Meet the Team

Interested in joining our team?

Joy Gomez

Executive Director

Joy Gomez is the executive director of Solstice Senior Living at Rio Norte. Born and raised in El Paso, Joy has deep roots in the community and is excited to be able to serve this community at Solstice. Joy strives to ensure every resident is treated with the same dignity and respect she would want for her own family.

She attended New Mexico State University, the University of Texas at El Paso and the University of Phoenix. Joy has a bachelor’s degree in human service and a master’s degree in family, marriage and child therapy from the University of Phoenix. She also has diverse work experience that includes behavioral health, substance abuse, child welfare and health care.

Joy’s leadership philosophy is that accountability at all levels and open communication are vital to the success of any team.

Omar Gardea

Director of Sales and Marketing

Omar Gardea is the director of Sales and Marketing for Solstice Senior Living at Rio Norte. He was born and raised in El Paso and has almost a decade of property management experience, including senior living communities. As the director of Sales and Marketing, Omar serves the local community and vows to enrich the lives of those who have chosen to live at Solstice.

Prior to joining the Solstice team, Omar was an event manager for El Paso Live. He brought joy to folks of all ages through different events, festivals and conventions. In his spare time, Omar enjoys giving back to the community and helping others.

Rita Galaviz

Business Office Director

Rita Galaviz joined the Solstice Senior Living team in 2017 as the Business Office director. She has well over a decade of experience in business management, and spent seven years prior to coming to Solstice as the property manager at Housing Authority, City of El Paso, Texas. Her passion for management and assisting others in their daily lives has led her to discover her calling in business management. At Solstice Senior Living at Rio Norte, she prepares monthly events for residents and families at the community and works hard to create a vibrant environment for everyone. In her personal life, she enjoys attending softball games, dance recitals, family events and gatherings, and spending time with her five beautiful daughters and handsome grandson.

Gabriel Montano

Culinary Services Director

Gabriel Montano, Culinary Services director, is an El Paso native and has worked in the culinary industry for nearly 25 years. Gabriel started his career at Del Sol Medical Center, where he had the opportunity to feed the staff who gave back to the community he grew up in, and wonderful patients. Before coming to Solstice at Rio Norte, Gabriel was the regional culinary director at another assisted living community for nearly five years.

Gabriel says that, along with his culinary expertise, the relationships he has developed throughout the years with residents, patients, employees and his mentor have helped lead him to where he is today. He enjoys learning new and exciting recipes from our community’s residents and ensuring they always receive the best there is to give.

Alyssa Melendez

Vibrant Life® Director

Alyssa Melendez is an energetic young woman who is enthusiastic about life. Alyssa has worked in customer service for nine years. She has worked in retail and sales in major department stores, but felt that wasn’t making an impact helping people the way she desired. Therefore she became a family service counselor for a local funeral home.

When tragedy hit home, such as losing her grandmother of 66 years due to renal failure, Alyssa felt the need to seek a position to honor her grandmother and assist people she came in contact with to live the most vibrant life possible. In her personal life, Alyssa is a mother to a lively little girl. Moreover, Alyssa thrives in serving her community by proving food for homeless and economically disadvantaged families. She also likes to read to pass the time.

Pablo Gonzales

Building Services Director

Pablo Gonzales is the Building Services director for Solstice Senior Living at Rio Norte. Pablo is an ambitious and inspirational leader with 20 years’ experience in maintenance, all aspects of construction and over 10 years in management.

Pablo was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, and has had the privilege of traveling worldwide and experiencing many cultures. He has been to London, Spain, Africa, Southwest Asia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and all over the Middle East, just to name a few. Pablo is a United States Air Force combat veteran who proudly served for many years. His interests include motorcycle riding, the great outdoors, music and watching movies.

In the words of Rosalynn Carter, Pablo believes, “A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go but ought to be.”

You’ll love calling Solstice at Rio Norte home.

Come see for yourself!

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