Our Community

In 1955, Florida Presbyterian Homes opened with just one house, six residents and three staff members. We got our start when a pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church called in to visit Erwin Howland in the Lakeland Terrace Hotel. Erwin had just come out of the hospital, was over 80, and was tired of living in a hotel — he wanted a place more like home. With his subsequent gift and contributions from others, a six-room house was purchased to provide care and a place to live for 10 seniors. Since then, our retirement community has expanded to serve over 300 residents on a 48-acre lakeside campus.

FPH is a nonprofit, Life Plan Community whose ministry is to serve older adults from all faiths with holistic, compassionate care and support in maintaining independence and achieving greater wellness.

Florida Presbyterian Homes vision is to create a neighborhood centered on valuing and enhancing the quality of life for each resident making ours a premier life plan community.

• Compassion: We’re a nurturing, loving community whose compassion is abundant.
• Community: We build positive, effective and sustained relationships that support active, vibrant and spiritual communities.
• Opportunity: We believe opportunity means enjoying life your way — learning, growing and living among friends.
• Security: We provide lifelong continuing care that fosters peace of mind and a sense of security.
• Integrity: We’re committed to the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability.

Joseph J. Xanthopoulos
Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director

Joseph has served as CEO/Executive Director to Florida Presbyterian Homes, Inc. since January of 2019. He has worked in this field for more than 25 years serving in leadership roles in Illinois, Wisconsin, and New Hampshire. He absolutely loves what he does. He considers it an honor and a privilege to serve in this field and specifically in this ministry here in Lakeland, Florida.

David Larson
Chief Financial Officer

David joined Florida Presbyterian Homes as Chief Financial Officer in April of 2019. He has 23 years’ experience in the CCRC/LPC industry in areas of Accounting & Finance, served as the CFO to various communities for the past 19 years, and in the healthcare industry for 30 years. His relationship with God is core to his professional and personal life.

Chevonne Foster
PMG Administrator

Rick Powers
Director of Environmental Services

Rick has 30+ years of experience in Environmental Services and has been the Director of Environmental Services at Florida Presbyterian Homes for the past 25 years. His focus is on meeting the needs and ambitions of our resident to the best of our abilities.

Marsha Leap
Human Resource / Office Manager

Etta D. Owens
Chaplain

Etta enjoys fostering a welcoming spiritual environment of compassion, exuberance, and joy centered in Christian teachings and values while leading Sunday Chapel Worship. She also leads weekly Bible studies, hospital, and nursing home visitations, performing celebrations of life (weddings and memorial services), and coordinating programs focused on life enrichment in a loving, Christian environment. She joined Florida Presbyterian Homes in 1993 but has served in the role of Chaplain since October of 2019.

La’Shanda “Sunshine” Taylor
Director of Nursing

The Board of Directors is the governing body of Florida Presbyterian Homes. They’re nominated and then elected to an initial three-year term. Members may be reelected for two subsequent three-year terms, but then must rotate off the board for a minimum of one year.

Our Board of Directors:

• Defines our mission, vision and values.
• Forms policies.
• Ensures that we plan effectively.
• Determines our goals.
• Selects, supports and evaluates the CEO/Executive Director.
• Monitors and strengthens our programs, services and financial resources.
• Provides proper financial oversight.
• Monitors and strengthens Board performance.
• Ensures legal and ethical integrity and compliance.

Elena Nicholas
Director of Finance and Administration, First Presbyterian Church

Michael W. Tamney, Chair
Vice President, Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley

William Cloyd, Treasurer
Retired, Senior Vice President Banking, First National Bank of Pasco

Katie Piperata, Vice Chair
Senior Partner, Director of Operations, MedBest Recruiting and Consulting, Inc.

Tom Bowles
President, Alltek Services, Inc.

Maureen Browne
Retired, Spanish Teacher, St. Joseph’s Catholic School

Ronald R. Shuck
Senior Housing Development Consultant, Windermere Strategic Partners, LLC

Dick Huggins
Resident Representative

Martha Pope
Resident Representative

Jim Verplanck
Retired, Director of Community Development, City of Lakeland

Scott Langston, JD, MBA
Attorney, Scott H. Langston Law

April Novotny, RN, Secretary
Chief Nurse Executive and Vice President of Clinical Services, Lakeland Regional Health

Dan Lacy
Retired, Vice President, College Mount Saint Joseph

Don Selvage
Owner, SHR Human Resources, LLC

Paul S. Suich, Ph.D., M.Div.
Director of St. Andrew Ministry, First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland