Our Team
Meet our team of expert professionals in the fields of senior care, senior care finance, senior care research, content development, web analytics, usability research and interaction design.
David Kennedy (MSW, MHSA), President
President of Kennedy Care and founder of TheCaringSpace, David completed his undergraduate education at the age of 20 and immediately began working in the field of senior home care Soon after completed Master’s degrees in Social Work and Health Services Administration (The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor). As a home care agency owner since 2003, he has witnessed firsthand the financial strain placed on families in need of senior care services and the difficulty for them in locating caregivers appropriate to their particular needs—all while they juggled multiple work and family obligations. In response, David founded TheCaringSpace in 2008, an interactive tool and collection of resources geared to enabling families to easily locate and hire their ideal caregiver while significantly reducing costs.
| Fun Facts: | :: Grew up skating, wakeboarding & snowboarding |
| :: Loves History & Theology | |
| :: Has 8 siblings and is 100% Irish | |
| :: Graduated on 24th birthday w/ 2 Masters’ | |
| :: Is type 1 diabetic |
Amanda Pudenz (BS), Project Coordinator
Amanda collaborates with our team of developers and web designers who are continuously working to maintain and enhance TheCaringSpace. She also assists in moderating basic functionality of the site and oversees minor marketing projects. Amanda graduated from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) in December 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Science.
| Fun Facts: | :: Has an identical twin sister who studied as a pastry chef in New York |
| :: Enjoys Polish poster art and Japanese game shows | |
| :: Family owns a company called Pudenz Popcorn based in Iowa |
Lauren Helwig (MA), Design & Content Producer
After many years under the spell of writing as the premier art, Lauren retrained in visual communication and has not looked back. She is currently a graphic designer with skills in interaction and communication design. She volunteers in her community as an advocate (and graphic designer) for social justice. Lauren obtained her graduate degree (ABD!, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) in Comparative Literature, with a focus on visual and performative arts.
| Fun Facts: | :: Be still my heart: my kids; type & letter press; lyrical & brutal stories |
| :: Loves: pesto, swimming; hand-made book-making; the arts | |
| :: Knees weaken over: 30’s Cuban graphic art; design |
Sarah Bommarito (BA), Content and Customer Service Manager
Sarah graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) in May 2010 where she served as a resident advisor during most of her undergraduate career. She started as an intern at TheCaringSpace and now contributes to many of the site’s operations, including customer support and content development through writing and editing articles related to long term care. Her primary interest is working closely with all members to help them achieve the primary goals of either finding a job or helping families locate the perfect caregiver.
| Fun Facts: | :: Loves animals, especially her spirited beagle |
| :: Studies women’s literature from the 1600s to the early 1900s | |
| :: Enjoys chamomile tea, photography, and leisurely walks |
Chris Clayson (MBA), Insights & Analytics Manager
Prior to receiving his MBA from The University of Michigan, Ross School of Business (Ann Arbor), Chris worked as an engineering consultant. Chris brings both skills to his work at TheCaringSpace, where he is responsible for user experience research and implementation. His work has focused on optimizing navigation, caregiver and careseeker search results, and resource location.
| Fun Facts: | :: Just got married to his beloved of 9 years |
| :: Spent his honeymoon in Hawaii | |
| :: Is an avid sailor & long-distance competitor | |
| :: Loves to cook (specialty: Jambalaya) |
Jessica Skretch (BFA), Website Startup Manager
Jessica earned her degree in Art Studio from the University of Maryland, College Park. She managed the launch and first several months of operations for the website, providing strategy, design and overall project management. Along with the Founder, David Kennedy, she was a primary contributor in shaping the vision for the website and handled all elements of the interface and user experience design. Jess has several years experience as a web designer, information architect and creative lead for various businesses. She is now employed as a Visual Information Specialist.
| Fun Facts: | :: Recently helped establish a community food bank |
| :: Is an avid DC-area community volunteer | |
| :: Loves minty oreos, organizing things & the outdoors |
