Meet Our Team

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Senior Leadership

Steven Joubert, LMHC, LNHA

President/Administrator

Steven Joubert joined Mount St. Rita Health Centre in September 2025. As President of the senior care ministry, he is responsible for daily operations, strategic planning and business development.

Steven is a strategic, performance-focused and visionary leader with 20+ years of proven success in driving operational excellence and regulatory compliance. He is also adept at leading cross-functional teams, developing policy, building stakeholder partnerships and enhancing patient-centered care.

Steven holds graduate degrees in Business Management and Counseling Psychology from Emmanuel College and University of Massachusetts; respectively. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling overseas and volunteering at Our Lady of LaSalette as a lector minister.

Sandra Aponte, RN

Director of Nursing

Sandra Aponte, RN, Director of Nursing, comes to Mount St. Rita with many years’ experience in the healthcare industry, including more than 15 years in long term care communities. Sandra’s past experiences include Director of Nursing, Infection Control Specialist, and wound care nurse. Sandra has worked in New York and Rhode Island nursing centers helping them achieve deficiency free survey results. In her free time, she likes to read, spend time with her dogs and her granddaughter; she also enjoys visiting museums and going on road trips.

Maryellen Gillis

Director of Admissions and Business Development

Maryellen has been with the team at Mount St. Rita since 2017. An alum of Bishop Feehan High School, she has a deep connection with the Sisters of Mercy ensuring the community’s mission, values and philosophy are entrenched at Mount St. Rita. Dedicated to her profession in welcoming families and helping them through the process of admitting a loved one for short or long term care is her passion.

Neven Pesa

Director of Mission and Spiritual Care

Neven Pesa brings extensive healthcare chaplaincy experience across the full spectrum of senior care. A Melkite Catholic with several years of monastic and seminary training, his background uniquely equips him to collaborate harmoniously with local clergy of diverse rites and with Mount St. Rita residents of many different backgrounds. Neven is enthusiastic about working with the interdisciplinary team to serve staff, residents and families with the guidance of God’s grace in the tradition of Mercy.

Ellen LeBrun

EXP/Employee Experience Director

Ellen joined Covenant in 2025. Ellen is responsible for implementing Human Resource strategies that support business objectives, ensuring compliance, and promoting continuous improvement in the employee experience and company processes that support the organization’s values. Overseeing Employee Experience, employee relations, recruitment, retention, training and development. Ellen has 20 years of Human Resource Management experience and is a Certified Professional by the Society for Human Resource Management.

Board of Trustees

Armand Brunelle
Donna Conroy, RSM
Don Houde
Suzanne Lachapelle, RSM
Dara Misto, PhD, RN
Marypatricia Murphy, RMS
Rev. Mark Nowel, O.P.
Gary Robey
Jean Siddall-Bensson, MD
Patricia Viera

Medical Team

Michael Klufas, MD, Medical Director

Reasons to Choose Mount St. Rita

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