Recognizing Excellence in Long Term Care
Every year the VHCA-VCAL Awards Program honors individuals who help make Virginia long term care centers places of quality care for Virginia’s frailest citizens. The program also recognizes outstanding activity and event programs at Virginia’s nursing centers and assisted living communities.
The 2026 awards celebrate those who are making a difference every day. Seven exceptional long term care professionals and volunteers stood out for their leadership, compassion and commitment to the people they serve and were honored with 2026 VHCA-VCAL awards.
We are so excited to announce our 2026 Recognition Award Recipients!
Volunteers of the Year
- Ray Agtay of Walter Reed Post Acute has been named the 2026 Adult Volunteer of the Year. For 15 years, Ray has brought energy, warmth and an unwavering willingness to help to Walter Reed Post Acute. Known as a “ray of sunshine,” he builds connections with residents, staff and fellow volunteers while finding new ways to make life in the community brighter. His creativity, organization and genuine emotional intelligence have made him a cornerstone of the volunteer program and someone others naturally want to be around.
- Lyric Lucas of Birmingham Green has been named the 2026 Teen Volunteer of the Year. Lyric Lucas, known as the “Veggie Princess,” has spent nearly a decade turning her passion for gardening into a mission to fight food insecurity. Through her garden club and its partnership with Birmingham Green, she provides fresh produce while creating opportunities for residents to reconnect with cherished memories of gardening and growing food.
Certified Nursing Assistant of the Year
- Sharita Harvey of Farmville Health and Rehab has been named the 2026 Certified Nursing Assistant of the Year. She has dedicated her entire CNA career at Farmville Health and Rehab, where she is known for her compassion, reliability and heart for residents. Affectionately called “Sweetwater,” she is a trusted presence for residents, families and coworkers and a mentor and positive example for the next generation of CNAs. Whether she is helping with a resident’s hair and grooming, stepping in wherever she is needed or simply bringing her infectious energy to the day, Sharita consistently finds ways to make people feel cared for.
Directors of Nursing of the Year
- Martha Conteh of Dulles Health & Rehab has been named the 2026 Director of Nursing of the Year. With 35 years in nursing and more than 15 years as a DON, Martha leads with calm, confidence and a commitment to developing her team. She teaches nurses to understand the “why” behind their work, prepares them to care for complex residents and provides steady leadership through even the most challenging circumstances. Her investment in her staff has helped build confidence, strengthen retention and create a team that genuinely wants to work for her.
- Godfred Baisel of The Wellington at Lake Manassas has been named the 2026 Director of Nursing of the Year. Godfred is known for building strong relationships, developing future leaders and stepping in wherever he is needed. His leadership has included performing CPR on a resident for 45 minutes to save their life, providing hands-on care during COVID, and advocating for the senior living profession through his longtime involvement with VHCA-VCAL. He also makes a point of knowing residents and their families personally, building the trust that allows him to lead with both clinical expertise and genuine compassion.
Nursing Facility Administrator of the Year
- Jeffrey Kulp of Falls Run Nursing & Rehabilitation has been named the 2026 VHCA-VCAL Nursing Facility Administrator of the Year. He leads with a hands-on, resident-focused approach, believing that every person deserves his time, respect and attention. A retired U.S. Army colonel, he chose long term care as his next career because he wanted to make a difference in the lives of people who could no longer care for themselves. Whether listening to frontline staff, solving complex operational challenges or “meandering” the halls to connect with residents, he leads with purpose and has helped his community achieve a 5-star overall rating while advancing quality care and strengthening the long term care profession.
James G. Dunton Distinguished Service Award for Lifetime Achievement
- Steve Ford has been honored with the 2026 James G. Dunton Distinguished Service Award for Lifetime Achievement in recognition of his career working to strengthen Virginia’s long term care system, first at DMAS and later at VHCA-VCAL, where he became a leading expert on Medicaid reimbursement and a tireless advocate for nursing facilities across the Commonwealth. During his time with the association, he helped providers navigate some of the industry’s biggest financial challenges, including Medicaid Managed Care, the transition to PDPM, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the development of Medicaid Value-Based Purchasing. His work during the pandemic helped secure an additional $20-per-day Medicaid payment for every Medicaid resident in Virginia’s nursing homes, an approach that gained national recognition, and he continued to help protect and build on that investment through VBP. He also played a critical role in Virginia’s transition to a PDPM-based Medicaid reimbursement methodology, bringing an uncommon ability to understand complex issues and explain them in ways providers could use. Like an offensive lineman, Steve rarely sought the spotlight, but he consistently took his assignment, did the work and made the rest of the team stronger. This year, he returned to DMAS to lead Virginia’s Medicaid program as its Director, a role that reflects the depth of expertise, integrity and commitment he has brought to Virginia health care throughout his career.
