Meet Our Staff
Suzana Beqari, Executive Director
With over 27 years of experience in business development, sales, marketing, and program management in the senior living industry, Suzana is a dynamic and empathetic leader known for her ability to build meaningful connections. She brings enthusiasm, warmth, and motivating energy to every interaction — always driven by a sense of urgency, initiative, and a competitive spirit to deliver impactful results through collaboration and teamwork.
Suzana’s passion for serving older adults began early in life, inspired by the years her grandmother lived with her family. That deeply personal connection continues to guide her mission: helping seniors and their families discover communities rooted in care, compassion, and dignity.
Outside of her professional life, Suzana enjoys walking and running, exploring new travel destinations, and nurturing her garden. Her greatest joy, however, is spending time with her beloved granddaughter.
Maria Barbosa-Santos, Regional Director of Operations
Maria is the Regional Director of Operations for Brigham House. She brings more than 15 years of experience in leadership roles in senior living and a reputation for fostering a vibrant, fun-loving culture. She joined Hallkeen in 2011 where she served as the Director of Community Relations at Susan Bailis Assisted Living and advanced to Executive Director, overseeing Brigham House Assisted Living Community in Watertown. She briefly left the company before returning to HallKeen as the Regional Sales Specialist for the Boston region. She was later promoted to her current position.
Kevin Ndiru Kamau, Resident Care Director
Kevin Kamau is a seasoned healthcare professional with over 9 years of experience in senior care, specializing in geriatric nursing, rehabilitation, and memory care. As a licensed practical nurse, he brings a wealth of expertise to his role as Resident Care Director at Brigham House Assisted Living. In this capacity, Kevin is responsible for overseeing the comprehensive care and wellness of residents, ensuring that each individual receives personalized attention and support.
Under Kevin’s leadership, the care team delivers exceptional service, fostering a collaborative environment that engages residents, families, and healthcare providers. His commitment to ongoing staff development and training ensures that residents receive the highest quality care, promoting independence, dignity, and an enhanced quality of life.
Kevin’s dedication to serving others extends beyond his professional role. He serves as an Army Reservist, demonstrating his commitment to public service and leadership. Additionally, he is actively involved in his community as a youth leader in the South Shore Kenyan-American community and creates online content, showcasing his passion for empowering others.
Yuselis Perez, Resident Care Wellness Coordinator
Yuselis Perez (or Yusi as she is called), was born and raised in Cuba, where she lived with her husband and daughter until the age of 33. In Cuba, she worked as a pharmacist technician in her town’s local pharmacy until she graduated in 2002 as a Registered Nurse from Ciencias Medicas Manuel Piti Fajardo. Upon graduating, she began working in the emergency department of her local hospital as a RN until she came to America in 2010. In the U.S., she began her journey working in Assisted Living communities and quickly fell in love with the field. In Cuba, elders are treated with love and dignity and she strives to continue that culture here. This field joins two pieces of who she is; her passion for providing excellent healthcare and her respect for those who have lived, learned, and know so much more than herself.
Yusi is very close to her family — her daughter, husband, and dogs are her world. She has 3 dogs at home — 2 yorkies and one shitzu mix, Brady, whom she adopted after a woman entering an assisted living facility she worked at could no longer care for him.
Spending time at home with her family and her dogs is what brings her the most happiness. In her free time, she loves grabbing sushi and going shopping with her daughter.
Hayli Throckmorton, Engagement Director
In 2013, Hayli graduated from Goucher College in MD with degrees in psychology and dance. Her life-long experience of using dance and the creative arts as a form of expression led her to pursue a Masters of Arts at Lesley University in Dance/Movement Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. During her Master’s program, Hayli had a clinical internship working in the programming department at Prospect House Assisted Living in Revere, another HallKeen community. During that time, she fell in love with working with the elderly and guiding residents to reignite their spark for life through engagement. Since graduating, this has been Hayli’s career choice.
In 2024, Hayli returned to HallKeen, the company that first helped her realize her passion for working in the long term care industry. When she is not at Brigham House, Hayli continues to enjoy dance and other creative outlets, as well as exploring Boston and spending time in nature.
Martha Paxton, Business Office Manager
Martha Paxton has had the pleasure of working in the Memory Care and Assisting Living industry since 2016. During the years of her career working in senior communities, she has learned how important it is to be part of each resident’s and family member’s daily life as well as meet their expectations. She has so many great memories and experiences during the years working with each of them, and continues to make more and feels blessed to be part of that. She loves and enjoys what she does and the greatest reward of the day is to feel that she made their day better, happy, and put a smile on their face.
Martha has two children, both of whom are currently in Nursing School or planning to be after High School. She loves outdoor activities, and the beach is her favorite place to be.
Ylli Gjino, Food Service Director
Ylli Gjino came to the United States from Albania with his wife and one-year old daughter in 2003. Having a love for food preparation, Ylli worked in various breakfast diners and restaurants, serving Irish, Greek, and American cuisine, which refined his taste and appreciation for food variety.
After many years working in private businesses and institutions, including The Learning Center for the Deaf, Ylli joined Brigham House as a cook in 2009. With hard work and dedication, he worked his way up to the Food Service Director position. Ylli loves his job and calls Brigham House his second home. His first home is also in Watertown, where he lives with his wife, daughter (who is now a Penn State graduate), and a second daughter who was born in the U.S. Ylli feels lucky for where life’s journey has taken him and his family.
Edward Alves, Maintenance Director
Edward Alves is an experienced facilities operations leader with more than 10 years of progressive responsibility in maintenance management, quality control, and team supervision. He brings extensive knowledge of cleaning equipment, building systems, and maintenance procedures, supported by strong organizational, communication, and customer service skills.
Throughout his career, Edward has managed large on-site teams, overseen complex facilities operations, and consistently ensured high standards of cleanliness and operational efficiency. His background includes supervising maintenance activities, coordinating repairs, conducting inspections, managing inventory, and developing efficient work schedules.
Edward lives in Fitchburg, MA, where he enjoys spending time with his family and daughter. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and watching sports.