Meet the Bridges® Norwalk Team

Brenda Maldonado
Executive Director

As Executive Director of Bridges® by EPOCH at Norwalk, Brenda oversees all aspects of daily operations, ensuring a warm, supportive environment where residents, families, and team members thrive together. She brings more than 25 years of experience in senior living operations, healthcare management, and team development.

With a proven ability to inspire teams toward excellence, Brenda leads with energy and a deep commitment to empathetic care. Throughout her career, Brenda has focused on elevating resident experiences, growing occupancy, and cultivating future leaders through mentorship. Brenda holds multiple state administrator licenses and professional certifications, including CPR and First Aid. Her extensive background in business strategy, healthcare compliance, and community relations reflects her dedication to compassionate service and continuous improvement in memory care and senior living communities.
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Dean Brown
Area Community Liaison

As an Area Community Liaison, Dean supports the Senior Advisors at Bridges® by EPOCH and Waterstone communities in Connecticut and New York.

Dean is responsible for building relationships with area professionals and organizations to coordinate support for seniors and families who are looking for living options or care for a loved one.

Dean joined the EPOCH Senior Living team in 2022. He has worked in the senior living and healthcare industries for more than 10 years. During this time, he made countless connections with doctors, hospitals, and organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association® in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. He has a passion for helping seniors and their families connect with resources that benefit them and their loved ones.

Dean has always had a special place in his heart for service. Prior to working in senior living, he graduated from the U.S. Army Military Police program at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from East Carolina University.

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Alicia Seaver
VP of Memory Care and Brain Health

Alicia provides memory care education, training and guidance for Bridges® by EPOCH team members, families, fellow professionals and the greater community.

Alicia is a Memory Impairment Specialist certified by the National Institute on Aging and serves as an expert educator and trainer across Bridges® by EPOCH communities. She has more than 25 years of experience in the senior living industry, including her role as Executive Director of the flagship Bridges® by EPOCH community in Hingham, for which she was named Mass-ALFA Executive Director of the Year.

With her extensive experience and deep understanding of various forms of dementia, Alicia supports Bridges® teams in maintaining the unique culture and personalized approach to care across all Bridges® communities, helping make a difference in the quality of life for those living with memory challenges.

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Stephanie Lantz Riggio
Senior Advisor

Stephanie brings many years of experience to her role at Bridges® by EPOCH and a deep understanding of the challenges that families and caregivers face when a loved one is dealing with cognitive decline. As Senior Advisor, she is dedicated to supporting individuals and families as they navigate the complexities of memory impairment, helping caregivers make informed and compassionate decisions.

Stephanie is also responsible for connecting with area professionals and local organizations in Norwalk, Stamford, Greenwich, Darien and beyond to share how the expert care and enriching lifestyle at Bridges® improves the quality of life for those with memory loss. Stephanie has a diverse background as a Social Worker, Physician Assistant, and Home Care Liaison for seniors. She also has experience in Special Education within the Darien Public School system where she worked as a Paraprofessional while raising her two children. She’s navigated the journey of caring for her own aging parents, and she understands how overwhelming these situations can be – both for families who have time to plan and those who are reacting to a crisis. Today, she’s grateful that her 89-year-old father is living his best life in an assisted living community in Pennsylvania. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work from Juniata College in Huntington, PA and a Degree in Applied Science/Physician Assistant certification. She loves spending time with her two adult children, Lantz and Stella. She is very passionate about helping others and loves working with the geriatric population.
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