 20+ year industry veteran has seen and lived all over the world, thanks to her time in the Navy and marriage to a career United States Army colonel. During Operation Desert Storm, she found herself stationed in San Diego expertly tackling war-effort reporting duties for the Navy News this Week.

All of those moments, interactions, and experiences helped shape her into the caring person she is today and one of the many reasons she chose to join the Ovation team. According to Apprich, Ovation is the perfect mix of hospitality and care.

“It’s a brand new concept,” Apprich said when asked about Ovation. “It’s unique. We’re not a nursing home, but we’re not just an assisted or independent living community with memory care either. Residents deserve to enjoy life to the fullest, and we can help them do that with wellness, hospitality, and socialization.”

Ovation is a safe place to relax and enjoy a life well lived. Everything at Ovation Heartwood Preserve has been purpose-built to be a welcome and caring place for visitors as well as those who call this place home. Here, the Ovation team is continually poised to offer fitness options and beyond-the-ordinary nutrition, along with anything else residents need to feel at home.

Apprich loves the outdoors, including hiking, walking, training their new canine to be a therapy hospice dog, and spending time on the lake. This mother, and now active grandmother, enjoys all that life has to offer, including volunteer opportunities with hospice and at her church, as well as time with her family.

Amy Humpal

Amy Humpal holds extensive experience in sales and marketing across various industries. She is passionate about serving seniors and helping them find their next home.

As Community Relations Director, Amy is dedicated to spreading knowledge about resources available to seniors to make their lives easier. She is a personal guide for seniors and their families through their senior living journey.

Amy earned her degree in business management from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.