Chief Executive Officer

Alex Salabarria was born in Miami, Florida in 1967 to Nelson and Miriam Salabarria. The Salabarria family immigrated from Cuba when the Fidel Castro Revolution toppled the Baptista regime. The youngest of three siblings, Alex resided for most of his childhood in Ocala, Florida. He graduated from Ocala Forest High School in 1985 and went on to attend college at the University of Florida and Florida State University.

After college, Alex worked in the Restaurant Industry managing for Steak & Ale and Brinker International in Florida and Georgia for 7 years.

In 1996, Alex moved to the Atlanta area to work with his father, Nelson Sr., to achieve his dream of developing and managing an Assisted Living Community for the elderly. In 1998 their dream came to reality when they opened their first community in Woodstock, Georgia. Alex is currently developing and managing his fourth and fifth Assisted Living Communities in Georgia. His brother Nelson and brother-in-law Douglas Shook have joined him over the past few years in the family business to manage the Financial and Development side of the company.

Alex married Denise Duhe’ in 2000. They share three children; Brock O’neil, Therese’ Marie and Caylee Jade. Their passions are travel, the beach, diving and Florida State Athletics. We are active members and volunteers at North Point Church.

“The lives we lead in this day and age are so hectic. We so often lose sight of the priorities in our lives. Our Lord, our families, friends and our commitment to our careers. To have such a wonderful family, a great God and the ability to make a difference in so many lives as we do for our residents is a blessing and a responsibility we keep close to our hearts. We hear so many times from families about the difference we make in theirs and their loved ones lives. What they don’t realize is that they make a much bigger impact on our lives.”

President of Acquisition, Construction and Development

Mr. Salabarria immigrated to the US from Cuba at an early age. Growing up primarily in Florida first in and around Miami and later in Ocala. Mr. Salabarria graduated from Forest High School in Ocala in 1978 and attended Auburn University where he attained his Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management in 1982. Having been involved in the construction industry all his life, he moved back to Ocala after graduation and worked with his father in the construction and development business. Mr. Salabarria met his wife at Auburn and they were married in 1983. In 1987 Mr. Salabarria and his wife moved to Atlanta Georgia. Mr. Salabarria eventually went to work for a national consulting company providing cost management services to the Architectural, Engineering and Construction industry primarily involved in large commercial/industrial projects for private and government clients. Our first daughter, Christina, was born in November of 1995 and our second daughter, Danielle, was born in April of 1997. Mr. Salabarria eventually joined the family business to head up the development of our second community, The Oaks at Riverstone and is currently the President of Acquisition, Construction and Development for the family business. Nelson enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf. He is an active member of Watermarke church in Canton.

“We are a very tight knit family. It was only a matter of time before we all joined the family business and applied all our talents and resources to our father’s dream of creating a loving and faith based environment for the seniors of our community. This dream or philosophy still drives everything we do today and the result of that is the opening of our third community, The Oaks at Post Road, in Cumming”

VP of Construction, Acquisition & Development

Douglas is a lifelong resident of Forsyth Co. He is a graduate of Forsyth Co high 1982. He received a BBA from GSU in 1988. After being in the construction industry for many years he started S&C Construction in 1987. In 1988 he was introduced to his wife to be Mirian Salabarria by his now brother-in-law Nelson. They were married in 1991 and had their beautiful daughter Alexandra in 1992 and built a home in Forsyth Co. Five years to the day they were blessed with a son Gabriel in 1997. After running his own construction company for 20 years Douglas joined the family business in 2007 in an effort to expand the business. He serves as VP of Construction, Acquisition & Development. Douglas is an active sports fan coaching his children in football and basketball. The entire family is UGA bulldog fans where their daughter Alexandra will be an incoming freshman in the fall 2010. The Shook family is active in Browns Bridge Community Church.

"I was blessed to marry into a very close and loving family. When you marry a Salabarria you marry the entire Salabarria family. We are a family that genuinely cares for one another and is there for support and love through good and bad times. I think you can see this in our business. Business is the wrong word for what we do. What we do is a calling envisioned by our founder, my father-in law Nelson Sr and is put into practice every day by my brother-in-law our CEO Alex. I saw this quote by Albert Einstein on a wall at the Emory hospital organ transplant center 'Only a life lived for others is a life worth living.' I think this quote really verbalizes what is in our hearts and is the essence of what we do."

VP Sales and Maketing

"My journey to Assisted Living began with my ailing grandfather, who after a stroke ended up in the hospital for treatment and rehabilitation. During the time he was in the hospital, he was unable to communicate or respond verbally to anyone; until the one day I was able to make him laugh. It was at that very moment I knew I wanted to work with elders. For fifteen years I have had the pleasure of being welcomed to work with hugs, smiles and a genuine excitement to see what the day will bring.

It is through good fortune I have found a loving family that shares my passion and desire to provide the quality of life our seniors expect and deserve. I have been part of The Oaks for over 10 years and I couldn’t be more proud to work for such a remarkable company and family."