Conference Program | Monday, May 19

8:30 - 9:15 AM

Colony Foyer | Registration

8:30 - 9:15 AM

Virginia Foyer | Breakfast, Exhibitors, Networking

9:15 - 10:30 AM

Colony Ballroom | Opening Session | Bob Blancato & Sandy Markwood 

10:40 - 11:40 AM

Colony Ballroom | General Session | Dr. Amber Price, Sentara Health

11:45 AM - 1:15 PM

Virginia Ballroom | Networking & Exhibitor Lunch

1:45 - 2:30 PM | Breakout Sessions
 

• What is Pace? - Virginia A
  
  Jennifer Boyd, MBA, RN
  Centra PACE, Senior Director​
   

• The Invisible Arlingtonians: Examining Community Discrepancies using the ACSM American Fitness Index - Virginia B​
  
  Erin Staker, BS
  Research Coordinator, Center for Optimal Aging, Marymount University
  . Aging in Community: Fostering and facilitating difficult, yet critical conversations on aging, through education, reflection, synthesis, and personal growth - Virginia C
  
  J. Shannon Hammons, M.S.
  Assistant Director, Cornerstone Alumni Relations and Engagement
  
  E. Carlisle Shealy, Ph.D., MPH
  Assistant Director, Virginia Tech Center for Gerontology
  
  Pamela B. Teaster, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., NREMT
  Professor and Director, Virginia Tech Center for Gerontology
  ​

• Understanding Income & Poverty Statistics - Piedmont A

                 

                 Julie Northcott-Wilson, MS, MCP

                  Statistician, Bay Aging

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​1:45 - 4:00 PM | Deep Dive: Discussions of Dementia Related Topics - Piedmont C

​

          George Worthington, MS

          Dementia Services Director, DARS

​

         Annie Rhodes, PhD

         Assistant Professor: Virginia Center on Aging - Virginia College of                                        Health Professions 

​

         Virginia Gallagher, PhD

         Assistant Professor, Neuropsychologist, UVA School of Medicine

​

         Shannon Reilly, PhD

         Assistant Professor, UVA Department of Neurology 

​

         Christy Jensen, PhD

          Director, Health Services Research, Martha W. Goodson Center,                                            Riverside Health

​

         Rachel Coney 

          Brain Health Coordinator, Virginia Dept of Health

​

         Diane Hartley

         Vice President Care Coordination, Peninsula Area on Aging

​​​

1:45- 2:00 PM | Flash Session 1: Redefining Leadership in Age of AI - Virginia Ballroom

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2:30 - 3:00 PM | Networking & Snack Break - Virginia Ballroom

​

3:00 - 4:00 PM | Breakout Sessions:

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• Challenges We Are Currently Facing in Housing - Virginia A​​

           Sue Armstrong 
       Long-time housing expert

​

• From Hidden to Healthy: How Virginia Beats Food Insecurity Among Older Adults - Virginia B

           

          Hollie Lutz, MA

          Director of Development and Communications, Federation of                                                  Virginia Food Banks

 

         Jennifer Ayers, MPA

          Executive Director, ALIVE! Alexandria

 

         Teri Zurfluh

         Western Tidewater Community Hub Manager, Foodbank of Southeast                                Virginia & the Eastern Shore

​

• NO COUNTRY FOR OLD PEOPLE  Documentary - A Case Study in Leveraging Film Media to Advocate for Better Care for Aging Populations - Virginia C

   

         Rick Mountcastle, Retired United States Attorney (WDVA)

           Producer, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD PEOPLE​

​

           Susie Singer Carter, Filmmaker, Writer, Director, Producer

           Owner, GoGirl Media

 

• Elder Justice Shelter Innovation: Lessons in Communication, Collaboration, and Cooperation - Piedmont A

 

          ​Gigi Amateau, PhD​

          Assistant Professor & Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care Lab                                  Director; Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of                                                    Gerontology & Virginia Center on Aging

 

          ​​Kelly King Horne, MA
          Executive Director, Homeward

​

Amy Strite

The Span Center

​

Felencia McGee

No Wrong Door, DARS

​

 

3:00 - 3:15 PM | Flash Session 2: What is SMP? - Virginia Ballroom​

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4:15 - 5:00 PM | Breakout Sessions:

​

• Wisdom & Innovation - Virginia A 

 

            Bettina Mason MSEd., SHRM-CP, SWAM-VA, AI Certified Consultant

            Founder/Principal-Mason Education Solutions Group

​​​

• Food Justice for Older Adults - Virginia B

 

            Emily Varvil, MPH

            Project Manager, PositiveAge (a LeadingAge Virginia Foundation)

           

             Missi Boyer

             Vice President of Nutrition, Wellness and Transportation, SPAN Center               

            Kristin Cummings, LCSW

            St Thomas Episcopal Church Richmond Food Pantry Director

​

• Haleon: Addressing Nutritional Deficits of Aging - Virginia C
  
  Alpa V. Shah, MS, RDN   
  US Wellness Medical & Scientific Affairs Lead, North America R&D            
  Deana Lykins
  Esq. Lead, State Government Affairs Haleon
   

• Drilling Down on Guardianship in Virginia: What do New Studies Show? - Piedmont A

          

         Pamela B. Teaster, Ph.D., M.A., M.S. , NREMT

           Professor and Director, Virginia Tech Center for Gerontology

​

           Erica F. Wood, J.D.

           Former Assistant Director of the American Bar Association                                                     Commission on Law and Aging

​

          Sally Balch Hurme, J.D.

          Virginia Elder Law Attorney and retired AARP Attorney

​

         Denise McDonald, M.A.

         Guardianship Navigator

 

         Onyinye Mbanefo

         Graduate Research Assistant

         Center for Gerontology, Virginia Tech

​​​

• Dementia and Elder Abuse: Best Practices for Supporting Survivors with Cognitive Impairments - Piedmont C

 

        Sydney Palinkas, LMSW, CDP

        RAFT Dementia Education and Outreach Coordinator, RAFT Dementia                              Support Program ​

       

       Carol Cooper Driskill

       Advocate, disAbility Law Center of Virginia
 

4:15 - 4:30 PM | Flash Session 3: Fellowship Fresh - Virginia Ballroom
​
 

5:00 - 6:30 PM | Evening Reception - Virginia Lawn

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Conference Program | Tuesday, May 20

 

7:30 - 8:30 AM | Registration - Virginia Foyer
 

7:30 - 8:30 AM | Breakfast, Networking & Exhibitors - Virginia Ballroom

 

8:30 - 9:30 AM | Breakout Sessions:

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• GUIDE Model - Virginia A 
  
  Tiffany Robbins, RN, BSN​​
  Director of Health Services, Bay Area

​

• Team Building 101 - Virginia B 

​

        Wayne Damron

          Director of  Aging Services at Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens

        

         Katie Justus

         Team Lead, Care Coordination at Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens​

 

         Lynna Mitchell

         Grant Writer at Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens

​

• Sharing Across Communities: A PCTI (Person-Centered Trauma-Informed) Approach to Caregiving - Virginia C

 

​          Lily Liu, Family Caregiver

 

          Leah Bergen Miller
          Director, Programs and Training, Jewish Federations of North                                 America’s Center for Aging, Trauma, and Holocaust Survivor Care

 

• Statewide Initiatives Addressing the Shortage of Qualified Workers in the Aging Services Arena - Piedmont A

 

       Leland "Bert" Waters, PhD​

        Director, Virginia Geriatric Education Center, VCU

         Amy Paul, MD, MSHA
         Virginia Workforce Development Program
         Director, Statewide Graduate Medical Education 

         Lana Sargent, Ph.D., RN, FNP-C, GNP-BC
         Associate Dean, Office of Practice and Community Engagement, Associate                   Professor, VCU School of Nursing

         Shanteny Jackson, M.A.
         Executive Director, Virginia Community Health Worker Association
         Institute for Public Health Innovation
         Envision CHW Council

         Ashley Staton, MSW
         Dementia Education Specialist, Virginia Center on Aging

         Virginia Commonwealth University

9:45 - 10:30 AM | Breakout Sessions:

​

• "Delivery With A Ring" Doorbell Program - Virginia A

​

           Nikki Dean, B.A. in Economics

           Nutrition Program Coordinator, Piedmont Senior Resources Area                                         Agency on Aging
 

• Opening Minds Through Art - Virginia B

   

         Dana Parsons

           Vice President and Legislative Counsel, LeadingAge Virginia

      

          Jamie Wigginton

          COO, Art for the Journey 

  

         Stephanie Shanks

         Director of OMA Training Center and Volunteers 

​

• Aging in Place & Older Adult Population Experiencing Homelessness Greater Virginia Peninsula - Virginia C

 

          Riley Dowd

          University of Virginia & Virginia Department of Aging & Rehabilitative                                Services  

          Debbie Campbell, MSN, RN, MA, ECDHE

          Senior Director, Community Health & Engagement Services

 

• Older Workers, Digital Literacy, and the Future of Employment - Piedmont A​

 

          Megan Grey

          Older Worker Programs Director, Virginia Department for Aging and                                    Rehabilitative Services

 

• Addressing Dental Care Access Barriers Faced By Aging Virginians - Virginia C

 

          Patricia "Trish" Bonwell, RDH, PhD

             Assistant Professor, Virginia Center on Aging, Virginia Geriatric                                             Education Center, VCU
 

9:45 - 10:00 AM | Flash Session 4: Dementia Risk Factors - Virginia Ballroom
 

10:30 - 11:00 AM | Networking & Snack Break - Virginia Foyer

​

11:00 - 11:45 AM | Breakout Sessions:

​

• Creating a Culture of Connection: More than a Volunteer Ride - Virginia A

 

         Emily Braley, RN, MSN

          Manager Volunteer Services, Pozez JCC 

     

       Elena Alergant, MS

          Manager, NV Rides

​

• Cooking Up Connections: Intergenerational Culinary Programs as a Recipe for Healthy Aging in Virginia - Virginia B

            Duane Brown, M.A., Organizational Leadership

            Chef/Owner, Culinary Coach LLC

​

• Village Sponsorship: Collaborations to Reduce Social Isolation of Older Virginians - Virginia C

 

           Carol Paquette, J.D.

          Convenor, Virginia Villages Collective​

 

           Mary-Jane Atwater, M.A.
          Steering Committee, Virginia Villages Collective​

 

          Ray Parks

          Executive Director, New River Valley Agency on Aging

 

• Adapting to Changing Workplace Demographics and Sustaining the Workforce - Piedmont A

           

         Tiffany L. Speas

         Chief Financial Officer, Peninsula Agency on Aging, Inc.

​

          La-Netta Davis

          Human Resource Manager, Peninsula Agency on Aging, Inc.

 

• The APS Final Rule: Is Virginia Ready? - Piedmont C

 

          Paige McCleary, MSW

          APS Division Director, Department for Aging and Rehabilitative                                              Services 

 

11:00 - 11:15 AM | Flash Session 5: Bed Bug & Urban Pest Management - Virginia Ballroom

 

11:45 AM - 1:15 PM | Lunch & General Session 

​

Keynote Address - Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan

CEO, AARP | Colony Ballroom

​​

​

1:15 - 1:30 PM | Exhibitors & Networking - Virginia Foyer

​

1:30 - 2:30 PM | Breakout Sessions:

​

• Public Libraries: The Third Place for Older Adults - Virginia A

   

         Barry Trott, M.L.S.

        Adult Services Consultant, Library of Virginia

​

• Why We Sing: How Community Choirs Support Healthy and Creative Aging - Virginia B

​

        Mary Ann East, DMA, CDP

        Arts and Aging Research Director, Encore Creativity for Older Adults

​

• How Scammers are Using AI to Defraud Seniors - Virginia C

         

           Shawn L. Smith

           Senior Medicare Patrol, Virginia

​

• Trauma Informed Work Places: The What, Why and How - Piedmont A

​

            Annette Clark, MSG, CDP, CADDCT

            Dementia & Geriatric Specialist - Department of Behavioral Health and                            Developmental Services 

​​

• Dementia Friends: Harnessing Community Collaborations to Raise Awareness - Piedmont C

 

        George Worthington, MS Clinical Psychology

        Dementia Services Director, DARS 

 

       Joyce Nussbaum

       Program Director, Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS) 

 

       Allegra Joffe

       Supervisor of the Caregiver & Support Services Unit, Fairfax Area Agency                       on Aging

​

2:45 - 3:45 PM | Breakout Sessions:

​

• Stuck Inside: The Extraordinary Barriers to Discharge List and How it Relates to Older Virginians - Virginia A

​

         Carol Cooper Driskill, MHSA

         Disability Rights Advocate, disAbility Law Center of Virginia

​

         Virginia Pharis, MSW

         Data and Incident Review Unit Manager, disAbility Law Center of Virginia

 

• A Drink of Courage "Being Bold Enough to Problem Solve with Intergenerational Approaches" - Virginia B

 

       Gregory Ford, Social Worker

        Director of Program Development and Partnerships - Beacon.                                                Communities LLC

​

• Senior Living Communities: A Strategically Planned Housing Solution - Virginia C​​

 

         Brian Beck, MBA

         Chief Executive Officer at Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens​

    

         Caleb Perkins

         Executive Assistant at Appalachian Agency for Senior Citizens​

​

• Beyond Memory Loss - Piedmont A
  
   Jessica Fredericksen, MSW, CADDCT, CMDP

          Director of Brain Health, Goodwin Living

 

          Theresa Mandela, RN, BSN, QCP, CDP

          StrongerMemory Outreach Coordinator, Goodwin Living