Our History

The Gardens at Columbine opened its doors in 2000. In its development stage, our owner, Darrel Schmidt, saw the need for a new type of Colorado senior care community. One in which he could picture one of his own beloved family members living.  

A New Home for Mom

The Gardens at Columbine opened its doors in Littleton, Colorado in 2000. Over the past decade we’ve established a reputation as the leading assisted living community in the area. We’re the real deal: locally owned and operated, no franchises, no corporate oversight, nothing getting between you, your loved one, and fabulous care.

Passion for Senior Care

Our top priority at The Gardens at Columbine is to provide excellent care. We strive to find the perfect balance of support and independence for each resident. We understand that every resident has his or her own needs and we tailor our services to each individual. Our role at The Gardens at Columbine is more than just helping you with daily activities; it’s providing a place that feels just like home as we support your independence.

Extra Nursing Care

In addition to meeting all criteria for an assisted living facility in Colorado, we have gone beyond what is required and have decided to employ licensed practical nurses, who are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means that our community is equipped to handle certain situations that other facilities cannot. The on-duty nurse is able to provide full diabetes management including insulin injections. Having an LPN available enables our residents to have immediate professional evaluation at the time of a fall or another emergency event. This health service is truly unique to the Gardens at Columbine. 

Among Denver-area senior services and assisted living communities, you really won’t find better care than The Gardens at Columbine.

Our Staff

Jeremy R. Klassen

Our Executive Director, Jeremy R. Klassen, has literally grown up serving seniors in a variety of ways. As a strategic leader, he brings a balance of first-hand knowledge of the industry and comprehensive problem solving to the role. He has held several positions within the Meridian Retirement Communities group, now managed by Horizon Bay Senior Living. His career path started as a bingo caller and Easter Bunny, and led to Business Office Manager and finally to Executive Director, including oversight of more than one community.  He currently holds a board position with Colorado Assisted Living Association. Since joining The Gardens, the residents have enjoyed his friendly, hospitable approach. “Our purpose,” he says, “is to provide solutions and a helping hand to greatly enhance the lifestyle of our residents. I believe that it is important to strive for excellence, teamwork and the happiness of our staff and residents. My goal is to make The Gardens at Columbine a great place to live as well as a great place to work.” Jeremy and his wife Kim live in Arvada with their two adorable Beagles. They enjoy spending time with their large extended family and learning new things. They spend quite a bit of time preparing new recipes, dancing, boxing, hiking…and anything they can do outside. 

Cyndy Walters

Cyndy Walters, our Sales and Marketing Director, has extensive experience in sales, marketing, public relations, teaching, corporate speech coaching, event planning, voice over, print modeling, and music and drama ministry. After she graduated with a Speech and Drama Degree from Mount Union University she conducted corporate training seminars and designed office work flow plans as a Xerox Corporation Systems Representative. Her creative applications won corporate awards for increasing revenue. As a Realtor with a GRA designation she was awarded “Top Producer” for Baird and Warner Residential Real Estate Company in Illinois where she specialized in representing senior clients.  She began in sales for upscale Senior Living Communities at the Lakewood Meridian just after moving to Colorado. She served as the Community Sales Director for Atria Inn at Lakewood and before joining the team at the Gardens was a Sales Counselor at Vi in Highlands Ranch, formerly known as Classic Residence by Hyatt. Cyndy boasts that her position at the Gardens is her dream career opportunity .She also enjoys hiking, mountain biking, tennis, gardening, boating, entertaining and states: “My three children are the loves of my life and have made living near them in Colorado a phenomenal delight.”

Marci Gerke

Marci Gerke is the Health Services Director here at The Gardens at Columbine.  Marci has been a nurse for almost fourteen years.  Marci has had experience in skilled nursing communities and hospitals before coming to The Gardens at Columbine.  Marci came to the Gardens in April of 2000, a month after the community opened.  She started as a nurse, and was promoted to Health Services Director in 2005. The residents, staff and families touch her heart every day.  To Marci, The Gardens at Columbine is her second home.  Marci and the health services staff strive for excellence in caring for the residents each and every day.  Marci’s other interests include scrapbooking, spending time with her family and Sudoku.

Heidi Marino

Heidi Marino is the Life Enrichment Director.  She brings thirteen years experience of working with seniors including activities, sales and caregiving.  Her hospitality degree from Oregon State University, extensive background also in event planning, catering and hospitality has been very beneficial in this role.  She’s planned corporate, social, fundraising and non-profit events, including conventions for up to 10,000.  Her passion, though, is handling all the fun and educational events and outings for the residents at the Gardens, where her enthusiasm and creativity work so well with the good-natured fun-loving residents who are excited to try new and interesting things.  Her other interests include music, dance, skiing, wine-tasting and writing poetry.   

Paul Resenhoeft

Chef Paul Resenhoeft is the Food & Beverage Director here at the Gardens at Columbine. Chef Paul grew up in Brookfield, Wisconsin, and great food has been his passion since the age he learned to ride a bike. By age 9, he was mom’s little salad boy and kitchen helper. He learned basic knife skills and found that helping out in the kitchen was a really fun thing to do after school. He was talented in art, and discovered that food is an art of its own. Through high school he was a gymnast doing varsity rings and parallel bars, and was also on the ski team. Chef Paul has been building a reputation in the restaurant industry since his first job with Applebee’s at age 18. He enjoyed a fulfilling chapter in his career over the span of 25 years, working as a chef for concepts like The Cheesecake Factory, Rock Bottom Brewery and Yard House. Paul moved to Colorado in 1999 to open the Cheesecake Factory in Boulder, and to pursue his dreams of living the high life skiing the Rockies and creating his own little twist on food - bringing color, flavor and variety to his guests. Chef Paul enjoys mentoring our cooks, our friendly work environment, and most of all, satisfying our residents’ needs for delicious, nutritious food.

Candace McMeans

Human Resources Director Candace McMeans worked in the hospitality industry prior to joining the Gardens team in 1999. Her on-going vision is to assist in hiring exceptionally caring, skilled employees to bring compassion and joy to our cherished residents and their families. Candace is grateful to be part of our very special community, and is excited to see what the next ten years bring. Some of her other interests include spending quality time with her husband, daughter and two step-children, playing Wii, skiing, and reading.

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