Meet the Aspen Associates Group Team
Tom Zeleny
NHA, CEO and Founder
Tom Zeleny, NHA, CEO and Founder
In addition to having been a licensed administrator for over 30 years, Tom is also an expert consultant for a state Board of Nursing Home Administrators, and testified as a subject matter expert for operational and regulatory compliance for long term care. He has worked for prestigious national and privately-owned providers in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors as Administrator, Executive Director and multi-site manager. This hands-on experience has helped him consistently place candidates in senior living positions throughout the United States since 2003.
Tom received his Certificate of Gerontology from Colorado State University, and has received professional certification from the American College of Nursing Home Administrators (ACHCA). Tom maintains an active Administrator’s license, and continues to keep abreast of the constant regulatory changes that affect senior living clients and candidates. He has been selected as speaker for multiple state organizations on topics to include: talent acquisition, effective salary negotiation, generational differences in the workforce, job performance standards and job descriptions, as well as other human resource-related best practice topics.
Wendy Strain
Vice President
Wendy Strain RN, RAC-CT
Wendy serves as VP, Post-Acute Clinical Reimbursement and Consulting at Aspen. She brings more than 30 years of healthcare experience, with deep expertise in MDS operations and staffing, reimbursement, clinical consulting, and regulatory compliance within skilled nursing and post-acute care.
Prior to joining Aspen, Wendy held senior leadership roles within a national senior living consulting organization, where she led MDS and clinical consulting service lines and worked with providers ranging from individual facilities to large multi-state organizations. Her experience includes building and overseeing interim and outsourced MDS staffing solutions, MDS compliance and reimbursement, survey readiness, mock surveys, clinical and regulatory consulting, quality improvement, and operational assessments.
Wendy is a Registered Nurse and Resident Assessment Coordinator–Certified (RAC-CT). In 2024, she was recognized as a McKnight’s Long-Term Care News Pinnacle Award honoree for her leadership and contributions to the long-term care profession. She has also shared her expertise through industry education and speaking engagements on clinical, regulatory, reimbursement, quality, and operational topics affecting skilled nursing providers.
At Aspen, Wendy leads MDS staffing and support services, including interim coverage, long-term outsourced MDS solutions, and reimbursement support. She also oversees clinical consulting services, including compliance audits, mock surveys, survey preparation, and MDS and reimbursement reviews. Through these services, she works with providers to strengthen clinical and operational performance, address workforce needs and navigate an evolving regulatory and reimbursement environment. Her work is ultimately focused on helping organizations strengthen the systems and support needed to provide better care for the residents they serve.
Christian Ayuson
Recruiting Manager & Executive Recruiter
Christian Ayuson, Associate Recruiter
Christian is an accomplished Recruiter with a proven track record of excellence in connecting top-notch talent with high-impact opportunities. His journey has been defined by a commitment to achieving excellence, from graduating Magna Cum Laude to thriving in the dynamic world of executive recruitment.
Christian achieved significant milestones throughout his career, most recently serving as an Executive Recruiter for more than 3 years where he recruited clinical, operations, finance, and C-suite executives. His pivotal role in successfully finding and recruiting talent for client companies reflects his commitment to excellence. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Christian is passionate about travel and cultural exploration. He finds great joy in embarking on journeys to diverse corners of the world, where he immerses himself in local cultures, languages, and traditions. These experiences have broadened his horizons and instilled in him a profound appreciation for the beauty of our global tapestry.
Christian’s educational foundation was built when he pursued a bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Graduating Magna Cum Laude was a testament to his dedication to academic excellence and an indicator of his unrelenting pursuit of greatness. As he continues to tread on this exciting professional path and explore the wonders of our world, Christian looks forward to creating meaningful connections, fostering growth, and leaving a lasting impact on the lives and organizations he touches.
Ruzzel Enriquez
Associate Recruiter
Ruzzel Enriquez, Associate Recruiter
Ruz is a seasoned Recruiter with a diverse background in both technical and customer
service roles. A graduate of Computer Science with two years of undergraduate studies
in Computer Engineering, Ruz has developed extensive tech skills in both software and
hardware since 1995. With eight years of experience in the information technology-
enabled services industry as a customer service and technical support specialist, he
transitioned to an HR admin role for two years before moving into the recruiting field.
In his recruiting career, Ruz has successfully filled executives positions as well as clinical and entry-level customer service roles. His proficiency with recruiting has been a key factor in his success. Known for his exceptional performance, Ruz has consistently been an awarded and was nominated as one of the best recruiters in 2023.
Before entering the corporate world, Ruz spent a decade working for a cruise line on the US East Coast. He was recognized as one of the youngest promoted headwaiters and wine sommeliers in 2005 by Carnival PLC of Miami, FL. This diverse background, coupled with his technical expertise and recruiting skills, highlights Ruz’s ability to adapt and excel in various professional environments.
Franco Ayson
Associate Recruiter
Franco Ayson, Associate Recruiter
Franco is a distinguished recruiter with a proven track record of connecting exceptional talent with dynamic opportunities. His career journey began as a State University scholar at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management. With six years of experience in the recruitment industry, Franco has successfully handled executive requisitions across various sectors, including customer service, technical (Software Engineers), healthcare, and finance. His proficiency with different ATS and job boards has been instrumental in his success, earning him a place in the Elite Recruiters Circle at his previous company and multiple awards for his outstanding contributions.
Before transitioning to recruiting, Franco honed his skills in the customer service industry, working with renowned companies from the US, Australia, and the UK. This diverse background has given him a comprehensive understanding of various industries and the ability to adapt to different professional environments seamlessly. His dedication to excellence is evident in his professional achievements and his ability to find and recruit top talent for client companies.
When Franco is not working, he is a passionate traveler who has explored 55 out of the 82 provinces in the Philippines. His love for travel and cultural exploration allows him to immerse himself in the rich tapestry of local traditions, languages, and lifestyles, broadening his horizons and deepening his appreciation for the diverse beauty of his country. As Franco continues to advance in his career, he remains committed to fostering meaningful connections, driving growth, and making a lasting impression on the lives and organizations he engages with.
Annell Mook
Executive Recruiter
Annell Mook, Executive Recruiter
Annell has forty years of experience in the healthcare industry. She began as an admissions director for a hospital, and grew to become an owner of a corporation that developed customer service and supervisory training programs for over 400 hospitals. Annell’s long-term-care experience includes serving as Director, Regional Director, and Area Director of skilled nursing centers, assisted and independent living communities. She also was the Director of Provider Network and Sales for United Health Care’s Evercare program. Throughout her endeavors, Annell discovered that she had a talent for recruiting great people and helping them realize their career goals.
She appreciates being associated with Aspen Associate Group because of its dedication to matching skill sets and culture sets between employees and employers and the resulting successes that ensue. Annell attended the University of Kentucky. Most of her career has been in Colorado. She has been involved as an officer, or on the board of numerous organizations that serve seniors – including White House Conference on Aging. She was a recent recipient of the Colorado Gerontology Society’s Al Berger Distinguished Service in Aging Award.
Grant Zeleny
Director of Business Development
Grant Zeleny, Director of Business Development
Grant Zeleny is the Director of Business Development at Aspen Associates Group, where he specializes in building strategic partnerships and connecting organizations with exceptional leadership talent in senior living and healthcare. With a strong foundation in health sciences and hands-on clinical experience, Grant brings a uniquely well-rounded perspective to executive recruitment and business growth.
Grant earned his Bachelor’s degree in Health and Exercise Science from Colorado State University, equipping him with a deep understanding of healthcare systems, wellness, and performance optimization. Prior to transitioning into business development and executive search, he worked in the healthcare field as a chiropractic rehabilitation specialist, gaining firsthand experience in patient care, recovery planning, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This clinical background allows him to understand the operational and human side of healthcare organizations – an advantage when identifying leaders who can truly drive impact.
In addition to his recruitment and business development expertise, Grant is a licensed insurance broker with experience in Medicare planning and advisory services. His knowledge of Medicare regulations and insurance strategy further strengthens his ability to navigate the complexities of the healthcare and senior living landscape. Outside of his professional life, Grant values staying active and connected with family. He enjoys playing golf, snowboarding, and spending time outdoors.
Cesar Timbal
Candidate Engagement Coordinator
Cesar Timbal, Candidate Engagement Coordinator
Cesar is a dedicated Candidate Engagement Coordinator with a proven foundation in communication, operational excellence, and people-centered service. His career has been defined by a consistent commitment to precision and reliability, earning him multiple “Most Outstanding Individual” recognitions across his academic and professional years.
Cesar has built meaningful experience across education, quality assurance, customer service, and digital operations environments. His expertise in documentation management, schedule coordination, CRM utilization, and performance tracking positions him as a strategic asset in candidate engagement — ensuring a seamless journey for candidates from initial outreach to final follow-through. His structured approach and calm professionalism contribute to both team productivity and operational stability.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Cesar enjoys strategy games rooted in his programming background, which sharpens his analytical thinking and decision-making skills. He finds balance and inspiration in instrumental music and true-to-life stories of resilience — reflections of the same thoughtful and uplifting energy he brings to his work every day. As he continues to grow in the field of recruitment, Cesar looks forward to strengthening candidate experiences, supporting meaningful placements, and contributing to a team where professionalism and trust go hand in hand.
