Our Team

Before founding The Estates at Laytonsville in 2010, Betty Kasasa dedicated her career to caring for older adults as a caregiver while drawing on the values instilled in her upbringing in Uganda. Raised in a culture where caring for elders is considered a shared community responsibility, she learned that seniors should be treated with respect, dignity, and compassion regardless of whether they are family. Through her years of hands-on experience, she witnessed firsthand the difference that personalized care can make in the lives of seniors and their families. She also recognized the need for a more intimate, home-like alternative to the larger institutional settings that are commonplace in the industry.

Driven by her passion for serving older adults and guided by her entrepreneurial experience and vision, Betty founded The Estates at Laytonsville with the goal of creating a community where residents would feel truly at home while receiving exceptional care. Her caregiving experience, cultural values, and business leadership helped shape the community’s person-centered approach, emphasizing meaningful relationships, individualized support, and attention to every resident’s unique needs. The values she brought from her Ugandan heritage, where elders are honored and cared for as an integral part of the community, remain deeply woven into the culture of The Estates at Laytonsville today.

Today, The Estates at Laytonsville is a trusted residential assisted living community known for its warm atmosphere, high standard of care, and family-oriented environment. Betty remains actively involved in the community, ensuring that the values upon which it was founded continue to guide every aspect of resident care. Her success as both a caregiver and entrepreneur has also made her a respected mentor within the assisted living industry, and she has helped at least four individuals successfully establish their own assisted living communities.

Her lifelong commitment to seniors has touched countless lives and established a lasting legacy of excellence, compassion, leadership, and service.

As Executive Director of The Estates at Laytonsville, Sharon Barkanic brings a unique blend of hands-on caregiving experience, healthcare expertise, operational leadership, and a lifelong commitment to serving older adults. As the daughter of founder Ms. Betty Kasasa, Sharon’s journey with The Estates at Laytonsville began long before she assumed a leadership role. She grew up witnessing firsthand the vision, dedication, and compassion that transformed a family dream into a trusted residential assisted living community.

Sharon earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from Bowdoin College, where she developed a deeper understanding of cognition, behavior, aging, and neurological health. Her education strengthened her appreciation for the unique challenges faced by older adults, particularly those living with dementia and age-related cognitive changes.

Following graduation, Sharon expanded her healthcare and operational experience across multiple sectors of the healthcare industry. These experiences provided Sharon with a strong foundation in business analytics, process improvement, and healthcare operations. Since returning to The Estates at Laytonsville, she has leveraged this expertise to strengthen organizational performance, enhance regulatory readiness, and implement workforce development initiatives that empower caregivers through ongoing education, training, and professional growth opportunities. She believes that when caregivers are supported, empowered, and equipped to grow professionally, residents receive the highest level of personalized care.

Since the community’s founding in 2010, Sharon has served in nearly every role within the organization, including caregiver, Certified Nursing Assistant, Assisted Living Manager, Business Administrator, and now Executive Director. Working directly with residents and families throughout her career has given her a deep understanding of the physical, emotional, and social aspects of aging. These experiences shaped her belief that exceptional care extends beyond meeting daily needs, it is built on meaningful relationships, dignity, trust, and genuine human connection.

Today, Sharon proudly continues the family legacy established by her mother. Through compassionate leadership, operational excellence, strategic collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to resident-centered care, she remains dedicated to creating a warm, welcoming home where residents thrive, families find peace of mind, and caregivers are empowered to make a meaningful difference every day.

“If you want to go fast, go alone; If you want to go far, go together” – Anonymous

Peter Barkanic serves as the Marketing Director and Community Ambassador for The Estates at Laytonsville, where he leads the community’s marketing, outreach, referral partnerships, and family engagement efforts. With degrees in Marketing and Psychology from the College of William & Mary, Peter combines strategic expertise with a genuine passion for helping families navigate important care decisions.

Throughout his career, Peter has held marketing roles across a variety of industries, developing expertise in communications, relationship building, and business growth. However, he found himself increasingly drawn to senior care because of its purpose-driven nature and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Unlike many industries, senior care offers the unique privilege of seeing the direct impact that compassionate support, education, and advocacy can have on residents and their families during some of life’s most important transitions.

As one of the first team members to meet with prospect families exploring The Estates at Laytonsville, Peter is committed to making the transition process as smooth and supportive as possible. He works closely with prospective residents, family members, healthcare professionals, and referral partners to provide guidance, education, and trusted resources throughout the decision-making journey.

Peter believes that exceptional senior care begins with trust, compassion, and genuine human connection. He is dedicated to ensuring that every family feels informed, supported, and confident every step of the way, while fostering strong partnerships with healthcare professionals and community organizations that share a commitment to improving the lives of older adults.