Leadership

Daniel Amodio joined the Lutheran Homes team in September of 2019 where he serves as the Executive Director for Rice Estate.  Prior to his time at Rice Estate he served as the Administrator for several Skilled Nursing Facilities in Tennessee for a company called Signature HealthCARE. During his time at Signature HealthCARE, he received their CEO School Valedictorian Award and earned his certification as a Certified Eden Associate through the Eden Alternative. Daniel spent his early career as a financial advisor and personal banker. Daniel also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration through Purdue University. Daniel serves as a board director for LeadingAge SC and the SC Institute on Aging.

Family is a very important part of his life and that is why he chose to relocate to South Carolina. In his free time he enjoys spending time outdoors with his dog, Nike, and visiting his family in Aiken, South Carolina. 

Kelsey joined Rice Estate in 2017 starting as the Human Resources Director and transitioned to the Admissions Director.  In 2023 she was promoted to the Director, Centralized Admission Center for Lutheran Homes of South Carolina. Kelsey began her career in Healthcare as an admissions director for a skilled nursing facility and also worked in human resources. 

Originally from Cleveland Ohio, she has always referred to Columbia, SC as her home. Kelsey enjoys going to concerts, traveling, football games, and spending time with friends and family. There are few things in life that make Kelsey happier than her job and a Carolina Panthers win. Kelsey believes that happy TeamMates lead to happy Priorities and this is her everyday goal. 

"I find peace that I will be helping people make hard decisions for the ones they love." 

Melina ‘MeMe’ Bostrom joined Rice Estate in 2004, as the Life Enrichment Director. She began her career working with seniors during her senior college internships. MeMe majored in Psychology/Minored in Sociology and earned her Bachelor of Science from Francis Marion University in 1993. MeMe is an Activity Professional Board Certified through National Association of Activity Professionals’ Credentialing Center; a member of member of the South Carolina Activity Professional’s Association and was honored as the SC Activity Professional of the Year 2007. MeMe has 3 daughters who have grown up assisting with various events and projects on campus. MeMe enjoys planning events, and trips, being outdoors, and exploring new places. She loves working in an environment where she serves side by side with other Teammates who are passionate about providing quality care and quality services to our seniors. She notes “I love knowing that daily our team can find ways to add life to years for our seniors!”

Dr. Jason K. Barber is a board eligible family medicine physician who serves as the medical director at Rice Estate. He is a native of Columbia SC. He completed his undergraduate studies at South Carolina State University in 2000. He went on to complete his medical training at Howard University in 2005 and was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Dr. Barber returned home to Columbia, SC, to complete his residency training at Palmetto Health/University of South Carolina. He was a hospitalist for approximately 12 years until he transitioned to geriatric care. Dr. Barber enjoys traveling, working out, and spending time with his wife and children.

Kimberly “Kim” Hunley has been a nurse for over 20 years. She began her career with Rice Estate in 2013 as a Charge Nurse and today she is the Director of Residential Life and the Unit Manager of the Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Unit. Kim has always enjoyed working with senior adults and strives to make a positive difference in her residents' lives.

Outside of work, Kim loves spending time with her family, being “Gigi,” and being on the water. Kim is married to Mark and has three sons, a daughter-in-law, and one grandchild. Kim reminds herself daily that, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” 

Kelly Larck began his career with Lutheran Homes in the summer of 2017 as the maintenance director of Rice Estate. In 1982 Kelly started a carpentry apprentice program and after completion he worked for various companies gaining knowledge and new skills. In 1989 he passed the South Carolina builders exam to become a licensed home builder and built many homes in the greater Columbia area. He and his wife have two adult sons. Kelly enjoys just about anything to be outside and in his spare time you can find him in the woods, in a boat, or working in the yard.

“You break it, we fix it.”

Nikki joined the Rice Estate team in December 2024. With over 10 years of experience serving seniors in the Columbia area, she has earned numerous employee awards. However, her greatest achievements stem from the special comments and meaningful relationships she has built with residents, families, and coworkers. Nikki has enjoyed being an integral part of a team that provided joy, respect, and a high quality of life for senior residents. She also has experience in marketing, where she provided promotional items to businesses in the greater Midlands area. Additionally, Nikki has been actively involved with local chambers of commerce in Blythewood and Florence, S.C. She is deeply passionate about advocating for senior living and takes pride in treating all seniors and their families as if they were her own.

Outside of work, Nikki enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and most recently, her first grandson. She also enjoys traveling, gardening, floral design, and entertaining family and friends.

Beth began her career with Lutheran Homes of SC in 2017 as the Business Office Manger at Rice Estate. Prior to joining the team, Beth worked at Brian Center - St. Andrews for 14 years. Beth’s long-term care tenure began in admissions and expanded to include business office management. She grew up in the home of the Lexington County Peach Festival, Gilbert, SC where she still resides along with her husband, teenage son and daughter, and the smallest member of the family, their toy poodle, Romeo. Beth enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Her children keep her busy with her son’s baseball games and her daughter’s cheerleading. Beth enjoys being a part of the Lutheran Homes team.

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

With more than thirty-five years of culinary experience, the last twenty years in Healthcare and CCRCs, this Chef and Certified Dietary Manager has made a name for himself across the state of South Carolina. As a manager, as a mentor, and as a great boss. He shares his techniques and knowledge with those who surround him, and feels that giving back to the industry by teaching the future foodservice professionals is necessary to improve the quality of life of those they serve.

His experience lays mainly in southern family, southwestern, Mediterranean, and fine dining arenas. The chef’s menus and recipes also reflect a blend of these styles with a simple and elegant approach. Providing a variety of high-quality foods and service, unpredictable specials, and the use of cutting-edge menu items have been keys to achieving excellent customer satisfaction ratings throughout his career.

He is the currently Immediate Past President of the South Carolina Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals, an alumnus of the ANFP Leadership Academy, a member of the ANFP Chapter Leadership Team, and long-time supporter of the organization.

“Do what you are good at, and be good at what you do.” William J. Schmitt (Father)

Rice Estate is pleased to have Demetra Taylor serve as Director of Nursing.