Leadership

Our Leadership

Locally Owned And Operated

When our ownership group first came together, we had an amazing vision to become the best stand-alone memory care in MN. Our resident-centered approach always put the needs of the resident at the forefront of every decision that is made. We took into account how we could fulfill every tactile sense for residents and create a joyful and prosperous environment. Every square inch of the building was thoroughly designed to serve the needs of those who live with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Our building has an open concept that encourages walking and being active in our community. We wanted to foster interpersonal relationships that pair activities such as cooking meals together, doing puzzles, filling bird feeders on the patio and listening to music. All of our communities are developed, owned and operated within our group for oversight and reflect our values with the goal of staying true to our vision.

Stephen F. Rowland, Jr.

Owner

For more than 30 years, Stephen F. Rowland, Jr., President and CEO of Rowland Construction Group, has been deeply involved in Minnesota real estate as a General Contractor, master builder and a long-term investor. Mr. Rowland’s achievements include over two-hundred restaurants, seventy LifeTime Fitness Facilities, U.S. Swim and Fitness and Bally’s, commercial and residential, green field and remodel, custom homes, track homes, condominiums, industrial buildings, historical hotels and historical office buildings, to name a few.

Dr. Mark Abdel, PharmD

Owner

From 2018-2023, Mark was named by the Wall Street Journal as one of the top 5 Realtors in the State of Minnesota for volume and sales. Having a diverse background as a pharmacist and deep medical knowledge has allowed him to clearly understand the growing demand for the future needs of memory care that puts the resident first.

Sue Weinzierl, RN

Licensed Assisted Living Director

Director of Nursing

Sue Weinzierl is a Registered Nurse with more than 30 years of nursing experience and brings a genuine, and caring expertise to the Rivers of Life family. Early in her professional career, Sue found a passion for enriching the lives of seniors and chose to go back to college and get a BSN degree. Since then Sue has spent over a decade leading Memory Care and Enhanced Assisted Living communities.

After beginning her career in a clinical setting, Sue knew she wanted to do more than just treat loved ones. She wanted to get to know the people she was taking care of and form meaningful relationships while improving their quality of life. At Rivers of Life, we see your loved one as a person whose life has purpose and meaning. We see our residents as family, as a person. Sue embodies the Rivers of Life philosophy and leads the staff to focus on the possibilities ahead instead of their limitations, to create days of meaning and joy.

Silvia Barrios,

Director of Operations

Silvia Barrios is a Special Education Teacher with more than 25 years of experience caring for seniors with Dementia and managing Senior living housing around the country. Silvia graduated from the University of St. Thomas and worked teaching kindergarteners with autism in the Wayzata School District for 9 years.

In the year 2000, Silvia had the opportunity to make a career change and began working with seniors experiencing memory loss. Managing different senior communities with Dementia has become her life focus and passion. Silvia found in Rivers of Life a place where the same values and compassion are shared and put to practice every day.