Meet Our Team at The Birches at New Hope

Justin’s passion for working with seniors stems from his own relationship with his great grandparents when he was younger. Throughout his career he has worked in the hospital-based setting, the skilled nursing setting, and the home care setting, but has dedicated the last two decades to working exclusively with seniors and memory care. With over twenty years of nursing experience in various roles, Justin is an experienced Administrator, Nurse, and has had extensive training related to Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Justin also enjoys volunteering to assist others and is an advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. Justin has lived in Montgomery County for most of his life and spends his downtime with his family and friends. He also enjoys gardening, music and traveling. Justin loves working in senior living because of the connections he makes with residents and families and looks forward to seeing you on your next visit to the community!

jmason@thebirchesatharleysville.com

As Resident Life Director, Lauren Farrell brings warmth, creativity, and a passion for connection to every part of community life. She’s dedicated to creating meaningful experiences that enrich each day for residents and make the community feel like home.

Before joining the senior living field full time, Lauren worked in the entertainment costuming department at Walt Disney World, where she discovered her love for creating moments that spark joy and bring people together.

In her free time, Lauren spends time in Reading, PA stage managing local operas. When she isn’t working, she enjoys traveling, singing, and spending time at home with her two cats.

Jennifer brings a wealth of experience in sales, marketing, and communications to The Birches at New Hope. She has worked at a variety of continuing care retirement communities in Bucks and Montgomery counties for over 15 years.

“There’s nothing more fulfilling than helping families find peace of mind and seniors find a place they can truly call home. Working in senior living sales isn’t just a job—it’s a calling to serve, guide, and make a real difference every single day.”

Jennifer spent the early part of her career in New York City working in publishing and the nonprofit sector before moving to Pennsylvania. She now lives in New Hope with her husband and two children. When she is not cheering on the youth soccer, softball, and flag football sidelines, she enjoys a good book, a great recipe, travel, and spending time at the Jersey Shore.

Kristine has almost 20 years’ experience in all areas of nursing but mostly focused on the senior population. Her compassion for our elders continues to grow every day which drives her to provide the best care and dedication that they deserve. Kristine is confident that our community in New Hope will grow and become a thriving environment for our seniors to flourish.

When she is not at work, Kristine stays busy with her three children’s schooling and many different sports. She also enjoys playing League Billiards, the Yankees, and spending time in the Outer Banks .

Luther Mickow is the Director of Dining Services of The Birches of New Hope with over 20 years of experience in the culinary world to include senior living, higher education, residential dining, high-volume catering, restaurant and hotel management operations. He aspires to bring his expertise and diverse experience to The Birches of New Hope and elevate the dining experience for the residents. Some of his notable leadership roles include Director of Dining Services/Executive Chef at Legend Senior Living, Executive Chef at Chartwells Higher Education – University of Central Oklahoma, and Sous Chef at Sodexo Higher Education – Oklahoma City University.

Luther was born and raised in Oklahoma.  He now resides in Levittown with his beautiful wife and two amazing kids.  In his free time, he enjoys cooking for his family, traveling, exercising, live music concerts and outdoor activities.

Lauren has nearly a decade of experience in the senior living field, where she has served in a variety of roles including Activities Assistant, Med Tech, Program Director, and Memory Care Director. As a Certified Dementia Practitioner, Lauren brings deep knowledge and compassion to her work, particularly in supporting individuals living with memory loss.

Outside of her professional life, Lauren enjoys traveling, attending concerts, exploring new foods, and seeking out new adventures. Originally from Langhorne, she now resides in Doylestown with her fiancé and their two beloved rabbit companions, Ollie and Ellie.

Ray joined The Birches at New Hope with over 15 years of experience in maintenance, specialized in supporting personnel care and memory care communities. He takes great pride in creating a safe, comfortable, and well-maintained living environment for the residents and staff alike. Ray describes his work as driven through a commitment to reliability, respect, and attention to detail.

Kelly Zengel is a dedicated healthcare professional with over 25 years of experience in operational, leadership and patient care.  Her experience allows her to engage with all aspects of senior living, creating strong supportive relationships with the residents, their families, the community and colleagues. 

Kelly is married to her husband Michael and has two children Gregory and Sarah. She has two labradors whom she adores, and she enjoys camping, the beach, but most of all spending time with family.