AHCA/NCAL Names ACE Winners, Including Maine Veterans’ Leader

The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) announced the recipients for the 2026 Provider Achieving Care Excellence (ACE) Awards Program, formerly known as the AHCA/NCAL Awards Program.

The association said each year it recognizes the outstanding contributions of leaders and frontline staff in the long-term and post-acute care profession.

The 2026 Provider ACE Awards recipients are: 

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AHCA Leader of the Year: Donna Baker, Director of Quality, Risk and Compliance at Maine Veterans’ Home in Augusta, Maine 

With more than 32 years of experience dedicated to long-term care, clinical leadership, quality improvement, regulatory compliance, education, and resident advocacy, Baker has devoted the past 19 years of her career to Maine Veterans’ Homes, where she provides strategic leadership and oversight across the organization’s long-term care communities. Baker is certified in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement and healthcare compliance. Her leadership has contributed to significant organizational achievements, including three Maine Veterans’ Homes attaining the AHCA/NCAL Gold Quality Award.

AHCA Noble Caregiver: Macy McMann, Social Worker at Rose Haven Nursing Home in Marengo, Iowa  

As a social worker, McMann plays a critical role in enhancing the well-being of the Rose Haven residents through individualized support, ensuring that each resident's emotional, social, and psychological needs are fully addressed. She builds meaningful relationships with residents, advocates for resident choice, and serves as a trusted resource to staff across all disciplines.

NCAL Leader of the Year: Melissa McCorquodale, Senior Living Administrator at Good Samaritan Society – Ridge View Estates in Pipestone, Minn. 

A champion of quality with a lifelong career in long-term care, McCorquodale led Ridge View Estates to earn the 2025 AHCA/NCAL Silver Quality Award. Her dedication extends beyond her own community, serving as a national examiner for the program and has supported other Good Samaritan Society facilities in achieving both Bronze and Silver Quality Awards. McCorquodale extends her leadership at the national level by serving as a member of the NCAL Policy and Regulatory Committee and the NCAL Quality Committee and was a former AHCA/NCAL Future Leader.

NCAL Noble Caregiver: Kyle Grover, Maintenance Manager at Brookdale Senior Living Florence in Florence, N.J.  

For the past four years, Grover has overseen the upkeep, safety, and overall comfort of the community's residents. Grover exemplifies a genuine passion for his work, combining hands-on technical skill with a deep commitment to the well-being of the seniors he serves each day. He approaches every task not simply as a job to complete but as an opportunity to connect with and support the people around him.

Comments or questions on this article? Contact Patrick Connole at pconnole@parkplacelive.com.