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back patio area at The Spires

Experience your retirement differently

An extraordinary setting for your next chapter.

College gives us a time and a place to look forward to a life of virtually unlimited promise. And at The Spires at Berry College, the same is true of retirement.

In 1902, when Martha Berry opened a school for academically able but economically challenged children on the grounds of her family farm in Rome, her goal was to raise their aspirations. Looking upward, Martha believed, was the first step toward achieving one’s highest hopes and dreams. The Berry School grew from five students in its first year into an internationally recognized institution of higher learning with more than two thousand undergraduates.

Building upon Martha Berry’s legacy of looking up and remembering life’s purpose, there are spires featured prominently in architecture throughout campus. And what better name to describe a retirement home that harmonizes with both the surrounding beauty and cultural experience found at Berry College. Created for those who have higher aspirations for their golden years, The Spires certainly rises to the occasion – setting a new standard among retirement homes.

At The Spires, residents are surrounded by the pleasures of a learning environment without the rigors of a curriculum. Sit in on classes, attend concerts, lectures, plays and sporting events – fully immerse yourself in the vitality of campus life. Just as importantly, the 27,000-acre preserve bequeathed to the college by Martha Berry provides ample room to reflect, explore and appreciate what life in retirement can and should be.

Leadership members

We’re very proud of our experienced leadership team, each of whom is dedicated to providing an exceptional retirement experience. Though they have different areas of expertise, all of our team members have one thing in common: a passion for serving our residents with unparalleled professionalism and true compassion. Let’s get acquainted with the talented people at the heart of The Spires.

Leadership members

Headshot of Laurie Steber
Laurie Steber Executive Director
Laurie joined The Spires team in November 2019 with senior living being her purpose and passion for more than 20 years. She and her husband moved from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, to be part of this amazing community. In her spare time, Laurie loves to spend time making jewelry, shopping and being outdoors.

Leadership members

Headshot of Sara Bingham
Sara Bingham Director of Sales
Sara joined The Spires team in July 2020. She is a graduate of Auburn University (War Eagle!) and has worked in social services, case management, and healthcare marketing since graduating in 2012. Sara lives locally with her husband and their four children. She loves watching her sons play travel baseball and her daughters participate in ballet and gymnastics, and she treasures the occasional date-night with her husband.

Leadership members

Sheree Williams
Sheree Williams Retirement Counselor
Sheree joined The Spires team in June 2020. She has been serving seniors in a multitude of different healthcare settings for her entire career. She lives in the nearby town of Aragon with her husband and their daughter. Her favorite hobbies include serving with the youth ministry at her church, traveling, and exploring the outdoors.

Leadership members

Headshot of Ben Baker
Ben Baker Sales Support Specialist
Ben joined The Spires team in April 2021. He is a United States Marine Corps Veteran who has spent most of his post-service career in healthcare sales and marketing. He feels fortunate to have the opportunity to help the greatest generation transition seamlessly into retirement. Ben enjoys spending time with his wife, their three children, and their three dogs and two cats.

Leadership members

Headshot of Melanie Saglimbene
Melanie Saglimbene Lifestyle Director
Melanie joined The Spires team in July 2020. She has been a Pastor’s Wife for over 30 years, which has offered her many opportunities serving seniors in different and creative ways. She believes that “variety is the spice of life” and building relationships through colorful, exciting events and activities is her passion. Melanie enjoys spending time with her adult children and their families, traveling, and going on dates with her husband.

Leadership members

Headshot of Christine Earp
Christine Earp Resident Services Director
Christine joined The Spires team in July 2018. She lives locally on a family farm with her husband, two dogs, and one cat. She feels blessed to have all four of her adult sons and their families living here in Rome as well as her parents who live at The Spires. When she’s not on the farm, you can find Christine hiking trails, paddle boarding down one of Rome’s rivers, or making memories with her grandchildren.

Leadership members

Headshot of Nick Lancaster
Nick Lancaster Healthcare Administrator
Nick joined The Spires team in March 2020. He is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator and has served in this capacity since graduating from Huntingdon College in 2013. Nick is passionate about serving the residents of The Spires and providing them with the highest quality of care possible. He lives locally with his wife and their two sons, who he enjoys spending his time with when he’s not at The Spires.

Leadership members

Headshot of Nicole Langston
Nicole Langston Director of Nursing
Nicole joined The Spires team in December 2022. She began her career as a Certified Nursing Assistant and quickly recognized that her passion was caring for the geriatric population in the long-term care setting. She has served in this capacity as a Registered Nurse for the bulk of her career, and she considers it her calling. Despite being born and raised an Alabama girl, Nicole now lives nearby in Calhoun, Georgia, with her husband and their four children.

Leadership members

Headshot of Julia Barnes
Julia Barnes Director of Assisted Living
Julia joined The Spires team in October 2020. She has primarily worked in geriatric long-term care and feels that her passion is working with senior adults. Julia lives locally with her husband and their two sons. She loves spending time with her family and traveling, especially to the beach!

Leadership members

Bethani Dillard Director of Memory Care
Bethani joined The Spires team in January 2024. As a nurse, she has primarily worked in memory care and it's where her heart is in healthcare. She loves her role as the Memory Care Director at The Spires and feels she's exactly where she should be. Bethani lives in Rome with her husband and daughters. Her favorite place is on the beach, and she loves taking impromptu family road trips and watching her girls play sports.

Leadership members

Headshot of Lemarr Gass
Lemarr Gass Director of Accounting
Lemarr joined The Spires team in March 2020. He has worked in the healthcare industry for almost 30 years, and developing relationships with residents is what he enjoys most about his current position. Lemarr and his wife have lived in Rome for almost 20 years, are very active in the local community, and love Rome and all the outdoor activities that the area has to offer.

Leadership members

Headshot of Dianne Willerson
Dianne Willerson Director of Human Resources
Dianne joined The Spires team in March 2020. She has worked in Human Resources for a large part of her career, and she thoroughly enjoys building relationships with employees and residents. She lives locally with her husband, and she enjoys spending time with her family, especially when they’re all together at the lake.

Leadership members

Headshot of Joseph Pearson
Joseph Pearson Director of Facilities
Joseph joined The Spires team in July 2020. Joseph has over 20 years of experience in the field of community maintenance. His favorite part of the job is forming relationships with residents and providing them with the maintenance-free lifestyle they all have come to enjoy. Joseph lives locally with his wife and their children, where they love spending time outdoors, camping, and traveling.

Leadership members

Headshot of Kevin Burges
Kevin Burges Director of Housekeeping
Kevin joined The Spires team in May 2020. He is a United States Navy Veteran, and he proudly served for ten years. He has spent almost 20 years in various roles in housekeeping services within the healthcare industry, and his goal is to ensure that The Spires remains shiny and new for years to come. Kevin and his wife and children live locally. Outside of serving The Spires, he enjoys home improvement projects, woodworking, grilling, and spending time with his family.

Leadership members

Headshot of Jessica Alonso
Jessica Alonso Director of Dining Services
Jessica joined The Spires team in November 2020. She lives locally with her husband and their five kids. When she’s not catering delicious meals and cooking up wonderful menus for our residents, she’s crafting at home or vacationing at the beach with her family.
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