At Your Service.
We believe that exceptional service is paramount to the maintenance-free lifestyle that is our promise to every member. To this end, we have empowered all of our partners to respond to member needs, and each assumes 100% responsibility for upholding our uncompromising standard of excellence.
Richard Finn
Executive Director of The Cascades Verdae
In his role as Executive Director of The Cascades Verdae, Richard Finn creates a living environment for our members that exudes courtesy, respect and consideration. Richard brings to our community 30 years of progressive management experience, including positions as executive director for an assisted living community in Rochester, New York, and area director for two other retirement communities in Rochester.
Perhaps his most defining career experience was his tenure with Walt Disney World, an organization known the world over for its gracious hospitality and award-winning guest service. Working his way from assistant front manager to manager of program operations for the Disney Institute, Richard developed an unyielding commitment to customer service that is the touchstone of his approach to his work at The Cascades.
Belynda Tharpe
Director of New Perspectives & Member Experiences
As Director of New Perspectives and Member Experiences, Belynda Tharpe plays an essential role in helping our members enjoy an active retirement lifestyle. With more than 20 years of experience managing recreation programs for both residential communities and country clubs, she is well prepared for the many diverse responsibilities that her position entails, which range from overseeing our concierge services to spearheading all educational and wellness programming.
Belynda comes to The Cascades after 12 years at Eagle Harbor, a premier 3,200-home residential community in Jacksonville, Florida, where she served as recreation and aquatics director as well as general manager and vice president of club operations. Her dedication to lifelong personal enrichment is evident in her personal life through her volunteer activism with charitable organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association, American Cancer Society, Juvenile Diabetes and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She was also the 2005 recipient of the Debbie Regnone Service Award from the Resort and Commercial Recreation Association, which recognizes the outstanding contributions of its members.
John Malik
Director of Dining Experiences
As Director of Dining Experiences, John Malik offers members hospitality, impeccable service and a menu comparable to luxury vacation resorts. Prior to joining The Cascades, John was chef/owner of 33 Liberty Restaurant in Greenville, which has been featured not only in local and regional publications such as Talk Greenville but also in national magazines such as Southern Living, Bon Appétit and Chile Pepper.
Over the course of his career, John has garnered a variety of accolades in the culinary world, which include winning the whimsical title of Kingsford Flame Master from Kingsford Charcoal, being named to Bon Appétit’s list of “Who’s Who in American Barbeque” in 2003 and earning a semifinalist nomination for the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Southeast in 2008. Known for his sophisticated spin on traditional southern smoking techniques, John has given cooking demonstrations and made guest appearances at highly regarded culinary establishments and festivals throughout the country, including the James Beard House in New York City, the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival in Orlando, Epicurean Evening in Los Angeles, the Biltmore in Asheville, Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend in Charlotte and Blackberry Farm in Tennessee. He has also shared his expertise with viewers of the Food Network as well as readers of Saveur, Air & Space/Smithsonian, the Greenville News and GSA Business.
Melanie Coates
Director of Residential Health Care Experiences
Melanie Coates, our Director of Residential Health Care Experiences, oversees the daily operations of all health-related services, which includes managing Linville Courts at The Cascades. Melanie brings to her position at The Cascades more than 20 years of combined leadership and managerial experience in medical surgery nursing, long-term care and assisted living nursing administration. A registered nurse, she holds special certification from the South Carolina Board of Long Term Health Care.
Dale Brannon
Director of Image & Safety
Dale Brannon, our Director of Image and Safety, is responsible for ensuring that our community maintains the highest standards as set forth in our promise to our members. He comes to The Cascades with 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry spanning from hotel management positions with distinguished brands such as Wyndham and Hilton to stints in management training both in the U.S. and abroad to management roles at the corporate level.
A native South Carolinian, Dale has spent much of his career in his home state, including his first job at the Holiday Inn Spartanburg as well as 12 years in hotel management in Myrtle Beach. Dale and his wife Janice, a retired nurse to whom he has been married for 37 years, have three children and one grandchild.
Ali Espinoza Gomez
Director of HR & Partner Experiences
As Director of Human Resources and Partner Experiences, Ali Espinoza Gomez plays a critical role in helping The Cascades achieve a superior standard of member service by ensuring that our community attracts and retains the highest caliber employees. Ali brings to The Cascades more than 20 years of experience in human resources policy implementation and administration, primarily in the luxury hospitality industry, and she has proven herself as a leader in team building, employee training and quality control procedures.
Prior to joining The Cascades, she served as team leader for workforce planning and scheduling for Celebrity Cruises/Azamara Cruises. She holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Nova Southeastern University, has participated in Johnson & Wales University’s “Train the Trainer” program and has earned accreditation as a Global Professional of Human Resources from Florida International University in Miami.
