RALA Leadership Team
Carrying On the Legacy of Our Founder, Gene Guarino
Mona
Mona is an experienced real estate investor with 35 years of real estate investing under her belt. She has a background in Fashion Design and Accounting. Mona has helped create and run three Residential Assisted Living homes in Arizona, over the last nine years. She is a partner in the Majestic Home Franchises, a franchise company for RAL homes, the first of its kind. As well as a partner in Roundbox Equity, actively investing in students RAL projects across the country. She works actively in Residential Assisted Living Academy helping students realize their RAL dreams and accomplish their goals to opening a care home to seniors.
Mona
Principal Owner
Isabelle
Isabelle is a graduate from Arizona State University, a former flight attendant, Disney employee and now works as the Chief Executive Officer of the company and our lead educator. She has taken over the educational aspects form our late Founder, Gene Guarino and leads the company in our pursuit to Do Good and Do Well.
Isabelle
Chief Executive Officer
Victoria
Victoria has a Master’s degree in Education and has been a grade school teacher for the last 6 years. As the CFO, she helps to keep our executive team organized.
Victoria
Chief Financial Officer
Krista
Krista has a Master’s Degree in International Business from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. Her path started by managing at In N Out Burger, then working at a commercial real estate brokerage, to running multiple small businesses, and now is our Chief Operations Officer.
Krista
Chief Operating Officer
Our Team
A Team of People Ready to Do Good and Do Well
(Click on each team member’s picture to read their bio)
Robert (Rob)
Rob provides RALA with marketing support. He has a passion for serving others and strives to make a positive impact through commitment, trust, and action. Born and raised in Arizona, Rob holds a bachelors degree from Arizona State University and a masters degree from John Paul the Great Catholic University. He loves spending time with his family and volunteering at church. Rob is married to Abby and together they live in Chandler, Arizona with their four children; Luke, Liam, Riley, and Owen.
Robert
Marketing Support
Antonio
Antonio is a graduate from Northern Arizona University. He coaches volleyball and has a passion for helping us save money as a team. He is a wonderful support for Victoria and loves working with family. He has an adorable pug named Pono!
Antonio
Director of Finance
As Senior Operations Manager, Alexa has a knack for all things detail — managing smooth and efficient business operations. Alexa brings extensive experience working in both government and corporate environments. She is a proud triple Arizona State graduate.
Alexa
Senior Operations Manager
Sarah Edelman is a seasoned marketing executive renowned for her extensive experience and dedication to fostering growth and innovation. As the former Vice President of Marketing at Homie, a pioneering real estate technology company, she led dynamic marketing teams across five states.
Sarah
Social Media Manager
As the Compliance Manager, Lauren enjoys using her focus and attention to detail to help support the team. Lauren grew up in NY, and she and her husband have spent the last several years in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Now happily settled in the Carolinas, Lauren enjoys being outside, exploring her new city, and spending every second she can with her son, Jonah.
Lauren
Compliance Manager
Eloy has more than a decade of experience in Supply Chain Management. Born in Texas and raised in southern Arizona. As an Arizona State University graduate he has a passion for sports along with teaching and practicing Jujitsu. He also enjoys spending time with friends and family especially around special events and holidays.
Eloy
Customer Support Specialist
Taylor lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, Raul, 4 year old son, Lincoln, and has another baby on the way! Taylor is a Registered Nurse and has worked at Mayo Clinic for the last 5 years in both the inpatient and outpatient realms. She also has experience in recruiting, sales and customer service. Taylor loves combining her medical knowledge with her other skill sets to help answer any and all questions about RALA and is passionate about the aging population receiving the best care possible! In her free time, Taylor loves spending time with her family and friends, traveling and reading.
Taylor
Social Media Engagement Specialist
Tina is a filmmaker, editor, and photographer in Phoenix, Arizona. Raised in a military family, Tina’s upbringing took her to various corners of the globe, fostering a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and experiences. She is influenced by the art of telling stories and connecting with the people in her work. Her work reflects her passion for both cinematography and photography, blending technical skill with a heartfelt narrative approach that resonates with audiences alike.
Tina
Media Support Specialist
Jesse
Jesse brings a wealth of experience in web technology to the team. He’s an Arizona State University graduate with a degree in Photography, and years of experience in multimedia production.
Jesse
AV Specialist
Adrienne works as a project manager, actor, personal trainer and nutrition coach. She has a background in musical theatre, film & tv and graduated from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles. She has held many management positions in the hospitality industry, worked as a social media specialist for wellness companies and currently runs her own fitness business. The busier the better!!!
Adrienne
Special Projects Manager
Tess
Tess is a personal trainer and health coach who loves any opportunity to inspire those around her to take ownership of their health and improve the quality of their lives. She is excited by new and challenging opportunities and is looking forward to bringing positive energy, creative ideas, and a high caliber of work ethic to the RALA team!
Tessie
Executive Assistant
Tyler
Tyler is a Licensed Real Estate Agent and Investor in the State of Texas and enjoyed visiting Assisted Living Facilities as a kid to meet seniors and hear their stories. He is the founder of an Aerial Marketing Company, and enjoys finding creative investments through his family Real Estate Investment company. He loves to chat with future students about their goals and help set them up for success within RALAcademy.
Tyler
Student Enrollment Manager
Brandon is a former semi-professional tennis player obsessed with self-improvement and holding both himself and others to high standards so everyone can elevate. He has a wide range of experience helping businesses scale, mainly within the real estate and e-commerce space.
Brandon is passionate about helping people overcome internal and external barriers, allowing them to shift into the next stage of their lives and experience freedom and growth in their desired areas.
Brandon
Student Enrollment Specialist
Colby was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon. When he was five years old, his mother started and operated a residential assisted living home. He grew up in residential assisted living homes up until he moved out at the age of eighteen to study theology in Kansas City, Missouri. Now it is his mission and goal to share with others the lifestyle and joy an assisted living home can bring to an individual or family looking to start their own.
Colby
Student Enrollment Specialist
With 12+ years of experience, Justin is extremely passionate about helping people achieve their goals. Outside of work, he is a mega nerd, often found gaming or working on a new PC build. Him and his wonderful partner share a 6-year-old (Marely) who is the love of his life. Justin is excited to continue learning and growing with the RALA Family!
Justin
Student Enrollment Specialist
Justis is in the human solutions business. He makes sure that if people come to him with problems, they leave with solutions.
Justis
Student Enrollment Specialist
Phillip is a former collegiate athlete and a graduate from San Diego State University. His background is in managing sales operations for multi million dollar fitness facilities.
He inspires to help others and understands the urgent need for Residential Assisted Living. He’s excited to be apart of team RALA and strives to help clients get started on the first steps to financial freedom.
Philip
Student Enrollment Specialist
Dana
Dana is a registered nurse with 18+ years medical experience. Along with medical office management, she has a background in ICU, Critical Care, & Neurology. She is the co-founder of Lighthouse Personal Care Homes. After earning her Residential Assisted Living Specialist Certification through RAL Academy she has focused her efforts on becoming a memory care and dementia specialist. She is currently a Virtual Dementia Tour Facilitator and is in the process of becoming a PAC certified trainer. As an owner operator of a memory care home, she emphasizes education and support for staff, resident families, and local communities.
Dana
Student Success Support
Ann
Ann is a former RAL student turned staff member. She is a real estate investor in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Ann has 20 years of financial experience prior to getting in to real estate and is now co-owner of an RAL in Ohio. She helps our students with their and is always there to answer any questions or concerns regarding the RAL journey.
Ann
Student Success Support
David
David has a long history in Financial Planning and Program Management in the computing field. David supports the RAL Academy Associates with writing their business plans and working with the Financial Suite.
David
Student Success Support
Graham began his RAL journey in 2015 when his wife Mandi, also an RAL Support Coach, brought him to the RAL seminar in Arizona. Later that year, Mandi and Graham opened the very first RAL in the Northeast, Commonwealth House Assisted Living in Warwick, RI. Mandi and Graham are now preparing to break ground on a second community in the same area, and are excited about continuing to promote the RAL model throughout the Northeast as well helping fellow RAL students and operators.
Mandi and Graham are both graduates of California State University, Sacramento and live in Warwick RI, with their two sons, Ian and Russell, and two Border Collies, Buzz and Sumo.
Graham
Student Success Support
Jamie
Jamie is a seasoned entrepreneur with an extensive background in financial advising and real estate investments including property acquisition and disposition. Jamie earned his Residential Assisted Living Specialist Certification in 2016 and now mentors and coaches other RALA students.
Jamie
Student Success Support
Janet
Janet has a Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and worked with geriatric patients with strokes, dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease and other neurological disorders for 30 years. She earned the RAL Specialist designation in 2017 and is the co-founder and Administrator of Mimi’s House Assisted Living and Memory Care in Cincinnati, OH. Janet enjoys educating and helping others, and sharing her passion for providing a better life for seniors.
Janet
Student Success Support
Jim
Jim has trained tens of thousands of entrepreneurs in business, investing, real estate, marketing, finance and personal development. He’s led hundreds of seminars throughout the United States, is author of the Amazon #1 best-seller “Get Real MONEY!”, he’s been on radio many times and been published in over 800 periodicals. Jim regularly supports our RAL Academy Student Associates while simultaneously developing a nationally branded RAL concept.
Jim
Student Success Support
Lea is a licensed physical therapist, graduating with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Texas Medical Branch. As of 2025, Lea brings with her 31 years of patient care experience in various healthcare populations and settings. She is a commercial real estate investor and operator with a MF portfolio in Tucson, AZ and Houston, TX and RAL homes in Austin and Fulshear, TX. She loves martial arts, reading, traveling, and her dogs – Nemo, Maui, and Gus.
Lea
Student Success Support
Dr. Lorn
Dr. Lorn Miller is a board certified neurologist with over 35 years experience in the medical field. He is contracted by clinics & universities across the country from Florida to Alaska and has served on numerous boards and has held academic affiliations at multiple colleges & universities. He has been featured on local radio and television programs as well. Dr. Miller joined the Lighthouse Personal Care Home team in 2017.
Dr. Lorn
Student Success Support
Mandi is a long time RAL student and a pioneering owner and operator of New England’s first RAL. She is an East Coast transplant originally hailing from Northern California, where she was a small business owner, having owned and operated a very successful mobile dog grooming business. Mandi and her husband, Graham, attended the RAL training in 2015 and opened Commonwealth House in Warwick, Rhode Island the following year. Currently they are in the pre-construction phase of their second building, a 16 bed memory care, which will be completed in 2024. Mandi is passionate about operations and making sure her residents and staff are well cared for and delighted every day. She lives in Warwick, RI with her husband, her two sons Ian and Russell, and two Border Collies Buzz and Sumo.
Mandi
Student Success Support
Mark
Mark Hutton earned his RAL Specialist credentials with the RAL Academy in 2017 and he is delighted to be a part of the Student Success Support team. He is a former engineer and real estate entrepreneur with skills and experience in deal analysis, residential and commercial acquisitions, and raising money. He is the co-founder and Business Manager of Mimi’s House Assisted Living and Memory Care in the Cincinnati area. Outside of skiing, boarding, cars, and motorcycles, Mark truly enjoys teaching and mentoring others in real estate and RAL!
Mark
Student Success Support
Michelle
Michelle Lovitt. is a former student of the RAL Academy. She is co-founder and owner of Audubon Care Homes in New Orleans, Louisiana with her husband. She is dedicated to becoming a specialists in the field of residential assisted living and memory care. She enjoys mentoring and coaching other RALA students so they can succeed!
Michelle
Student Success Support
Snawing is a seasoned Registered Nurse with extensive experience in the Intensive Care Unit and as a traveling nurse. As a former RAL Academy student, he successfully opened several assisted living homes in the state of Wisconsin. Snawing now mentors and coaches other RAL students, guiding them in opening their first homes and achieving success in the industry.
Snawing
Student Success Support
DeShaun is a dedicated member of the Student Success Support Team, bringing over a decade of experience in residential and commercial real estate, specializing in property acquisition and disposition. As a proud U.S. Air Force veteran and seasoned entrepreneur, he combines discipline and business acumen to support and guide students toward achieving their Residential Assisted Living (RAL) goals. DeShaun is passionate about lifelong learning and enjoys encouraging others to grow through shared knowledge and experience. Outside of work, he finds joy in watching his son excel on the soccer field, staying active through fitness, and playing basketball. He completed the 3-day in-person RAL training in February 2020 and is committed to helping students succeed every step of the way.
DeShaun
Student Success Support
A RAL Academy Inner Circle alum, Carmina holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Ateneo de Manila University and an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University.
Currently working in corporate America, she has over 25 years of experience in global supply chain management, overseeing multibillion-dollar international freight programs for Fortune 50 companies. As a former adjunct professor at the University of Houston, she has taught advanced logistics concepts to university seniors.
She is the owner-operator of a 13-bed home in the Houston, TX area, serving the fastest-growing wealthy suburb in the country (as of 2025). Carmina has also partnered with Inner Circle students on a two-home portfolio in Austin, TX (25 beds total). Her investment activities include single-family and multifamily syndication portfolios in TX, AZ, NJ, and the Philippines.
Carmina
Student Success Support
Ilitch is a physician with more than 20 years of experience in healthcare, real estate investor and entrepreneur. He is part of the board of directors of the Minnesota chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. He earned the RAL Specialist designation in 2019 and co-founded SPIRIT Care Homes with his wife Ria, who is a nurse practitioner. Ilitch is passionate about sharing his experience as an RAL operator with students. In his free time he enjoys pulling weeds or shoveling snow.
Ilitch
Student Success Support
Isabelle Guarino, CEO of Residential Assisted Living Academy
Meet the Woman Advancing Our Mission
Isabelle Guarino stepped in to carry the torch her father lit, bringing fresh energy and a fierce commitment to the mission of doing good and doing well. As CEO of Residential Assisted Living Academy, she has trained thousands of students nationwide, empowering them to build businesses that create meaningful impact for seniors, their families, and their communities.
Meet the Man Behind Our Mission
Gene Guarino filled his first home with seniors and spent the better part of a decade teaching others how to copy his success. He trained investors and entrepreneurs throughout the United States how to invest in and operate successful residential assisted living homes and how to implement our Do Good Do Well Method.
Gene Guarino, Founder of Residential Assisted Living Academy