2025 Virginia Governor's Conference on Aging
Revolutionizing Aging: Bridging Past Resilience with Future Innovation
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The goal of VGCOA 2025 is to capture the essence of honoring historical resilience in aging while looking forward to innovative solutions that can enhance the lives of older adults throughout the Commonwealth. The 2025 program will incite discussion, engagement and creativity in aging services, promoting inclusivity, innovation, and support across Virginia.
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Virginia's population is becoming older and more diverse. Today there are nearly 1.5 million adults in the Commonwealth aged 60 and over, and this population will expand to more than 2 million by 2030 when the baby boom generation will be between 66 and 84 years old. Virginia's aging population is living longer due to the advances in health care; older Virginians with chronic conditions will need assistance longer while contributing as valuable resources, bringing knowledge to the workforce and wisdom to communities.
As Virginia shapes its future as one of the best states to live in and do business, it also has leaders striving to create a leadership culture for caregivers and individuals aging in their communities. Being a great place to live encompasses valuing seniors.
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This conference will explore the spectrum of aging services in Virginia. Join all who see themselves as aging advocates for a two-day conference in Williamsburg that will yield recommendations to policymakers and create a vision for the future of aging in Virginia.
VGCOA 2025 is led by a dedicated volunteer Steering Committee comprised of community leaders, advocates and stakeholders across the aging network that span the Commonwealth. They meet regularly and have committed to producing a strong two day conference attendees will not want to miss!
Meet the 2025 Virginia Governor's Conference of Aging Steering Committee
2025 Co-Chairs:
Ethlyn McQueen-Gibson, DNP, RN- BC
Old Dominion University, Ellmer School of Nursing
Southern Gerontological Society, President
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Tina R. Thomas, DHA, MSHP, CDP, CADDCT
Executive Director
Riverside’s Martha W. Goodson Center
Steering Committee Members:
Melissa Andrews
President & CEO
LeadingAge Virginia
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Dr. Paul Aravich
Professor, Pathology and Anatomy
Eastern Virginia Medical School
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Michelle Billups
Director
AmeriCare Plus
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Robert "Bob" Blancato
President
Matz Blancato & Associates
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Tracey M. R Boseman
Administrator, Owner
Home Helpers Chesterfield & Richmond
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Ron D. Boyd
President & CEO
Local Office on Aging, Inc.
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Marilyn Branch-Mitchell
Employee Engagement Director
The SPAN Center (formerly Senior Connections)
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Annette Clark, MsG, CDP, CADDCT
Dementia & Geriatric Specialist
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)
Jim Dau
State Director
AARP Virginia
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Rachel Enrich, MSLS
Main Library Manager
Portsmouth Public Library
Amy Gotwals
Chief, Public Policy and External Affairs
USAging
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Tishaun Harris-Ugworji, M.Ed. CA
Auxiliary Grant Program Manager
Division of Community Living
Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
Ross C Hart, Esq.
Practicing Attorney
HART & HART ATTORNEYS, LTD., Salem VA.; WINGS Commission; VAELA
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Patricia C. Heyn, PhD, FGSA, FACRM
Founding Director of the Center for Optimal Aging
Employer: Marymount University
Christy J. Jensen, PhD
Director, Health Services Research
Martha W. Goodson Center, Riverside Health
Dr. Richard W. Lindsay
The Lindsay Institute for Innovations in Caregiving
Joseph Lugo
Director, The Beard Center on Aging
University of Lynchburg
Sandy Markwood
CEO
USAging
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Bettina Mason
AI & Education Consultant/"Change Agent"
Mason Education Solutions Group
Trina Mayhan-Webb, Director
Department of Family Services
Adult and Aging Division
Fairfax, Virginia
Felicia Scott
Family Services Supervisor
Newport News Department of Human Services
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Sara Stowe
Executive Director, Commonwealth Council on Aging
Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
Malesia "Nikki" Taylor
EnergyShare Program Manager
Dominion Energy
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Pamela B. Teaster, Ph.D., M.A., M.S. , NREMT
Professor and Director, Center for Gerontology
Associate Department Head, Human Development and Family Science
Virginia Tech
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Marcia Tetterton, MSG, CAE, End of Life Doula
Executive Director
Virginia Association for Home Care and Hospice
West Virginia Council for Home Care and Hospice
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Kiersten Ware, MS Gerontology
Deputy Commissioner, Division for Aging Services
Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services
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Joyce E. Williams
State President
AARP Virginia
Colleen Wilhelm
VP of Quality Assurance and Program Evaluation
The Span Center (formerly Senior Connections)
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Lelia P. Winget-Hernandez
Elder Law Attorney
Commonwealth Life & Legacy Counsel; Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys