Dedicated & Compassionate

Our team of certified care providers is equipped with specialized skillsets and experiences that allow them to meet the needs of our residents while encouraging them with passion, innovation and results.

Laura Benefiel

Laura Benefiel

Executive Director of Cross Creek at Lee's Summit

“I feel lucky to be able to say that I both enjoy my work and find it rewarding.”

As executive director of Cross Creek at Lee’s Summit, Laura Benefiel is responsible for the overall day-to-day operations of the community.  In this role, her goal is to assist in providing a safe, family-like atmosphere that residents call their home.

Laura received her bachelor’s degree in social work in 1995 from the University of Central Missouri.

Laura began working with JES, the parent company of Cross Creek in 1998.  She worked as the director of social services in the skilled nursing facilities operated by JES for 11 years.  In 2009, she obtained her administrator’s license and worked as an Executive Director in one of the company’s skilled nursing facilities for 10 years, until she transferred to Cross Creek in 2019.

Laura is most proud of the home-like atmosphere Cross Creek provides.  The best compliment is when people say, “it feels like family here.”


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Samantha Van Fleet

Samantha Van Fleet

Director of Nursing

“Caregiving often calls us to lean into love we didn’t know possible.”

Samantha Van Fleet joined the Cross Creek at Lee’s Summit team as the director of nursing in July 2023. As the director of nursing she collaborates with families, physicians and outpatient services to ensure residents receive the best care possible.

Samantha has a nursing background in medical-surgical, home health and hospice care. She also has previous experience as a director of nursing in both skilled and assisted living and memory care. Samantha’s true heartbeat and passion is working in memory care to allow these residents to have the best quality of life as long as they can.

Samantha takes extreme pride in knowing the care provided at Cross Creek is exceptional and that is what makes Cross Creek At Lee’s Summit a place to call home.


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Vince Piccinini

Vince Piccinini

Admissions Coordinator

“I would like to be known by the residents of Cross Creek and their family members for being kind and dependable.”

Admissions Coordinator Vince Piccinini makes it his goal to bring kindness to all of the people he interacts with at his job and in life.  He joined Cross Creek at Lee’s Summit with experience as a business owner and maintenance director.

His favorite part of his job at Cross Creek at Lee’s Summit is getting the chance to interact with the residents and staff.


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Edna Buchanan

Edna Buchanan

Dietary Director

“I like the feeling of seeing residents happy with the meals they receive from the dining services department.”

As dietary director for Cross Creek at Lee’s Summit, Edna Buchanan manages the community’s food and beverage services as well as kitchen staff. She joined the Cross Creek team as the lead chef in 2019 and was shortly promoted to her current role of dietary director.

Edna started her journey in the food services industry in 1978 during high school. She then went on to work both in a hospital and in the catering field. She expanded her passion for dietary services through education at L’Ecole Culinaire and Johnson Community College in Overland Park, Kansas before joining Cross Creek.


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Misty Barrera

Misty Barrera

Director of Housekeeping & Laundry

“I truly enjoy going above and beyond to provide a clean and safe home for the residents to reside at.”

 As director of housekeeping and laundry for Cross Creek at Lee’s Summit, Misty Barrera manages the overall cleanliness of the community to help enhance the quality of care for residents.

Prior to Cross Creek, Misty worked as the housekeeping and laundry assistant for Wilshire at Lakewood Care Center, a skilled nursing community. In this role, she gained experience in the industry that she brings to her role at Cross Creek.

Misty believes that Cross Creek is a valuable contribution to the Lee’s Summit community because of the dedication of the staff to provide compassionate care to residents.


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Mary Beth Kaup

Mary Beth Kaup

Life Enrichment Director

“I enjoy providing residents with a fun and enriching recreation program that highlights their daily lives at Cross Creek.”

As the life enrichment director for Cross Creek at Lee’s Summit Assisted Living | Memory Care, Mary Beth Kaup provides ongoing engaging activities and entertainment for the residents in the community.

Mary Beth has been in the long term care industry for over 20 years, with the exception of two years she spent in China, teaching English and working in a local Chinese orphanage, providing activities, supplies and comfort to the children and senior citizens.

She has been passionate about providing therapy to seniors through engaging activities and socialization since she went to college at the University of Missouri, where she majored in recreation therapy.

Mary Beth spends her days crafting schedules full of fun and diverse activities, as well as leading events and games and interacting with the residents. She also is the proud owner of Chumley, Cross Creek’s therapy dog.


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