Our Team
Our staff, both in the office and in the field, provide extensive support for our clients, their families and each other. It is this collaborative, caring environment that ensures all of the details are taken care of for our clients.
Our staff undergoes rigorous screening including checking all references and undergoing a Federal background check. All field staff are licensed, bonded and insured and receive training as a Home Care Aide or Certified Nursing Assistant as well as ongoing continuing education to ensure they have the skills they need. Most important they have the full support of our office staff to ensure the client is protected at all times
We encourage you to take a moment to learn about us!
Meet Our Office Staff
Merri Klein - President - email
Merri is very passionate about Companion Care. The decision to start her own business in 2004 was based on a desire to provide a service that makes a difference in peoples lives. As a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Merri started her career working with Westinghouse Electric Corporation designing and testing Naval Nuclear Reactors. Over the next 20 years, she held various positions as an engineer and later as a business consultant. While she appreciates all the experienced gained from working with big organizations, she describes starting her own business as “coming home”. Merri loves being an employer and is amazed every day by the wonderful work her employees do. A day doesn't go by without someone telling Merri how much they appreciate CCI’s support in caring for a family member. She is very proud of Companion Care and the difference our team makes in people’s lives.
Mark Lofstead - Administrator - email
Mark worked for many years as an investigator and manager in Civil Rights for the federal government. In 2004, he helped Merri begin Companion Care and now helps manage the business aspects of Companion Care. Mark and Merri married in 1997 and moved to the Seattle area in 1998. When he is not crunching numbers in the Companion Care office, Mark enjoys hiking in the Cascades with Merri, gardening and rearranging old songs while playing the piano.
Lea Areitio - Payroll/Billing Specialist - email
Ann Feyen - Creekside Care Manager and Schedule Coordinator - email
Originally from Thailand and Hawaii, Ann moved to the beautiful Pacific Northwest in 2017 to attend Cascadia College where she pursued Business Administration and Nursing. While in school, she applied to Companion Care as a Home Care Aid, and her passion changed to helping the elderly. While working with Companion Care Ann obtained her Nurse Delegation Certification so she could work alongside hospice teams and caregivers at the Creekside facility. Ann was promoted to Creekside Care Manager and Schedule Coordinator in 2021 where along with spending her time managing and scheduling, Ann also offers hands-on assistance to clients when needed.
When Ann is not working, she is a big foodie and loves going out and trying new restaurants in the area. Ann also enjoys going on hikes and adventuring in the seaside towns around the Washington coast.
Yvette Moreno - Human Resource / Office Manager - email
Yvette comes from a Mexican family that devotes its efforts to helping others. Yvette decided to go into home care because it embodies her family’s motto; “Caring for others is just what you do.” Knowing she wanted to cultivate her passion for helping and serving others, she attended Lake Washington Technical College and earned her Home Care Aid license. Yvette also obtained her Med Tech and Nurse Delegation Certification allowing her to work alongside hospice teams, providing hands-on comfort and support to individuals facing life-limiting illnesses.
Yvette joined Companion Care Inc.’s team in 2017 where she started working as a part-time caregiver and HR assistant. Quickly learning that helping others through a supervisory role was a passion of hers, she knew that Human Resources was the field for her. Yvette brings 10 years of experience as a caregiver which helps her focus attention on managing our staff. She also uses her strong organizational skills in managing the office.
Alongside raising her most pride possessions, her children, Yvette loves spending her time building a strong office team that enjoys working together like a family.
On Yvette's free time she enjoys hiking, camping, going to her child's sports games, and spending time with her friends and family.
Rainbow Quam - Care Manager - email
Rainbow joined CCI in May of 2022. Previously, she worked at an assisted living facility as a Resident Care Coordinator and a Memory Care Director. Rainbow has years of on-the-job experience having worked with clients, families, medical professionals, and state auditors. With Companion Care, she truly enjoys meeting clients and visiting them in their homes and then working to match up the best caregiver who will connect the most with each client.
Rainbow was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She enjoys fishing year-round in the Puget Sound along with hunting for Chantrelle mushrooms in the Cascade mountains every weekend in the fall, rain, or shine. She gardens every Spring growing many vegetables in which she forces co-workers to take home with them.
Daya Valdez - Recruiter - email
Daya comes from a Mexican background. At a young age, Daya has always found herself helping others. She enjoys putting a smile on others and making them feel better. Daya knew she wanted to help others, so to pursue her dream she went to Westfield Nursing Insitute to obtain her CNA license.
Daya join Companion Care in May of 2021, as a caregiver. Later then joined our office staff in May of 2022 as our Recruiter.
In her free time, Daya enjoys spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys going to the gym and loves animals. One day she hopes to own a monkey.
Shantelle Ramos - Scheduler - email
Shantelle was born in Albuquerque, NM. She graduated from high school at Liberty Ranch Christian School and began to pursue a degree in cosmetology. At the same time, Shantelle took on the important role of caring for her great-grandmother that started her caregiving journey. The experience with her great-grandmother gave her great insight and set the direction for her new career path. She has been a licensed HCA for over 7 years and her experience has led her to join our team at Companion Care as a Lead Scheduler.
While she was pursuing a degree in cosmetology, she found her beloved husband who she has been married to for 12 years. They now share a wonderful life with their 3 beautiful children.
During Shantelle’s time off, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones. She also enjoys decorating and crafting various knick-knacks for her home. Other fun activities she enjoys are playing board games with her family or scrapbooking.