Meet the Team

Tyler Barnes joined Oak Cottage with 10 years of experience in the senior living industry, having impacted the lives of residents in independent living, assisted living and memory care. Born and raised in the small city of Upland, California, Tyler attended California State University, Long Beach, and double majored in business management and operations management.   

Tyler began his senior living career in outside sales, eventually transitioning to the roles of business manager and human resource coordinator before landing in his current role of executive director, which he has held for more than five years. 

Tyler is dedicated to building strong relationships with families and residents, connecting with his staff and fostering a respectful workplace culture. Outside of work, you can find Tyler playing a round of golf, traveling and playing poker. 

Lore Coudert serves Oak Cottage as the director of Sales and Marketing. Lore began her professional career after earning her Bachelor of Science degree in social work. She brings over 15 years of experience through several different positions in social services, marketing and employment services. Lore enjoys connecting with individuals in the community and developing relationships through networking, community engagement and nationwide outreach.  

In her free time, Lore enjoys traveling, exploring wineries, shopping, yoga, and spending quality time with her friends and family. 

Felipe Garcia joins Oak Cottage as the Vibrant Life® director. He brings 12 years of experience, boundless energy, amazing creativity and a big heart to all he does. After developing highly respected activities programs at other local senior communities, Felipe oversaw the training of staff members at communities throughout California and Nevada. He believes that every single person has something unique to offer regardless of age, gender, or physical or cognitive conditions. Felipe is looking forward to enhancing the quality of life and giving a sense of purpose to all the wonderful residents at Oak Cottage. 

During his free time, Felipe loves going for walks with his dogs, spending time with his loved ones and cooking delicious meals.  

Apple Pelare brings over a decade of experience in senior care to her role at Oak Cottage. Starting as the Resident Program coordinator, she has grown within the organization and now serves as the Business Office director. Apple is a certified senior adviser and is currently completing her degree in sociology. Her dedication to providing exceptional care for seniors is evident in her strong advocacy for person-centered care. She collaborates closely with staff to ensure an environment that supports residents’ cognitive, physical and emotional well-being. Apple finds inspiration in the exceptional work of her associates. 

Outside of work, Apple enjoys traveling, exploring different cuisines and immersing herself in diverse cultures. She also loves cooking and spending quality time with friends. 

Executive Chef Lorenzo Nolasco was born and raised in Oxnard, California and learned from a young age that hard work and determination pay off. Chef Lorenzo started his career with Holiday Retirement, and through hard work, he worked his way up through the ranks of the kitchen at The Bonaventure. While working full-time, Chef Lorenzo completed the culinary program at Oxnard College, and at the same time became the Sous Chef at The Bonaventure.

After working for The Bonaventure for five years, and completing his Culinary Degree, Chef Lorenzo was promoted to Executive Chef. Lorenzo has a natural passion for learning different cultural cuisines and providing a creative lifestyle for seniors in his community. He has found fulfillment in bringing people together over delicious culinary cuisine. In his free time, Chef Lorenzo loves to spend time with his fiancé Alondra, and his beautiful daughter Mila.

Jonathan Blakey, Building Services director, enjoyed a successful career in real estate and property management before joining the Oak Cottage team in the spring of 2024. A hardworking and driven professional, he brings over 15 years of finance, construction and building management experience from real estate, public works, nonprofit and educational backgrounds. 

Born and raised in Reading, England, Jonathan moved to Santa Barbara in the summer of 2014, initially running his own handyman business before joining a local property management company as their accounting manager. From there, he immersed himself in the local real estate industry, obtaining his real estate license in 2018, and moved up to the role of property manager, overseeing a diverse portfolio of over 40 commercial properties in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. 

Jonathan finds joy in problem-solving, finding solutions and fixing things. The opportunity to provide this hands-on, “can do” approach to give back to the community at Oak Cottage brings him an immense amount of pride and satisfaction in his role. When not in his role at Oak Cottage, Jonathan is a dedicated and loving father to his two young daughters, using any opportunity he can to explore and find fun activities for them in the Greater Santa Barbara area.