Our Staff

Anthony Barbato is the Founder and CEO of Redwood Senior Living, a Bakersfield-based senior living organization dedicated to providing quality care, comfortable housing, and a supportive environment for older adults.

Anthony founded Redwood with the goal of creating communities where seniors are treated with dignity, compassion, and respect. Under his leadership, Redwood has grown to serve seniors throughout Bakersfield, including residents participating in California’s Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver program.

In addition to Redwood Senior Living, Anthony serves as CEO of Primamed Health Services, a Medicare-certified home health agency. His work is focused on expanding access to senior care and developing services that allow older adults to receive the support they need as their needs change.

Anthony earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a specialization in Entrepreneurial Studies from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He is actively involved in the Bakersfield community and continues to pursue opportunities to expand senior care and healthcare services throughout California.

Steven Cruz serves as Regional Director of Redwood Senior Living, bringing more than 15 years of leadership experience across senior living, residential care, behavioral health, and healthcare operations. His career has been built around a commitment to compassionate care, strong regulatory standards, and creating communities where residents feel safe, respected, and truly at home.

As Regional Director, Steven provides leadership and operational oversight across Redwood’s senior living communities and care programs. Working alongside administrators, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and community partners, he focuses on strengthening quality of care, developing effective teams, maintaining regulatory compliance, and ensuring that residents and families receive the level of service and support they deserve.

Steven’s leadership experience extends well beyond senior living. Prior to Redwood, he held healthcare leadership responsibilities with GEO Group, overseeing healthcare operations, staffing, regulatory readiness, and partnerships with hospitals, providers, and government agencies. Earlier in his career, Steven spent eight years with Sails Group Homes, advancing to Corporate Administrator Compliance Director and providing oversight for 18 facilities, approximately 250 residents, and more than 120 employees.

A California certified RCFE and ARF Administrator, Steven brings extensive knowledge of California Title 17 and Title 22 regulations. His approach to leadership is centered on accountability, teamwork, consistency, and leading by example. He believes exceptional care begins with supporting the people who provide it—giving staff the training, resources, expectations, and leadership necessary to succeed.

Steven’s commitment to compassionate service was recognized in 2022 by the United States Department of Justice, U.S. Marshals Service Prisoner Operations Division, which presented him with its Compassion Coin.

Ty Scherer brings over 21 years of experience in senior care, including 15 years in administration. He is passionate about creating a safe, supportive, and home-like environment where residents are treated with dignity and respect. Ty is committed to regulatory excellence, strong teams, and compassionate, person-centered care that helps each resident live a meaningful and fulfilling life.

Wendy Lee is a dedicated senior living professional who began her career as a caregiver and advanced through hands-on experience to Lead Med Tech and ultimately Administrator. Her background gives her a strong understanding of both resident needs and the staff who provide their daily care.

Wendy leads with compassion, dependability, and a commitment to creating a supportive environment where residents and staff feel heard, respected, and valued.

Carlene Reinke serves as Facility Administrator at The Burlington and brings 16 years of dedicated service to the community. Having advanced into the Administrator role over the past year, she offers extensive knowledge of the residents, families, staff, and day-to-day operations.

Her senior care experience includes private caregiving, hospice care, and residential care, giving her a well-rounded understanding of resident needs, facility operations, and Title 22 / RCFE compliance.

Known for her compassion and commitment to others, Carlene takes pride in building lasting relationships with residents and families while creating a welcoming environment where residents feel safe, respected, valued, and at home.

Beatriz Ponce is a dedicated senior living professional with more than 20 years of experience in the field. She began her career as a Certified Nursing Assistant in 2002, developing a strong foundation in hands-on care and a deep appreciation for treating every resident with dignity, kindness, and respect.

Since becoming an RCFE Administrator in 2017, Beatriz has built extensive experience in resident care, staff leadership, admissions, regulatory compliance, and collaboration with families and healthcare professionals.

After briefly stepping away from Redwood for four months, Beatriz chose to return because of the strong relationships she shares with Redwood’s management team and employees. Her return reflects how much she values the supportive culture, teamwork, and shared commitment to providing quality care for residents.

Beatriz leads with compassion, integrity, and a servant’s heart. She is committed to creating a welcoming community where residents feel at home and employees feel supported, respected, and valued.