Mark Pressman
Executive Director

Office: 410-484-7300
E-mail: pressmanmark@northoaks.net

Mark E. Pressman is Executive Director of North Oaks and oversees the day-to-day management and operations of the community. This includes supervising the assisted living, comprehensive care, resident activities, marketing, personnel, family and resident relations and property management functions. He also leads community activities and programming.

Mr. Pressman brings more than twenty-five years of health care, long term care and retirement living management experience to North Oaks. Past positions include Executive Director for various facilities operated by the Episcopal Ministries to the Aging and Executive Director of the Memphis Jewish Home in Memphis, TN.

He earned Bachelor of Arts, Masters of Education and Masters in Business Administration degrees from Temple University. He is involved with a number of local charitable organizations and associations including the Habitat for Humanity and Chizuk Amuno Congregation, where he serves as the Youth Activities Committee Chairman. Mr. Pressman resides in Owings Mills, MD.

“I am driven every day to create smiles on our residents, our employees and even myself. A positive outlook on life and a sense of happiness and well-being are essential ingredients for an active, healthy and productive lifestyle,” Mark said.

Joan Duhaney
Director of Nursing

Office: 410-602-0300
E-mail: duhaneyjoan@northoaks.net

Joan Duhaney is Director of Nursing for North Oaks. In this capacity, she oversees and manages the day-to-day activities of the nursing staff. This includes establishing and assuring the proper execution of nursing routines, implementing essential clinical programs, educating the nursing team about new procedures and techniques and acting as a liaison to executive management group.

Joan has more than fourteen years of direct nursing and administrative experience. She has worked as a nurse practitioner in a variety of settings in the New York City area and was also the Nurse Unit Manager for the Jewish Convalescent and Nursing Home.

Joan earned a degree from the Helen Fund School of Nursing in New York.

Debbie Free
Director of Finance

Office: 410-484-7300
E-mail: freedebbie@northoaks.net

Debbie Free is Director of Finance for North Oaks. In her role, she oversees all accounts payable and receivable activities, manages the budget, handles payroll and cash management functions and prepares financial statements and projections.

Debbie has held management positions in accounting in a number of different industries including commercial real estate development and healthcare and has also worked for a public accounting firm.

A Certified Public Accountant in the State of Maryland, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Towson University and is a member of the Maryland Society of Accountants and the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants.

Patricia Held
Director of Marketing

Office: 410-486-9090
E-mail: heldpatti@northoaks.net

Patricia (Patti) Held, Director of Marketing for North Oaks, is responsible for all marketing, advertising, special events programming, public relations and sales for the Continuing Care Retirement Community. Her functions include overseeing creative development of marketing and advertising materials, the execution of targeted special events and managing media relations and internal and external communication activities.

Patti brings diversified sales and marketing experience to this position, having worked in management and leadership positions with national corporations such as American Express and Travel One.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and Economics from West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Woodrow Noble
Director of Environmental Services

Office: 410-484-7300
E-mail: noblewoodrow@northoaks.net

Woodrow Noble (Woody) is Director of Environmental Services at North Oaks. In this role, he oversees and supervises the day-to-day activities of the community’s housekeeping and laundry personnel and is charge of training, continuing education and quality control. Woody’s scope of responsibilities includes all common areas as well as public and residential spaces.

He brings diversified experience to North Oaks from working in management positions with a variety of healthcare organizations including Genesis Healthcare, Future Care, HCR Manor Care and Union Memorial Hospital.

Woody completed courses at Essex Community College, Pierce Community College and the University of Maryland.

Sherrie Polsky
Director of Community Life Services

Office: 410-484-7300
E-mail: polskysherrie@northoaks.net

Sherrie Polsky is Director of Community Life Services. In this capacity, she assumes responsibility for the initiation, organization and execution of all internal and external activities of North Oaks residents. This includes the management of outside vendors, attracting and mobilizing volunteers and handling day-to-day logistics for events. She also oversees the transportation function and handle operations for several on-site amenities, including the Beauty Shop.

She was formerly Program Coordinator for the E.A. Myerberg Senior Center and has more than thirty years of special events, teaching and community relations experience. Sherrie also worked for Senior Friendly Neighborhoods, an Educational Consultant for Sylvan Learning Systems and as an instructor for a number of local universities.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Anita Rutch
Director of Food and Beverage

Office: 410-484-7300
E-mail: rutchanita@northoaks.net

Anita Rutch is Director of Food & Beverage for North Oaks and oversees the preparation and presentation of all resident meals at the Continuing Care Retirement Community. Her responsibilities include hiring and training staff members, maintaining quality control for all food and beverage product areas, creating varied breakfast, lunch and dinner menu items and establishing and maintaining customer service protocols.

Her career in the hospitality and food service industries has provided her with wide-ranging experience with regional hotels and conference centers, retirement communities, country clubs and banquet facilities.

Anita earned an Associate Degree in Fashion Design from the Fashion Institute of New York City.

Brian Bateman
Director of Plant Operations

Office: 410-484-7300
E-mail: batemanbrian@northoaks.net

Brian Bateman is Director of Plant Operations for North Oaks. He is in charge of all new construction, common maintenance and repair operations for the interior and exterior physical plant, as well as upkeep of the common area grounds of the North Oaks campus. Brian supervises both an in-house team of specialists and outside vendors and pro-actively initiates projects to assure safety and aesthetics.

He worked as an HVAC service technician early in his career before transitioning to a Maintenance Supervisor and Director of Security and Maintenance for corporations and retirement communities. Brian was also the founder and owner of a home security company in the Baltimore County region.

Brian completed courses at Merganthaler Vocational School and Catonsville Community College.