Janet Wallace
Managing Director

Janet Wallace is adding more meaning to her life. “I feel that I have a purpose,” she said. “I’m on a mission.”

Her mission is to help the elderly of the Mountain Brook area to have a safe place to call home. “I come from a long line of caregivers and a multigenerational family who love and respect each other and are committed to enriching each others’ lives. I am thrilled to be able to extend my caring now to my Cottage family,” she said. “Family is very important to me, and I appreciate how Columbia Cottage recognizes that and celebrates it.”

Janet is a licensed Assisted Living Administrator and has been part of the Cottage Family since 2006. She came to us from the hospitality industry where she was the General Manager of a large independent hotel in Homeood for the previous eight years. She also brings to the Cottage a love for caring for the elderly and a knowledge of what day-to-day care entails having spent two years in the home as the primary caregiver of a woman with progressive dementia. “I feel like the combination of my personal care experience and my strong hospitality and team building skills can really enhance the spirit of the Cottage,” she said.

“She has such an infectious spirit about her and what the Cottage stands for,” reports Sandy Brackin, Director of Compliance and Quality Assurance. “Janet is excited about the Cottage mission and that makes everyone around her excited as well. Residents and their families love her and have a confidence that mom and dad are safe under her care.”

Janet is a longtime Birmingham resident. Her parents moved to town in the 1960s, and she spent her first work experience as a student teacher at Mountain Brook High School in 1971. She, her husband and children lived in Texas, California and Florida for some years before settling back down in Birmingham in 1988. Janet relishes the southern hospitality and the change of seasons. Today, she lives just a few miles from the Cottage in a townhome where, in 2005, she invited her parents to share her home when they were ready to down-size from their large home and big yard. Her parents are still very active at 83 and 84. Still blessed with good health, her mother Juanita volunteers at the Cottage on Monday mornings, visits with many of the Residents, and leads a bridge group while her father John attends the Rotary Club he has been in for 40 years. Janet also has two grown daughters, Beth and Jill. Beth has twins Nathan and Lily, born on New Year's Eve of 2001. Jill has a daughter, Macy, born in 1998. Both of her daughters and three grandchildren live within two miles of Janet. Most of Janet's time away from the Cottage is spent following her grandchildren's activities: soccer, baseball and cheerleading. The entire family is fortunate to have four active generations to love and share memories with.

Janet earned her B.S. from Auburn University. She is a member of Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, a past (and first female) President of the Homewood Rotary Club, and was a Homewood Chamber of Commerce Member in 2002.

Terri Gilmer-Weinmann, LPN
Resident Services Director

Terri Gilmer-Weinmann, LPN, is excited to be a part of Columbia Cottage. She has experience in various medical fields, including working with the VA Hospital, with adults with disabilities and in pharmacy. “Although there were all age groups, the senior Veterans captured my heart.”

Terri grew up in Adamsville, a small town just outside of Birmingham. She attended College at Beville State in Sumiton, Al. She is an LPN, American Red Cross Certified Instructor and a certified instructor for the Nurse Delegation Program. “I have always had a soft spot for the aging. They are our past. I want to be an active part in their future.”

Terri and her husband have two daughters. In her spare time, she loves to craft. She makes homemade soaps and bath salts, jewelry and totes. She also refinishes furniture and sews. Terri would “love to see people go back to the basics, and start really caring about each other; a time when kids can go outside and play until dark and not worry about crime.” Working with the seniors at Columbia Cottage is ideal for her to “help make their ‘Golden Years’ truly golden.”

Kathy Hasty,
Information Director

Kathy Hasty, Information Director at Country and Columbia Cottages, has always enjoyed spending time with seniors.  “I want to be a positive influence in their lives and for their families,” she says.  “I am so happy to have found Country and Columbia Cottages!”

Kathy grew up in Vestavia Hills and earned her business management degree from Jefferson State Jr. College. Before coming to Country and Columbia Cottages she worked for Better Basics, a non-profit children’s literary foundation.  For ten years, she cared for her mother who suffered with Alzheimer’s.  Kathy joined the Cottage Family so she could continue to help the elderly find the love and care that they need.

At home, Kathy enjoys spending time with her husband, Rick. They have two sons, Eric and Joey, and two Basset Hounds, Sherman Da Tank and Chief.  Kathy enjoys buying and selling property, writing, reading, traveling, boating, and going to the beach. She also enjoys writing children’s books and speaking with students about the writing process. She and her family are also members of St. Peter’s Catholic Church.

Susan Bremer,
Information Director

Information Director Susan Bremer brings her experience caring for her parents to the Cottage family. She spent years caring for her parents, including her mother who suffered from dementia and was a Resident at Columbia Cottage. With her background in caring, it is no wonder she feels right at home with Country and Columbia Cottages! “I am at the Cottages because Columbia Cottage was my mom’s home for nearly two years. I know first hand what great care, love and support was provided to her and the other Residents during her time at the Cottage.”

Susan grew up in Gadsden, but has lived in the Birmingham area since 1988. She attended Gadsden State Junior College and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Susan earned her degree in Marketing with a minor in Management and is a licensed realtor in Alabama and Florida. Now that she is with Country and Columbia Cottages, Susan hopes to “be an advocate and provide assistance to other families when they need to make the difficult decisions concerning their loved ones.”
Living at home with her husband of over 10 years, Susan enjoys taking walks on the beach. She especially enjoys these walks with her husband Mark and their puppies during sunset. She also loves to read, shop, travel and play Bunco!

Denise Staples,
Food Services Director

Denise Staples has been the Food Services Director at Columbia Cottage in Mountain Brook for many years. She loves to take care of our Residents, and makes sure that their food is delicious and satisfying! At the Cottage, we serve three home-style meals every day, plus we offer a 24-hour light menu and snacks. Denise is proud of making meals from scratch, and always offers her specialty, three desserts at every meal.

She knows exactly what each Resident likes and dislikes and how they prefer their meals. At each mealtime, Denise makes sure that each Resident gets exactly what they want, whether it is an extra slice of meat, no veggies or her extra-sweet tea. One year, before leaving for vacation, Denise used her day off to buy ingredients for a special treat. Right before she left for the week, she prepared a huge batch of the Residents’ favorite Cottage chili, so they could enjoy it while she was gone. She is the “Julia Child” of Columbia Cottage!

During family celebrations and special events, Denise really shines. Not only does she prepare large amounts of delicious food for everyone, she also decorates our dining room! She especially loves our annual summer luau party where she can grill outside and enjoy the fresh air. This past November, Denise cooked a Thanksgiving dinner for over 120 guests!