Our Team
Glenda Hanley
Executive Director
Glenda joined Lake Howard Heights in 2008, where she began as Director of Sales and Marketing. She remained in that role until 2010 when she accepted the position of Executive Director. Glenda has been in the senior housing industry since 1986. She has one daughter, two sons and five grandchildren. Glenda was born and raised in Polk County, so she is not only a true Florida native, but a Polk County native as well! She has a true and genuine love for the residents of the community.
After the loss of her father in 1992 and mother in 2005, she has been reminded that they would have been the age of some of the residents, so this has become her motivation for how she leads the community; the residents fill a void that was left, and she does her best to take care of them the way she would her own parents if they were still here.
Her personal hobbies are singing, visiting small town historical districts in search of little quaint shops and spending as much time with her family as possible.
Jennifer Volneck
Sales and Marketing Director
Jennifer joined Lake Howard Heights in 2023, where she began as the Move in Coordinator. When the opportunity arose for a chance to pursue growth , she was promoted to our Director of Sales and Marketing. Jennifer graduated from Keiser University with an AA in Health Service Administration and is working towards her BA in Business Management.
Jen has been in senior housing for almost 7 years. She has worked as receptionist, on the care staff, housekeeping, and Activities Director. Taking a break for a couple of years and working her way up the ladder at a building supply company. In 2023, she decided it was time to come back to senior living! When asked why senior living, she shared that she loves the family that you create not only with the staff but with the residents and their families. Hearing the stories of where the residents come from and all the things that they have done in their lives is special. Being able to create a safe and comfortable home for residents is one of a kind feeling.
Jennifer is a 6th generation Floridian and loves everything Florida has to offer. When she isn’t at Lake Howard Heights, she is spending her time with her family and friends on her boat cruising or fishing the chain of lakes, here in Winter Haven.
Victoria McCloud
Business Office Coordinator
Vicki joined the Lake Howard Heights team in September of 2024. She began her career in senior housing in 1987 and continued in that same community for the past 37 years until joining the LHH team! She has extensive experience in all facets of senior housing business operations.
Vicki was born and raised in Haines City, Florida, which makes her not only a Florida native, but a Polk County native as well. She has 2 sons and 8 beautiful grandchildren. She received her associate’s degree in art and business administration in 2003 and received the Outstanding Academics Award. Her hobbies are spending time with her family, participating in Church events and helping with her Church’s ladies’ ministries. She loves music and loves to be a part of her church choir.
When asked what has been the reason that she has remained in senior housing all these years, she shared that she just loves assisting them and helping make their days the best it can be.
Louise Mulliniks
Independent Living Lifestyles Director
Louise has been at Lake Howard Heights for total of 11 years and has been in the senior living industry for 15 years. Whether it’s the traditional bingo or Pokeno games, craft projects, guest speakers, lunches or dinners out, attending a play at our local community theatre or supporting our Tampa Bay Rays baseball team, Louise knows how to create personalized and enjoyable experiences for our busy residents.
Lou has been married to her high school sweetheart for 42 years; they have two grown children and three grandchildren who occupy her time when she is not at work.
Dena Lofton
Wellness Director
Dena joined the Lake Howard Heights team in 2009 as our Wellness Director. She completed her nursing training in 1997. Although Dena was new to this role in 2009, she was not new to Lake Howard Heights since she was the nurse that rounded with the former in-house physician’s group, so she has actually been coming to the community since 2003. This affiliation and knowledge of our community made her transition with the residents a smooth and easy one.
During her time as Wellness Director, she has introduced and successfully implemented a rock-solid organized department. She has great longevity among her team that serves with her in this department, as many have been with her for her entire time at our community. Her department excels in the area of regulatory compliance, and she has a long-time success record of receiving deficiency-free scoring within her department. In 2017, she received the Argentum National Hero Award. She—along with six other health care professionals—was chosen from 10,000 national submissions.
Dena is the mother of two beautiful daughters, Taylor and Chandler, as well as the most adorable French bulldog, Ruby. Dena enjoys the beach, Disney, shopping and spending time with her girls—but mostly with Ruby!
Justin Short
Director of Maintenance/Housekeeping
Justin joined the Lake Howard Heights team in 2022 as our Maintenance Assistant. He quickly learned the ins and outs of the community and when the opportunity arose for a chance to grow, he was promoted to our Director of Maintenance and Housekeeping. Justin was born in New Castle Indiana and relocated to Florida in 2007.
When he is not making sure that LHH is running perfectly from a maintenance standpoint he enjoys playing basketball and spending time with his family. He has a large movie collection and his favorite movie of all-time would-be Batman. He also enjoys spending time with our residents and helping them out when they need some assistance with their apartments. When he was first presented with the opportunity to come to LHH, he said he jumped on this because he felt this was a great opportunity and one that he is thankful that he took on.
Ricky Kirk
Senior Dining Services Director
Ricky joined the LHH family in 2020. Originally from Kentucky, he loves southern and soul food, as well as ethnic cuisines. He received his culinary degree from Sullivan University in Lexington KY.
Ricky is responsible for all aspects of the dining program, from menu development and purchasing to table service in the dining room. When he’s not cooking or grilling at home, you can find him with his family at Disney.
Ruby
Lake Howard Heights Mascot
Hi, my name is Ruby and I’m the LHH Pet Mascot! I came to LHH in 2018 when I was blessed to become the owner of my human, Dena, the Wellness Director at the community! I love to come to work with her and ride around in my stroller with the Lifestyles Department and the Care Associates and visit all of the beautiful residents and love them and give them a smile. I am a French bulldog and I love to eat! I have 2 older human sisters and I am about to be a 2-time aunt to each of their babies! I sound like I’m growling sometimes, but it’s just because I do tend to grunt like a little piggy sometimes – when I get excited.
If you want to bring your human here to live at this amazingly fun place, I would love to play with you and show you all around the community!
