Meet Our Team

Kristen Hamby serves as the Director of Memory Care at The Barclay at Charlottesville, where she oversees the Memory Care neighborhood and works closely with residents, families, and team members to ensure the highest quality of care, engagement, and support for individuals living with memory impairment. Originally from Virginia, Kristen is proud to serve seniors in the Charlottesville community.

Kristen is a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP), as well as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Medication Aide. These credentials, combined with her leadership experience in senior living and memory care, have equipped her with the knowledge and skills to provide person-centered care and support for individuals living with dementia and other cognitive impairments. Her background includes leadership roles in senior living, with a focus on memory care programming, resident wellness, team development, and family support. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to creating meaningful experiences and providing person-centered care for seniors.

Kristen’s favorite part of working with seniors is building relationships and learning from their life experiences. She finds it incredibly rewarding to make a positive impact on their daily lives and help create moments of joy, comfort, and purpose. She appreciates QSLM’s commitment to excellence and supportive culture, which genuinely values both residents and team members and creates an environment where everyone can thrive. Kristen is passionate about advocating for individuals living with dementia and ensuring they receive compassionate, dignified, and person-centered care. She is committed to creating meaningful experiences for residents, supporting families throughout their journey, and fostering an environment where both residents and team members can thrive.

Outside of work, Kristen enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring the Charlottesville area, and participating in activities that help her recharge and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Meredith Gallagher serves as the Reunion Coordinator at The Barclay at Charlottesville, where she plans and leads engaging, meaningful programming for residents in Reunion, the community’s Memory Care neighborhood. A Charlottesville native, Meredith earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Virginia and completed the Activity Management course through the VHCA.

Before beginning her career in senior living, Meredith worked in education settings and as a residential counselor. Most recently, she served as Director of Programs at a senior living community in Charlottesville, overseeing programming across Assisted Living, Independent Living, and Memory Care. She expanded the department and led programs including music therapy, virtual reality travel, and brain health education, as well as dementia training for new staff.

Meredith’s connection to senior living began early, as her first job in high school was at a senior living community in Boston, where her brother served as Executive Director. Inspired by his career, she followed in his footsteps, first attending the University of Virginia and later pursuing her own career in senior living.

Outside of work, Meredith enjoys traveling to visit family across the country, creative craft projects, and live music. She is also an enthusiastic supporter of the Hoos and enjoys attending UVA games. Families are an important part of Reunion, and Meredith welcomes the opportunity to hear favorite stories, songs, and traditions that have been meaningful to their loved ones.

Hunter Armstrong is the Director of Facility Management at The Barclay at Charlottesville. A native Virginian, he has completed several programs through online trade school, including Commercial Refrigeration Systems, Introduction to Commercial Systems, and Electrical Drawings & Blueprints. He has also completed OSHA training courses for Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Safety and Fire Safety. Prior to joining the QSLM team, Hunter worked as a Director of Environmental Services. 

Hunter enjoys helping people, especially seniors, and as a part of QSLM, he appreciates all the opportunities he has for growth and support. 

When he’s not working, you’ll find Hunter hanging out with his son and fishing on the bank. 

Ed McLaughlin, Director of Dining Services, brings 40 years of experience in kitchen and food service management to the community. His career has included restaurants, country clubs, hotels, fine dining establishments, and retirement communities, giving him a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with residents and team members.

Born in New Jersey and raised in Pennsylvania, Ed pursued his passion for the culinary field by earning an associate degree in Culinary Arts and a bachelor’s degree in Food Service Management from Johnson & Wales University.

What Ed enjoys most about working in senior living is the sense of family and the opportunity to give back to those who have given so much throughout their lives. He believes great dining is about more than the food—it is also about creating a welcoming experience and putting residents first.

Ed describes himself as a helpful and flexible leader who believes in understanding the needs of each resident and supporting his team in providing excellent service.

Outside of work, Ed values spending time with his son and helping raise the next generation to be caring, content, and of good character. He also practices martial arts, which he considers an important way to maintain balance in life.